I used Power Point (PP) slides with my sermon on Psalm 23 last Sunday. This raises some large questions. Are PP presentations compatible with preaching? If so, what is appropriate or inappropriate? What are the benefits and dangers of PP for preaching? Let me touch on these questions by describing my approach. I’m not insisting that you adopt it. I’m simply trying to identify the issues with which you must wrestle on your way to a wise decision about using or not using PP in your preaching.
Last week, about halfway through my sermon preparation, I realized that the right pictures might help my listeners experience the imagery of Psalm 23. So I went through some photos I’ve taken in Israel, as well as photos from the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands by Todd Bolen (see http://www.bibleplaces.com for more information). I selected about ten shots of bedouin shepherds, green pastures, quiet pools of water, etc., to go along with the images in the text. While I was at it, I found a couple pictures on the internet to use with a Mount Everest/Khumbu icefall illustration, and I retrieved a picture of Katie Couric to accompany a quotation (of hers) which I used in the sermon’s conclusion. I created only one “non-photo” slide. It showed the Hebrew term radaph (in both Hebrew text and English transliteration). I used it when I talked about how this term in Psalm 23:6 is better translated “chase” or “pursue” instead of “follow.” The entire PP presentation consisted of twelve slides
Here are a few more thoughts. I do not use PP images every week. Nor does my sermon depend on them. In fact, I rarely refer to them or say, “Look at the picture on the screens.” Instead, I give our tech person a script and depend on her or on him to project the pictures at the appropriate time.
Whenever I create PP slides to go with my sermons (about half the time), I project images instead of words. I do not use PP to project sermon outlines whether full or fill-in-the-blank. Some Christians eagerly and dutifully fill in outline blanks. But others chafe at it. Since it’s not a communication strategy of the biblical writers, I feel free not to use it. I’m especially baffled when I see this done in settings where the listeners have a post-modern bent. But I digress.
Also, I do not sacrifice time spent in exegesis or crafting the sermon to put together these kind of presentations. I carve out the extra two hours from somewhere else. Sometimes, I get help from artists or PP-savvy people in our congregation, but often I produce the PP slides by myself. I will not rely on PP to overcome ideas which are vague or words which are stale. So, I allow my sermons to be PP-enhanced. But I will not allow them to be PP-driven.
Posted by Steve Mathewson at 11:58 AM on May 1, 2007
Comments
Good thoughts on this, Steve. I find myself divided on the use of PowerPoint slides. I use them extensively when I teach in the classroom but I never use them when I preach. To be honest, I'm not sure why. My reluctance may be due to the amount of time required to produce quality slides. Poorly designed slides detract from the message. I worry that by using slides I short circuit God's most effective "visual" device, the human imagination. I try to rely on the power of language more than the power of the slide in my sermons. That said, I tend to enjoy good slides when others use them in their preaching.
Posted by: John Koessler on May 1, 2007
Hello Steve. I rarely use slideshows in my preaching. The last time I did was only because I need to begin by asking the audience, "Do you remember this?" and flash a picture of a toy we all knew as a kid. As much as possible, I too would like to stick to the biblical writers' communication strategy. Having said that, they occasionally use "visual aids".
But for preachers who're religiously slideshow-dependent, I recommend studying Steve Job's use of slideshows in his recent MacWorld address - his slides are simple, not wordy, and syncs with his talk. (Notice I use the word "slideshow" instead of "powerpoint".)
I recently showed the video in a preaching class. They loved it.
Posted by: Adrin Muñoz on May 1, 2007
Hi Steve,
I use ppts. in every message I preach in an effort to incorporate one more of the senses in the communication process. Some people are visual learners while others are audio learners. I want to communicate Biblical truths using what ever resources available. I feel Jesus did the same with object lessons of a handful of wheat or a fish. We live in a very visual culture (hence numerous video stores) and it may be a mistake not to incorporate visual learning experiences at every opportunity.
Posted by: Steven L. Bennett on May 3, 2007
Helpful comments!
John's reminder is critical. Whether or not we use slides, we must rely on the power of language. I fear diverting energy from the craft of choosing words to the task of creating slides.
Thanks, Adrin, for the heads up on Steve Job's study. Yes, simple and non-wordy is better!
Steven is right that the use of slides resembles Jesus' use of object lessons.
Posted by: Steve Mathewson on May 4, 2007
I assume you've seen some of the recent research. Here's a link:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/04/powerpoint_bad/
Posted by: Milton Stanley on May 4, 2007
Here's a bit of satire on the PP issue from Lark News: Vacationing pastor lets PowerPoint lead service
Posted by: Brian Grinder on May 7, 2007
When I preach, I always use a visual presentation to accompany it, and have for nearly a decade now. During most of that time I've also helped pastors with visual preaching resources (like at SermonView and Oxygen Church Media.) When I first got involved in this, I expected that younger people would be drawn to the PowerPoint slides and images. What I didn't expect was the positive response churches got from older members, especially those that have lost a bit of hearing in their old age. I've consistently heard feedback that having the Bible passages and key points projected helps this older crowd be able to follow along better.
Furthermore, every study I have read suggests that about 40% of the population increases their ability to learn from visual stimuli. One academic study showed a nearly four-fold increase in sermon retention when using PowerPoint graphics over just the spoken word.
Visuals have to be used appropriately, but to me a tool this helpful and this easy to utilize is a no-brainer.
Posted by: Larry Witzel on May 10, 2007
Hi Steve!
I have just recently started using PPT images to enhance my sermons. In the past I avoided it mostly because I feared it would take too much time. I discovered ,however, that a well placed image really does enhance a message and helps nudge my listeners to a deeper level of mental engagement and imagination. It does take a little more time, but not as much as I thought. Using something like google image really speeds up the search. I also keep the number of images to about a dozen. Less is usually more.
I don't use images every week. Sometimes not using PPT at all is a very effective tool. But, now I have one more tool in my toolbox.
Stephen Wiesenauer
Posted by: Stephen Wiesenauer on May 15, 2007