Citing a sermon in MLA format requires careful attention to the specific medium through which the sermon was accessed. The ninth edition of the MLA Handbook emphasizes a universal template of core elements—Author, Title of Source, Title of Container, Contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication Date, and Location—applied flexibly to any source type. Now, whether you are referencing a live delivery, a printed manuscript, a website transcript, an audio podcast, or a video recording, the core MLA 9 principle remains the same: identify the container where the source lives. Understanding how to map a sermon’s unique details onto this template ensures your works cited page is accurate, verifiable, and professionally formatted And that's really what it comes down to..
Understanding the Core Elements for Sermons
Before diving into specific formats, it helps to identify the standard pieces of information you need to gather. For almost any sermon citation, you will need:
- The Preacher’s Name: The primary author/creator.
- The Title of the Sermon: Usually found on the bulletin, webpage, video title, or manuscript. If no formal title exists, use a generic description (e.g., Sermon on the Mount).
- The Title of the Container: This is the larger work holding the sermon. Examples include the Church Website Name, YouTube, SermonAudio.com, Podcast App Name, Book Title, or Journal Name.
- The Date: The date the sermon was delivered or published.
- The Location: A URL (for online sources), page numbers (for print), a physical location (for live events), or a timestamp (for specific audio/video references).
MLA 9 encourages including the date of access for online sources, especially if the content might change or disappear, though it is technically optional for stable sources.
Citing a Sermon Heard Live (In Person)
When you attend a service and hear a sermon delivered in real-time, you are citing a live performance or lecture. Since there is no permanent container like a website or book, the "container" is the event or the venue itself.
Works Cited Structure:
Preacher’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Sermon (or Description). Name of Church/Organization, Day Month Year, City, State. Address/Location.
Example:
Piper, John. The Supremacy of God in Preaching. Bethlehem Baptist Church, 12 Mar. 2023, Minneapolis, MN.
Key Nuances:
- If the sermon has no distinct title, use a generic description without italics or quotation marks: Sermon on Romans 8:28.
- The location (City, State) is crucial for live events to distinguish between different campuses or venues.
- In-text citation: (Piper).
Citing a Sermon from a Church Website or Online Archive
This is one of the most common citation scenarios. Day to day, the church website acts as the primary container. If the sermon is part of a specific series, the series name can function as a second container or be noted in the "Title of Container" slot Worth knowing..
Works Cited Structure:
Preacher’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Sermon.” Title of Website, Name of Church/Organization, Day Month Year, URL. Accessed Day Month Year The details matter here. But it adds up..
Example:
Keller, Timothy. “The Prodigal God.” Gospel in Life, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 15 Oct. 2022, www.gospelinlife.com/sermons/the-prodigal-god. Accessed 5 Nov. 2023.
Key Nuances:
- Use quotation marks for the sermon title (part of a larger whole) and italics for the website title (the container).
- Include the organization name (publisher) if it differs from the website title.
- MLA 9 recommends including the access date for online content.
Citing a Sermon from a Database or Dedicated Platform (SermonAudio, SermonCentral, etc.)
Platforms like SermonAudio, SermonCentral, or Blue Letter Bible function as distinct containers. They often provide metadata (series, scripture reference, duration) that can be helpful but is not strictly required in the citation.
Works Cited Structure:
Preacher’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Sermon.” Platform Name, Publisher/Organization (if distinct), Day Month Year, URL. Accessed Day Month Year And it works..
Example:
MacArthur, John. “Why the Bible Is the Word of God.” SermonAudio, Grace to You, 3 Jan. 2024, www.sermonaudio.com/sermon/112324183456. Accessed 10 Jan. 2024.
Key Nuances:
- If the platform hosts content from multiple churches, the specific church/organization acts as the publisher.
- Omit
http://orhttps://from the URL unless you are hyperlinking in a digital paper (MLA 9 allows either, but plain text is standard for print).
Citing a Sermon on YouTube or Social Media
Video platforms add a layer of complexity because the uploader may not be the preacher. MLA 9 treats the uploader as a "Contributor" if different from the author, or the author if the preacher uploads their own content.
Scenario A: Preacher/Church Uploads Directly
Preacher’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Video.” YouTube, uploaded by Channel Name, Day Month Year, URL Simple, but easy to overlook. Practical, not theoretical..
Scenario B: Third-Party Uploads the Sermon
Preacher’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Sermon.” YouTube, uploaded by User Name, Day Month Year, URL.
Example (Scenario A):
Stanley, Andy. “Guardrails: Part 1.” YouTube, uploaded by North Point Ministries, 22 Aug. 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyz123 Easy to understand, harder to ignore. Simple as that..
Example (Scenario B):
Spurgeon, Charles H. “The Blood of the Covenant.” YouTube, uploaded by Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 14 Feb. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=abc789.
Key Nuances:
- Use the video title as it appears on YouTube (often includes the sermon title + series/date).
- The "uploaded by" notation is a specific MLA 9 contributor designation for social media.
- For in-text citations of specific moments, use a timestamp: (Stanley 00:12:34).
Citing a Sermon as a Podcast Episode
Podcasts are treated as containers for individual episodes. The podcast title is italicized; the episode title is in quotation marks The details matter here..
Works Cited Structure:
Preacher’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Episode.” Podcast Title, Season/Episode Number (if applicable), Publisher/Network, Day Month Year, URL/App Location.
Example:
Chandler, Matt. “The Gospel and Race.” The Village Church Podcast, episode 45, The Village Church, 18 June 2022, www.villagechurch.net/podcast/episode-45.
Key Nuances:
- If listened to via an app (Apple Podcasts, Spotify) without a direct web URL, you can end the citation with the app name: Apple Podcasts app.
- Include season and episode numbers if the podcast uses them.
Citing a Published Sermon (Book, Anthology, or Journal)
Many historical or famous sermons are republished in books, collected works, or academic journals. In these cases, the sermon is a "part" of a larger "whole."
Works Cited Structure (Book Chapter/Anthology):
