preaching with powerpoint

[tinytim]

Thanks alot

 

[tinytim]

Here is another one:
http://northmillcreek.bravehost.com/The%20Church%20under%20Investigation.swf

 

[corndogggy]

I for one find it horribly distracting. Even if there is only text on the screen, everybody stares at the text, the turn into mindless zombies. However, usually it goes well beyond just text and there are pictures and videos and animated slides... it drives me nuts. Many times I will purposely bury my nose in a bible and purposely not look up because it is so distracting and silly looking. My favorite is when the computer starts having problems and right in the middle of a sermon there are huge PC error messages going crazy on the wall. Sometimes we just need a break from technology, "less is more" in this scenario. Truly effective speakers have no need for powerpoint, it's just a fun toy to some. For your use, index cards work just fine. If you really need the help of a computer, print it out and take it to the pulpit. If other people really need an outline, print out a mini-outline on the hand-outs. I just don't think its needed whatsoever and it does more harm than good due to distraction problems.

 

[rbell]

Truly effective speakers have no need for powerpoint

Glad you have the learning style that doesn't need visual help. Good for you. But you're a minority in the population.

But I disagree with your statement. I will agree--effective speakers are effective whether or not powerpoint is available. But it, like other tools used wisely, can make a good speaker better.

 

[tinytim]

a couple weeks ago, during Bible Study on Wed, my laptop adapter quit working... and my battery only was about 1/4 charged, so there I was using pPT when my laptop went dead... AND I didnt print any notes out! During Bible Study, I just put the point up on the screen, and then we discuss it.

But there I am without notes and no pPT, only The Bible... guess what? It still was a good bible Study... whether or not we have PPT, I can still teach and preach effectively. It is just extra that may help someone. Everyone at church says they like it. (yes I have spoken to everyone)

So it might not work at your church, but for the church that God has called me to, it works. I had never used it until I came here. The previous pastor had used it, and I heard that some liked it, so I thought, why not.... if I want them to respond to the messages, maybe I should be willing to learn something and change.

I know Baptists hate to change, but it didnt hurt this ol man... not this time....

Oh, and for the distractions, like when something goes wrong with the PC, I have instructed my ppt guy to just shut it down if the pc starts acting up...If it becomes a distraction --- it is out of there.

The only times I use pictures is during the opening illustration, and maybe the closing illustration.
unless I want to use a graph or something to help show my point...

Speaking about distractions.. I was preaching one time and our sound system somehow started picking up a neighbor's telephone conversation... so there I was preaching and this woman's voice was coming across the speakers!!! plus she was using foul language! Now that was distracting!

 

[corndogggy]

If it works, that's great, but pay attention to people next time you use it. At least in usage that I have witnessed, people over-focus on the computer display on the wall, even if it is an extremely simple outline, and I tend to be one of them. That's all I'm saying. I just think it's distracting. They pay too much attention to it. I don't think people use it as a tool... it actually becomes the main attraction, and that's what I don't like. The guy behind the pulpit should be the main attraction.

I'm a programmer and stare at a computer screen all week long, so it's not like I'm just against change or have a phobia against technology. I simply don't want to stare at a computer screen while at church, it's like I can't escape it. If you use it, at least consider trying to keep it as simple as possible, which it sounds like you are doing. I think this is a big problem of what I've seen, people get too fancy.

I've been to alot of programming training seminars and have heard hundreds of good speakers, and yes it is very true that highly technical presentations are very effective while using powerpoint. In fact, it's near impossible to go to a session without them using it, and often people still can't absorb it all, so the ask the presenter how to get the powerpoint slides on the web. I have just yet to hear a sermon that is anywhere near this kind of technical level, and it's a totally different atmosphere anyway... usually people don't even take notes.

 

[tinytim]

I guess this is where the KISS acromym applies...

Keep
It
Simple
Stupid!

I had an old preacher tell me that once... don't overkill!

I have noticed them looking at the screen....but I want them too.
And then they look right back at me to hear what I have to say about the point on the screen.
I have only referred to the screen one time, and that was when I was using a graph....to illustrate a point I just made.
(which is here. "the church under investigation" It is the first one I had ever done, and I wanted to show them the graph so I thought, why not just do the whole sermon on ppt) That's how it started.
Other than that, I just preach away and ignore the screen. I don't refer to it at all. I trust the ppt guy (which happens to be my 14 yr old son) to keep up, and my wife says he is very efficient... like he can read my mind.


And something I have found out when I was working with the youth:
Just because they are not looking at me does not mean they are not listening and absorbing.

So it doesnt bother me that they are not looking at me (which may be a good thing.... Im not that handsome!)
As long as they are understanding what God is giving them, I am happy.

 

[corndogggy]

I've also noticed that it gets on my nerves when the content that is projected is not in outline form. For example, I want to see a broad outline, and want to see how one subject is connected to the next, and know what to expect, things like that. I don't like it when the content ends up being a single point per slide and slides are being ran through quickly. If this is taken to the extremes, it's almost like the sentence on the wall is exactly what is being said. If slides are used, I like them to be a broad overview with extremely important points showing up on the screen, I don't like it when the powerpoint presentation ends up being an overanalyzed animation of exactly what is being said. Plus, if you go into too far with detail, the sermon can seem too prepared and not as sincere. If used properly, I think it's a great tool, but some of these things I've mentioned can contribute to the slides just being a distraction as I mentioned above. I think people need just enough to stay on track and to be able to tie the entire sermon together and to really remember very important points, and that's it... just don't turn it into a video game and you'll be alright. :thumbs:

 

[tinytim]

I prefer preparing the slides with the main point at the top, and then as I reveal the subpoints, I do it underneath the main point one at a time. This way, they stay connected...

when I move on to another main point, I always come up with a good transition, and do it the same way....

