I confess that I may have done a disservice to one, (at most two) of my close friends by talking them into using it, but not giving them the prerequisite instructions. Like a buzz saw, the iPad can be detrimental to your dexterity unless used wisely. But if you master the fundamentals before ascending the pulpit, the iPad sermon notes require no period of adjustment. You’ll recognize immediately that your paper notes will forever be shelved with your erstwhile Grace to You cassettes—still there in case you need them, but mainly just office décor with antique charm.

Here is how I do it. If you have a better system, please share:

Step 1: Be the right person.

All good books on preaching start with a section on the character of the preacher. I tip my hat at this noble practice by reminding you that if you brandish your iPad to complement the trendy hipster image you are carefully cultivating like a hidden hydroponic hemp garden, know this: God knows your heart, and your people will soon smell the stale odor of your pretentiousness. Your iPad, like a ninja, should be undetectable to your congregation. If you pace the platform like a techno-peacock, toting your e-notes into plain sight, then you need to go back to your paper library and read the first chapter of all your preaching books. Be the right person.

Step 2: Type and format your sermon in a word processor on a computer, getting the size and color of your page ready. The problem with AppleTM is that when you get enough geniuses together to create a product as cool as the iPad, they’re also going to be smart enough to make sure you need their other products. The iPad is not yet equipped to use instead of a computer. They could do it for us, and eventually will I trust, but for now you need the power of a good word processor, with Logos/BibleWorks poised in your periphery window like a ball-boy at Wimbledon.

I use MSWord. I adjust the page layout to be “2 pages per sheet” in landscape mode on a regular A4 or (8.5” x 11”) page, with margins of 1cm (or half inch) all round. Also make sure you insert page numbers into this document. You may need that while preaching on the iPad.

I choose a blue screen background with automatic font color, which is white. I also change the font color to yellow (not highlight) of each main point or sub-heading. This color combo is the most visible on the iPad with glare from stage lights or outside daylight (e.g. at graveside funerals), and can be used in the dark without any glow on your face making you look freaky (e.g. if there is a blackout in the evening service, which happens in South Africa and I’m sure in other parts of the globe as far as the curse is found).

When you are done with your sermon, save the document as a PDF (this will be required if you want to swipe the page to turn it).

Step 3: Acquire the following two apps: iAnnotate and Good Reader.

iAnnotate allows you to mark up a PDF and add text or emphasis markers, and to underline or strike through text. This is very useful for those times a verse pops into your mind on the way to church, or someone asks you to announce the ladies committee meeting, or if your worship leader goes too long and you need to delete 2 paragraphs and make a note to fire him. iAnnotate

Good Reader is a PDF reader that allows you to swipe the page to turn it, rather than the annoying and impractical scrolling of most document readers.

Step 4: Connect your iPad to your computer and use iTunes to go to the “Bob’s iPad” tab on the left, and then the “Apps” tab at the top. Scroll down until you see, under “File Sharing” the icons of your apps which can be used to read the PDF. Click on iAnnotate and then click on “Add…” at the bottom of the page. This will let you browse to find your PDF sermon, and double-click on it to add it to your iAnnotate. The sync is automatic.

Step 5: You are now ready to go to church. I leave the sermon in iAnnotate for as long as possible, in case I think of something to add. By selecting iAnnotate on your iPad, you can find your sermon, scroll down through it before you preach and go over your notes. If you want to underline or strike out text, or add thoughts, this is the stage to do that.

Usually, as the last set of songs are being sung before I go up to preach, I surreptitiously select “Open in…” from the iAnnotate sermon, and it gives me options of other apps I have that can read it. I select Good Reader, select the “Annotated version” and it opens automatically in Good Reader, with the notations I made in iAnnotate.

Now the document cannot be altered, but I can swipe the page to turn it. This is what I preach from.

Some warnings (Things I learned the hard way)

1. Be disciplined to not put your finger on the screen as you read a quote. When you touch the middle of the screen it may act weird by flipping a page or zooming in or something. You can also disable the “Double-tap for zooming” setting.

2. Paste the verses from Logos into your notes so they are there for future reference, in case you need to repreach it with no Bible, or it’s too windy, or too dark to read your Bible, BUT as a rule take your Bible into the pulpit so your people see you use it, and flip around in it like they do, otherwise they might not turn to the passages you are cross referencing, because you aren’t, and you’re not giving them enough time to.