8 Tips for Preaching from a Tablet
In today's world, more and more people are using technology in their everyday lives. From keeping in touch with loved ones to getting the news of the day, our tablets and smartphones have become an integral part of our lives. So, it's no surprise that this trend has also made its way into the church. More and more pastors are choosing to preach from a tablet instead of traditional printed materials. If you’re considering going this route (and we think you should at least try), here are some tips to get you started.
1. Choose the right tablet.
Not all tablets are created equal. When choosing a tablet for preaching, you'll want to make sure that it's large enough to comfortably read from and that it has a good quality camera and microphone, as you’ll probably also be using your tablet to make videos for your church’s social media. Additionally, you'll want to make sure that the tablet has enough storage space to accommodate your sermon files as well as any other resources you might need (Bible apps, etc.). There are many brands, sizes, and screen qualities available to you. You want to make sure and invest in a quality tablet. I personally use the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4. At the time of this writing, you can purchase a refurbished one for only $190.00. If you prefer Apple products, there are many varieties of the Apple iPad available.
2. Invest in a good case.
A good case will not only protect your tablet from damages but will also help prop it up so that you can easily read from it while preaching. Cases are based on brand and size of tablet, so make sure you get one that will fit.
3. Consider using an external keyboard.
While most tablets come with on-screen keyboards, they can be difficult to use for long periods of time. If you plan on using your tablet for preaching on a regular basis, we highly recommend investing in an external keyboard. This will make it much easier to type out your sermons in advance. I use the Logitech K480, which works great with my tablet and smart phone.
4. Utilize cloud storage.
Cloud storage is a great way to keep your sermon files safe and accessible from anywhere. We recommend storing your sermons in both Dropbox and Google Drive so that you always have a backup in case one service goes down.
5. Get familiar with Bible apps.
There are tons of great Bible apps available for tablets these days. Take some time to explore the different options and find an app that works best for you and your preaching style.
6. Practice, practice, practice!
As with anything new, it's going to take some time to get used to preaching from a tablet. The best way to become comfortable with using your tablet for preaching is to practice ahead of time. Set up your tablet in your office or living room and preach through one of your sermons just as you would on Sunday morning. This will help you get a feel for how everything works and will allow you to troubleshoot any issues before they happen during an actual service.
7. Be prepared for technical difficulties.
No matter how well you prepare, there's always a chance that something could go wrong when using technology during a service (battery dies unexpectedly, WiFi goes out, etc.). It's important to be prepared for these types of situations by having backups of all your sermon files stored locally on your tablet as well as in the cloud. Additionally, we recommend keeping hard copies of your sermons just in case something happens and you're unable to use your tablet at all.
8. Take advantage of our resources.
While we hate to toot our own horn, we have well over 100 of our sermons presently available at THIS LINK with many more to come. The Kindle App to use these materials is absolutely free, and you will want to use it for our resources as the 1000s of other resources/books that Amazon makes available.
Preaching from a tablet can be daunting at first, but with a little preparation, it can be an extremely useful tool for any pastor. By following the tips above, you'll be well on your way to becoming a pro at preaching from a tablet in no time!
Check Out some of Barry's Books for Pastoral Leaders at THIS LINK!
Yes, but don’t read it like you would read a book to a child. Be in the middle of being a rambling preacher and reading to a child.
I use the iPad frequently, however, there is in my opinion a draw back. Where I come from we have a saying which I won’t use here but basically it intimates that people do what they see their leader do. In today’s church settings, many people do not bring a hard copy bible along with them and having used both methods extensively as my ministry spans 40 plus years, i find many people are biblically illiterate so i still prefer hard copy and lead the people through the searching of the scriptures. Sometime ago, I announced that the people should turn to Donley Chapter 3, verse 4. I was astounded at the people who looked for it. As I said, biblical illiterate.