Reflections on Theology & Life From an Ordinary Pastor

Teleprompters & Preachers

Posted on Mar 31, 2009 in Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Presidential History | 4 comments

Josh Harris posts some good food for thought for preachers in light of Michael Gerson’s recent article on President’s, teleprompters, and well-crafted words.  Gerson argues that teleprompters have increased a President’s disciplined thought and communication.  Josh Harris says preachers should learn from this and pursue a more disciplined approach to communicating Scripture.  I don’t think we’ll see teleprompter preachers any time soon (nor should we), but we should be thinking and crafting our gospel communication more carefully.  Gerson’s article is a good read.

What the Teleprompter Teaches Preachers (Josh Harris)

  • http://www.glennleatherman.blogspot.com Glenn Leatherman
  • http://intensedebate.com/people/bcapranica Bret Capranica

    Good post Glenn. You make a number of helpful and good points about preaching extemporaneously coupled with diligent study.

    However, I'm not sure I would be quite so hard on those who do use full length manuscripts to preach from.

    Jonathan Edwards preached "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" in Enfield from a full manuscript. I've seen copies of John Piper's sermon manuscripts that he brings to the pulpit. Mark Dever preaches from a manuscript (Times New Roman, 12 pt font – the one I looked at). Dr. Daniel Block, an OT professor I had at Southern, preached from a full manuscript – he is a phenomenal preacher. I'm sure there are plenty of excellent preachers who use a word-for-word manuscript (though I know of none who actually use a teleprompter).

    I think I agree with a bit of advice I heard from Mark Dever when he encouraged those who tend to have a large personality to take a full manuscript, so that their personality did not tend to dominate the sermon above the message content. For those who are a bit more introverted, they should bring fewer notes to the pulpit, so that more of their personality would come out. I've found it to be some helpful advice personally.

    What do you think?

  • http://www.disciplemaking.net Glenn Leatherman

    Howdy Bret,
    Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to this post. Other things were more important as you can understand. I just wanted to affirm that I do see men who are so gifted in the use of manuscripts such as Jonathan edwards, Mark Dever, John Piper, etc., but they are the exceptions in my viewpoint.

    I have evaluated the sermons of some of the disciples of manuscript preachers and while the teacher is remarkable and gifted by God in this way, most if not all of their disciples would have been better served by throwing away the manuscript, and preaching extemporaneous with no notes or with little notes.

  • http://www.disciplemaking.net Glenn Leatherman

    Is there an article that elucidates the advice that you heard from Mark Dever (an incredible manuscript preacher) that "those who tend to have a large personality would be served well by taking a full manuscript into the pulpit." If preaching is "truth through personality" then personal passion and/or ernestness is part of preaching. In thinking about that advice I think it is good for those who let their personality dominate with stories while disregarding the Truth!

    A great article on preaching and our need for humility and confidence in the gospel and not technique is found at The Melios Theological Journal(http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/publications/34… Pastoral Pensées: Power in Preaching: Decide (1 Corinthians 2:1–5) (,http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/publications/34… this would be a great sermon to unpack with regard to our calling to biblical expository preaching.