Feeding the Flock Beyond Sunday
Shepherds don’t just feed their sheep once a week. They guide, protect, and nourish them daily. In the same way, your church’s digital content can extend pastoral care beyond Sunday morning.
For seekers, online content is often the first sermon they’ll ever hear, the first devotional they’ll ever read, or the first testimony that makes them think, “Maybe God could work in my life too.”
Your content is not just information — it’s nourishment.
Key Insight
Content is not just communication — it’s discipleship. In a digital age, the church that consistently shares pastoral, accessible content is the church that shepherds both seekers and saints every day of the week.
Over 100 million U.S. adults would be drawn to an attractive online option for listening to religious teaching
What Shepherding Content Looks Like
Your content doesn’t need to be polished or perfect. It needs to be pastoral, clear, and accessible. Here are the kinds of content that shepherd seekers and members alike:
Sermons On-Demand: Not just livestreams, but archived sermons that seekers can watch on their own time.
Devotionals & Blog Posts: Short, Scripture anchored reflections that answer the questions people are already Googling (“Does God care if I’m depressed?”).
Testimonies: Stories of transformation that show God at work in real lives. These are often more powerful than polished sermons for seekers.
Short-Form Content: Clips, quotes, or reels that meet people where they scroll. A 60‑second encouragement can be the seed of discipleship.
Digital Small Groups: Content that sparks conversation in online groups, where seekers can process faith in a safe, relational environment.
Counseling Resources: Articles, videos, or even online booking links that connect seekers to pastoral care when they’re struggling with marriage, family, or mental health.
Bible Study Material: Resources to help users explore Scripture in depth, suitable for both individual reflection and group discussion.
Discipleship Pathways: Structured resources and video series designed to support believers as they grow in their faith, including foundational topics like prayer, spiritual disciplines, and Christian living.
Every page is an opportunity to extend care, answer questions, and invite someone closer to Christ.
Encouragement for Leaders
Pastor, don’t underestimate the power of simple, consistent content. You don’t need a studio or a production team. You need a shepherd’s heart and a willingness to share it online.
A 3 minute video devotional can reach someone who would never sit through a 40 minute sermon.
A blog post on “Finding God in Loneliness” can meet a seeker at 2 a.m. when they feel most isolated.
A testimony video can speak louder than a doctrinal statement.
Every piece of content is a chance to shepherd someone closer to Christ.
Over 60% of Gen Z and Millennials prefer accessing faith-based resources digitally rather than in person
References
Barna Group. (2001). Net-Based Faith Experiences. https://rpwitness.org/article/barna-surveys-use-of-religious-materials-on-the-internet
Pew Research Center. (2023). Americans’ use of online religious services and apps. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/11/15/americans-use-of-online-religious-services-and-apps
(2024). Bible App engagement statistics. https://blog.youversion.com/2024/01/youversion-bible-app-stats
Faith Communities Today. (2023). Exploring the Digital Church: FACT 2023 Report. https://faithcommunitiestoday.org/reports
Barna Group. (2022). The State of Digital Discipleship. https://www.barna.com/research/digital-discipleship
Springtide Research Institute. (2024). The State of Religion & Young People 2024. https://www.springtideresearch.org/reports
Pew Research Center. (2023). Apps and websites for Bible reading and prayer. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/11/15/americans-use-of-online-religious-services-and-apps