Watching the Game Tape
I grew up in a family that played sports. Every night I felt like I was playing or practicing for one of the many sports I took part in growing up. Whether pitching or catching in baseball, playing small forward or power forward in basketball, or running cross-country, I learned the need for game tape. I always had to look back over the areas where I was strong and the areas where I need to grow. Game tape made me a stronger athlete!
Now that I have been in ministry for eighteen years, game tape mentality is still a weekly habit that I do. Are you someone who watches game tape of your sermons and services? I know what you are going to say, “Scott it is awkward to watch myself on video.” I hear what you are saying, but game tape is pivotal for your ministry and you to grow. I want to share with you today Five Reasons to watch the Game Tape of your services and your messages.
1. Game tape allows you to learn and grow as a speaker. When you watch yourself and your messages, it allows you to examine whether your points were delivered correctly to your audience. Also, looking at your game tape allows you to learn your strengths as a speaker. But also realize that you will learn about your weaknesses.
2. Game tape allows you to evaluate your audience. Many times, we leave our small groups or services wondering if we landed the plane in our service. Did we connect with our students, and did they understand our message? Game tape allows you to learn cues and what part of your message and service connected with your audience.
3. Game tape allows you to evaluate your service. Sometimes we need to look at our service from an outsider perspective and realize that there are some elements that may not be up to the standard we have set. Maybe there are issues in the welcoming of students, the game, worship, or the message. Examining game tape helps you see elements that may need to change in your ministry, which leads to raising the bar in your ministry.
4. Game tape allows you to evaluate your body language. Your body language says more than you realize when you speak. I have learned recently that I have been putting one hand in my pocket when sharing a pivotal point with our students. Why is that important? Because a hand in my pocket means that what I am saying is not a big deal or important. Studying your body language helps you become a stronger communicator.
5. Game tape allows you to examine your live streaming. Watching your services allows you to examine the quality of your live streaming. It may look amazing on your computer or camera, but how does your service look to those at home watching? Watching your message and service helps your ministry have a great impact on families and students who are at home.
Take some time this week and start building a routine and habit of watching game tape. Share below how watching game tape has changed your ministry.
