The first YouTube video was uploaded 10 years ago today. Numerous churches use the site to upload sermons or video blogs from their pastor. Others post promotional videos or behind-the-scenes footage.
Most of the time, these simply benefit members and few others, but occasionally church videos go viral and reach millions. Sometimes, it’s for something serious. Other times … not so much.
Here are our picks for 10 greatest viral church videos of all time.
10. Nu Thang
Michael Clancy was once an up-and-coming Christian rapper. Now, quite thankfully, he is a lawyer in Arizona with a great sense of humor about his infamous childhood performance.
9. Camel Falls into Crowd at Christmas Event
I’m sure adding a camel to the live Nativity at First Baptist West Palm Beach sounded like a great idea. It just didn’t turn out that way. Thankfully, no one was harmed.
8. Christian Girl Instagram
Comedian John Crist tapped into so many hilarious stereotypes with this parody video.
7. Homeless Man Sings with Carlos Whittaker
This was such a moving impromptu performance. If you haven’t seen this, make sure you take a moment to watch.
6. Kid Bible Stories: Episode 1
Sometimes kids get a little mixed up between the Bible story they are trying to remember and the most recent movie they saw—like the time the unforgiving servant avoided jail by singing “Let It Go.”
5. Evangelism Linebacker
This video featuring Derwin Gray went viral before we even had a word for it.
4. Jesus Wants the Rose
Matt Chandler describes a horrible sermon illustration that completely misses the point of the gospel.
3. Baptism Cannonball
This cannonball launched this kid into the baptistry and onto America’s Funniest Videos.
2. Parody of Modern Church Service
Even if you’ve never seen this video, you seen this before because it’s the perfect parody of the worship service that happens at many modern churches.
1. Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus
This spoken word video from Jefferson Bethke was everywhere. It sparked widespread discussion about what it means to follow Jesus and led to his book Jesus > Religion.
What was your favorite viral church video?
