is it OK to preach using laptop instead of bible?

Question

I was told that people, specifically children, will stop bringing the bible if I don't use mine when I quote scripture, even though I use powerpoint for many other Holy Land photos and scripture. The "older" lady doesn't understand that "kids" today will do more on the computer than they ever will in traditional books and my laptop has many biblical versions and commentaries on it and it keep my eye contact with the congregation instead of looking up and down to my notes

Answer 1

I don't see why not. Eddie Izzard came up with a pretty interesting sermon based on a magazine he found in the hedge that morning.

Answer 2

As one with over 30 years preaching under my belt, I feel that I may have some level of expertise. :)

When you ask, "is it OK to preach using laptop instead of bible?" I assume that you are asking if it is okay to read Bible verses from off the laptop instead of from the Bible when preaching a sermon. My response is based upon that understanding of your question.

The short answer is yes....and no.

Is it OK? or is it not a problem morally? The answer is yes. There is no "moral" problem with reading Scripture from a laptop instead of from a Bible.

Yet it is not morally wrong, there are people who will find you referring to a laptop as distracting, which *is* a problem in communication, specifically, spiritual communication. You do *not* want anything, be it reading from a laptop, a nervous twitch of an eye, repeatedly running your fingers through your hair, repeatedly clearing your throat, wobbling from side to side, etc., to be "noise" in the communication channel. You want your message to come across clear.

Also using the physical Bible from which to read will be a different experience for you. Most Christians view the Bible as an object more "holy" than a computer, and they treat it with more respect. Therefore, YOU will treat the Scriptures that you read from the Bible differently, you will speak them differently, you will carry yourself differently, when you use the Bible instead of a laptop.

So, while there is nothing morally wrong with using a laptop, and I have in an emergency used one, it *will* make an negative impact on both your audience and on you by not using the Bible when reading your Scriptures.

By the way, when I did use a laptop, it was after many, many sermons with the group, and I asked permission before doing it, stating that this was an "emergency," and not a normal practice. They were very gracious.

Lawrence
http://www.truebiblesermons.com

Answer 3

yeh why not? if it helps you preach your sermon and doesnt distract you, why not? i come from a modern church that is more concerned about spiritual things than traditions so we wouldnt mind.

actually, we sometimes do that in our youth meetings.

as long as it doesnt distract you or start running outta batteries and beeping halfway thru the sermon hahaha.

i personally find them unreliable. satan always finds a way to stuff it up. batteries, wont turn on, sermon notes dissappeared etc... i mean u can pray against that, but to reduce pressure i just go the good old bible and notes.

but no, theres nothing wrong with using a laptop.

(ps, technology is not the devils making! how can people say something so clever is made by the devil?! hahahha hes an idiot! its just that the CONTENT of these things can have the devils influence, but u dont need to look at those things.)

Answer 4

Laptop or Bible before you start preaching you should be convinced that you are preaching the Right thing now that you mentioned bible ... Is bible the right thing there are a lot of an unanswered questions about the bible so before you preach you need to know it properly !!

Most of the Christian preachers I met didn't KNOW anything about the issues which I pointed them to, for example why should god be 3 but 1, If god is Supreme why cant he Just forgive us without putting himself down like dirt with things he created ? (then he becomes not supreme) When god tells us not to worship idols why do we have Jesus on the cross in the churches ? why is it that the bible refers to blood as a cleaning agent where it is the best means of transferring decease ? why are their contradictions in the teachings of bible ? don't you think god is perfect so its illogical for him to make mistakes ?
So we calling the bible gods word is false ?

I have been reading the quran and I found it very interesting and there not any an answered questions in their circle i suggest you read quran before you go start preaching and if someone ask you questions you will be stuck Good Luck

Answer 5

It is not OK to preach with any methods. Preachers are lazy , no goods that live on the fears of others. Many of the worlds problems would go away if the preachers went away. The Catholics, The Jews, The Muslims, etc, etc, They are all the same. Rabble rousers and worthless Riff Raff !
The net time you see a preacher, tell him to keep his mouth shut and get a job.

Answer 6

I would have to say yes. Most good bibles have a computer version that is the same thing with a few study resources. My pastor uses a laptop and a regular bible.

Answer 7

To me the computer is a tool, just like a book, only a computer has access to much more information, if you cant preach from a computer you cant preach from a book, as one is just a new and improved version of the other.

Answer 8

The Bible contains the Word of God. If the laptop is loaded with an electronic Bible, what's the difference?

Answer 9

I assume you mean using the bible on line or some program. That is no different than the book. But, if you mean using the internet instead of studying God's word, the bible, then no!

Answer 10

Preaching is a direct violation of the 3rd Commandment.