How To Cite A Sermon Mla

Citing a sermon in MLA style requires careful attention to detail, ensuring you accurately credit the speaker and provide enough information for your readers to locate the source. Sermons, whether delivered in person, broadcast online, or accessed through recordings, offer unique challenges when it comes to citation. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of creating accurate and effective citations for various types of sermons using the Modern Language Association (MLA) format, enabling you to seamlessly integrate these important sources into your academic or research writing.

Understanding the Basics of MLA Citation

Before delving into the specifics of citing sermons, it’s crucial to understand the fundamental principles of MLA citation. MLA (Modern Language Association) style is a widely used formatting and citation guideline in the humanities, particularly in literature, languages, and cultural studies. It emphasizes clarity, accuracy, and consistency in acknowledging sources.

The MLA style consists of two main components:

• In-text citations: Brief references within the body of your paper that point to the full entry in the Works Cited list.
• Works Cited list: An alphabetized list at the end of your paper that provides complete publication information for all the sources you cited.

When citing a sermon, you’ll need to gather specific details about the sermon itself, including the speaker's name, the title of the sermon (if available), the date of delivery, the location (church, website, etc.), and any relevant publication information. The more complete and accurate your information, the better your citation will be.

Citing a Live Sermon

A live sermon, one that you attended in person, requires a slightly different approach than a recorded or published sermon. The focus here is on documenting the live event.

In-Text Citation

In MLA style, in-text citations typically include the author's last name and the page number(s) where the information can be found. However, since a live sermon doesn't have page numbers, you'll use the speaker's last name. If you mention the speaker's name in your sentence, you don't need to include it in the parenthetical citation.

• Example:
  • (Smith)
  • As Smith argued, the importance of community is paramount (Smith).

Works Cited Entry

The Works Cited entry for a live sermon should include the following elements:

• Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Sermon” (if available). Description of the event (e.g., Sermon). Name of Church or Institution, Date.

Here’s a breakdown:

• Speaker’s Last Name, First Name: The name of the person who delivered the sermon.
• “Title of Sermon”: If the sermon has a specific title, enclose it in quotation marks. If there is no title, you can omit this element.
• Description of the event: Specify that it was a sermon.
• Name of Church or Institution: The name of the church, temple, mosque, or other institution where the sermon was delivered.
• Date: The date the sermon was delivered.

Example:

Smith, John. “The Power of Forgiveness.” Sermon. First Community Church, 14 May 2023.

Variations:

• No Title: If the sermon did not have a specific title, simply omit the title element.

  Smith, John. Sermon. First Community Church, 14 May 2023.

• Different Venue: If the sermon was delivered at a special event or conference, adjust the "Name of Church or Institution" accordingly.

  Smith, John. “Finding Hope in Difficult Times.” Sermon. Annual Interfaith Conference, 14 May 2023.

Citing a Recorded Sermon (Audio or Video)

With the rise of online streaming and podcasts, many sermons are now available in recorded format. Citing these recordings requires including information about the medium (audio or video) and the platform where it was accessed.

In-Text Citation

The in-text citation for a recorded sermon remains the same as for a live sermon: the speaker's last name.

• Example:
  • (Johnson)
  • Johnson emphasizes the need for compassion (Johnson).

Works Cited Entry

The Works Cited entry for a recorded sermon should include the following:

• Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Sermon.” Name of Program/Website, Date of Recording, URL.

Here’s a breakdown:

• Speaker’s Last Name, First Name: The name of the person who delivered the sermon.
• “Title of Sermon”: The title of the sermon, enclosed in quotation marks.
• Name of Program/Website: The name of the podcast, website, or streaming service where the sermon is hosted (e.g., YouTube, Spotify, church website).
• Date of Recording: The date the sermon was recorded or posted online.
• URL: The direct URL to the sermon.

Example:

Johnson, Mary. “The Importance of Gratitude.” Grace Community Church Podcast, 22 Jan. 2023, www.gracecommunitychurch.org/podcast/gratitude.

Variations:

• YouTube: If the sermon is on YouTube, use "YouTube" as the Name of Program/Website.

  Johnson, Mary. “The Importance of Gratitude.” YouTube, 22 Jan. 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxxxxxxxx.

