thanks for the post, very helpful.

I understand your point. I guess there should be a clarification on what your interns should and should not do. Anything that circumvents the process of you (the pastor) getting into God’s Word in my mind should be avoided. I see the benefit of having interns discuss the passage with you, study it alongside you, adding their observations or thoughts on a text. But I find this approach much different from having them function as a substitute for the work of sermon preparation that a preacher himself should be committing himself.

I do want to comment on the use of the interns. I don’t know the specifics of this example and I think that the dangers are almost self-evident. However, I can see great potential (if resources allowed) in a seasoned pastor utilizing young pastors/preachers in developing sermons. The danger of course is in using it as a short cut or as a personal speech writing staff. But the opportunity for training the young men and stretching old veteran is worth a prayerful attempt.

http://www.churchplantingvillage.net/atf/cf/%7B087EF6B4-D6E5-4BBF-BED1-7983D360F394%7D/How%20to%20Preach%20in%20the%2021st%20Century.doc

“Church planters are required to have messages of excellence every week. In sales, you are only as good as your last sale. In church planting, you are only as good as your last effective sermon. . . .The person in the congregation will judge your message against a message they have heard on the radio or television. It may not be fair. After all, that speaker has only one primary job, to preach. Most of the time they have an entire staff to help craft the message. Therefore, take advantage of every short-cut you can without resulting to plagiarism.”

Now, to be fair, the majority of the article is not bad at all. But I found this quote to be particularly telling in light of my post.

While perusing some church planting resources, I came across this article in The Christian Index dated November 9, 2006. Here it is:

http://www.christianindex.org/2733.article

A quote from the article:

“Why do some become tempted to plagiarize? Many feel intense pressure from their congregations to hit a home run twice every Sunday and again on Wednesday night. In today’s entertainment-driven society, many church members expect it as their right to be entertained, inspired, and motivated every time they attend worship. They will not waste their time in a church that does not give them 100 percent, 100 percent of the time. It’s not fair, but that’s the way it is.”

It is interesting to note that this article was linked from NAMB’s Church Planting Village under the section entitled “The Sermon Shop.” Here’s the link:

http://www.churchplantingvillage.net/site/c.iiJTKZPEJpH/b.1360463/k.55C3/The_Sermon_Shop__Main.htm

And might I add, their response was not, “Man, what a dynamic preacher he is!” but rather a turning from evil ways and crying out to God in repentance.

And I don’t think if Jonah had that message for sale or to copy that many folks would be plagiarizing it either. When was the last time you heard a plagiarized sermon warning the overthrow of a city?!

Not that there should not be fervent preparation, but when you have done your homilywork, bathed it in prayer, and presented it to the best of you abilities with power, conviction and passion. Whether it is a homer or a squibber, God’s Word will not return to Him void, but will accomplish the purpose for which He intended.