How I Preach From My iPad Mini

My Tools in the Pulpit

I have been preaching with my iPad mini since June of 2013.  I received it as a Father’s Day/Birthday gift from my wife and kids in 2013.  I use the iPad almost everyday in my work and ministry.  In this post I want to share how I use it to preach.

• I still use my leather-bound ESV Bible for reading scriptures and holding in the pulpit, I use the iPad to show my notes.
• I produce my notes on my word processing program (for me, Mac Pages) from my computer.  I had to adjust my font to 18 so I could easily see this on the iPad.  I have poor eyesight so not everyone would require this much increase.  But it is smaller on the mini screen than the same font printed out on paper.
• I save my sermon notes as a PDF document into Dropbox.

Screenshot of my iPad. Dropbox is on the lower left.

• I open the PDF on my iPad from the Dropbox app.  You must make sure you have a wifi connection to download this app.  For example don’t just save it to dropbox and go to a special speaking engagement at a church and expect it to come up on your iPad if you don’t connect to wifi or celluar service.  It has to be opened on Dropbox once and then it will be on the iPad.
• I use the app Noteability to edit the PDF document from the iPad if I have a need. Sometimes I will be reviewing the sermon on Sunday morning and want to add in a scripture or illustration.  I can use this app to do such and then I would preach it from the Noteability app.

Screenshot of Noteability

• I simply scroll through the sermon notes while I am preaching.  I have found this much less cumbersome than having pages of paper in the pulpit and having to move them around.  On the iPad you don’t worry about how many pages you use, because you are simply scrolling down the pages.  Make sure your volume is muted and I lock the screen position to vertical.
• I use an “m-edge” black book-like case that looks professional and works well for being viewed by the audience.
• I rarely use a Bible app when preaching or read the text from the iPad.  I have at times, like on a question and answer night, when I would be reading from many scriptures, choose to use the Bible app and print off notes.  I do sometimes put the scripture text in the PDF outline.  I haven’t found it very effective to switch between the Bible app and the sermon outline app.
• I will say more in another post about my favorite apps for work and ministry, but my practice is much different for Bible class.  I typically read the Bible from my iPad in class and use it as a resource.  Typically in class I will have a class book, handout, or some printed notes that I use as my guide.
• I really like using the iPad for weddings and funerals.  It is much easier at occasions where you do not have a lectern to use the iPad.  For example at weddings and graveside funeral services I have found the iPad much easier to use.  I will just put the entire service on the notes and not even hold a Bible.
• I love having access to numerous old sermons on my iPad.  You don’t have to go searching through files in your office, you can just pull up a sermon and be ready to preach it very quickly when you are away from the office. I like this for our nursing home devotionals.

This is how I do it.  Before closing this post I want to add a few other remarks to preachers who are considering doing this.  

• Don’t be concerned about what the audience will think.  Some preachers have not wanted to go to a tablet because of the feeling that it will distract the audience or make it look like they are just trying to be cool and technological.  In preaching with the iPad in various churches for over a year now I still have not had one person say anything to me about it.  When I made the switch at 7 Oaks no one even mentioned it.  It is a non-factor and does not serve as a distraction at all.
• It is really about ease of use.  This past Sunday, I preached a Sunday night sermon from notes, because it was an old sermon and I didn’t want to take the time to increase the font.  I was reminded at how much easier it is just to scroll through the iPad rather than fumble with pages.  Also, it gives you more freedom to move around and take your notes with you in a compact form.  I have occasionally read from a story or blog post and I will pick it up and carry the iPad with me as I am walking on the stage.
• Finally, I know that a big concern for many preachers is the dependence on a tablet.  What if it will not work?  I have never had a problem with my iPad locking up or not working.  I do make sure I have enough battery.  I also have a backup in the sense that I have the powerpoint outline available on the screen.

What questions do you have?