Mail Ordering Your Sermons

Major B, while it smacks of ordering a term paper off the net, I guess one could get topic ideas from them. But for me it seems to be plagiarism, dishonest and unethical. Particularly bad when a pastor is supposed to be an honest individual.

 

I say to get ideas where ever and whenever you can. Getting ideas and outlines from other preachers is a good way to keep your preaching fresh. HOWEVER, I do believe that you should still study on your own and come up with your own sermons for the majority of your preaching. In essence, I see being able to get a good message every now and then a help and sometimes a lifesaver BUT I think too many preachers abuse this good thing by becoming lazy. If you cannot study on your own and must use others ideas all the time then you cannot be a preacher. Preachers who live from the book or weekly mailing are a disgrace to God because, at least in every situation here in Augusta, GA I have seen, the preacher that did that on a constant basis was just too lazy OR too caught up in the WRONG priorities in ministry to study on his own.

 

I'm gonna "ditto" the wise Doctor Bob on this one!!

Say, Doc! If I just "dittoed" you--ain't that play-ger-ism!??

Your Southern Baptist preachin' buddy,
Blackbird

 

In the front of my Bible is this little ditty:

There once was a Baptist named Spurgy,
Who didn't like our liturgy,
His sermons were fine, and sometimes are mine,
And oft many more of the clergy.

Seems to me it is something like preaching an old sermon, one prepared for a specific meeting. We used to get American preachers come to Canada and present their "famous" sermon. I guess their sermons came from the same place as their "doctorates".

Cheers,

Jim

 

I heard of a preacher---in the country church preachin' one of his dry, dry sermons! It was gettin' physically hot in the church house so two of the deacons decide they were going to open some of the windows---let in a little cool breeze!

The one deacon opens the window on one side of the preacher--the other deacon on the other side opens his window. By and by, a gust of air swooped in one window, caught the preacher's sermon notes and blew them out of the other window--out the church yard the wind carries the notes to a cow pasture nearby were a herd of cows were grazin'--one of the cows passes by and eats the preacher's sermon notes--did you know, that cow went dry???

Your Southern Baptist preachin' buddy,
Blackbird

 

Now Pastor Jim, Our pastor was talking to the staff yesterday and mentioned having candysticks. You know, a sermon you like, can preach well and is ready for anytime, anywhere occasions. I do not see where having an outline like that available is a bad thing for a newer preacher who is on pulpet supply and as such could be called sat night to preach sun morn.
And as for looking at another man's sermon outline... preaching from it may not work... but using it to see what God has revealed to him is also instrucional for a man who is just learning to prepare and deliver his own sermons. Just as any beginner will benefit from studying the work of those who have gone before. I love to dig into and think through the inspiration of more experienced preachers. This would especially apply to the work of guys like Dr. Bob and even old Blackbird. It is an honor to learn from you guys.

 

You mean it is not a good idea on Saturday night to be paging through the Sword of the Lord looking for Sunday's message?

 

I heard the story once--back before black folks were allowed in Bellvue of Memphis--the late, great RG Lee was preachin' one of his fine oratories!!(Just name the Sunday and name the sermon and it would be classed as "fine" from Lee)--anyway, get the picture!

There Dr. Lee was preachin' away--one of his black janitors was in the back hallway somewhere--but could hear Dr. Lee preachin' and was listening!

The next day Dr. Lee comes whistlin' into the hallway down to his office and ran across the black janitor who was listenin' the day before!

"'scuse me, Dr. Lee! But yesterday I heard you in the worship center preachin'! Fine sermon! Fine! But I was jus' wonderin'!! Can I take that sermon and gives it to my pastor and see if he can kinda, sorta 'improves' it a little bit??!!!"

I've heard Adrian Rogers say something like--"If my bullets fit in your gun--load and shoot!!!"

CircuitRider---ummmmmm, can you mail Blackbird all of your 'back' copies from "The Sword????" He wants to "comb" through it--sees if there's anything he can "improves!!"

Study hard, boys!!

Your Southern Baptist preachin' buddy!
Blackbird

 

Dr. Bob...I think I was trying to say that "canned" sermons just don't seem to fit the order of the day, to my mind. We pray, study and ask God to give us the message for a particular gathering, and I can't recall the Lord giving a list of sermon books to select the message.

By the way, T.T. Shields was such a master of the English language that the head of the English department at the University of Toronto sent his students to hear Shields preach. "Don't pay any mind to his message, but take note of his use of the language; a master."

Cheers,

Jim

PS, I don't think the border had a monopoly on phony "doctorates" or canned "sermons".

 

I thought a sermon came from the leading of the Holy Spirit. Man, was I wrong. They come from the Postal Service and the internet! Next you'll tell me there's no Santa Claus and no Easter Bunny...

 

I was just musing about this topic......over 8000 sermons or sermon outlines in my filing cabinet..How much did you say they pay?

Cheers,

Jim

 

When my wife writes better sermons than I do, I preach them.