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4 Things You Must Do If You Want To Keep Your Integrity and Preach Your Own Powerful Sermons
 by: Marcus Lindley

It sat on my desk staring at me for the longest time.

My sermon notes.

Full of keen insight, masterful bible exegesis, and even a riveting story or two. Hours of work and soul searching poured into six or seven pages. It was ready to keep the audience in wonder for a full forty minutes with their eyes glued on me the whole time.

But the notes weren't even mine.

I had just purchased a sermon subscription from one of the popular sites on the net. My time had run out and it was my last resource. I squirmed in my chair as I poured over the notes - someone else's notes - trying to get them in my head. Since I had very little time to "glean" from these notes, I thought I'd try to modify the sermon "on the fly"... but I felt badly about doing things that way.

I ended up preaching the sermon as it was anyway, but I felt all wrong afterward. These were certainly good notes. But it just wasn't me. In fact, it felt like I was someone else preaching in a manner and style totally foreign to myself.

I had cheated. God, His people... and myself. I never wanted to feel like that again.

Preparing sermons on a weekly basis is serious business, certainly not something to take for granted. This early experience of mine taught me that there really are no short cuts to spiritual authority, or a powerful preaching ministry. I've taken the liberty to outline some ways to make sure that the above experience of mine doesn't happen to you.

Make Your First Stop the Right Stop

"Where you end up has everything to do with where you start."

It's a nice sounding maxim, but it also summarizes the preaching ministry.

No one would ever say that they want to compromise their integrity by ripping off message ideas, or just preaching "gently-used" sermons from someone else. But when time is running out and you have no clear inspiration for the week, what choices do you have?

Isn't it much easier to just adopt-a-message from your favorite preaching website, sprinkle in a dose of "hot" sermon illustrations, and then try to 'get it in your head' while you still have time? Obviously it seems much worse in print than when you're actually faced with this predicament.

But think about your week for a moment. Are you waiting until the end of the week before you even think about your sermon message? Does inspiration often come on Saturday night?

I'm not trying guilt trip you... but I will say that when it comes to preparing your sermons, starting off right is essential if you plan on preaching to change lives. Whether you're a later starter or an early starter, you do need to begin with God's Word.

Preferably, your sermon ideas should come from your daily interaction with God. He may not give you the green light for your sermon idea until later on in the week; but your message will carry far more spiritual authority and credibility if you've been bathing in God's Word all week.

However you choose to start your sermon preparation, be sure that you always begin the same way - in the Word (not on the Net!)

Easy Access - Do You Really Need that Subscription?

I need to make a disclaimer here before I say anything that might sound like finger pointing.

I have nothing at all against sermon subscription sites, or websites that post downloadable sermons. Most of these are powerful ministries in themselves, brought about because Godly people listened to the Holy Spirit. So please don't hear me saying that subscription sites are a problem with preaching integrity.

The problem lies with us.

Yup.

That same part of us that breaks the speed limit, lies to cover up a secret shame, embellishes a story to impress others, and crushes a person's spirit with harsh words... also tempts us to do the lazy thing and use other people's work instead of our own.

It's called our flesh, and unless we "crucify the flesh and it's desires" we will fail to see our churches "break out" or walk in the fruits of the spirit.

Easy to say, isn't it? So instead of running back to your favorite sermon website, why not try asking God what He wants?

I'm not trying to be trite here, really.

But seriously... God knows what kind of week you've had. He knows all the situations you've found yourself in, and even the ones you've created. And guess what...?

God knows that you're just human!

He won't excuse your slackness or poor time stewardship (until you ask His forgiveness, of course), but He'll extend His grace for your sake and the church's! Go ahead - ask Him. I dare you.

Sermon "Quilting"

Closely related to preaching other people's sermons, sermon "quilting" is when you piece together your message from several different sources.

Now I understand that Bible study can be difficult, and interpreting scriptures can be like running out into a field full of landmines, but patching a message together is little better than creative plagiarism.

It doesn't take a pastor to create a collage of sermon bits and pieces - anyone can do that!

God calls pastors to do more than preach. But since sharing God's Word is a vital part of that calling, don't you want to carry out your preaching ministry with integrity? There's nothing wrong with using sermon illustrations and the like. Just don't make them the focus of your messages, and remember to document them.

Let your sermons reveal how God has spoken to you personally through His Word.

Is It a "Pre-Approved" Message?

I said earlier that your sermon ideas ought to come out of your time with the Lord.

This is just a generality though. There have been many times where I asked the Lord if I could preach on certain things He was teaching me... and His answer was No!

There could be several reasons why God may or may not want you to preach a certain message. And I don't know what any of those reasons are. That's between you and Him.

But do you allow God to approve your sermons? Do you give Him the freedom to "pre-empt" your message preparation with a special message of His own? At the very least, let God tell you what the people need to hear.

Remember, you're just the messenger, so try not to get bogged down into your own ideas about sermon series and the like. If you allow the Lord to guide your sermon ministry you'll discover that His people will begin to be "the people of The Book."

Preparing your own sermon messages can be a difficult task. But remember, when God called you to this ministry, He didn't promise ease or instant results. If you remember to start with the Word of God (not the internet!), ask Him to tell you what you need to preach on, keep focused, and bathe yourself in the Word and prayer - you'll discover that true spiritual authority will anoint your ministry.


This article is shareware. You have permission to distribute it freely, or use it in your webpages or ezines, provided that the contents and authorship remain unchanged. All rights reserved. Copyright (C) 2005

About The Author

Marcus Lindley is a former pastor, and creator of the Sermon Generator Program, which you may download at www.the-sermon-generator.com. He currently resides in Grande Prairie, AB, Canada, with his wife and two children.

This article was posted on November 13, 2005

 

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