Do you write your own?

Maybe it really WAS his sermon!

 

I have illustration books, several cdroms full of them and find I seldom use them. Most illustrations come from experience and stories I've been told from other peoples lives.

I recently ran across some Ray Stedman sermons and now and then use one of his illustrations giving him credit.

When I listen to sermons/lessons I almost always take notes but as I take them I adapt the points (because the preachers seldom have good point titles). I usually add my own notes and comments.

If I ever use the notes to form a sermon/lesson I always tell the listener that this is where the bare bones thoughts came from.

 

I preached from John 4 on the healing of the nobleman's son tonight. I did an introduction showing the context of the story and tracing John's argument concerning true and false faith from chapters 2-4. Then I did a first-person narrative from the nobleman's perspective to present the story itself. In the conclusion I summarized the nobleman's faith using points from a Warren Wiersbe outline via Erwin Lutzer's quotation of that outline. I gave attribution for the outline.

Do I sometimes take an outline which matches my own conclusions and present it as a summary? Yes. However, I don't preach entire sermons constructed from other's outlines. I get more out of a sermon if I study the text myself and I'm pretty sure the congregation does too!

 

Someone told me early on that when we imitate or copy another preacher, we generally copy their errors. Prolly more truth than fiction.

I firmly believe that one cannot preach over 50 years and not borrow ideas from someone. If one reads constantly, as a pastor should, information gleaned from those books is often absorbed in your own thoughts. Certainly this information becomes part of our own sermons over the years. I am not clever enough not to borrow information.

"There was an old Baptist named Spurgy,
Who didn't like our liturgy,
His sermons are fine,
They sometimes are mine,
And also some more of the clergy."

(Can't remember where I got that.)

Cheers,

Jim

 

Dr. Bob, the pastor did the "copying thing" at the church me and my husband went to. We found the originals in the copier all the time and after service we would see his LARGE copy on his pulpit. We were so ashamed. We couldn't ever invite anyone to that church because we knew that pastor was not praying about his messages. I can understand once in a while, but this happened every service!!

 

What's even worse is that he read it word for word. Old statistics and everything. He didn't add any of his own meat.

His messages were comparable to someone buying Hamburger Helper for a dinner party and when it is served there is no Hamburger.

 

I had a pastor friend who brought all of J. Hershal Fords (I believe that is his name) sermon books...."Simple Sermons on Power" etc., and then used them regularly. I never attended his church, so I don't know if he credited them to Ford.

I won't say I have never used another's outline, but if so I have given credit. After 30 years of pastoral ministry I have several thousand messages, and I can probably count on one hand the outlines that belonged to someone else. It is just a whole lot easier to work up my own.

 

I've borrowed ideas before, but never whole sermons. I remember last year when I preached baccalaureate, I had to give credit to the rite doctor Bob, of Casper, WY! (Thanks again!)

But it was only a passage, a general idea, and three supporting points (basically, an outline). I was not excused from doing my own study and preparation!

 

Sometimes other people come up with the best outlines. An outline is not a sermon. It is easy to study for hours and come up with the same thing others have. I try to think of my own illustrations, but sometimes it's good to use those stories that other respected Pastors have used. It perks people up in the middle of the sermon if they hear a familiar name.

 

I write many of my own sermons but not all. And I do borrow stories, poems, ect. and give credit when known.

 

I milk many cows but make my own butter. If I use something from someone else, I cite the source in a way that is not too wearisome for the listener.

One thing that is often overlooked is this: one can haphazardly use their own "material" and yet somone could theoretically prepare well using someone else's.