Evangelism at Work through the Interview Process

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Nov 25, 2006 in Church, Church Technology, Culture | 3 comments

A few years ago I considered ways that Christians could evangelize even in a secular workplace.  One of the ways I thought this could be done is through interviewing and/or promotion situations.  (This idea came years ago when I started Sano Bioscience International an executive recruiting company focused on biotechs entering the FDA approval process). Here is what I came up with:

Situation - You are in a position of interviewing, considering someone for promotion or otherwise assessing them.  In this position you ask them questions (always recommend behavioral based interviewing).  After the period of interviewing, you end with one final assignment.  

Assignment – In order to see their skills in logic, writing, creative thinking and ability to form persuasive discourse you ask them to present a 2 page argument for Where Morality Comes From. You'd let them know they are not being evaluated on their 'position' but presentation, thought and articulation.

Evangelism Opportunity - To assist them, you hand them three 'examples'.  Two are from secular positions that are common worldviews, eg. social contract ethics, etc.  The third is a solid Biblical position that addresses the previous two and presents a presuppositional apologetic for the God of the Bible.

The purpose is to confront non-Biblical worldviews, hoping that people are forced to re-consider their stance.  And then to present a Biblical worldview as the only viable option. 

The Web and the increase of Recycled Sermons

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Nov 25, 2006 in Church, Sermon | 3 comments

The Internet is changing the landscape of preaching.  Congregants now have access to thousands of preachers and many preachers feel the pressure of comparison against the best and brightest.  How are some of these pastors responding?  By using the same material from the most popular of preachers.  There was an article (originally in the Wall Street Journal, but reprinted in the San Diego Union-Tribune) about the use of sermon resources, sermon manuscripts and other resources in the preparation of your sermon.  Here is the start:

The Rev. Brian Moon says he has come up with ideas for his sermons after water-skiing, while watching “My Name Is Earl” on TV and while working on his 1969 Buick muscle car. He also finds inspiration on the Internet, as he did in August when he preached about “God's math.”

“People are drowning, drowning in their marriages, drowning in their careers, drowning in hurtful habits,” Moon told his congregation at Church of the Suncoast, in Land o' Lakes, Fla. “They need someone to rescue them and bring them on the raft. They need people driven by God's addition.”

Those words, it turns out, were first uttered three years ago by the Rev. Ed Young, pastor of Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas. His Web site, creativepastors.com, sells transcripts of this and others sermons for $10 each.

Moon says he delivered about 75 percent of Young's sermon, “just because it was really good.” That included a white-water rafting anecdote similar to Young's in the original. Moon, who has now been a pastor for seven months, didn't give credit to Young, and he makes no apologies for using a recycled sermon.

“Truth is truth, there's no sense reinventing the wheel,” Moon says. “If you got something that's a good product, why go out and beat your head against the wall and try to come up with it yourself?”

These days, a lot of preachers would agree. The sermon – an oration traditionally expressing the thoughts of the cleric doing the talking – has entered the age of reruns. Topics and transcripts are available on sites like sermoncentral.com, pastors.com, sermonspice.com, and desperatepreacher.com. In the old days, when a preacher wanted to pinch a sermon, he had to consult a book, a magazine or a sermon anthology.

Read entire article: Pulpit polemic: Recycled sermons are on the mount (Suzanne SatalineTHE WALL STREET JOURNAL)

Should pastors use other people's sermon manuscripts?  What resources should a pastor be able to use for preaching?  Are other sermons similar to commentaries?  This is pretty convicting for me as an occasional preacher (and this also applies to blog posts).  How often do I say something that is 'truly original'?  When I prepare a sermon, I study the Bible, read books, listen to sermons and often there is much I've gathered from others that influences what I preach.  When should I 'quote/give credit' to someone?  If someone gave you an idea for the 'direction' of the sermon but you write it on your own?  Lately, I try to credit those who influenced the sermon at the bottom of my text regardless of directly (word-for-word) or indirectly (influence).  But I'm sure there are times when I read something and use it later, forgetting who the idea came from.  

Some thougths:

A pastor who plagiarizes sermons is clearly not fulfilling his primary responsibility. He is not investing time and effort in studying the Word, in understanding the Word, and in helping others understand what God has taught him. Furthermore, he is being unethical in allowing his congregation to believe that the sermons he delivers are his own work. 