• No Title: If the sermon does not have a specific title:

  Johnson, Mary. Grace Community Church Podcast, 22 Jan. 2023, www.gracecommunitychurch.org/podcast.

Citing a Sermon from a Published Collection

Sometimes, sermons are published in collections or anthologies. In this case, you'll need to cite the sermon as a chapter or essay within the larger work.

In-Text Citation

The in-text citation will include the speaker’s last name and the page number where the information is found.

• Example:
  • (Williams 45)
  • Williams argues that faith requires action (45).

Works Cited Entry

The Works Cited entry for a sermon in a published collection should include the following:

• Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Sermon.” Title of Collection, edited by Editor's Name(s), Publisher, Year, Page Numbers.

Here’s a breakdown:

• Speaker’s Last Name, First Name: The name of the person who delivered the sermon.
• “Title of Sermon”: The title of the sermon, enclosed in quotation marks.
• Title of Collection: The title of the book or anthology in which the sermon appears.
• edited by Editor's Name(s): The name(s) of the editor(s) of the collection, preceded by "edited by."
• Publisher: The name of the publishing company.
• Year: The year the collection was published.
• Page Numbers: The page range on which the sermon appears in the collection.

Example:

Williams, David. “The Call to Service.” Great Sermons of the 20th Century, edited by John Thompson, HarperCollins, 1995, pp. 30-48.

Specific Scenarios and Considerations

Multiple Speakers or Contributors

If a sermon involves multiple speakers or contributors, list them in the order they appear in the sermon.

• Example:

  Smith, John, and Mary Johnson. “Working Together for Change.” Sermon. Community Church, 5 June 2022.

Unknown Speaker

If the speaker of the sermon is unknown, use the title of the sermon in place of the speaker's name. If there is no title, use a descriptive term like "Sermon."

• Example:

  “The Power of Hope.” Sermon. First Baptist Church, 10 July 2023.

Online Forums or Discussion Boards

If you are referencing a sermon that was discussed or quoted on an online forum or discussion board, cite the forum post.

• Example:

  Johnson, Mary. Comment on “The Role of Faith in Modern Society.” Online Discussion Forum, 15 March 2023, www.exampleforum.com/discussion/12345.

Personal Communication

If you are citing information you learned from a personal communication (e.g., an email or interview with the speaker), cite it as personal communication.

• Example:

  Smith, John. Personal communication. 20 July 2023.

  (Smith, personal communication, 20 July 2023)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Incomplete Information: Failing to include all necessary details, such as the date, location, or URL.
• Incorrect Formatting: Not adhering to MLA formatting guidelines for titles, dates, and other elements.
• Inconsistent Citation: Citing sources differently throughout your paper.
• Lack of Accuracy: Providing incorrect information about the speaker, title, or other details.
• Omitting the Works Cited Entry: Forgetting to include a full entry in the Works Cited list for each sermon cited in your paper.

Examples of Complete Citations

To further illustrate the principles discussed, here are several complete examples of MLA citations for sermons:

Live Sermon:

Brown, Sarah. “Living with Purpose.” Sermon. Trinity Church, 28 Aug. 2022.

Recorded Sermon (YouTube):

Lee, Michael. “The Gift of Grace.” YouTube, 5 Feb. 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=abcdefg123.

Sermon from a Published Collection:

Clark, Emily. “Finding Strength in Vulnerability.” Contemporary Sermons on Resilience, edited by David Miller, Oxford University Press, 2018, pp. 75-92.

Sermon on a Podcast:

Davis, Robert. “The Path to Peace.” Daily Reflections Podcast, 12 Apr. 2023, www.dailyreflections.com/podcast/peace.

Conclusion

Citing sermons in MLA style requires careful attention to detail and a thorough understanding of the guidelines. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create accurate and effective citations for various types of sermons, whether they are delivered live, recorded online, or published in collections. Remember to gather complete information about the sermon, adhere to MLA formatting rules, and maintain consistency throughout your paper. By doing so, you will ensure that you give proper credit to the speaker and provide your readers with the information they need to locate the source. This will not only enhance the credibility of your work but also demonstrate your commitment to academic integrity. Accurate citation is an essential skill for any researcher or writer, and mastering it will allow you to seamlessly integrate sermons and other religious texts into your scholarly work.