Would Paul use PowerPoint?

Here Richard looks at the advantages and disadvantages of using presentation packages in church services.

Unchurched Ursula and Pagan Pete nervously smooth down their 'Sunday best' as they park outside the church where their nephew is being 'done'.

Pete's brother is a 'born again-er', but the last time Pete attended church was when his father died. He doesn't associate 'church' with happy memories. All that fiddling around with hymn books and then feeling like a fish out of water when everyone within sight seems to know instinctively where to turn to in their Bible when the reading is announced.

But what Pete hates most is long sermons. More than ten minutes and he's had enough. And the minister-man at his brother's church doesn't half like the sound of his own voice. 40 minutes last time!

But what's this? A big screen behind the pulpit; adverts about church life scroll through on it before the service; the songs all appear automatically on the screen and even the readings as well! And best of all - the preacher-man uses it with his sermon! 40 minutes is still a bit much, but at least when his attention wanders Pete is able to pick up the thread quickly again because the sermon headings appear, and the Bible verses he uses come up, and every now and again there's a picture or a map that appears to illustrate what he's on about.
'Maybe this guy is worth listening to after all...', Pete thinks to himself.

Is visual good?

The use of presentation software and projection facilities is becoming increasingly familiar in church services. But is this trend towards the visual a good thing? Are there any guidelines from God's Word with regard to this? What are the dangers and opportunities? Is it possible to make a case for the presentation?

Last time we looked at some biblical principles surrounding the use of presentation packages in church services. In this second article we look at the pros and perceived cons of using them.

Advantages

If used correctly - and this is a very important caveat - presentation software such as Microsoft PowerPoint can strengthen the traditional sermon rather than undermine it. These are some of the benefits we have discovered at our church since using it:

- Makes the sermon more accessible. Displaying sermon headings and Bible readings has the potential to increase the accessibility of the message for those who traditionally struggle with longer expository sermons. For example, new converts, young people and those whose first language is not English have all found the use of presentation software helpful in following the flow and structure of the sermon. If used correctly, visual aids can actually increase the effectiveness of the sermon.

- Can use more Scripture without breaking the flow of message. 'Secondary texts' can be put up on screen rather than simply quoted. This gives the listeners more time to digest the text and judge whether it supports the point being made. Moreover, if preferred, this can be done without the listener having to turn up the passage in their Bible, thus minimising disruption to attention.

- Bridges the culture gap. Even if many in our churches are used to sitting and listening to expository preaching, the vast majority of people in our communities are not used to it and therefore we need to put in place support structures to help bridge this culture gap. As a general rule, attendees of churches where expository ministry has a high profile tend to have a higher proportion of university-educated people or those converted from Christian backgrounds who are used to listening to extended monologues. Using visual supports for the sermon is one way we can move towards redressing this imbalance while at the same time retaining the traditional sermon.

- Makes the sermon more memorable. The visual stimulus makes it much more likely that outlines and key teaching points will be remembered. Subconsciously, the sermon outline is constantly reviewed as the sermon progresses.

- Better than handouts or notes. There is less a sense of the sermon being a lecture. Presentation software also minimises the loss of eye contact and adds to the overall drama of the sermon.

- Lengthens average attention span of listener. Research indicates that TV, computer games and the internet are drastically shortening attention spans. Most estimates now put the average attention span at something between 10-15 minutes. Using visuals, even if they are only text, can help lengthen this. Yes, using PowerPoint is a concession to our age, but so was the PA system, the organ and even seats at one time!

- Keeps congregation with the preacher, allows for greater understanding. Especially when exposition, time-line or geography is complex, maps can be displayed, historical time-lines can be shown, key words in texts can be highlighted and you can even put up the Greek or Hebrew if you want to! Using PowerPoint doesn't necessarily mean dumbing things down!

- Allows greater creativity. Presentation facilities can be used for displaying Bible readings, projecting songs, and displaying illustrations for children's talks. It can also be used for video/DVD clips, multi-media presentations and photographs, such as when a missionary visits. It can be used prior to the service for running church notices and welcome messages and in baptisms can be used with a live video feed so that everyone can clearly see what is going on in the baptistry.

Disadvantages?

- Doesn't the preacher lose eye-contact with his congregation? Is this a biblical necessity? It cannot be justified from Scripture that eye contact must be maintained at all times for a sermon to be powerful! Did Jesus always have eye contact with his congregations when there were 5,000+ people?

If careful thought is given to the placement of the screen (for example above the head of the speaker) then this isn't a significant problem.

- What about the added time involved in preparing presentations? This is a significant factor that would need to be considered. In a church where the pastor preaches twice on a Sunday, preparing presentations for both services would be very difficult, particularly if he is unfamiliar with the software. However, like anything, it would get quicker as expertise developed. An alternative would be for the preacher to email his outline to someone who could put together the presentation for him.

- What if the technology goes wrong? If it is set up right and the hardware involved is of the right specification and maintained regularly, this would happen very rarely. However, the sermon would never be absolutely dependant on the visuals and so this would not be a problem unless it was - an all-age service where the visuals were important for a children's talk. In any event do we apply this logic to the use of PA, electrical musical instruments or lighting?

- Can't PowerPoint distract from the message? If it is obtrusive or badly presented, yes. But if done sensitively, no. Don't be put off the medium because of bad examples.

- Doesn't PowerPoint distract the speaker himself? If he has to run it from the front, this could be the case. However, the easy alternative is to get someone else to run it and provide them with a set of notes they then follow. I give our computer operator my key headings and 'key sentences' that prompt him to move the presentation on. It at least makes the operator an avid listener!

- Can't the PowerPoint end up governing or unduly shaping the message? This is a danger with all illustrations: visual or otherwise! It can be overcome by discipline in the study and preparing the message first, before doing PowerPoint. This also ensures that first things are kept first!

- Won't projecting Bible texts affect Bible-bringing? Not if used carefully. This is not so much a problem for non-Christians, most of whom find it bewilderingly difficult to work their way around the Bible anyway and would probably appreciate being able to see texts on screen. It can be a concern for Christians, however. The solution to this is simple. The preacher doesn't display text from the main passage he is expositing, but does display 'secondary texts'.

As with most 'change' - especially technological - there are always objections and teething problems. Some anonymous wit once said: 'To err is human but to really foul things up requires a computer'. When it comes to presentation packages many churches seem to have imbibed a similar attitude and have an inherent resistant to anything remotely visual.

But for Pete's sake - give it a go.

The second of two articles

Is visual good?

Advantages

Disadvantages?

Richard Lacey

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