Comments on: Please Only PowerPoint on Purpose

By: James Wood

James Wood — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:05:26 +0000

Nice post.

I am a firm proponent of using PowerPoint in preaching. I’ve dedicated a blog to the topic. But I completely agree that PowerPoint needs to be used intentionally. Just projecting stuff for the sake of projecting stuff is terrible. That would be like just praying for the sake of praying instead of actually spending time speaking to God.

I wouldn’t go so far as to default to no PowerPoint, but that’s my preference. I would encourage people to not use it instead of using it poorly. I think one thing that would help tremendously is the use of the blank screen. There doesn’t always need to be an image or scripture up. Let the preacher preach and only project something that is salient to the sermon at the time that it is needed.

By: Jon Clayton

Jon Clayton — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:22:27 +0000

Thank you for the comment. I tend to use the words preach and teach interchangeably. I teach through the Bible book by book, chapter by chapter…

By: David Skorupa

David Skorupa — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:51:39 +0000

PowerPoint is like a loaded gun – you simply DO NOT place it in untrained hands and expect anything other than a bad outcome. Great post.

By: Charles

Charles — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 01:05:47 +0000

I have a more positive view of the use of PowerPoint. That being said, it is just a communicative tool. The improper use of any tool is inadvisable.

You should have the freedom to not use the tool but I sense that you might be protesting a bit much in your third paragraph. For example, I am not sure that many if any of the readers of your blog would use PowerPoint “just because they have a projector and a laptop.”

There is also an irony here, the “Bible in the lap” that you allude to would not have been a reality for about the first 1500 years of Christian preaching. While I encourage people to bring their Bibles, there is nary a Scripture that commands it. There is an advantage in having both a Bible in the lap and the Bible on a screen, particularly now with the proliferation of English translations and the technology that makes it possible.

Similarly, while I appreciate the Haddon Robinson quote: “A picture is not worth a thousand words (the people who make pictures came out with that!) Some words will never be captured in a picture,” I think an equally valid case could be made that some pictures cannot be captured in mere words.

I have some additional thoughts if you are interested on my blog: http://www.bibleexposition.net/2008/06/visual-media-in-preaching-and-teaching.html

By: TheDeeZone

TheDeeZone — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 01:44:48 +0000

I find that PowerPoint when used properly is good. However so many times PowerPoint is overused or used incorrectly. Many times I find PowerPoint distracting because of my computer background. If there are formatting mistakes on PowerPoint I find myself focusing on that.

By: Nathan Hyde

Nathan Hyde — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 00:20:33 +0000

I’d encourage preachers to consider the value of non-Christians being exposed to Scripture compared with the value of Christians bringing their Bibles to church.

By: Erik

Erik — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:08:10 +0000

Peter, I couldn’t agree more. Preachers who always have tons of verses on the Powerpoint simply give the person in the pew an excuse to not bring their Bible. If a map is needed or something like that, by all means, make it visible. However, powerpoint has replaced passion in the pulpit and has produced lecturers and teachers, not preachers who proclaim.

By: Nathan Hyde

Nathan Hyde — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:09:49 +0000

Great post, Peter! PowerPoint can be a real distraction if not used properly, and this post did a great job explaining the dangers.

I should add, however, that I believe the Scripture text is worth having on the screen every week. The benefits of doing so far outweigh any disadvantages.

Thanks for the encouragement to be selective and creative in our projection ministry!