Can Pastors Preach Other Pastors Sermons?

Is it ethical for pastors to preach sermons that they didn't write best is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity wider. This is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. We would love to hear from you and our phone lines will be open for the next 25 minutes or so. If you have a question, so pick up the phone and call us at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673.

You can also post your question on her Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts. You can watch us live on YouTube right now and send us a message. That way, and of course you can always email us at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Kevin in Harrisburg, Indiana Kevin what your question for Pastor Israel.

I appreciate what you all do. Here's my question in regards to Leviticus 1822.

I believe it is where were Lotus rights of man shall not lie with a man as he does.

A woman this is an abomination… Right. A friend of mine at work we were talking about it one day and they try to argue that it originally was meant to say. A man shall not lie with the boy as he does a woman and that later on got lost in translation in the name change it to a man shall not lie with a man and you're more seasoned than I am in wanting you know it expert opinion on that. I Kevin, thanks for giving us a call.

I use the ESV translation of the Bible. Leviticus 1822.

You shall not lie with the male as with a woman is an abomination. You know that this is an argument that has cropped up in more recent days, especially think about the direction where our culture is going in the way people think about sex and sexuality and it not just here but in other places, but in the New Testament were Paul talks about homosexuality or practicing homosexuality. Other people say what he was really getting at. There was pedophilia, and of course that was something that was prominent at at that time. In the Roman world, but that that's not necessarily what what the focus is when Paul is having these kinds of discussions you hunting are frequent in chapter 6, verse 19 verse nine were pulses or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. Do not be deceived.

Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor violators nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God and any and that he gives the Corinthians, this wonderful encouragement and such were some of you Caesar. These are things that keep people from experiencing the grace of Christ and salvation. Jesus saves these people. He's merciful to gracious to calls them to himself. Such were some of you, Corinthians, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our God network homosexuality their enforcement in chapter 6 it actually translates to different Greek words that would have referred essentially to the passive and dominant partners in a homosexual relationship and homosexual sex act and I think this is just a way that people are trying to get around the clear teaching of the Bible with the church is affirmed for thousands of years. You know I'm always suspicious of new interpretations that that basically say everyone is got it wrong. Up until this point the entire church is read this wrong unit that we should be suspicious of that because there have been godly men and women and theologians who come before us who have who have embraced this you understood the Scripture to speak clearly on this issue because it does and so know you know that up to what your friend is in this conversation you had what they were suggesting is not the case that when the Bible talks about homosexuality.

It's limited to pedophilia. So thanks for your question, Kevin S. It is a very concerning Israel that so many try to distort God's word to come to fit their own views their own proclivities and basically say no well real Paul didn't really understand what he meant to work. We didn't have a clear view of science back then.

I'm hearing these arguments come up regularly. Yeah and you know I'm especially when what we were talking about sin and the kinds of things there in first printing six. Paul is very clear so don't be deceived.

The people who do these things who practice these things will not inherit the kingdom of God. And that's why it's so important that we get this right because of foretelling people. Oh yeah, you know, this is okay you know like the prophets, the false prophets in the Old Testament that Jeremiah describes once was a peace peace where there was no peace. They they wouldn't address the sin that was keeping people from God and so we have to speak very clearly on these issues for the sake of the eternal souls of those were listening to our message. I man this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Barbara and St. Louis Missouri. Barbara what your question for Pastor Adrian and Lauren at any point below the under the anything that come in out from the heavens that can apply so I understand to that activity now because we don't know what people look like.

But wouldn't that also apply to any images of the Last Supper.

Any images definitely are because everywhere you see paintings and sculptures and all kinds of items and images of negativity and the Last Supper and the realists are people are trying to leave here and honor the people, but according to the commandment were not supposed to be doing that silly can be confusing. Yeah well II don't think that that command would extend to images of, for example, you know, a painting of Noah's Ark really specifically it's about not making images of God and so you know if we if we have a strong view on this.

And yes, it would apply to immuno images of Last Supper were people or depicting Jesus Christ because he is the eternal son of God, the second person of the holy Trinity when the apostles talked about placarding. Christ, if you will, before the church. They said that they did it, not through paintings that they would paint you know all you know Peter, they weren't artists who would paint with a paintbrush and they did to preaching. Galatians chapter 3 verse one makes this absolutely clear that's how Jesus and his gospel is billboard before the church is to the preaching of God's word but with regard to to the second commandment and and making graven images nudges that is, don't you don't draw anything.

You can't draw it.

The Pictures of anything and of course I think the confirmation of this. Barbara is the fact that in in the tabernacle, and in the temple. You did have the sort of imagery you had angels you had trees you have these these pictures if you will that were there that that were symbolically depicted these greater realities.

And so it doesn't extend to everything, but we are commanded not to make images of God, thank you for your question. Thanks Barbara appreciate you being a regular listener of core Christianity let's go to a Facebook question that came in.

This is from Julie, and she said I saw recently that well-known pastors are using other pastor's sermons without crediting them to the pastor just use his own material or can use other material as long as he gives credit for it.

Yeah.

