Wednesday, July 9, 2008
To sermon or not to sermon?
Ok...I know that's a bad and horrible title. But I'm kinda struggling here for this Sunday's sermon. Out of the 3 readings for this Sunday (LCMS lectionary readings) I am really pulled towards Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 (I hate that they cut out 10-17, it's so important!). It's rather unusual because I typically prefer the Old Testament readings. My predicament is this: I preached on Matthew 13:1-23 already...at a Women's Retreat in April to 50 women at RSLC. So...would it be ok if I pull out that sermon again? Now, if I'm going to use that sermon, all I'm going to do is update and clarify. After all I will be speaking to a different audience, yet the core of the message will probably be the same. So, I'd revise some illustrations, expand more on the text and give different applications. Is this ethical? Or should I just go for it? What do you think?
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3 comments:
Well, Ryan, to tell you the truth, I did something similar with that text... I mean, I don't know how you're going to preach it, but I took a sermon I heard once on the text and made it my own. The general idea is that the sermon is about the hearer of the Word. The first three parts of the parable are all about how the hearing of the Word can go bad. Then the last is the way it goes good -- it produces faith -- faith comes by hearing, the message is heard through the Word of Christ -- The word become flesh... Jesus! (don't fail to give the Word... You could just say, "Listen to the Word, Listen to the Word, Listen to the Word, and this is what you'll get if you listen to the Word" -- without saying the Word at all... :) That would be ironic at least... But I'm sure you'll do well... :) Hey, I want to do a sermon blog too... post some of my sermons that are OK, sort of... what do you think, should I? I'd love to have some critique...
Thanks Bert for the guidance. You can also see some of the discussion here:
the fshbwl
As for sermon critiques...you could always create another blog dedicated to your sermons. By the way, I think you would enjoy the fshbwl community. Check it out.
Dude, never feel bad about reusing your own work! I have reworked a message preached years earlier and its not a big deal.
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