Below is a summary of the tips offered by Dave Adamson (@aussiedave) for preaching for YouTube. You can follow Dave on twitter, instagram or buy his fantastic book called MetaChurch.
H.O.T. Intro
Hook in first few mins (unless you need to intro yourself)
“The Bible can be so complicated, right? So how do you get the most out of it?”
“We all have difficult people in our lives, so what is the best way to deal with them?”
Outcomes should be visible and explicit to your audience
“Now, in this message, I’m going to share Jesus’ example of a simple, powerful prayer.”
“By the end of my message, you’ll hear Jesus’ most powerful antidote to a fearful life.”
Transitions that seamlessly move from one section to the next
“I’ll start by asking you a question I already know the answer to..”
“To do this, I want to tell you about the time my family and I…”
“To understand this well, let’s look at the symbol Jesus used to describe…”
Jump Cuts
When using a single camera make use of a jump cut - making the person speaking appear closer to the camera than the previous shot (approx 135%) - every 8-20 seconds.
Simple Full-Screen Slides
Full-screen slides introduce a “pattern interruption” that keeps screen audiences engaged. Keeping these slides as simple and short as possible - maxing out at 40 words per slide even when quoting scripture - is critical to effective screen-based communication. Using white text on a plain black background with highlighted words in yellow helps with clarity and attention.
Short (< 12 minute) Messages
The average length of a U.S. sermon is 37 minutes. The average length of a YouTube video is 11 minutes and 42 seconds. Aim for that at the most. Jesus’ once preached a one-sentence sermon: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:12 NIV)
Credit for YouTube tips to: Dave Adamson (@aussiedave)