A preacher whose lips have felt the Lord’s touch will be no more able to stay silent with God’s message than the ocean can be dry. Such a one will never want for a message, nor lose pulpit power. Would that we had more preaching like that today but, tragically, there’s a dearth of holy boldness in our pulpits. Twice in the course of my ministry pastoral oversight bodies have contacted me because another preacher had been under investigation for allegedly preaching my published sermons. On the one hand, I suppose I might feel honored. On the other, (while I’m not willing under such circumstances to be a party to the prosecution of another minister) I find myself asking if plagiarizing a sermon is the best someone can, do what makes them feel called to preach? Warmed-over sermons from somebody else are hardly likely to do great things for God. Having recently relocated to a new setting I have resisted the temptation to “reheat” even my own messages for this new congregation. To be sure, time is pushed but I will try to save it in other areas if I must rather than in pulpit preparation. Some of the texts I have preached before and some of the illustrations too but to simply warm over what was served before would be like trying to shoot already used bullets! I am convinced that the number one reason so many of our mainline churches are losing ground in gospel advancement is because we have deemphasized the importance of being alive in the pulpit. Preaching must, of necessity, be fresh and new to be alive. What’s more, the preparation to preach is one of the things that keeps the preacher’s own soul alive. When the pulpit is alive the church will be alive.
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So what to do about it? Alexander Whyte once said: “Though you had the whole Bodleian Library and did not know yourself, you would not preach a sermon worth hearing.” This is true! Even more true is that a preacher who would bear fruit must also know God. If your preaching is not where it needs to be, plagiarizing another preacher’s sermons will not bring life to it. Time alone with God will. There is no discount, fast-track way to do that. Only a heartfelt re-examination of your reasons for being in the ministry and a recommitment of your own heart to this mighty thing the world calls foolish will take you there!
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Robert Leslie Holmes is pastor of Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church, in Lexington, SC, and a contributing editor to Preaching. His newest book When Good Enough Just Isn't Good Enough (Ambassador-Emerald Intl.) is available now. He may be reached at leslieholmes@saxegotha.org