Question of the day ??
In conversations that I've had over the last several years I've heard that the sermon should never be more than 15 minutes "because the brain can't handle anymore than the bottom can stand" (loose translation of many comments). I've also heard that in the fastest growing churches, many are based around the sermon, which is fairly long. What do you think? Should sermons be short, long or guided by the Holy Spirit (who knows the length then?)?
posted by Greg Hazelrig @ 8:12 AM
11 comments
11 Comments:
Hi Greg...great question...I've never had criticism about a sermon being too short...sermons, hopefully and prayerfully, are always guided by the Holy Spirit...as for length of the sermon, that's determined by the length of the anthem and the length of the offertory and the mint dissolving under your tongue (don't mistake button for a mint, becomes quite painful on the tongue and on the congregation)...have a day filled with God-time...your brother and kin in Christ, Mike.
Years ago I heard a wise old preacher say, "The first 10 minutes of a sermon are for God, the second 10 minutes are the preacher, and anything over that is for satan."
Not sure I agree, but I've never forgot it.
Short! But like all writing, it is MUCH more difficult to write a short sermon than a long one.
Here's one old parson's opinion:
Fifteen minutes after the sermon is preached, long or short, very few will be able to tell what was preached. But all of them will be able to tell how they felt.
Long sermons are okay provided that they cover a lot of material. But long sermons that cover a small amount of subject matter just fill up time and serve the pastor's vanity.
Long enough to tell the story. (God's story and our own story)
I attended Tony Evans' Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas last month. The service lasted over two hours...Dr. Evans' sermon must have been around 45 min. He was so engaging I didn't look at my watch once.
I think in our more traditional churches, people expect an 'express sermon' -- but the non-denom folks seem to be able to handle more.
Not sure what that means.
I sincerely believe that the UM sermons should be longer. I hate to say this, but in many of our UM churches, we have minature pastors, preaching minature sermons to minature christians. I have no problem with short sermons that are full of content. But I do have a problem with pastors who preach subjects that require an hour and pack it into a 10 or 15 minute timeslot.
i have a pastor that can preach a great sermon, its the 20 extra minutes he goes on about football or basketball that irritates me.
Thank you for your answers. I am on the fence. I think what I have come up with is what I've claimed all along. We shouldn't be burdened with the time of the sermon. If the sermon is truly God given and people are coming to receive, it will be like some of the revivals I've experienced and like Mark experienced. The time will be up before we know it.
Maybe sometimes the sermon will be short and sometimes long. But if the Holy Spirit is driving the words coming from the preacher, then it doesn't matter.
Patricia, first of all, you got my attention with the baseball analogy. I love any baseball analogies...ha ha.
Second, I totally agree about using the Holy Spirit as a cover. I was at a revival not too long ago where the preacher said God hadnt yet shared with him what to say. I new then we were in trouble. And so he rambled and rambled...but of course, it was the HOLY SPIRIT.
On the other hand, I believe the Holy Spirit does drive me and speak to me. Most of the time its after I've prepared my sermon. I am of the opinion that God uses us...God speaks to and through us by the power of the Holy Spirit. But if we don't do our part, then I feel that God probably won't do His.
For your next thought, I agree as well that I don't have that much control over what my parishioners hear. Two people in the congregation can hear the same sermon and come to me and tell me something totally different that they received. And often I didn't even realize I said that. But God was speaking to them and filling them in the way that they needed to be filled.
Thanks for your comments. I don't think Ive ever used this many words to respond either. I only hope you check back to see my response. :)
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