This is not the place to enter into the whole question of when and how a preacher should reference his sources. Suffice it to say that I’m very concerned to bring to a sermon what are the convictions of my own heart expressed as much as possible in my own words, but at the same time I acknowledge that I have many ‘teachers’ pouring their own thoughts and ideas into the pool from which I draw my thoughts and words. It is not always possible to see or necessary to acknowledge all of those connections.
Except, when quoting directly.
When I am quoting another directly and consciously, it IS important that I acknowledge that, which I try always to do.
In the sermon I preached this past Sunday and to which I make reference here, I quoted two or three times from an excellent paper on the subject of hell written by Tim Keller and posted on the Redeemer web site. At least once, however, those listening to the audio will not hear me give proper acknowledgement. When I listened to the sermon, I was horrified to hear the quote and to realize that in merely listening to the sermon it is possible to judge that I was presenting Keller’s words as my own.
That would be an understandable, but erroneous judgment. In order to give opportunity for people to read as well as hear the quotes I use, I include them as a part of a video presentation which is projected as I preach. Visually, the words I was speaking were attributed to Pastor Keller, which I judged, in a live setting, to be adequate. I had not thought until now the implications for those who only have access to the audio. I will be more careful in the future.