Comments on: Preaching and the Clock http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/09/15/preaching-and-the-clock/ A Ministry of Shepherds' Fellowship Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:54:00 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Brandon Cox http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/09/15/preaching-and-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-230766 Brandon Cox Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:53:41 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/09/15/preaching-and-the-clock/#comment-230766 I'm very thankful for this article. I preach 42.5 minutes (according to some software we broadcast with. We're fixing to move to 2 services and so I'm having to make adjustments for the earlier one and we've been asking, "does the sermon need trimmed?" I was 97% convinced the answer was a big fat NO, and this article helps confirm that. We must allow time for exposition or we shouldn't have a second service. Thanks! I’m very thankful for this article. I preach 42.5 minutes (according to some software we broadcast with. We’re fixing to move to 2 services and so I’m having to make adjustments for the earlier one and we’ve been asking, “does the sermon need trimmed?”

I was 97% convinced the answer was a big fat NO, and this article helps confirm that. We must allow time for exposition or we shouldn’t have a second service. Thanks!

]]> By: Greg Pickle http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/09/15/preaching-and-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-228241 Greg Pickle Fri, 19 Sep 2008 03:49:23 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/09/15/preaching-and-the-clock/#comment-228241 "That is why developing the logical flow of a sermon is crucial." This is what John does SO well that makes him so interesting. It is what I'm striving for as I learn how to preach. When people can see the entire film and not just random photos along the way, it's much easier for them to follow what's going on. It reminds me of the children's Sunday school classes that walk around holding onto a rope with the rest of the class: lose your grip on the rope and who knows where you'll end up. But as long as you can stay with everyone step-by-step you will be in good shape. This is also why 30 minutes in preaching lab is so difficult! A great exercise, though. “That is why developing the logical flow of a sermon is crucial.”

This is what John does SO well that makes him so interesting. It is what I’m striving for as I learn how to preach. When people can see the entire film and not just random photos along the way, it’s much easier for them to follow what’s going on.

It reminds me of the children’s Sunday school classes that walk around holding onto a rope with the rest of the class: lose your grip on the rope and who knows where you’ll end up. But as long as you can stay with everyone step-by-step you will be in good shape.

This is also why 30 minutes in preaching lab is so difficult! A great exercise, though.

]]> By: Michael Wilhite http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/09/15/preaching-and-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-228238 Michael Wilhite Fri, 19 Sep 2008 03:44:51 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/09/15/preaching-and-the-clock/#comment-228238 Well it's God's time, not ours. If we truly believe in expository, verse-by-verse, book-by-book preaching, then it will take a substantive amount of time to get through a sermon. I usually take 45-50 minutes most Sundays. I have found my congregation doesn't mind, as long as I'm organized and not boring. I think preachers are only boring if they are bored with the text. If you are passionate about what you are preaching, the ones who actually care to listen will listen to you. There will always be those who sleep during the sermon. Just honor God by studying hard, preaching harder and allow God to control the time. It's His Word and His time to shine, not ours. He needs all the time that He wants to take for a sermon. Better to let God take the time to do the text justice than to rush through something. Well it’s God’s time, not ours. If we truly believe in expository, verse-by-verse, book-by-book preaching, then it will take a substantive amount of time to get through a sermon. I usually take 45-50 minutes most Sundays. I have found my congregation doesn’t mind, as long as I’m organized and not boring. I think preachers are only boring if they are bored with the text. If you are passionate about what you are preaching, the ones who actually care to listen will listen to you. There will always be those who sleep during the sermon. Just honor God by studying hard, preaching harder and allow God to control the time. It’s His Word and His time to shine, not ours. He needs all the time that He wants to take for a sermon. Better to let God take the time to do the text justice than to rush through something.

]]> By: Rob Wilkerson http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/09/15/preaching-and-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-227527 Rob Wilkerson Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:38:20 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/09/15/preaching-and-the-clock/#comment-227527 What freedom this provides! I'm in a church full of folks who have no problem sitting through an average of an hour and thirty minutes of exposition each and every Sunday. Praise God for the milk and meat of the Word, and thank God for people who crave good food. What freedom this provides! I’m in a church full of folks who have no problem sitting through an average of an hour and thirty minutes of exposition each and every Sunday. Praise God for the milk and meat of the Word, and thank God for people who crave good food.

