Pastors sign online pledge to use God's Word as primary source for sermons

[Soldier4Christ]

Pastors sign online pledge to use God's Word as primary source for sermons

A website that provides access to sermons and illustrations has launched a campaign encouraging pastors to pledge that they will develop their own material through the reading and study of scripture.

So far, more than 1,500 pastors across the nation and the world have signed what is being called "The Preacher's Pledge." The pledge, introduced by SermonCentral.com, asks pastors not to short-circuit their sermons with someone else's work. Ron Forseth, general editor of SermonCentral.com, says the online site should be a supplement for sermons, but not the primary source.

"We want to point pastors back to the Bible, and we believe that preaching needs to flow from their own time spent in the Word before God," he says. "We don't look at our site as an opportunity for pastors to have somebody else do their work for them [or as a replacement for] their own personal interaction with God's Word."

Forseth says SermonCentral.com should be seen as a resource to help pastors make their messages more effective, but not as a way to copy someone else's work.

[Soldier4Christ]

When it becomes necessary to get pastors to sign such a pledge then it is evidence that there is a serious problem in their calling and in their walk with the Lord.

[nChrist]

Pastor Roger,

Brother, I really think this advice is great for all Christians, not just Pastors. The Bible should be the primary source for all of us.

I think that we would be shocked to find out little time the average Christian spends in studying the Bible every week. We live in a microwave and drive-thru society, and many people try to extend the same philosophy to Bible Study. It just doesn't work that way.

As an example, devotions should be used to get ideas for more detailed Bible Studies, NOT to take the place of Bible Studies. I personally think that we should have as much interest and time in feeding our Spirit as we do in feeding our physical bodies. Both are weak and sickly without a healthy diet.

Love In Christ,
Tom

2 Timothy 2:15 NASB
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.