Oh well, I mean that there is such a thing in there if there's quite the controversy going on right now in various parts of the church about plagiarizing sermons and as a pastors it will just listen to someone else asserted to basically repeat that sermon.

And you know that there are also two reasons why an individual pastor might try to justify that kind of behavior but I don't think it's okay at all.

I think that that's a real issue real problem that doesn't mean that you know it is your studying and I mean I do. This is a passion you go through the tax you exegete the Scriptures your reading some of the best. You know, historical information, some of the best commentaries getting more insights and that way thinking through how to preach the passage of Scripture and so usually you know you might find a quote here there. Dad and I think it's important that we do say this is a quote I'm currently quoting CS Lewis and and not pretend like were the ones who came up with that great insider that that great phrase, and so it is okay to use other other sources and add to and explain that you're doing that, but it's not okay just to do so to rip that information off and then pretend like it's your own or preach it like it's your own preaching the word of God that I do this every week every single Sunday I get every week I'm I'm preparing a sermon to preach on Sundays is not an easy thing, you don't. Pastors may best as I feel this what you were wrestling with the text of Scripture all week executing a passage of Scripture and then really thinking about how to preach it, how to apply it to the people that God has placed before us and edit it. Is this sober high calling. I think about what Paul told Timothy in second Timothy chapter 4 verse one he says I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus was to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom.

Talk about a solemn charge.

I charge you in the presence of God and Christ the judge of the living and the dead by his appearing by his kingdom.

What was he charging Timothy with preach the word. That's what were called to his as ministers of the gospel to preach the word not to borrow other people's sermons and and to preach that and again, that is, we can't learn from other preachers but we have to be really careful. Frankly, I think it's just it's is not a good way of its is dishonest but it's also just not a good way of shepherding the flock that God is put before you as a pastor because your particular congregation has specific needs there. There are ways that you can apply the text of Scripture to your flock specifically that that you won't actually be able to do that if you're applying someone else's sermon to your congregation and so so we have to really think hard about that. The passages of Scripture that were starting to preach to our church and then think about you know where am I can apply the gospel where Mike apply God's word to the people in my particular church were suffering with with this particular issue, and I think that's part of what it means to be a faithful pastor and if we can't do that will then were were not handling our responsibility as ministers of the gospel well and so it's okay to use other resources.

Make sure that you that you mentioned that you're doing that it's not okay I think.

And it's not pleasing to the Lord to just borrow other people sermons and preach their sermons. It's lazy and at the end of the day, it won't properly nourish our particular church in the way that God calls us to counsel. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. You can call us right now. Our phone lines will be open for the next 10 minutes or so. Here's the phone number to call. It's 833-843-2670 3833. The core and if your parents or grandparents. We have a great new free resource that would like to make available to you.

Yes is called Seven things children teach us and again this is a a free resource we've been offering it for a couple of days now and and there's a lot of excitement around this when I think parents and grandparents are excited to think through this and you know if you are a parent or grandparent that you do learn so much from your children that the Lord uses them in interesting ways to encourage you in your walk with the Lord and to teach you things even about faith and and certainly Jesus made this clear in the New Testament as well as he set children forward as an example of faith. And so get a hold of this resource.

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You can also call us for that resource or any one of our resources at 833-843-2673 that's a 33 the court let's go to Crystal in Independence, Missouri, Crystal what your question for pastor a drill I don't know what the Bible I mean I read the New Testament. I want to know what it says about divorce.

I know that it basically says Dylan reasoned that it that it's acceptable to get divorced and that there is adultery that I've had people tell me that mental and emotional abuse is another reason that it's acceptable to get divorced but I don't think I read that and so I want to get about getting to first.

Now, like are you supposed to be alone.

My question Crystal, thank you for giving us a call and may the Lord Jesus bless you and be with you and II can tell that this weighs heavily upon your heart.

Now of course you mentioned a couple passages in Scripture you know there there is the conversations that Jesus has in the New Testament about divorce and he talks about infidelity, adultery, being a grounds for divorce. Another one that we sometimes will point to way in this discussion about divorce and marriage or remarriage is in first Corinthians chapter 7, where Paul talks about abandonment. If one spouse essentially abandons another if they just sort of leave and and honestly I would say that abuse can be a form of abandonment. This is a very complex situation. Certainly we try to be really careful. I try to be very careful on this.

This broadcast not to give people you know that here's the answer in regard to the Citrix. I don't know your situation entirely, but I would say that legitimate grounds for divorce. One would be that infidelity. Another one would be abuse or abandonment and and so I that's the view that I take. I think that those are the thing that is biblical. If you can make a strong case. According to the Scriptures in that so that if if, for example, a woman is being abused by her husband. If he's technically abandoned the relationship.

If he's harming and hurting his wife yeah that that would and could lead to a legitimate ground for divorce for the dissolution of of the marriage and we know crystal that that's obviously not what Jesus intends for marriage and and that in marriage you things like abuse are just absolutely horrible.

Especially because of what is the husband supposed to be in a marriage that a husband is supposed to be a picture of Jesus who laid down his life for his bride and I don't know your story entirely, but I do know that if that's not what your husband was doing if your husband was not loving you as Jesus loves the church.