Plagiarism In The Pulpit Challies 

The essence of plagiarism is to give the impression that the ideas or words of another person are actually your own. This can be done intentionally (in which case it is outright theft) or unintentionally-but either way it is wrong.

What is plagiarism? Desiring God Ministries 

Other Resources:

How to Use Other Preachers' Material Without Compromising Your Integrity 

Integrity in the Pulpit 

Hollywood: Turning the Christian Faith into a Marketing Gimmick

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Nov 23, 2006 in Church, Culture | 17 comments

I'm sure many of you have received the email:

Sylvester Stallone (as in, "Rocky") cordially invites you, as a leader in the faith and family community, to JOIN HIM ON THE PHONE LIVE…Sly would like to take some time to talk to you about the faith and values that run through the Rocky films, and share with you about his upcoming movie, Rocky Balboa, the final chapter in the Rocky story (yes, Stallone himself gets back in the ring!).

In interviews with various faith-based publications, Sly recently shared some of his thoughts about the Rocky character and faith:

"In Rocky, if he's just a fighter, then it's just a boxing story, and I told the producers in the beginning, 'It's not a boxing story; it's a spiritual journey. It really is about a man that has been chosen to accomplish a role, to be an example for other people.' "
Interview with New Man Magazine

Now I don't know Sly personally, but I have never seen his career marked by his Christian faith.  Has he publicly stated he's a Christian?  Is he really convinced that this film is a one that represents the Christian faith or anybody's faith?  Just because his character goes on a 'spiritual journey' does that mean wherever he ends up we should applaud the search?

Secondly, if the movie really is about the Christian faith, it is damning.  The Christian story isn't one where we see 'a man' come and live as an example for other people.   If Jesus only came to 'live as an example' we'd all be in a desperate position.  Jesus was more than an example, he was a savior who reconciled a people to God.  This type of thinking is the same perversion that portrays David as a boy who conquered Goliath and presents to Christians, "If you just have enough faith, you too can conquer the Goliath's in your life".  Was this the picture that David gave us?  I don't think so.  In the story of David and Goliath, we really are the Israelites who were unable to face our great enemy, who were afraid and needed a Savior.  David is a picture of Jesus who we all need in order to have victory.  This movie would only present a contradictory message of Christian faith.

Sadly, with the phenomenon of The Passion of Christ, Hollywood has their eyes wide open to exploit the Christian community for the purpose of money.  They are turning the Christian faith into a marketing gimmick. 

Church Planting Wisdom

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Nov 20, 2006 in Church, Church Planting | 0 comments

Derek Brown (Harmony Blog) started a new series: Church Planting Wisdom.  Several church planters have already shared some of their thoughts on planting churches (eg. Michael Foster, Bruce Chant, Kevin Cawley)  Here is my addition: Church Planting Wisdom – From Drew Goodmanson.

Sermon Zeitgeist

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Nov 18, 2006 in Church, Culture, Sermon | 1 comment

One of the cool things about Sermon Cloud is it gives you a sort of sermon zeitgeist.  Because Sermon Cloud is fairly new, it has taken a bit to find out what people are preaching on and who are the popular preachers.  Here are some tidbits:

1) Donald Miller, author of Blue Like Jazz, has the most popular sermon (in terms of downloads) at Sermon Cloud.  He preached Incarnational Gospel at his home church Imago Dei.  It has been downloaded over 1,000 times. 

2) Rick McKinley's pastor of Imago Dei preached Inconvenient Christianity, the most 'amened' sermon just edging Noel Heikkinen by one 'amen'.

2) The most popular preacher in terms of people 'searching' is Tim Keller from Redeemer NY. 

3) You can view where all the churches are and find out who is preaching in your home town using our Church/Preacher Map page.

4) In light of the Ted Haggard scandal, only one sermon (Check Your Posture: A Message Regarding Ted Haggard)had his name in the title or meta tags.  But during that week this was the most popular sermon.

Do you own zeitgeist.  Go to the Sermon 'Search' page and filter by downloads or go to view the sermons with the most amens .