Sermon Central’s site (http://www.sermoncentral.com/pledge/) proposes the “Preacher’s Pledge” which challenges all preachers to make the Bible the primary resource in preparation and preaching of sermons.

Preacher’s Pledge I will make the Bible my primary resource in sermon preparation and preaching. I may use other resources such as commentaries and web sites to enhance, not replace, my personal interaction with Scripture. As I study I will strive to accurately understand and honestly apply God’s Word, allowing Him to uniquely proclaim His truth in a relevant way through me.

Brent Kercheville went a step further on the Christian Monthly Standard site (http://www.christianmonthlystandard.com/index.php/this-is-my-bible-joel-osteen/) by chastising preachers who don’t study Scripture and preach and teach from their studying. His exact words are:

As a preacher, let me say to those who preach that if you were not already studying the scriptures for yourself and writing lessons based on your studies, STOP PREACHING. If you needed this pledge to wake you up, then you need to step down and find another line of work. You were not meant for this work. I say this not to be mean, but hopefully to prevent the destruction of your soul. How good will it be to stand before God and your contribution to the kingdom of God was pawning off internet sermons as your own and plagiarizing others’ works? For the preacher, studying the scriptures must never be a weariness (see Malachi 1).

To go to the internet on Saturday for a sermon on Sunday is simply cheating and stealing. You are stealing other people’s material and you are cheating yourself from the joys of studying the scriptures. You are cheating the congregation from listening to fresh information found from one’s own personal journey in the scriptures. Listening to a person preach another’s material is like eating cold leftover. We want fresh spiritual food.

You are cheating God because you are not living up to the calling of being a teacher of the scriptures (you are teaching other people’s thoughts from the scriptures). You are cheating and stealing because you are being paid as if you are working, when in fact you are stealing the work of others and presenting it as your own labor.

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. (James 3:1;ESV)

Do the work of preaching and teaching right, with joy and zeal, or don’t do it at all.

Brent also denounces the “Prosperity Preaching” of Joel Osteen on the CMS site. I have always suspected Joel to be agenda-oriented, but Brent clears up the obvious points that I missed. If Joel was to visit either one of the sites that I mentioned here, he might see the err of his ways, repent, take Brent’s advise and STOP PREACHING. As long as Joel and those like him are alive though, they still have a chance to make the choice to repent. I doubt that they will, but I hope that they do.

I’ve just begun my ministry and will be writing sermons and posting them online – free to any and all who wish to read, share, or repost them. All I ask is that you give GOD the glory. I ask this because I want absolutely no credit for sharing God’s Word. The reason is easy. I will live this Preacher’s Pledge and use it as a prerequisite when ordaining others. I will always study to shew myself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2Tim 2:15); and freely give the knowledge of God as He freely reveals Himself to me through His Holy Word and as He freely inspires me through His Holy Spirit. Because I freely receive, I will freely give (Matt. 10:8).