But if, on the contrary, what was happening was he was abusive and manipulative and hadn't had an in that sense begun to abandon the relationship. Will there are there are serious issues there and so it could be that you are bound to be single that kind of a thing but it's it's a complication I would encourage you. I don't know crystal are you a part of the church when when you went through this, were you a part of the church. Did you have people giving you counsel during this time while part of the church, they reach out at all and I just stopped going to that church. I started going to a different church later because I didn't charge it well yeah well but I am going to church now that I don't know them very well yet okay well let me just let me just tell you crystal Jesus does not abandon you. And he loves you and I can tell that you want to honor him and that you want to be faithful to his word. I would encourage you to to get plugged into this particular church that you're part of to grow in the fellowship there to continue to get wisdom from the people who are near you in your life again. I don't know the ins and outs all the details with regard to what would happen with your divorce but but just know that I would say that there are cases where abuse does warrant a divorce where where an individual like yourself could go and get remarried and so I would I would you say continue to to grow in the grace of Christ to know that Jesus does not reject you that he loves you that when we come to him broken hearted.

What is what is Lord say he's near to do the broken hearted to the contrite in spirit. It sounds to me like that's where you are and so right now what what I want to do is just pray for you father, I thank you for Crystal I think you that she gave us a call and I pray Lord Jesus that you would minister to her right now. I pray that that that burden the weight the guilt that she feels Lord that you would give her a sense of your love and your forgiveness that you would give her wisdom. Lord in in her particular situation that you would surround her with godly counselors, Lord, who are faithful to your word and who can encourage her and walk alongside of her during this difficult time that that she wouldn't feel abandoned by you and and not by your church, what would you bless her.

At this new church that she sat and would you just give her clarity Lord as she thinks about these these issues as she continues to dig into the Scriptures and the she looks to you, Lord wanting to to walk with you and to follow you, guide her and be with her and bless her we pray in Jesus name, amen. You're listening to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Maria in Nashville, Tennessee Maria what your question are a question about prayer. I struggle telling people that out), and liquid gold you.

Please pray that my daughter will live through that car accident lawyer I never earnestly pray that I want to be certain that we Christians cannot do right message whenever we connect to prayer is because there's a great part may be hundreds or thousands of people going on right about one wrong search comfort because we know that prayer and got greater glory were asking how it relates to God's greater glory when he answers concentration Ashley Ned tragedies happen. People die and harm. How do we just might be careful that my prayer is well godly people to share things yeah and then of course we don't know what the will of God is in every single situation I think you know when people asked me to pray. If for them if if it's clearly something that I can see you that's not God's thing that's God's will for him, for he you if you're asking me to pray for something that I know would actually destroy your family or would lead you into sin, that kind of thing will of course then in those situations and I think we can say hey here's what the word of God says about what we should pursue. But in terms of praying for something like physical healing. We do know ultimately that physical healing is the will of the Lord.

We just don't know when that's going to happen. We also will the Lord because the body of Jesus rose again. And one day, our bodies are going to be fully and finally restored at the last day at the resurrection. And so God is going to heal all of his people took to raise them up if you will, bodily at the resurrection, but should God choose to heal someone right now, today, as we continue to sojourn in in this life we don't know but it is okay for us to pray, I think.

To that end, to ask the Lord to work for the good of another and forward for his own glory. But I totally understand. You know, the desire not to want to mislead people. So I think we can say yeah I would love to pray for you and at the same time, we could rest in the fact that God is God is working whether he heals or he doesn't heal. We know Romans chapter 8 that he's able to make all things work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose and in the same way. We don't want to assume that God is just always get to heal someone and mislead people. We also don't want to assume that God just never wants to do that or always intends to leave people and in the you know particular sickness.

We just don't know.

And so we go to the Lord with humility and pray in humility that the Lord might extend his grace and his mercy and know that now he's going to do that whether he heals or not.

Thanks for give us a call. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. We have an email that we received from Jacob and he says I was wondering what resources you recommend for apologetics on the validity of the resurrection and the validity of Scripture. It be great if there could be a core Christianity question on those two subjects. Thank you. Yeah, the validity of the resurrection and the validity of Scripture will there are all sorts of resources that are out there in terms of the validity of the resurrection of there was a popular book. I think it was by Lee Strobel several years ago called the case for the resurrection answered this journalistic approach where he interviews a number of people and makes. I think a really strong case for the resurrection of Jesus. Others who have been. I think you know focused on this area of apologetics is a guy named Gary Habermas. He has stuff on the resurrection of Jesus and that we offer here it core Christianity is called more than a carpenter. It's a really short apologetics book that is going to give a lot of a lot of just sort of ready answers for questions about the resurrection also questions about the authority and inspiration of the holy Scriptures and so I would say check out some of those resources occurs another one that I've mentioned several times on the broadcast is the story of reality by gray Coke like that just to say I love this question because it shows that your wanting to dig into the word and understand why it is that you believe what you believe friend is so important for us to do that to know why we believe that this is true because it is and we can rest in that. Thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers in the menu or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us.

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