The Bible In One Hand, The Smartphone in the Other: The Great Commission in the Age of Social Media Open Access

Abstract

An analysis of the benefits of social media to fulfilling the Great Commission in the 21^st Century

Rev. Dr. Bryan Scott Holley, Emory University, Candler School of Theology, Atlanta, Georgia

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, most churches had not explored much less engaged social media as a tool to fulfill the Great Commission as found in Matthew 28. Instead, many ministers and churches viewed social media as an obstacle, or enemy to fulfilling the calling to discipleship of Jesus Christ. The Coronavirus changed everything. Churches were forced to shutter their services, launch online ministries, and re-evaluate their postures toward technology and social media. The following project will affirm the value of social media to fulfilling the Great Commission, utilize the Gospel of Matthew as a strategy for ministry in the age of social media, and suggest guidance for imagining and implementing digital discipleship in 21^st Century churches.   

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School	Candler School of Theology
Department	Ministry
Degree	DMin
Submission	Dissertation
Language	English
Research Field	Religion, Clergy Theology Religion, Biblical Studies
Keyword	smartphone Great Commission Bible Matthew 28 social media
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Jennifer R Ayres, Emory University
Committee Members	Walter T Wilson, Emory University

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