To Preach With PowerPoint or Without?

If you are a preacher, why do you use PowerPoint? Take a moment to really think about it. Are you trying to look tech-savvy? Does the congregation expect it because “everyone does it”? Or does it actually help you communicate the message better? We should only use tools that serve a clear purpose.

You might think people remember a sermon better when they can both see and hear it. On his blog, Kenton Anderson asked a challenging question:

“Does PowerPoint Increase Retention?”

Do we dare ask our members what they remember a few weeks after a sermon? To protect our own feelings, we usually avoid asking. If visual slides guaranteed better long-term memory, the debate would be over. While a good graphic can make a complex topic memorable, is that the exception rather than the rule?

Personally, I rarely use slides when I preach. I am not against technology—I have used computers since I was a teenager, and I even went through a phase where I used PowerPoint for every sermon. Today, I only use slides when they help explain a difficult concept or connect a series of complex thoughts. PowerPoint is a tool that can either enhance or distract from the message.

Effective communication requires purpose

Conscientious preachers work hard on their sermon outlines. They carefully choose which verses, stories, and main points to include. In fact, good sermon preparation is often about removing unnecessary thoughts rather than adding more material.

So when your sermon is ready, ask yourself: what is the purpose of the PowerPoint?

How does each slide help get your message across? If it is just visual decoration, could you spend that preparation time on something more valuable? If you choose to use slides, give them the attention they deserve so they build a clear visual message.

There is a wise old saying:

“Speak only when it improves the silence.”

In the same way, use PowerPoint only when it improves the spoken message. Here are a few situations where slides are truly helpful:

• Historical maps and photos: Showing archaeological findings or historical settings.
• Multiple external quotes: Displaying comments from Bible scholars, experts, or news reports.
• Statistical data: Comparing numbers visually (like abortion statistics compared to population size).
• Rapid scripture references: Displaying a fast sequence of short verses to support a point without losing the audience’s focus.
• Processes and complex paths: Walking through step-by-step concepts.
• Detailed Bible study: Breaking down a difficult verse or passage word-by-word.

Some preachers argue that slides help the congregation stay focused on the main point. This can be especially helpful for parents managing small children or anyone who gets temporarily distracted.

Before digital projectors, speakers used overhead projectors with transparent sheets. Even further back, preachers used large charts drawn on white bedsheets. Many of those old hand-drawn charts were beautiful. One of my favorite childhood memories is standing on a stage to hold the corner of a bedsheet chart for a visiting preacher.

If you use PowerPoint when you preach, make sure it serves a clear purpose. Like any tool, slides are highly effective when used well, but they become a major distraction when used poorly.

Questions preachers should ask when using PowerPoint:

Should we put all the Bible verses on PowerPoint?

It is helpful to display verses when you are quoting several in a row. This lets the audience read along quickly without flipping back and forth in their Bibles. However, you should avoid putting long blocks of text on a slide that are too small to read.

Putting every verse on the screen has pros and cons.

On the positive side, it helps visitors who are not familiar with the Bible follow along easily. On the negative side, Christians can start relying on the screen instead of opening their own Bibles, where they can see the verses in context.

Personally, I put short verses on slides but ask the congregation to read longer passages directly from their Bibles. To help visitors, some churches place identical Bibles in the pews and announce the page numbers.

Should we use pictures representing Jesus?

Should you use artwork or drawings of Jesus on your slides? Many Christians object to this. Some believe it violates biblical principles about creating images of God, while others simply dislike the artistic style.

To avoid controversy, some speakers use silhouette images on the cross to make a point without showing a specific face. Another challenge is that many historical paintings depict Jesus as a European, or portray him in an inaccurate light. To avoid these issues, I choose not to use any visual representations of Jesus on my slides.

Should I dump my outline onto the slides?

No. Seriously… no.

5 Ways to Annoy an Audience with PowerPoint

If you want to distract your listeners, follow these steps:

1. Crowd the slides: Put so many words on the slide that even the front row cannot read them.
2. Overdo the animations: Use a different transition effect for every single slide.
3. Use bad visuals: Choose blurry, low-resolution, or grainy images.
4. Read word-for-word: Put every single word of your speech on the slides so the audience reads along with you.
5. Ignore contrast: Use light-colored text on a light background to strain everyone’s eyes.

This advice is not meant to discourage you from using technology. If you choose to use slides, use them with purpose. Take the time to create high-quality visuals that support the message and help the audience understand God’s word.