The Paperless Pulpit - part 2
This is part 2 of The Paperless Pulpit series started earlier today. I hope that you are enjoying it thus far. If you need to catch up with things, check out part 1 here, and then come back to part 2. The final, part 3, will come towards the end of the day. There will also be a full page version of this series availiable for those that would want to download this to their PDA or save it to their computer for a more convenient reference.
The Paperless Pulpit
(or how to preach with your PDA; part II)
Have your Outline Ready at a Glance
Just like putting together paper notes or outlines, paperless preaching requires solid planning. After your “outline” is prepared, formatting it for mobile use on the handheld can be done in the following way:
#1 Have your outline or notes formatted using Docs2Go with clear headings,fonts, colors, highlights, indentions, bullets, and / or numbering etc.
Whatever scheme allows you to find your place and flow from one point to the next the easiest. Take care to put your notes in an order and separation so that each tap of the directional button gives a complete list of each section of information. In other words, when a sentence or note continues from one screen to the next, it cannot be seen at a glance and will require scrolling. Stylus usage is distracting and sluggish. For example, an ideal situation would be to have four points and be able to see each one in an entire screen by 4 simple taps of the d-pad. Finally, Docs2Go allows different view settings from tiny to large, so find the one that is the best balance of viewing and content for you.
Pictures (will open in new window)
Sermon notes originating page in landscape
Sermon notes page 2 with one press of d-pad
#2 Have your Scriptures Ready at a Glance (Two options)
The first option is to cut the Scriptures needed from the Bible and paste them into your notes for instant access. This keeps you from having to swap to another program. This works well for short passages, but can be difficult and limiting if reading a longer set of Scriptures because it can go across multiple screens. Also, if you want to read a passage on the fly that occurs before or after your planned text, then you’ll not have it readily available. Flexibility is very important, so don’t let the PDA become a limit to you.
The second more powerful option is to use bookmarks and highlighting in BibleReader to easily access your texts. All programs used should have a hard button programmed on your PDA so that they are instantly available with one handed use. Assign each Scripture to a bookmark in BibleReader. Assign one of your hard buttons to “bookmarks” within BibleReader. I personally use the Voice Recorder button on my T3. This button assignment only functions within BibleReader, so when I leave this program, everything returns as normal. This way you can simply tap the hard button (Voice recorder or other) and a menu list drops down with all your bookmarked Scriptures. Use the D-pad to scroll to the Scripture desired, and tap the select button. Bingo! You are there before the thin pages in the crowd stop turning. While they are searching, you are still preaching. For each successive text simply repeat the steps above. To return to your notes, simply tap the button assigned to Word2Go and you are there. Both Word2Go and Bible Reader return to their “last point” so it seems that both programs are running the whole time even though they are not. Most Palm devices running Garnet should be very quick in this regard.
Another help with Scriptures is to highlight the exact verses that you want to read with a color in BibleReader. This way if you plan to read two or more Scriptures beginning at the bookmark point, they will already be highlighted for you, so you’ll know where to start and stop without even looking at verse numbers. Since you have the Bible open to the desired location, you can read farther or read before what you originally prepared, if led to do so. This offers flexibility.
Pictures (will open in new window):
First: highlighted texts upon opening of BibleReader
Second: highlighted texts selected by bookmark
Whenever you get your note or read from a text and you need to preach or teach a point that you have simply drop your PDA into your pocket and you are totally free. If you need the next point, text or quote, then your PDA is right with you for instant reference.
Note: BibleReader does not yet allow one handed operation of Scripture lookup. So if you are led to go to a text that was not prepared beforehand, then the stylus must come out. Although not desirable, this can be done by announcing the Scripture and while the people go there, you can use the on-screen menu to find it quickly and return the stylus.
posted by Antoine @ 8/05/2005 12:06:00 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Very interesting posts! Of course, these greatly appeal to preachers or leaders who preach on occasion. I appreciate the thoroughness. I especially liked the fact about disabling your alarms and other related hacks. I remember preaching and I forgot to disable my Dimmer app and it'd turn off after every minute.
I've always felt limited in a huge gathering of people, say the 100's or 1,000's. I don't know, it may be some of my old school tendencies that crop up. However, I felt fine doing it in a smaller setting of 10's, say for example a leadership workshop.
However, one of my limitations when I was preaching on a full time basis in the Philippines was cultural (and maybe, economical). Whenever I'd preach in front of a group in a third world setting with Palm in hand it only served to distance me from them than draw me closer. Part of this is that most of the people weren't too tech savvy...another part was that to the general public, it seemed a bit of a dichotomy to be a missionary who depended on the church's finances to be using something that generally costs most peoples salary for 2-3 months. How do I know? Part of it was my conscience striking me while on stage and another was input from people in the audience who felt that the image didn't go well and served more as a distraction from God's Word than anything else. I didn't want to go up on stage every time and explain that this was a gift from family in the US and I couldn't afford it on my own. However, in the economically-strong, tech-savvy environs of the US, that shouldn't be a problem. Just thought I'd ramble a bit...
Another option for preaching, but I've yet to test, is to use the PowerPoint apps from DocsToGo. Can put it in slideshow mode or just tap the screen to progress the message as you preach. Hmmmm....
I'm high-tech and have used much of these elements in my ministry, even sermons. The context is the key to success. I enjoy preaching with the use of a full-text message reduced to a PowerPoint presentation and then delievered. In all cases, as you suggested, it takes time to develop what works before you go on the road with it. You have given some very helpful hints, suggestions, and ideas which I will introduce in my list of do's and don'ts when using technology.
To be prepared to share the Word of God requires prayer, study, writing skills, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit to take what has been prepared and touch the lives of your congregation. The use of technology can add to ones getting the message to the people, especially in a culture that learns visually, takes in 80+% of all its information via a visual means, (TV the major aspect, Computer/Internet the second.) With a good PowerPoint sermon, I find I can say more in less time and hit all of the points of my message. Most of the time, as a guest speaker, I'm told I will be given 20 min. to speak but in reality, it is generally 15-17 minutes. This requires one to hit the target with each point and try to conclude on time.
Finally, continue this course of using technology in your ministry. Like the printing press, the use of PDA's, Internet, Websites, and TV can increase your ministry impact for the Lord.
Oh! I have served as the webmaster for a Regional Denominational Website for 18 years (WWW.ABC-MI.ORG). I now speak about 40 Sunday's a year in the 86 congregations which I have been called to serve as Associate Regional Pastor, ABCNJ - South Jersey Associations.
I appreciated your contribution to OliveTree.com too!
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