I felt like I was on the road to Damascus.  Preaching into a spotlight.  Thankfully I was preaching on just two verses (a unit of thought in Proverbs), and didn’t need to read anything.  But not being able to see the listeners was tough.  Eye contact was all an illusion if people felt like there was any since I could see only the burning light before me.

Sometimes it is worth tolerating this kind of lighting.  Always it is worth thinking through these practical details to make sure nothing is hindering the communication of God’s Word.  Do the lights where you preach help or hinder you?  Do they throw shadows on your face so that you look like a skeleton?  Do people have to strain to see you seeing them?

On the other hand, no matter what lighting you have, there is another thing to consider.  No lighting can help your eye contact if your head is in your notes.  Communication requires connection, location of lights and numbers of notes can hinder or help your preaching.