Chapter 15 of 15 · Ideas to Ponder
Will Online Church Replace In Person Church?
Chapter 15, “The Future,” from Online Church Is Not the Answer by Jay Kranda
Short answer: The church has a proprietary claim on community, and that won't change. What will change: decentralized churches with hundreds or thousands of locations, more fully online churches, more Amish reactions, and AI powered companion experiences that disciple people between Sundays.
What is this chapter about?
Everyone wants to talk about the future, and Matthew 24 says nobody knows the date, which hasn't stopped anyone guessing. So instead of predictions I sketch what won't change and what will. First, the church owns the source code on community. Genesis 1 and 2 wired us to commune with God and each other, and every VR or AR attempt will be a shadow of it. People will keep longing for more, keep wanting in person, and keep wanting their Creator. I think the future looks more like Star Wars than Star Trek: new and old coexisting, Tatooine and the Death Star, because sin is still around. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). In person was good enough for Jesus, and it's good enough for us.
What will change. Church planting will decentralize. Instead of ten or fifty multisite locations in one region, churches will have hundreds or thousands of pop up locations around the world, launched from an online audience through small groups that grow into something like an Extension. A church with a million locations in the next century isn't crazy. On the other end, more fully online churches will exist as missionary ministries reaching people who would never walk into your building, and they'll need to be linked to offline churches long term. And some denominations will go Amish, the way people said rock 'n' roll was of the devil. The extremes will get more extreme.
Fourth, companion experiences. Not media players, but decentralized website, app, or AI powered experiences that integrate your discipleship methodology, community spaces, and an automated next step protocol. A bot with your church's personality that answers most questions people currently want a pastor for, without waiting for a Zoom. I hope it doesn't hallucinate too much. This will scale discipleship in new ways and scare some people, the way translating the Bible into common languages scared the Catholic Church. They weren't wrong that people would misinterpret it. God did more through it anyway.
What are the big ideas?
Be cautiously hopeful. Digital is one of the major ways God will finish the Great Commission, more of the world will hear, and none of it replaces how we were wired to connect in person. The church isn't going anywhere.
Who is this chapter for?
Leaders anxious about AI, VR, and whatever comes next, and the ones who think none of it will touch their church.
What is the Big Idea of chapter 15?
Big Idea: The church isn't going anywhere, and God will continue to expand his Kingdom on earth through the in-person church and even in new digital ways unknown to us right now.
What else do people ask?
Will virtual reality replace in person church?
No. The book argues in person gathering is here to stay, that humans will always long for more than a digital connection, and that even the online world depends on real world devices and people.
What is the Star Wars versus Star Trek point?
Star Trek imagines a utopia where humanity outgrows its problems. Star Wars shows new and old technology coexisting because conflict persists. The book expects a Star Wars future for the church: different, but not too different.
Will churches use AI?
Yes. The chapter predicts AI powered companion experiences with a church's own personality that guide people to personalized next steps and answer common questions, integrated with community spaces and a discipleship pathway.
What is the decentralized church of the future?
A church with a broadcast style hub and hundreds or thousands of small pop up locations in homes and venues worldwide, launched from online outreach and small groups rather than expensive campus plants.