James Merritt Sells His Sermons
James Merritt of PastorsEdge, a new site that is sure to be controversial, is making his sermons available for $8 each ($5.50 without artwork) or $30 for a series. A pastor can download the sermon manuscript, a corresponding PowerPoint presentation, and a handout for the congregation. The pastor is told not to think of this as plagiarism, since he has the permission of the sermon’s author.
PastorsEdge.com features sermons can be downloaded as a complete package. When you see the phrase “Sermons with Artwork” it means that when you purchase that series you get:
- The complete sermon manuscript in Word ® and as a PDF ®.
- A complete PowerPoint® presentation that highlights each main point.
- A beautifully illustrated listening sheet that can be easily duplicated for your congregation.
The only thing left for the pastor to do is prepare the message. All of the supporting files are ready to go!
Check out his free Father’s Day sermon.
See Tony Kummer’s post at Said at Southern for related articles about plagiarism and a discussion of the appropriateness of preaching others’ sermons.
HT: Justin Taylor
Would you ever use this service or something else like it?
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J. R. Miller
I think this fits into the category of resouces I blogged about some time ago Prepackaged compassion for the lazy pastor. It may not be plagerism, but if a guy cannot read the Scripture and come up with a message, why is he preaching? Is the spiritual depth of our pastoral leadership so shallow, that creativity has been replaced with the ability to buy resources?
Jun 13th, 2007 6:43 pm
Bill Parsons
Interesting…
www.jonathanmerritt.blogspot.com
Jul 7th, 2007 12:03 pm
Bobby
I read his blog…I find it funny that he blasts anyone that critiques what his dad has said or done.
This is the mindset of many SBC leaders….if we are “successful” you cannot criticize us…especially if you are young or less successful.
Any critique is dismissed as being unimportant (”consider the source…his church is small”) or as disgruntled people (”they want our power”).
We need less pride and more discernment and introspection in the SBC….we’re definitely not getting it from most of our leaders.
Jul 13th, 2007 8:05 am
Jonathan Merritt
Bobby-
I would encourage you to call my father personally. He is not a man of pride, he is not condescending, he is not belittling. I don’t know if I would characterize disagreeing with a critic of my dad’s as “blasting” him, but if anyone can it is me. I have seen the integrity with which he has lived each day as a husband, father, pastor, mentor, and lover of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Less division and more unity.
Blessings,
Jonathan Merritt
Nov 5th, 2007 8:04 pm
Dan Holt
Yes Mr Miller, some pastors are very inept. If they can provide a helpful messsage to their congregation by using one of Mr. Merritt’s messages some good is being done in the name of Jesus. I watch religious programs late night, and find many to be very offensive. Not so with James Merritt. Maybe I missed some of his programs that would have discouraged me, but at this time I have great respect for him. He rates in my top two. I have never once heard him ask for money… something that is a real turnoff.
Oct 1st, 2008 10:09 pm
Joe MacLaren
I mine e-sermons.com for sermon illustrations. I came across James Merritt’s sermon on Jonah. it was one of the most profound and well written sermons I have read. Praise god for pastors that are so gifted. It helped me process this great book of the Bible.
Jan 29th, 2009 9:30 am
Victor Rodriguez
I look at this from a growing prospective. I try my best to walk in the light of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I would pay for these sermons as a learning, growing process in my daily walk. Hearing the message from a remote Pastor that I don’t have the opportunity to attend his services is a blessing. I currently do listen to his sermons online at Oneplace.com and I find them very educational and spiritually fulfilling. So I find absolutely nothing wrong with paying for his sermons. In my opinion, it would be no more different then placing money in an offering plate during a service. I believe Dr. James Merritt is walking in the spirit and doing what the Lord wants all of us to do and that is to get his message out to a lost world.
I don’t see anything wrong with another pastor referencing one of Dr. James Merritt’s sermons. But if someone decides to use Dr. Merritt’s sermon as their own sermon that was inspired by the Lord in prayer, then they are the ones who will one day have to answer to Lord.
Let’s not worry or draw controversy over something like this. For this is what the WORLD would want us to do and NOT what our Lord Jesus Christ expects us to do.
Mar 6th, 2009 3:43 pm
drjamestedder
When i listen to Jim Merritt I have two new pens and a sharp pencil. I am 60,well educated,and I haven’t heard a preacher on tv since James Kennedy that I simply can’t stand to miss. When He preaches I laugh,cry,and go out re-invigorated to work for our Lord. I’ve heard all the great ones in the last 50 years and here is a man that hits the mark. As we used to say in Texas, ” He can shell the corn “. Everyone worth a farthing has sold his sermons since Spurgeon. Don’t forget Vance Havners old story about the young preacher who was determined to be orginal or nothing and was both.
Mar 18th, 2009 1:14 pm