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* * * T H E P R E A C H E R '
S S T U D Y E Z I N E * * * Subscribe free on the web at: [Your email address will be kept fully confidential and will never be sold or given to anyone.] Unsubscribe info at bottom of this page Published on the first and third Tuesday of each month. *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* Editor's note: The material in this Ezine is copyrighted. Reprint by author's permission only. You may forward it in its entirety to friends and associates. Please do not cut the articles out and paste them into other documents or publications. *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* VISIT THE PREACHER’S STUDY WEBSITE! A wealth of sermons, lessons, and other items pertaining to preaching are available by subscription. An extensive free area is also available. Sermons are full-text and illustration filled. To see what some of our subscribers are saying, click on the link below: http://preacherstudy.com/testimonials.htm Or go to the home page at: http://preacherstudy.com *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* IN THIS ISSUE: [1] Greetings from the editor [2] Featured Article: USING OTHERS’ MATERIAL IN SERMON PREPARATION: ADDENDUM [3] Preacher’s Study Website Updates [4] Contact Info [5] Subscribe to this Ezine [6] Copyright Info *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* [1] *=*Greetings from the editor I surely hope those reading this who are living in the U.S had a joyous Independence Day celebration. We are blessed by God for the freedom we enjoy. Welcome to this issue and a special welcome to new subscribers. Readership of this ezine now stands at 1648. Please feel free to forward it to friends and associates. In this edition I would like to add a rather short addendum to the two part article published in May of 2000 about using others’ material in sermon preparation. Preaching is an ever-learning calling, so if you have a worthwhile suggestion to pass on, please write to me so I can benefit. God bless. Dave Redick
[2] *=*Featured Article: USING OTHERS’ MATERIAL IN SERMON PREPARATION: ADDENDUM In the May, 2000, First and Third Tuesday issues of this ezine, I wrote the following about "borrowing" material written by others: "Probably most if not all of us have experienced it. We've found ourselves facing Sunday with little time left for sermon preparation after a jam-packed week of numerous, unscheduled responsibilities that simply couldn't be ignored. There is little time for any kind of preparation, and even less time to be creative." I went on to discuss several positive reasons for such "borrowing" (with permission, of course) from others. I discussed the crunch most ministers deal with and the relentless need to produce quality content. In a perfect world, all of us would produce all of our own, top-notch sermons all of the time. In reality we sometimes find ourselves needing help. I then discussed some drawbacks of the practice. To read those articles in full, go to: http://preacherstudy.com/ezine15.htm and http://preacherstudy.com/ezine16.htm In the remaining space of this issue I’d like to pass on some additional tips for such usage of other’s material. (Tips on Using Sermons and Lessons written by Others) Delivering another's sermon verbatim without wrestling with it to make it your own would be like presenting someone else's biography as though it were about you. The hollow ring would probably be evident to your hearers, and the practice would be deceptive. To avoid such dubious consequences, consider the following suggestions: 1. Read and study the manuscript to be sure you agree with the contents. Be sure it is sound Biblically and that it deals with issues your hearers need to hear about. 2. Internalize the message (this takes some time - perhaps a couple of days). The time should be spent in meditation and prayer over the message and related Bible passages. Be sure that it will speak to your needs and/or the needs of your congregation. Keep your congregation before your mind at all times, thinking of how it will impact them. If it doesn't impact you, don't preach it. Ask yourself, "Why should I preach this message? How will it benefit my hearers?" 3. Rework the material. This doesn't mean you cannot use the basic structure of the message and the major thoughts and illustrations, but it needs to be put into your own words and ways of expression. If you do not take this step, it may be obvious to your listeners that there is something wrong. As you rework the manuscript you will think of additional things to add that are unique to your ways of expression. 4. You may choose simply to read the message privately for your own edification, letting the concepts "soak" in your mind and heart over some weeks, so that the material flows naturally into your own sermon preparation. This will boost your creativity. 5. Use illustrations with integrity. Don't speak of another's experience as your own. 6. Finally, don't let any such resource take the place of your own study of the Word of God and preparation of your own sermons and lessons. One of the great benefits of preaching is the discipline of being in God's Word on a regular basis. Let such material augment your own work, not replace it. A preacher should grow in grace and knowledge over the years. Depending solely on others' work will limit that growth. Copyright (c) Dave Redick, The Preacher's Study, 2000. All Rights Reserved. Reprint by permission only. Please do not cut articles out of this ezine and paste them anywhere else without permission. You may, however, forward this entire Ezine to friends freely.
[3] *=*Preacher’s Study Website Updates Recent additions to the sermons on our website include: "Responsible Leadership in the Home" by Gary Flom. Based on 1 Timothy 3:4. "A Prisoner's High Praise" by Dave Redick. An expository message based on Ephesians 1:1-14 "Returning to God" by Dave Redick. An expository message in a series on the life of Abraham. Based on Genesis 13:1-18. New material is added weekly. For a recently updated list of titles available, send mail to: titles@preacherstudy.com?subject=Send Title List
[4] *=*Contact Info The Preacher's Study Website & Ezine
[5] *=*Easy Subscribe/Unsubscribe Instructions To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to the following web page: http://preacherstudy.com/maillist.htm If you don't have Web access, write a brief request to: subscribe_ezine@preacherstudy.com or unsubscribe_ezine@preacherstudy.com [Your email address will be kept fully confidential and will never be sold or given to anyone.]
[6] *=*Copyright Info The material in this Ezine is copyright (c) 2000 by The Preacher's Study. Reprint articles by permission only. Please do not cut and paste this material into any other documents. You may, however, forward the email version to friends and associates.
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