7 Steps for Using a Movie Clip in Your Sermon

Written by Don Pucik

Why tell a story when you can show it? Increasingly pastors are experimenting with the use of drama, props and film in the creative process of communicating God’s unchanging word. Our pews today are filled with several generations that respond easily and positively to film. Ever wonder what it takes to use a movie clip in a service?

Preaching with Bold Assurance

Here are seven steps you can take to integrate a movie clip into a service.

1. Prepare your message early
The message always comes first. Never search for a sermon to illustrate a good film clip! All of the media in the world will not help a poorly-prepared sermon! And the sooner you begin work on the message, the more likely you will be able to locate and effectively use an appropriate film clip.

2. Identify the most important point or theme of your message
Identify the point you want the congregation to remember the most. Film clips have potential to “burn” the key point of the sermon into the minds of your people - they may distract from your primary message. If you illustrate a secondary point with a great clip, you can undermine the most important truth you were trying to communicate.

3. Establish a “family-friendly” standard for the film clips you will use
Determine ahead of time which films you will use based on the content and rating. As a rule of thumb, I will not use clips from R-rated films. Your members will often want to watch the rest of the film after seeing the clip. It is easy for young children, teenagers, and even adults to assume you are endorsing the entire film by the use of a clip. If you have not personally viewed the entire film, thoroughly investigate the content before using a clip, regardless of the rating it may have received.

4. Make time to search for the film clip that best illustrates the point
If you find yourself “stretching” to connect the film clip to your point, lose it. It may be a great clip, but you want the very best visual illustration. When you go to the movies or watch a rented video or DVD, keep a notepad nearby (I am not kidding). Jot down the ideas for clips as you view a film. File the ideas topically for later use.

5. Observe the copyright law governing the use of film clips
Secure written permission to use the clip by contacting the production company that owns the film or by subscribing to a video licensing service (Motion Picture Licensing Corporation http://www.mplc.com/main.htm or Christian Video Licensing Inc. http://www.cvli.org). Through an annual subscription, a video licensing service grants you access to use the films of several major production companies (though not all are included). The FBI warning at the beginning of most videos limits the viewing of most films for home use only. Take time to be legal (U.S. Copyright Office http://www.loc.gov/copyright/)

6. Prepare to use the film clip in your worship service
Once you have chosen a film clip, mark down the beginning time and the ending time (or the scene number if using a DVD). Prepare the operator of the equipment and test it before the service for sound quality, volume and timing. If possible, the operator should bring down the lights and bring up the film simultaneously.

Consider your comments into and out of the clip ahead of time, and give the operator a cue phrase to begin the clip. Long delays in starting the film are distracting. If you use the clip in multiple services, be sure the operator cues it up properly for next time.

7. Don’t over-use film clips
Use film clips sparingly to maintain value to your congregation. Good film clips are a lot of work to find and use with excellence. Less is better over time in order to retain the highest level of interest and educational benefit.

A movie clip is a story brought to life on a screen. Jesus embraced and communicated stories that captured the imagination of ordinary people and lodged truth deep into their thoughts. With the aid of the Holy Spirit, we can still do the same today!

Be sure to check "Resources for Finding, Evaluating, and Selecting Movie Clips" below ...

About Don Pucik

Don is the Associate Executive Director of the Arkansas Baptist Convention and former editor of the Pastors Today Newsletter. Serving churches in Mississippi, California and Louisiana for over 20 years, he and his wife Gail now live in Arkansas with their six children. Don maintains a ministry of consulting and encouragement to pastors through EquippingSaints.com.

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