Could you preach someone else’s sermon?

[Christian Post]

More than 1,500 pastors across the country and around the globe have pledged not to short circuit their sermons with someone else’s. In a new campaign aimed at putting the centrality of the Bible back into a preacher’s message, “The Preacher’s Pledge,” introduced by SermonCentral.com, has been signed by pastors from over 50 nations so far.

“We introduced The Pledge because we think preachers must engage the Bible in their sermon preparation and not simply short circuit the process with someone else’s study,” says Ron Forseth, general editor for SermonCentral.com. “Our site is a valuable supplement but not the primary source for a sermon. God’s Word is.”

Read about it here.

Take the pledge here.

[From me]

I could never preach someone else’s sermon! Period! I’ve had some false accusations to the contrary but never, never, never have I downloaded and preached someone else’s study. To me that is lazy and robs the person delivering the message an opportunity to grow through their study. God teaches me new insights every time I study. I have taught the same passages before but somehow God teaches me something new. Other great speakers give challenges to me and I gain wonderful ideas. But my personality and style is different than other speakers. I don’t get this.

Could you preach or teach some else’s work?

What do you think?

Oh no!

With all of the hype surrounding the Vanessa Hudgens internet pictures.  I was appalled to find out there is one making rounds on the internet about me.

wedding performed by Internet-ordained ministers are invalid

[Philly.com]

A couple who broke up seven months after their wedding vows wondered if the ceremony performed by a friend ordained via the Internet was even valid under state law. Now a York County judge has ruled that it was not, although a Universal Life Church official hopes to challenge that ruling.

Read about it here.

[From me]

Wasn’t this guy ordained by the same group?

Don’t believe what you read…

 

I am amazed at how many people are gullible to believe something just because it is on the internet.  I am a life long University of Alabama sports fan.   Two weeks ago Bama began looking for a new football coach.

Immediately reports were all over the internet that Steve Spurrier was going to Bama.  Wrong!  Then reports were that Nick Saban was offered $5 million a year to come to Bama.  Wrong!  Then last night every major media reported that Rich Rodriguez was coming to Bama.  Wrong!  Don’t believe everything you read.

Just because the internet says something doesn’t mean it is true.  This is true in every aspect of life.   There are lots of so called Christian sites that claim to post truths but they are nothing but opinions.

The internet has made the world much smaller.  There are a lot of good things about the internet.  But there are dangers lurking everywhere.  Just because someone says something in print doesn’t make it truth.

There is only one document that I know is true and that is the Bible.  If you want to believe something that you read then take more time to read and study the Bible.  The Bible is the only trustworthy written document around.

Web Evangelist?

SYDNEY Anglicans have appointed their first web evangelist to oversee a new, internet-based ministry. David Horne, a lay pastor, has been employed by the church’s media group as its first internet missionary. His job is to establish an interactive website forum for Bible studies.

The appointment, effective from January, is in response to the mission of the Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen, to convert 10 per cent of Sydneysiders to the gospel by 2012. It recognises that the internet is a popular tool, especially among a new, technology-savvy generation, and that unless ways can be found to reach more people, churches might wilt and die.  Read about it here.

Mr Hadley wanted to do more than use technology to share resources.

“There are plenty of people who provide information on the web; there’s next to no one providing relationships.”

Sounds like a cool idea.  I have had many opportunities to share my faith via my blog.  The world is shrinking because of the internet.  I have regular interations from people all over the world.  I hope this is an idea that reaps changed lives.

What do you think?

Online Confessional…

LifeChurch.tv does church differently. It’s one church with multiple locations connected through satellite and its messages are unapologetically straightforward. LifeChurch.tv also does confessions differently. The growing church is now giving Christians and nonbelievers alike a way to confess their sins anonymously and virtually. The LifeChurch founder, the Rev. Craig Groeschel, launched a new website called mysecret.tv. There, devoted churchgoers, happily married Christians, ministry leaders and preacher’s kids confess their secrets – from drug addictions, eating disorders and sexuality to past humiliations, regrets and shame.

The interactive website which ties to Groeschel’s sermons on the need for confession already has hundreds of postings – postings that have “stunned him.” Some speak of real struggles and confusion with the direction of their lives and with faith and some ask for prayers as past sins and continuing struggles eat at them.

Some Christians criticized the mysecrets.tv website, saying it’s “ridiculous” and that believers would think they’re absolved through the virtual confession. At the same time, others had praised it for giving people the first stepping stone to coming to full confession before God and being changed. Read about it here.

What is there to criticize? I John 1:9 says:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Whether we confess in private or to a fellow believer, the Bible makes it clear that God forgives. I think this is a great idea.

What do you think?