Justin Taylor at Between Two Worlds recently pointed me to Andy Naselli’s blog entry about Using and Abusing Sermons. I’m going to quote the relevant post, and then open it up to the Zeal for Truth readers to respond to the question: is it appropriate for a preacher to reuse another person’s sermon?
At the annual pastor’s colloquium for The Gospel Coalition last May, the pastors discussed future enhancements on TGC website. When discussing the new database of resources, John Piper strongly suggested that a note be added against sermon-stealing, something he “abominates.” Everyone seemed to agree. Here’s the note that is currently on the bottom of the resources page:
A NOTE ON THE USE AND ABUSE OF SERMONS
The instant availability of thousands of expository sermons and addresses prompts us to reflect a little on how they should not be used, and how they should be used.
To take the latter first: many of our Council members avidly read the sermons of others, or, increasingly commonly, listen to them while they are driving or walking or jogging. Good preaching not only opens up texts, but helps us learn how others tackle the challenge of structure, apply Scripture to their particular congregations, relate their texts to the central themes of God and the gospel, and much more. We soon sense their urgency and God-given unction. We are sent back to the study and to our knees to become better workers who do not need to be ashamed of the way we handle the word of truth.
The bad way to listen to the sermons of others is to select one such sermon on the topic or passage you have chosen and then simply steal it, passing it off as if it is your own work. This is, quite frankly, theft, and thieves, Paul tells us, will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor 6:10). Yet in some ways that is not the most serious aspect of this form of plagiarism. Rather, it is the deep damage you are doing to yourself and others by not studying the Bible for yourself. Ministers of the gospel are supported by their congregations so they will give themselves to the ministry of the Word and prayer. That demands rigorous study. A faithful minister of the gospel is never merely a biological tape recorder or CD, thoughtlessly parroting what someone else learned, thought through, prayed over, and recorded. Indulge in this exercise and before long you will starve your own soul—and, no matter how good the sermons you steal, your ministry will sooner or later, and deservedly, become sterile, for the stamp of inauthenticity will be all over you.
One helpful suggestion: Listen to many sermons, not just one or two. You will be far less likely to steal, and far more likely to be stimulated and helped, if you listen to five or ten sermons than if you listen to one.
So what do you think? Is “sermon-stealing” an abomination that preachers should avoid?
My view of sermon stealing comes from the academic model. Treat a sermon just like you treat a book or journal article when you use it to create your own work: give credit where credit is due by citing the work of others with proper attribution and follow fair use rules.
Which isn’t to say you can’t steal an idea from a sermon. Or from a book. In fact, lots of sermons I’ve heard have stolen ideas from the Bible, of all places.
And not just sermons, but blogs, too–they are good places to recycle ideas stolen from sermons.
Let’s get to the heart of the question, which supposes that sermons are intellectual property. Something cannot be stolen unless someone else owns it. Perhaps sermons would technically qualify as intellectual property, just as a speech might be. From my perspective, anything that comes from the inspiration of the Spirit may be beneficial for more than just one congregation. I don’t think we can lay claim to a message from God. But seriously, as a preacher, I can’t imagine trying to copy someone’s sermon verbatim. If someone wants to “steal” mine, go right ahead. I don’t care. I hope people get blessed by it. One thing is for sure, I’m not going to claim ownership of anything I preach. Why? First Peter 4:11.
“Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen”
I have to say I found this quote quite hilarious:
“The bad way to listen to the sermons of others is to select one such sermon on the topic or passage you have chosen and then simply steal it, passing it off as if it is your own work. This is, quite frankly, theft, and thieves, Paul tells us, will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor 6:10).”
Nothing prevents sermon theft like the threat of eternal damnation.
Thainamu wrote:
I thought of the academic model too. It’s probably the most fitting analogy. I agree that you mustn’t pass off somebody else’s work as your own. That is dishonest. Other aspects of the academic model don’t translate so well to sermons.
For example, in academia it is considered plagiarism to re-publish your same article, even if you rewrite it a little. I can’t see how it would be improper for a preacher to deliver the same sermon on more than one occasion. Nor, in academia, is it permitted to re-use large portions of another person’s work, even if you meticulously cite your sources. To do so is plagiarism, even if you cite the source of every word and every idea. Would we really string up a preacher for echoing the words and ideas of great preachers who have gone before?
