how about this idea: including an ‘additional resources’ section to every sermon--whether that’s a follow up email, a section at the bottom of a notepage, the last slide on a powerpoint presentation, or a handout at the back of the sanctuary.

this could serve as sort of a bibliography a) that people can take a look at if they’re motivated to dig deeper, b) that can expose people to a broader range of resources, thoughts, etc., and c) that can serve as an acknowledgement that god does not drop a weekly sermon into your mind on thursday mornings.

it could even come with a disclaimer to the effect of ‘hey, here are some resources that helped me in preparing today’s talk.  you may find them helpful as well.’

stay awake,

j

Thanks for that article!

I have had the wonderful position of being able to teach up-coming preachers.

Things I insisted on:

1) Do not read any commentaries on the text you are preparing to preach on (prior to your preparation).
2) Read the Text (in context) at least five times before beginning to collect your thoughts.
3) Make notes on what the Lord is saying to you as you read the text the final time.
4) Use Scripture to verify Scripture—(The Word always proves itself)
5) Ask yourself, where do I want the hearer to be when I am finished with this text and write the answer down.

NOW you can read your favorite commentary and do the outside study to see if you line up with the commentary.  If not take what is usefull to you as you check your sourses for accuracy in thinking.  I often glean things from commentaries, but have on occassion found a difference in what I think about the text.  “Study to show yourself approved”!!!!

6) Verify that your destination is the same destination the Text leads people to by going over the text main points again.
7) Create a flow chart as to how you will get the hearer to that destination in a point one, point two format.
8) Adjust your flow chart to your presentation time and deliverance style.
9) Never have a POINT being made without supporting text or subpoints.  (if there is an A) there must be a B) If there is a 1) there must be a 2)
10) Try never to give more than a three point sermon for the hearers sake, unless you are in a strict teaching setting with accountability as in a class room.

11) Do NOT be stuck on your NOTES!  KNOW what you are preaching on.  If you get stuck you can always highlight your notes for direction.

Ilustrate as much as possible - It is remembered much more.

Always review before moving on to the next point!

Re-word your points at least two times when reviewing to make sure the point is understood.

Practice what you will preach before a mirror and if you can, try it out on someone.

In a sermon - with Biblical points, and with Jesus and salvation as the major reason for speaking, GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THE WORD, BY ASKING FOR A DECISION OR COMMITTMENT.  If you do not get any response, the hearer leaves knowing that he was asked to respond to God’s Word.

Relax and be blessed.

Thank you for allowing me to put this info on paper. 

If you want to revise it without acknowledgement that is OK with me.

By the way, When I hear a sermon preached that I respond to and then use that as a catalist, I never give credit unless I quote them as to what they said.  The Biblical preacher hardly ever has a thought that has not been preached on prior and the foundation of the preaching is always the WORD.

With that said, I do give Book/ Author quotes their proper acknowledgement.  I never take something from a book that does not line up with scripture unless I preach on it’s error (if any) and then I quote it.

Blessings

Pastor Bill

Bill,

That was EXCELLENT stuff.

Mind if I borrow it...?

Brian

(I really did enjoy it.  I will probably print it out and put it with my sermon prep stuff, if that’s okay.  And you can be sure that you’re name will be on it!)

A couple of quotes I just remembered:

“It’s better to borrow and be good than to be original and be bad.” From a former pastor of mine - I was the interim pastor of a church 100 miles from where I was living and working full-time (So I was travelling Sunday mornings after working 50 hours/week at my other job).  That church needed to be fed, and if I was not yet up to the task of feeding them “myself,” then I needed to get some food from the “store” - in this case, his sermon files, which he gave me complete access to.  Thankfully, I didn’t need to do that very often, but I was grateful for what he gave me.  Also, I was just learning about how to preach, and was incredibly green about the whole business of sermon prep and delivery.

Rick Warren says, “I heard about a preacher who said that he’d be original or nothing.  And he was both!”

Gotta admit, I like that!

By the way, let me say again that I strive to write my own sermons.  And for those of you who can do so and be real communicators of truth that transforms life (and not just commentators on the passage with no effort at life-changing impact among the hearers), then I say, “God bless ya!” My guess is that some of the best messages I’ve found on sermon sites have come from such as you, and I thank God for you.

So please don’t take my comments as being “anti-always-original,” because that is certainly not my intent.

Brian

I am not a pastor, but I am the worship minister for our church. I have a drama ministry where I write all my own “stuff” and I teach as part of that. I also work full time in the medical profession. My husband, is an elder, and youth minister who prepares all his own “stuff” when he teaches and preaches to our youth each week as well as when he preaches to the congregation.  He also works full time and owns businesses.  We understand being bi-vocational and busy.

I don’t see any problem with study--study of the Scriptures, study of commentaries, even internet research of other peoples sermon’s, but it should be just that--research and study. 

Have you asked your sheep what they think about you giving them a wholesale, “other person’s sermon” with changed illustrations?  I can tell you how I felt when I found out our former pastor was “borrowing” without giving credit to those he borrowed from, even if it was just a “catchy title"--hurt, disappointed, and angry. Probably there will be many in full time ministry who preach every week who will cry foul that what I’m saying is not fair, that I don’t understand how busy pastor’s are, and you are correct that I don’t teach and preach every week nor does my husband, but we both spend hours each week preparing for what we do on Sunday, plus attend church meetings, practices, as well as work full time.

This is a hot topic and I have read comments on several lists about this.  Most of them sound defensive about the practice.  Why? I would just ask each of you to prayerfully consider what you are doing and how much you are doing it and ask the Lord what He would have you do? 

I taught this week at a conference and we have been doing a DVD series of David Jeremiah’s for our Sunday School.  He had a fabulous quote on my subject, so I used it, giving him credit, explaining where I got it.  And the people were blessed by it.

If you are reluctant to tell your people or ask them about using other sources, outlines, etc, why is that? I think it is because the heart of the matter is that God is trying to speak to us and to our people and we are serving up canned bread, using the excuse that we’re busy, their sermon is better than what I could do, why re-invent the wheel, etc.

When I teach in the medical field, if I quote or teach from someone else’s source, I’d better give that information or I would be in big trouble for plagarism!  We in the church should be above the world’s ideals, shouldn’t we?

But I’d ask the Lord, and your people...."what do you think about this practice?” and go from there.

Blessings,

Kim

In the area of borrowing or buying sermons, whether complete or just the outline, i think it can be a both useful and destructive practice. If you do not “own” what you preach, how can you stand with integrity and believe that God speaks along side of you? And if you buy or borrow material to circumvent the peace of God ruling in your heart, and the word of God dwelling in you richly, then you rob God and his people of the good leadership that happens when He works through you!

I like (but dont like) a sermon to be what i call a “boomerang” sermon. You do your study and prayer, your listening and waiting, and writing and rewriting. Then you let loose with the preaching...and somehow, as you speak, God speaks into you, along side you, and in spite of you. Everyone, including you, hears God speak into their heart, if they have ears to hear. While i never enjoyed school all that much growing up, i thrill on the opportunity to write a major paper or two a week as i prepare to preach. That is a miracle! So is any life changing sermon from a mere human being indwelt by the Holy Spirit! Be blessed...study to show yourself approved by God and man.