Also, sometimes, I will put the verse I am expounding on at the top of the slide, and list the points below it... one at a time...

I agree we need to tie them together... if not, it is just shabby presentations.

A video game.....hmmmm. never thought of that!!! lol

Maybe I should be paying attention to the screen... my teen son that runs the ppt may be playing a video game and the congregation just watching it!!!!

 

[Hope of Glory]

If I had a ppt projector, I think I would use it most often for things that I use overheads for now. Things such as maps, or a photo of the Judean wilderness, or a picture of Caesarea Philippi that paints a visual image of the text.

If someone wants to donate a projector, I'll test this out and let you know how it works.

 

[Tom Bryant]

truly effective speakers probably don't NEED ppt... but not every preacher has great strengths in this area and some ineffective listeners do need it.

The thing I appreciate about it is that if I use a large number of verses in a message, I don't lose people who can't find the passage and I don't waste time waiting for people to turn to it.

There are some weaknesses, and anything can be abused. But I'm glad I have and use it. We may not like that it's true but we live in a visual age.

 

[corndogggy]

I will say that I do really like verses on the screen. Why? Yes I might have my bible, but my favorite bible is a student's edition of the New International Version, because first of all, each chapter has a half page explanation telling you what to pay attention to plus it has inline side comments explaining complex things, and secondly, I would rather that a bunch of bible scholars who know alot more than me actually translate the text in real english so that I can understand it. So basically, I get tons more out of this bible than others. If somebody who doesn't really analyze what they are reading reads a plain King James version, it is my opinion that they will not understand many things and just blow right over some things. However, most preachers obviously like to use the King James edition. But, if we follow along in our bibles and the preacher is reading a verse word for word, the language is often completely different, I spend alot of time just trying to keep up with the exact point that he was reading from due to the different translations. HOWEVER, if the King James version he is reading from is plastered on the wall, it is tons easier for me to look up and follow along on the wall, then when he's finished, I can look back down and continue reading the version that actually makes sense to me. :laugh:

 

[tinytim]

First Tom, I am actually glad we live in a visual era... I enjoy it...

Corndoggy, that is why I carry a parallel Bible, elsewhere... it has the KJV, NIV, NLT, and NASB!

Well, I was a youth pastor and could usually follow along with the students no matter what version they carried.

 

[mcdirector]

Please pardon my intrusion here. I'm not a pastor. I don't play one on TV.

What I am is a teacher who uses PPT and has my own website.

Recently, an email for software that will covert PPTs to flash for websites came across my cyber desk. It was pricey enough that I wasn't interested.

I started doing some digging and this can be done manually too.

This site has a set of fairly simple instructions on how to do it. The flash will not be as large a file for a website. http://www.tc.umn.edu/~kurtis/flash/ppt_fla/
I haven't tried it yet, so I don't know exactly how easy (or not) it is. I do plan to try it though.

If you are interested in software, I did my search using the terms "powerpoint flash conversion."

Thanks for all the hardwork each of you puts into each week -- teaching, training, visiting, calling . . .

 

[tinytim]

Thanks, bitsy... i have been looking for something like that.

I have been using Openoffice, impress and exporting the files as a flash.
It has worked for me so far, but I will check out your link later.

Thanks for the imput.

 

[Hope of Glory]

The thing I appreciate about it is that if I use a large number of verses in a message, I don't lose people who can't find the passage and I don't waste time waiting for people to turn to it.

I use verse lists in such a situation currently. I don't like using them, as I would prefer people to see it in the Bible with their own eyes, but sometimes there are so many verses that becomes distracting. For example, a while back, I did a two part sermon on the doctrine of correction. When printed out, there were 4 pages of verses. In some places, the sermon simply quoted 2 or 3 verses in a row. So, the verse list worked well.

I think that it would work well with ppt, also, but I would probably limit it to the times that there are a ton of verses or maps or photos of places.

 

[Hope of Glory]

I could have used a ppt projector last night. We were studying doctines of demons, and I was trying to make a point about demons are not necessarily what Hollywood has presented. I had photos of demons ranging from hideous monsters to cartoon characters and from those who abhorred them to those who embraced them. Because of the limit of an overhead projector, I had to make the pictures small and put them on one sheet. With ppt, I could have scrolled through each individual picture. It was effective the way it was presented, but I think it would have been more effective the other way.

 

[tinytim]

HoG, (man, I shouldn't use your screen name initials!):laugh:

It sounds like God may be impressing you to start using PPT. Even if only for teaching, it really comes in handy.

And if you don't have a projector, use a TV (that would depend on how big your class is of course) just hook your TV up to your laptop. and run the program that way.

And if you dont have PPT, you can download Openoffice Impress for free. at www.openoffice.org

So all you really need to use it in a small class is your computer, TV, and the free ppt program from openoffice.org..

with Impress you can even export your slides as a flash program. I have started doing this for our church's website... if you want to see and example, go here.

 

[Hope of Glory]

I have ppt, and I want to use it, but I don't have a projector, and our TV has no S-Video hookup, which seems to be the only way I can export from my computer. We do have a screen in the front of the auditorium, but funds are a problem to get either a projector or a new TV for the church.

Edited to add: I don't mind the initials. I've been called much worse. I do like the little "o", though!

 

[tinytim]

I have never seen one, but I wonder if there is one.... a converter to convert "S" video into A/V or even coax?

Sorta like the adapters that are needed to connect a DVD player to a older TV... they run under $10 now...

Or I wonder if it would work if the "S" video was connected to the DVD input, then the DVD to the TV?

Just thinking outloud