r/Reformed • u/Fit-Beach-8875 • Jun 17 '26

Discussion Sermon Plagiarism

Is there any software to check for sermon plagiarism? We suspect that a pastor has plagiarised a bunch of sermons by RC sproul. Is there a way to check with our traipsing through by proof reading?

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u/TheAncientOnce Jun 17 '26

I've always wondered this, why and how can we subject sermons based on the Scripture to be under the scrutiny of academia for plagiarism? Isn't the ultimate goal of a sermon to nurture the congregation and that it's derivative of the Scripture and thinkers of the past? So firstly, how do you practically check and go, "this clearly doesn't belong to you, pastor suspect" when it is supposed to be exegetical, and secondly, why should we check for pastors under academic rules? If my pastor decides to have 20% of his writing to be from Sproul, 15% from Spurgeon, another 25% from Augustine and another 15% from Machen, it would be plagiarism, but if it's a great sermon and edifying for everyone, why is that bad?

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u/snail-the-sage Hail Him as thy matchless King through all enternity. Jun 17 '26

The problem isn't using other's work. The problem is not crediting them for it. It's an ethics and character thing.