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The iPad in Church?

zedsdead said:
I play bass with for our churches "Rock Mass" and use the iPad as a music reader. I scan all the music to my Mac, then sync via Goodreader.
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How long is it going to be before all choir members are holding ipads instead of choir books? :D

Another thought... I've been in the pews and didn't know the words to a song the choir was singing. I could probably pull up the song with an iPhone/iPad. The possibilities are endless. :apple:
 
jessica. said:
Right but do you sit in a pew and read the bible from it? The guy is claiming he would look stupid searching through a bible for whatever passage is being read. I mean really? You mean before the iPad this was just all totally impossible?
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I always thought the point of church was reverence for whatever deity you were there to worship. It seems to me if you are worried that others are watching you and you don't want to 'look bad' you are sort of missing the point of being in church in the first place.

Focus on why you are there, not on what those around you may/may not think. If they are paying attention to you and not the worship service, find a different church.
 
I use mine in church all the time. Plus I am a youth director, so it gives me a chance to be hands on with my kids about bible learning and study.
 
ReallyBigFeet said:
I always thought the point of church was reverence for whatever deity you were there to worship. It seems to me if you are worried that others are watching you and you don't want to 'look bad' you are sort of missing the point of being in church in the first place.

Focus on why you are there, not on what those around you may/may not think. If they are paying attention to you and not the worship service, find a different church.
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This is an individualistic mentality. But a church gathering is by definition corporate.

There is a sense in which we should worry about what others might think, as in when we are doing something right that others disapprove, but there is a sense in which, when we do not worry about what others might think -- when we do not think about how our behavior affect others -- we are just being selfish.
 
I haven't used my pad in church yet, but I've been using my touch for some time now. My pastor references a lot of passages from OT and NT during sermons, so it is hard to keep track of them with a paper bible. Much quicker to flip between them with the touch.

The reason I'm still using my touch is that I like the NIV bible app that is available for it. They haven't updated it for the pad yet, and it doesn't work too well on it.
 
Our church is somewhat large but it provides free wifi in the worship area(s) and the sermon notes are downloadable to follow along on the iPad or other wifi enabled device.

Podcasts of the services are available within 24 hours as well.
 
ReallyBigFeet said:
I always thought the point of church was reverence for whatever deity you were there to worship. It seems to me if you are worried that others are watching you and you don't want to 'look bad' you are sort of missing the point of being in church in the first place.

Focus on why you are there, not on what those around you may/may not think. If they are paying attention to you and not the worship service, find a different church.
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Why quote me when this is not my question? I was simply pointing out that I didn't see the point of the iPad in church. It was the OP who believes he will look stupid searching a bible for a passage. I think before you preach you best know who to preach to.
I have no problem going to church and looking absolutely stupid. I've done it before and I'll do it again.
 
While there isn't an iPad version yet, I recommend Olivetree Biblereader. I find that using electronic devices during worship or prayer can be a distraction. I have taken gameboys away from kids during service.

The alleged adult said they weren't from our denomination. What a lame excuse. So when I bring my kids to her service, she would want me to let them play their games rather than pay attention?

If it is possible to use an iPad, iPhone, iPod touch or whatever without distracting people around you, by all means use it. A good example is the person who posted that they were able to raise their hand when the pastor asked if anyone had the greek translation available. It depends greatly on what is considered "normal" in your church. The priority should be consideration of those around you. That is, after all what we are there to learn about is it not?
 
I've been using mine for a few weeks now.

Again, it depends on the sensibilities in your church. The key to Christian Freedom is that we have freedom in all this under Christ -- but we are to be cognizant of others, and not cause them to stumble. As the Apostle Paul writes (1 Corinthians 8:9), "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak."

But at my church, it's been a great tool. I use it in Sunday School, I use it when teaching the Bible Study I lead, and I use it during the service.

Both the Executive Pastor, and Teaching Pastor at my Church came over and took a look at it, and said they wanted one after seeing my demo of mine.

I have Logos (www.logos.com) on my iPad -- and I have around 500 books accessible, including Bibles, Commentaries, Interlinears, etc.

Being able to go to a specific chapter verse with a couple of taps is great! Being able to read other commentaries in challenging passages is awesome. Being able to see the Biblical Greek and Hebrew definitions of words with a tap is sweet!

For those who love to study the Bible and don't want to lug around a laptop, Logos for the iPad is an awesome tool. I already had invested > $1,000 in my Logos library so I carry with me at all times more information than most Biblical scholars have had access to in LARGE Libraries. It's amazing to think about how far we've come.

So I get really irked when people talk about the iPad as a toy. It's been such a blessing to me. Especially when coupled with my Verizon MiFi.
 
If they don't like it, tell them to go to h3ll...LMAO!!!

Just kidding...really. I don't go to church, so I'd have no idea. But when they send the collection plate around, tell them you just put in a "Virtual Donation" :D
 
I've been using my iPhone as my Bible in church for a long time now. No one's given me any trouble over it. If they did, I'd explain that I was using it to read the Bible.

I say go for it. Just avoid the temptation to check Facebook or Macrumors during boring sermons!
 
ive used my ipad in church ever since it came out and it helps both me and my wife cause its easy to get to verses and big letters makes it easy to read .... a few folks did ask is that the ipad but other than that we have had no problems using in church
 
Taking an ipad to church now just looks like you're showing off. All the attention will be on your ipad instead of the minister. I'd wait until almost everyone had an ipad before I took one to church.
 
nj-mac-user said:
Taking an ipad to church now just looks like you're showing off. All the attention will be on your ipad instead of the minister. I'd wait until almost everyone had an ipad before I took one to church.
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well ................ someone has to go first :D
 
Originally Posted by jessica.
Right but do you sit in a pew and read the bible from it? The guy is claiming he would look stupid searching through a bible for whatever passage is being read. I mean really? You mean before the iPad this was just all totally impossible?
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jessica. said:
Why quote me when this is not my question? I was simply pointing out that I didn't see the point of the iPad in church.
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I quoted you because I thought your point was relevant as demonstrating that people make too big of a fuss about worrying what others think. In my opinion, the OP was making too big of a fuss about what "other people in church" may think of his method of worship. If it works for him and it doesn't cause a huge distraction, then do it. And if it DOES cause a huge distraction, I have to ask why the congregation can't focus on the sermon and are worried about the shiny thing the guy next to them is using.

Sorry if the original quoting bothered you. And if it did...I'm sorry for this one as well. :rolleyes:
 
I use my iPhone with Olive Tree software. I wouldn't have a problem with anyone using any type of electronic device to read God's Word, but then again people who attend the church where I go, eat bagels, and drink coffee during the service. As our Pastor says, "Church is all about food." ;)
 
If there was a Hymnal app that would also sing for you I'd be game. And I'm sure the congregation would appreciate it too :eek:
 
I take my iPod Touch to church all the time. I have the Olive Tree reader, and it's great. I have used it to read passages orally during the service, which the young folks think is very cool. It's easy to quickly find texts, and do searches on key words. I'm waiting (impatiently) for the Olive Tree iPad app to be approved by Apple, so I can start taking and using my iPad. It will be so much easier to see and use.
 
ChocolateApple said:
I rarely go to church, but when I've gone, I have hesitated to use the Bible on my iPhone because it may look as though I'm texting or emailing.

The iPad however is shaped like a book. Everyone can see the screen and know that you are worshipping with the Holy Bible app :D

I have yet to attend church since getting the iPad, but would feel okay using it there. Would you?
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If you rarely go to church then you have larger issues than how using an iPad in church will be perceived. Just sayin'.
 
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