]]> By: Dwayne http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/09/15/preaching-and-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-227176 Dwayne Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:59:36 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/09/15/preaching-and-the-clock/#comment-227176 One Old preacher that i was doing a revival for corrected me. I was preaching and really getting into it and after the sermon I made the mistake of asking if the "Spirit" had lead me to long. He said "Yes I think so. That same Spirit that lead you to all that information has the power to do it in a time frame where people could listen to it." So my thought is prepare an hour of sermon and drain twenty minutes of water off each end and serve the middle twenty with fire. One Old preacher that i was doing a revival for corrected me. I was preaching and really getting into it and after the sermon I made the mistake of asking if the “Spirit” had lead me to long. He said “Yes I think so. That same Spirit that lead you to all that information has the power to do it in a time frame where people could listen to it.”
So my thought is prepare an hour of sermon and drain twenty minutes of water off each end and serve the middle twenty with fire.

]]> By: Mark La Roi http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/09/15/preaching-and-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-226164 Mark La Roi Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:49:14 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/09/15/preaching-and-the-clock/#comment-226164 What a cool post! You don't this kind of "hands-on" instruction from a worthy source very often in the blogosphere. I find I can sit under good preaching for hours. Our pastor can exegete while showing life application and example in such a way that you just want it (I do anyway) to keep on going. In fact when we adopted a more rigid schedule to fit the other services, nursery workers etc; I believe we lost a lot despite the fact that the teaching itself remained solid. I have also heard some short sermons that were deeply impactful, and one in particular that was 20 minutes or so, but was like a punch to the gut of my soul. Long or short, the most impactful sermons always are framed and supported by Scripture. What a cool post! You don’t this kind of “hands-on” instruction from a worthy source very often in the blogosphere.

I find I can sit under good preaching for hours. Our pastor can exegete while showing life application and example in such a way that you just want it (I do anyway) to keep on going. In fact when we adopted a more rigid schedule to fit the other services, nursery workers etc; I believe we lost a lot despite the fact that the teaching itself remained solid.

I have also heard some short sermons that were deeply impactful, and one in particular that was 20 minutes or so, but was like a punch to the gut of my soul.

Long or short, the most impactful sermons always are framed and supported by Scripture.

]]> By: Chris http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/09/15/preaching-and-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-226064 Chris Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:43:45 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/09/15/preaching-and-the-clock/#comment-226064 Steve, fortunately we are now in the days of MP3's etc. which could stretch a little bit longer than 90 minutes! Steve, fortunately we are now in the days of MP3’s etc. which could stretch a little bit longer than 90 minutes!

]]> By: David M. http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/09/15/preaching-and-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-226036 David M. Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:45:30 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/09/15/preaching-and-the-clock/#comment-226036 Well I never get bored with MacArthur's preaching, I've listened to MANY of his messages 7 or 8 times because they are profound and riveting (even if don't agree on every point). I can't deal with the local churches and their practice of two verses and a bunch of anecdotes, though. I drove to J Mac's church once but it's way too far. Thank God for my iPod! Well I never get bored with MacArthur’s preaching, I’ve listened to MANY of his messages 7 or 8 times because they are profound and riveting (even if don’t agree on every point). I can’t deal with the local churches and their practice of two verses and a bunch of anecdotes, though. I drove to J Mac’s church once but it’s way too far. Thank God for my iPod!

]]> By: BryanWalker http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/09/15/preaching-and-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-225999 BryanWalker Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:30:34 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/09/15/preaching-and-the-clock/#comment-225999 What I found was that on Sunday mornings I did not have the freedom from the congregation, dominated by older folks, to preach beyond 30-35 minutes. But on Sunday nights I had the freedom to go 40-45 minutes and the percentage of younger to older members was leaning more to the younger crowd. What I found was that on Sunday mornings I did not have the freedom from the congregation, dominated by older folks, to preach beyond 30-35 minutes. But on Sunday nights I had the freedom to go 40-45 minutes and the percentage of younger to older members was leaning more to the younger crowd.

]]> By: Seek the Holy http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/09/15/preaching-and-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-225916 Seek the Holy Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:53:27 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/09/15/preaching-and-the-clock/#comment-225916 <strong>MacArthur on the Length of Expository Preaching...</strong> I need to pass this on to the people in my church! MacArthur writes about Preaching and the Clock. Some snippets:I am convinced that biblical exposition requires at least forty minutes. Less than this just is not sufficient to probe...... MacArthur on the Length of Expository Preaching…

I need to pass this on to the people in my church! MacArthur writes about Preaching and the Clock. Some snippets:I am convinced that biblical exposition requires at least forty minutes. Less than this just is not sufficient to probe……

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