Can I Borrow This?

Orginally published on Tuesday, October 09, 2007 at 8:34 AM
by Leonard Lee

A few years back, on the East Coast, a pastor got fired for using another pastor’s sermons. Week after week he shared the illustrations, made the points and spoke each sermon as though he created them in the privacy of his own study. We call this plagiarism... Today, pastors put their sermons on line as MP3’s and PDF’s with an open invitation to other pastors; “Use them any way you want.” Often when this is discussed amongst Christian leaders there are many who are aghast that this kind of “borrowing” would ever take place. They cannot imagine any man of God not investing the hours into preparation and study necessary to develop “original” sermons. If that is the camp you are in you might not agree with me here but before you disagree let me make three clarifications...

• I am not saying pastors should not study or spend time with God and wrestle with a text. 

• I am not saying that pastors should claim as their own that which clearly is not.

• I am not saying pastors should use entire sermons verbatim. 

Here is what I am saying.  I think it is AWESOME when a pastor uses another pastor’s sermon.  Here is why.

Borrowing has given me fresh insight into the Word of God from other pastors. For years pastors have robbed themselves of the opportunity to gain insight from other pastors in the word of God by not listening to other pastors preach.  Hearing how a message is presented is a valuable tool in gaining wisdom and discernment into a text.  Often I will listen to another preacher and find the Holy Spirit has used their insight into the word to quicken my heart and give me new insight into God’s Word. 

Borrowing provides me the opportunity to hone my presentation skills. Let’s face it; throughout history God has gifted some brilliant preachers.  Their ability to capture the truth of God’s Word in the language of the culture shines brightly.  When we use other pastor’s messages we can improve our abilities in presentation by seeing how they turn a phrase, their use of words and their insight into the culture in which they speak.  We can also gain valuable training into cadence and rhythm. 

Borrowing helps me maximize other pastor’s spiritual gifts that are used in their preaching. My preaching is seasoned with the gift of evangelism, wisdom and leadership.  It is usually not seasoned with mercy as that is not one of my gifts.  I listen to and borrow sermons from someone with the gift of mercy and discover mercy comes out in my preaching.  Preaching and teaching is definitely a gift from the Holy Spirit but often other gifts come together to make preaching and teaching connect.  When I use parts of sermons from differently gifted pastors I find those gifts tend to come out in my sermons. 

Borrowing helps me grow in the skills of collection and organization of content. Preaching is strategic and a part of that strategy is how information is collected and organized.  Borrowing has opened up many resources for me as I collect information in the process of study.  Borrowing has also helped me think better thoughts about how information is organized.  The sequence of points being made is very important to the points being understood.  This in my opinion does not preclude the Holy Spirit but in my experience is something the Holy Spirit has used to help me as a pastor. 

Borrowing enables me to work collaboratively with the Holy Spirit and other pastors. When I first started in ministry pastors did not share their sermons, their ideas or their resources.  It was considered taboo to not spend 30 hours a week alone in my study, mining nuggets of truth for my church.  I discovered that many pastors were working on similar sermons and had wisdom and insight I did not.  In my isolation I was made weaker not stronger in preaching.  Today I share at least 2 sermon series a year with pastors of other churches.  By doing this I am able to partner with other preachers who are passionate and gifted in communicating God’s Word.  Dividing the sermon preparation has enabled me focus on one particular portion of a sermon while another pastor focuses on a different piece.  This partnership makes a better sermon series.

Borrowing has made me a better steward of my time. I have more freedom to develop leaders, disciple others, cast vision, counsel people and still be a father and husband.  Shepherding people is not just about feeding people, sometimes it requires us to fetch sheep, lead sheep, coach sheep, counsel sheep and develop other shepherds.  Borrowing has enabled me to find a bit more time to be a well balanced shepherd. 

Let me close with my 4 rules of borrowing: 

1) Never let borrowing replace study. 
2) Give Credit.  I will say I am grateful to Pastor…. For his brilliant work on this subject.
3) Never use someone else’s personal illustration as your own.
4) Keep all your borrowing in the light.  Darkness divides; light brings fellowship. 

For interaction:
What do you think about borrowing other pastor’s sermons series, titles and messages?  What rules do you apply to borrowing?  When does borrowing become stealing?  How has borrowing helped you in your ministry?

About the author:  Leonard Lee a regular commenter here at MMI.  He is also a church planter and a veteran of over 25 years of ministry.  He is married to his best friend and they have two awesome kids.  He currently pastors Bayside of Central Roseville and loves to hunt, fish and play.

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Hi... I'm Todd Rhoades. I'm a Christ-follower, husband, father and I love to connect leaders with other leaders. Hopefully you'll find something here at MMI you like and will return often. If you want, you can find out more about me or follow my every step on Twitter.

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