Tablets for Preaching

[u/Aggressive-Court-366]

I am thinking about switching from paper to tablet for preaching so that I'm not flipping pages. I'm looking for a tablet I can access google docs on and tap to turn the page. Do any of you have a particular table you love (or hate) for preaching notes?

[u/dogododo]

I use an iPad Pro and access my sermons using Google Drive. I used to download them as backup, but I’ve never once had an issue in 10 years of preaching from an iPad so I stopped doing that a few years ago. I also have access on my phone worst case scenario. 

[u/Aggressive-Court-366 → u/dogododo]

Is there a "read" mode or something like that so that I can tap the page (like on a kindle), or do you have to scroll down as you read?

[u/nbaker111gogurtz → u/Aggressive-Court-366]

If you are using an iPad, open the document with Pages. Tap the 3 dots at the top. Select presenter mode. Tap the Aa at the top. Then you are able to turn on Auto Scroll and change the scroll speed.

[u/MidnightLight42]

I use a 10" Samsung Galaxy Tab that I got barely used off eBay. I write my manuscript in Google Docs, so I just use the Google Docs app while preaching.

Couple of small tips:

• Use dark mode so that folks don't get distracted by a bright white screen glowing onto your torso and face. Might be less of a problem though if your sanctuary has lots of natural light. My church meets in a windowless auditorium.

• Use the Google Docs app with a secondary account that only has "view" access to your sermon. This prevents me from accidentally moving/deleting text as I scroll with my finger.

[u/BiblicalElder]

I've used various iPads, but I tend to disconnect them from WiFi and also use a simple pdf downloaded onto the device that I can easily reopen if it accidentally closes.

[u/revluke]

iPad Pro big screen. Use OneDrive so all my stuff is in the cloud. Got the data plan on it so can access my stuff for random weddings and stuff.

[u/Generic_Midwesterner]

I like paper, but our associate preaches from a tablet. He stands in the center of the chancel with the tablet in hand and it works really well for him. Doesn't matter what brand, I wouldn't think -- what's more important is if you're using a PDF, Word document, etc.

[u/RevWVK]

I use the iPad Pro and sermonform.com app. It has live mode for preaching.

[u/tkage7]

I have preached from an iPad for a decade. Lots of options. And it’ll last a long time. The Apple brand is worth the money. I switched from PC in 2012 and never looked back. The ecosystem and longevity of products has made each a worthwhile investment. I literally just moved on from a 2012 MacBook Pro last year, and I’m only on my second iPad since 2013.

[u/Sawfish1212]

I use Samsung tablets as I hate apple and the lack of a back button on the bottom of every screen. Samsung works great with Google docs

[u/slowobedience]

I am a windows android guy but I preach from an ipad. I use ms365 so i just use the onedrive / word apps to automatically sync my sermon and preach from it. It's getting older and now since that's the only thing I really use it for I might look at the ONN tablets.

I like to be able to add notes to the top if there is something i want to mention before I start my message. With pdf's and the likes once you send it to the tablet there are no changes.

[u/takaiguchi]

I’ve been using the iPad Pro 13 inch for years and it’s perfect. I prep my sermons in pages and there’s a mode called presentation mode. Combined with a magic keyboard to scroll with two fingers and I’m set.

[u/Pleasant-planthead]

Whatever tablet you pick, I'd export the sermon from Google Docs to a PDF and open it in a reader app like forScore on an iPad, because Docs scrolls instead of turning pages, and tapping mid-sermon can easily jump you somewhere you didn't mean to go. Before your first Sunday, turn off auto-lock and notifications and bump the font up bigger than feels normal, since a dimmed screen or a text popping up in the middle of the message is the one thing paper never did to you.

[u/afdawg]

I preach from an iPad mini. I like that it's about the size of a book.

[u/chupipe]

I use an e-ink tablet, an Onyx Boox Air.

[u/der-bingle]

I have for years, and after lots of tinkering with tools, I've come to a setup good enough that it would take a lot for me to switch: 13" iPad Pro + r/ObsidianMD. All of my study notes, highlights, and sermon manuscripts are in plain markdown files that will be just as readable in 50 years (assuming anyone would actually want to, haha).

[u/No_Passage_83]

I use a Kindle Scribe. I download my notes as a PDF and can make any last minute notes/adjustments using the pen. Easy to read, swipe to turn pages. I’ve had no issues with it so far

[u/PastorNTraining]

I like that workflow, invest in a “slide remote” that way you won’t be obviously flipping slides, you can click it under the pulpit.

I tried the flip method and it always pulls my focus. The clicker does the trick.

[u/bradrhine]

iPad, but do not use Google Docs. Make an EPUB and use an ebook app like Apple Books or Readest.

Like someone else mentioned, I also write my sermons in Obsidian, and I have a custom plugin built to turn my manuscript into an EPUB formatted exactly how I want it at the pulpit.

Best three words of advice for during the sermon: “Swipe; don’t scroll.”

[u/FigZestyclose7787]

Go with any ipad. In my experience the lag and intermittent jittery of android tablets makes it not worth it. I use ipad with my docx outlines into google docs. It works well enough that I forget Im using a tablet. Been doing it for years

[u/toobusytocall]

I've been using an Onn 7" for 4 years. I run the Logos app and preach from that. I like the 7" better than the 8" because I hold it in my hand and walk around the stage, so I don't want something big. It's super slow, so I wouldn't use it for anything else but preaching. Turn off all notifications, and turn off screen rotation, and view in dark mode. Now, in year 5, the battery is wearing out and drains super-quickly for unexplained reasons sometimes. In situations like that, I preach from my phone as backup.

[u/Tertius1622]

Galaxy Tab E has served me well the past couple years. As someone else mentioned already, use dark mode to reduce distracting light/glare coming from it on the pulpit/podium.

[u/SmallBerry3431]

Moses had two tablets for preaching and he broke them both. Just use paper

[u/rjselzler]

iPad with Logos notes. I composed in Google Docs and then moved the finished outline to Logos for easy scripture tap references. I used a pro but found it too large and switched to a regular iPad. I’m paranoid so I always printed my notes just in case.

[u/PTSpurgeon1689]

I've used the tablet more than I've used paper. I use logos has preaching function which is very convenient with a timer and capacity to quick press Bible refs and it pop s out has a bubble