Paul and Power Point

            We discovered, when traveling, that Sunday worship services were given a lot of attention to the presentation of the Gospel.    An usher would hand you the weekly bulletin with a printed liturgy and a one page outline which will assist you during the preaching and to take home for further discussion. On both sides of the pulpit there was a built-in video screen where Scripture is displayed, the psalm or hymn during singing, the Bible text for the sermon, and various highlights during the preaching. This is all in front of you on the screen and at the right time. It remained with you for days…....

            Let us observe the enormous technical advances around us, which can be used to enhance the weekly instruction in our Churches, and compare this with the progress made during the past 100 years or so.  What has changed? In most cases only our facilities. Centrally heated in the winter and air-conditioned in the summer.  Nice oak (padded) pews, a good pipe organ to sing with and a state-of-the-art sound system with audio- and video recording equipment to benefit the linked Seniors Apartments and shut-ins.      

            How are we progressing in our own Sunday services?  This is the highlight of the day, where the congregation comes together to have their batteries charged for the week to come.  The presentation of the Word of God.  

            When we see visitors in Church and talk to them after the service, they always promise us politely that they will come again, but that hardly ever happens. The bulletin they took home with them did not have an outline of the sermon they just heard. In some cases not even a liturgy with the Scripture passages mentioned. No sermon theme and points were mentioned. They came to a public worship service, and left almost empty.    

             What about our own people? They are deprived of this as well. If they did not get it when it was said, they never will……….

            In the early years, our Theological College did not even have a course in public speaking. The Faculty felt that they would learn that in the pulpit. What good is it to have a beautiful car with a poorly running engine?   

            Our homes are full of the latest electronic gadgets with sound and video equipment,  Pentium 4 Computers, high-speed internet, video games for the kids, etc. and yet, we live in de middle ages with the presentation of the Gospel.  

            An elderly retired minister once told me that a blackboard and a large map of Israel would have been very helpful during his preaching.  But it was not a custom then.

            If the Apostle Paul would be here today, I am sure he would use Power Point to present the Gospel.  For him, the best would not have been enough. 

            Are we ready for improvement?

            Arie J. Hordyk

            December 2003