Lots of sites selling SERMONS...what do you think of this?

[FollowingJesus]

Until recently, I didn't realize that pastors/ministers, etc could purchase sermons online. Lately, I've been seeing ads for 'sermon selling sites' all over the place.

What do you think of this practice?

 

[Joykins]

They used to publish them in books. I suppose it's quicker to get them online?

 

[StevenL]

stinks

 

[FollowingJesus]

stinks

Honestly, I think it kind of stinks, too. I liked to believe that ministers were ministering a word from God that they received in their communion with God (not one that they bought and memorized from online.)

 

[Uphill Battle]

depends. to say that selling a sermon is wrong might be a bit of a stretch... seeing as there is a booming market for christian books, and I would hazard a guess that few would condemn it. But if you peddle the GOSPEL... well, you've crossed the line there I would think.

 

[Joykins]

So it's wrong to sell Bibles?

I was assuming the online sermons were for learning, not plagiarism...

 

[FollowingJesus]

So it's wrong to sell Bibles?

I was assuming the online sermons were for learning, not plagiarism...

The 'putting them up for sale' isn't the part that bothers me...it's the fact that I'm listening to a pastor who 'bought' his sermon...

If you're called to PREACH, there just seems to be something odd to me about buying and reading a sermon that someone else wrote...

 

[RedSparrow]

I find it disappointing that a pastor would purchase someone elses sermon in any way. I like thinking that a pastor would work hard at writing a sermon and spending time with God figuring out what message needs to be given to the church.

 

[Marissa]

What sort of sermon selling is the OP referring to?

Selling sermons for pastors to preach on Sunday?

Or

Selling sermons that were preached on Sunday but I didn't get to hear?

In both cases I have a problem with it. Any pastors in the former shouldn't be in ministry.

The latter is treating the rich and the poor dependent upon their wealth. Covering costs I will accept, but no more.

(And yep, in response to an earlier post, I hold that stance for bibles too).

 

[FollowingJesus]

What sort of sermon selling is the OP referring to?

Selling sermons for pastors to preach on Sunday?

Yes, that is what I was referring to. There are sites that sell pre-written sermons for others to preach...

 

[butterfoot]

I find it disappointing that a pastor would purchase someone elses sermon in any way. I like thinking that a pastor would work hard at writing a sermon and spending time with God figuring out what message needs to be given to the church.

I have to agree with you. Its kind of hard to talk about something and give good information if you don't understand what is your are talking about. By researching and writing your own sermon you would be able to ask questions parishoners would have after the sermon.


-cw

 

[Thursday]

if a guy can't put the time in to write a sermon then he isn't fit for a preaching ministry.

 

[Thursday]

LOL, I wonder if they sell sermons about being a hard worker, not stealing, being honest, doing a thorough job, hahahahaa

 

[billwald]

Every person can't write a good sermon but only a dishonest person would pass off a bought sermon as his origional.

 

[FollowingJesus]

...only a dishonest person would pass off a bought sermon as his origional.

Good point.

 

[DeaconDean]

E-mail me giving me your address and I'll give you some that I've written and preached to use as a guidline in writting some of your own.

 

[BlueRose]

I think it's sad that many preachers/ministers are merely using pre-written sermons. My pastor actually just commented on that very same issue on Sunday--his peers are not doing the job they should be doing. I think pastors need to continually read and pick up ideas and wisdom from others. But delivering a purely copied message, week after week, is not what a congregation needs. It's like professors who read from the lecture notes the entire class period. Why bother? We can read the notes ourselves. Personalize and apply it to us! Have flexibility! Let the Lord work through you!

 

[msortwell]

I have no moral or ethical objection specific to a pastor preaching a "canned" or purchased sermon. Although I have to admit that I have never done so, and I have pastored for a few years. I would add that I have never felt inclined to do so.

What I cannot understand is how a preacher could trust another person to provide the subject matter that the preacher will be held accountable for before God. Absent the exercise of extracting the message from the inspired text, how can the pastor be confident that his teaching is sound? It's not that there are not teachers that I hold great trust in and hold in high regard, it's just that I know that I will be answerable to my Lord for whatsoever I feed the flock. My greatest concern is that those who preach a message developed by another seem to be downplaying the importance of their vocation.

My suspicion is that they do such things to save time. If they do actually save time by this practice, that would mean that they may not be testing the instruction as rigorously as they would if they were developing the sermon directly from the Scriptures. If my suspicion is correct, then they are being very careless. They are, after all, supposed to be "laboring in the Word."

1 Tim 5:17
17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. KJV

That's my two cents.

msortwell

 

[StevenL]

I don't think we're necessarily supposed to be sitting in "pews" listening to "sermons" on Sun Day anyway. We should be gathered together with the Body where every Member is doing its part to build itself up. The Sun Day sermon thing is generally just another form of religious entertainment.

 

[FollowingJesus]

I don't think we're necessarily supposed to be sitting in "pews" listening to "sermons" on Sun Day anyway. We should be gathered together with the Body where every Member is doing its part to build itself up. The Sun Day sermon thing is generally just another form of religious entertainment.

I think that many sunday 'SERVICES" are a form of religious entertainment, but not the "SERMON" itself.