Chris A: “Nothing prevents sermon theft like the threat of eternal damnation.”
Wow, I sort of skimmed over that the first time I read it. That’s harsh.
I reacted negatively to the warning against sermon-stealing, simply because of the terminology it used. To talk about stealing and theft reveals (I think) a misunderstanding of copyright, plagiarism, and the nature of ownership of ideas. If we look at this in terms of the law, it might be copyright violation (unless the sermon is in the public domain.) Or it might be plagiarism (which, by the way, is not illegal. It can get you fired at a university or a newspaper, but it’s not illegal.) But plagiarism is an academic concept, which doesn’t translate to the preaching of God’s word. And if the sermon isn’t copyrighted–which is the case with many of the older sermons–then it isn’t copyright violation. So where’s the theft?
Of course it’s dishonest to re-use another person’s sermons and present it as your own work. But I wouldn’t object if my pastor found a good sermon somewhere and preached it to us, presenting it not as his own work but as a message he heard and wanted to pass on to us. But this warning exhorts preachers to avoid that practice.
I think borrowing from other sermons only becomes an ethical question when it involves monetary gain or impure motives. This is different from academia, which focuses on individual achievement rather than the collective spiritual welfare of a church body. I can’t say that I’ve ever “stolen” someone’s sermon outright (because I haven’t), but neither can I say any of my sermons are original works. Everyone learns from and (consciously or not) borrows from others.
I guess some preachers do actually read their sermons from a manuscript. In these cases, if someone is reading something word-for-word that came from someone else, it just proves that they aren’t practicing 1 Peter 4:11. That’s just weak. Anyone who does that is failing to communicate to his audience. He is talking at his people rather than to them. Instead of getting angry at someone for doing this, I think I would just feel sorry for them. Preachers like this wouldn’t know the Holy Ghost if he was walking down the street wearing a red hat! (I totally stole that line from another preacher.)
At any rate, originality isn’t the goal - inspiration lending itself to instruction and exhortation sufficient to initiate spiritual development is. So if I borrow something from someone, it is because it aids in the communication of truth. We shouldn’t feel the need to reinvent the wheel every time. And I have to say I think it is a bit pompous to want credit for preaching something first as if it originated with the offended person.
Chris said, “…if someone is reading something word-for-word that came from someone else, it just proves that they aren’t practicing 1 Peter 4:11.”
I don’t think I can agree with you here, as it seems to imply that a person writing a sermon down can’t do so “as one who is speaking the utterances of God.” I’m of the opinion that the term “speaking” in I Peter 4:11 could be extended to cover writing (or other forms of communication like texting, etc.) I’m making a distinction between form and meaning.
I’m thinking that verbatim sermon stealing hardly ever happens (unless it is a preacher who reads his sermons, and not many do). Maybe more to the point would be stealing someone’s sermon outline, stealing the same illustrations and the same choices of scriptures. Is that stealing a sermon, or is that stealing a sermon idea?
I personally respect a preacher who gives some academic citations in his work because it shows he’s not just blathering off the top of his head–he’s rather putting some forethought and study into his message. I’m not sure how that fits into Chris’s ideas about being led by the Spirit, except I’m of the opinion that the Spirit can lead a preacher as he prepares his message just as much as when he delivers it.
“Chris said, “…if someone is reading something word-for-word that came from someone else, it just proves that they aren’t practicing 1 Peter 4:11.”
I don’t think I can agree with you here, as it seems to imply that a person writing a sermon down can’t do so “as one who is speaking the utterances of God.” I’m of the opinion that the term “speaking” in I Peter 4:11 could be extended to cover writing (or other forms of communication like texting, etc.) I’m making a distinction between form and meaning.”
I didn’t mean to imply that inspiration cannot occur in sermon preparation, but rather that copying someone’s sermon word-for-word is speaking as the utterances of the other person more than speaking as the utterances of God. I’m all for borrowing something if it helps communicate truth. I just think that, even in cases where a message heavily relies on material from another person, the communication of it should come from the heart.
I side similarly with Chris on this issue. I do agree with the article that sermon-stealing betrays a lack of study fundamental to a teacher. That is the most serious problem. I think issues of plagarism though are really irreleventin a legal or IP sense. It is the Holy Spirit’s work, not men’s.
Well, we all use the Bible which is full of other people’s sermons and messages and letters. Be real & humble!