Choosing to Preach Discussion

re: #16 - Is PowerPoint Worth It?

Posted by George Bedlion on Dec. 03, 2007 at 00:56

Sometimes the more complex your sermon is the more things seem to go wrong. But I feel that if we let this fear keep us from branching out and using new technologies and mediums than we are holding our own sermon development back. Preachers do need to be sensitive to the helpfulness and appropriate nature of PowerPoint to a particular sermon. It can be very helpful when used tastefully. We live in a very visual world with many visual learners so why wouldn’t we use, or at least try to use, these types of technologies to enhance and expand our ability to communicate God’s word. Besides, many people find that PowerPoint taglines really help gel and connect their sermons in their own minds and make it flow more smoothly to the listener.

re: #16 - Is PowerPoint Worth It?

Posted by Marian Tong on Oct. 22, 2007 at 21:04

I guess whether or not PowerPoint is effective is depending on the preacher’s style. Personally it is not my style, and I don’t think I’ll use that very often unless I want to illustrate some findings where it will help the congregations to understand about the settings and backgrounds. It’ll actually confuse me more because I can’t multi-task myself. If I’m not familiar with the computer I won’t even risk giving a try.

My experiences in two different churches taught me two things: one church said the PowerPoint background should be as static as possible because it’ll take away people’s attentions when it is too graphical. One church uses insightful backgrounds and beautiful pictures as backdrops of each slides and you’ll find exciting to see them. I found both practices interesting – because it does distract me somehow when I focused on the pictures and lost the lines, so the ways of using static background does really help me to keep focus on the meaning of the words in worship songs. However, some pictures do draw me into deep thinking and I become more touched by the worship, because something on the PowerPoint background reminds me of God’s grace on my life. So I believe that it really depends on situation and the population – if there are lots of elderly I may not use this approach, while if I have a full house of kids and youths I may try to use it.

re: #16 - Is PowerPoint Worth It?

Posted by Thomas Calamunce on Oct. 05, 2007 at 11:58

PowerPoint, as I have seen it is often not effective. In other classes I have been taught that these type of visuals should be five words or less. Today the visual of PowerPoint is used as a substitute for the printed text. Putting full passages of text on the screen takes people out of their Bibles so they do not even know which book comes first Joshua or Isaiah. To show short attention grabbing statements can be effective but I think that we need to recognize that the attention zone of the listener is so small as it is we want them to look up get the idea fast and then move back down to the speaker.

re: #16 - Is PowerPoint Worth It?

Posted by Chris Synesael on Feb. 28, 2007 at 02:55

i have never actually used powerpoint when i preach, for a couple of reasons. the biggest being time, the other is that i felt that it took away from my message unless done really well. i dont want people looking at the screen, or writing in an outline, i want them to be looking at me…hanging on my every word…i am not sure if that is realistic or not, but it is my desire.

re: #16 - Is PowerPoint Worth It?

Posted by Jon Mair on Feb. 08, 2007 at 00:24

From my undergraduate training in business administration I have learned the great importance of PowerPoint. Over my four years earning my BBA I also learned a lot about making an effective PowerPoint presentation, but I also learned to have a backup plan. I think PowerPoint can be very effective in reaching because it allows for the communication of bite-size pieces of information that are more likely to stick with the listener. In preparation for a sermon there are some main ideas and points that get developed. In the PowerPoint it is simply a matter of putting that concise statement on the screen as "food for thought." I don’t think the PowerPoint is something that needs to be agonized over too much but some effort to create concise statements will make it more effective. The strength of using PowerPoint is that it plays to another of our senses and therefore enhances the ability of the listener to remember what was said. If something happens and it can’t be used it isn’t the end of the world but perhaps you could have a flip chat with the same info on the stage. There are many ways around it and so the same concept can still be used. But I don’t think it is the end of the world if it is missing because twenty years ago it wasn’t even a option and people still heard from God.

re: #16 - Is PowerPoint Worth It?

Posted by Aaron Richert on Feb. 05, 2007 at 17:51

I’m a big fan of PowerPoint, mainly because unless a speaker is really dynamic, I have a hard time staying focused without having something visual to keep me on track. I personally think most pastors have more important things to do than spend hours and hours on powerpoint presentations, so if someone in the church is willing to do this, I think teaming up can be a great thing. If there isn’t someone like this, even having a good image and the title, along with verses being used in the message are helpful for keeping people focused. If for whatever reason the powerpoint isn’t working, it isn’t a huge deal and the sermon will still be very effective. If it is working, then you have an added visual aspect.

re: #16 - Is PowerPoint Worth It?

Posted by Michelle Young on Feb. 05, 2007 at 12:00

Powerpoint has its pros and cons, but personally I have found that powerpoint almost always distracts my attention from what is being said to what is on the screen. I believe a good preacher can grasp the attention of the listeners with mere words and body language. This allows listeners to create images in their head and allow them to think more for themselves. On the contrary, studies have shown that people in general remember better when two senses are being used (read and hear) rather than one during the learning stage. So it’s a tough decision. I would say, unless there is a lot of backup in terms of technical support, as well as time to make the powerpoint, I wouldn’t bother.

re: #16 - Is PowerPoint Worth It?

Posted by Philip Yung on Feb. 01, 2007 at 23:58

If PowerPoint is used effectively and affectively to present images that draw the listener deeper into the experience of the sermon, then time needs to be put into the careful choice of the visual. People today are inundated with text. Therefore the slide presentation should not bear so much text that the listeners become overwhelmed. Keeping things simple requires discipline. Keeping things simple requires careful reflection and intentionality.