The other day I pointed out that businesses, along with many colleges, were discouraging the use of Powerpoint presentations. I updated it with a link to a site where someone had converted Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address into a Powerpoint presentation. I then concluded by asking “What does this tell us or say to us about the use of technology in our worship services today and tomorrow?” (See “Here’s Something Interesting”).
I received an e-mail the other day that asked what would happen if we gave treated our Bibles like we do our cell phones? There are a number of people who have posted that particular piece so I won’t add to the list. But it prompted me to think about text messaging and its impact on our culture. A search provided a link to a contest back in 2001 to rewrite the Lord’s Prayer as a text message (go here).
In response to my posting “Rock and Roll Revival Revisited”, Sarah Dylan Breuer noted that the music played during a worship has to resonate with the congregation. The same is true for technology; if the moment calls for a Powerpoint presentation, then use it. But if the moment doesn’t call for, don’t try to fit the two together.
So where does technology fit in a church? Is the means by which the message is given or is the message driven by the method? Do we continue to do the same thing every Sunday and hope that people get the message? Or do we try to do some things differently in hopes that people find church hip and totally cool? Or will we get so caught up in the process of the presentation that we forget what the message is?
Addendum - John Meunier asks “Is It the Business Model not the Theology?”. What drives how we build our church?
I like Power Point and use in my sermons because they present the message in a visual as well as an auditory fashion.. I think that communication is better when it involves more of the senses.. might be why some churches use incense in their services.. errr.. probably not
Comment by kansasbob — March 24, 2008 @ 10:27 am
I don’t think the the points of a sermon should be put up on Powerpoint. However, illustrations can work well. Don’t just tell people that a mature grapevine can be as thick as a tree trunk; show them a picture. Meditations with photos and music also work well. I like using Powerpoint PLUS hymn books for hymn-singing. May elderly people simply can’t see a screen and if everyone gets a hymn book whether they use it or not, then no one feels embarrassed.
Comment by PamBG — March 26, 2008 @ 8:31 am
Thanks to Kansas Bob and Pam for their comments.
I have no problems with someone using PowerPoint, if (and it is a big IF) it is done with thought and preparation. That is the point made in the two links that are in my previous post (“Here’s Something Interesting”). It should also be pointed out that I am red-green color blind. As a result, I have trouble distinguishing certain color combinations used in PowerPoint.
Also, not ever church is set up to use the technology and you cannot fit the technology if it won’t work.
There are many ways that technology can be used, both in the classroom and in the worship service. The problem is that we don’t take the time to prepare the presentation properly and we sometimes think that the presentation will “save” the message.
Comment by DrTony — March 26, 2008 @ 8:53 am
Many people don’t bring bibles to church so I think that even ill-prepared power point presentations can be beneficial if it makes the scripture more accessible. That said, I have to agree that it is annoying and pretty obvious when these presentations are slopped together.
And ditto Pam’s sentiments on pictures and even video.. some videos can really communicate well.. even when they are clips of secular movies
Comment by kansasbob — March 26, 2008 @ 7:23 pm