It was some ten years ago that we upgraded our sanctuary lighting to an LED system. I was bold enough to suggest we add a screen and projection system at the same time. I didn’t have much experience with a system like this, but I thought it would be beneficial.
I remember a lady who reacted with some trepidation.
“You won’t put hymns up there, will you?” she asked.
I told her we had no plans to, and this was true. However, it was a music leader who later encouraged us to do this. He reasoned that we’d sing better looking up and not down at our hymnals. Now our people have an option, and probably 90 percent never pick up a hymnal.
One lament for projection is we don’t learn music—we learn lyrics. The hymnal has both. As a high school drummer, I learned note values, but not notes, so I know the difference between a whole note and an eighth note. However, I’ve never seen a screen that included music, so there is that.
Pastors can use the screen for outlines, scripture and relevant images. After doing this for a few years I think every week of how to present my main ideas on screen.
For the first few years our projectionist advanced the slides for me. A student pastor encouraged me to learn this myself, and now it’s part of what I do every week. I prepare 10-15 slides per sermon to illustrate my outline and advance them at the appropriate time.
What’s the value of this? Research shows visuals enhance learning. In fact, people tend to remember three things: visuals, humor and illustrations. One study found we retain 10 percent of what we hear after three days, but more than 60 percent of what we see. Thus, projection slides in speaking are more likely to be remembered than any word the pastor speaks in the pulpit.
So, is using slides biblical? Of course, no one in scripture had access to electronics. But Jeremiah broke a clay pot and buried a garment. Jesus said, “Consider the lilies,” “bring me a coin” and take this bread.” Paul said, “I see your altar here to the unknown god.” Vivid illustrations made their messages more powerful.
The electronic world is constantly offering more options for the church. A conference speaker lately told of a simple box a church might plug into the sound board, and the Ukrainian refugee or a Spanish-speaking person in their midst could follow the pastor’s sermon on a cellphone in their native language.
The point of innovation in the church is to advance the gospel.
Surely God is pleased when we seek to do so.
