Keynote Talk - The Medium is the Message? Discipleship in a Digital Age

Keynote Talk

15:00 - 15:50

, November 19

November 19

The Canadian medium theorist Marshall MacLuhan argued last century that the characteristics of a communication medium like television or the internet have a greater impact on society than the content they convey. He suggested that the medium itself is a extension of ourselves. When it comes to the Gospel, is the medium the message itself? Jesus is the Medium of the Father!

Macluhan said "Christ came to demonstrate God's love for man and to call all to Him through Himself as Mediator". According to him, "in so doing He became the message of God to man, God´s medium became God's message".

The digital culture has been affecting the way we interact with each other, with truth, and ultimately with reality. The dominance - some may say tyranny - of digital media has major implications for the way in which we communicate the Gospel and disciple people in our cities. How can we adapt to this shift and see the unchanging Gospel reaching through the cacophony of information and media to touch and turn the hearts of people in a digital age?

About the speaker

Jose de Segovia

José is a Spanish teacher, journalist, and theologian based in Madrid. He studied journalism at Universidad Complutense, theology at University of Kampen, and Bible at The School of Biblical Studies Welwyn. José leads several student groups including European Mission Fellowship and International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. He served as President of the Theological Commission on Spanish Evangelical Alliance (2001–2015) and represented the World Evangelical Alliance in Vatican dialogues. José pastors at Reformed Church in Madrid, where he lives with his wife Anneke and their four children.