Unoriginal preaching …

Where’s the originality in today’s sermons?

A disturbing trend I’ve seen among some pastors and church teachers is that, when preparing for a new sermon or sermon series, the preacher runs out and buys the hottest, latest book on the subject they’re thinking about, reads it, and then regurgitates it to their congregation.

Sometimes that repeat is veiled by slightly rewording what they read, or sometimes it’s a blatant accrediting of the author and a direct laying out of the points the writer made.

Such preaching or teaching is a cop-out.

If you want to be relevant, persuasive, and authentic in your preaching and teaching and reach people with a message that can change lives, then it needs to be “original.” It’s by the preacher praying and wrestling through the scriptures, learning and actualizing the lessons for himself, that he can best relate the message to his listeners.

Preaching and teaching is work. It takes study, and it takes time with the Lord. And out of that communing with God, you’ll best have something to say.

I’m an avid proponent of reading and being a life-long learner. Pastors can broaden their knowledge and understanding by being a student. But learn the lesson, then teach what you’ve learned.

And do it with a little originality.

Scotty