In light of my past post, I didn’t want to give the impression that I don’t listen to great communicators as research for message preparation. I do. It’s one of my favorite parts of preparing a talk or series. But what I’ve learned to do over the last couple of years is to decide where I’m going with the message or individual message before I listen to outside stuff. This way I’m able to hear from God and get my ideas out before I hear someone else’s take on it.

I teach my staff that teaching is like what Jesus taught in Matthew 13…

He said, “Then you see how every student well-trained in God’s kingdom is like the owner of a general store who can put his hands on anything you need, old or new, exactly when you need it.” (Matthew 13:52)

I believe every message needs a little of both. It needs some original content that God gives us (Our illustrations, application, etc…), but also truths that other godly men who have being doing this longer than us have shared. If I only copy what others have said, then I’m no different than the prophets in Jeremiah’s day…

“Therefore,” says the LORD, “I stand against these prophets who get their messages from each other-these smooth-tongued prophets who say, `This prophecy is from the LORD!'” (Jeremiah 23:30-31)

So it’s important to take a balanced approach and know what God wants us to say, then use other teachers as the great resources they are and glean insights and ideas. But let the message be ours…