I think in the days of the Puritans there were far less distractions. The weekly sermon was not competing with all the various media at our disposal these days. In some ways, what we have today is a blessing. We communicate here at the PB and I think we benefit from it. But there are many less noble avenues of communicating and being entertained.

On the subject of how long a sermon is to last....I probably preach on average 30-35 minutes. I'm not sure because I haven't timed myself. I'm afraid I get a little lost in the moment and don't think of time. Apparently that's okay with my church because I've never heard complaints about the length of my sermons.

So pastors...how long are your sermons?

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Ivan Schoen, Pastor * Maranatha Baptist Church, Poplar Grove, IL * http://maranatha-sbc.org/

"I want to assist churches and to assist pastors in training pastors. But, after fourteen years of service in this capacity, I am absolutely certain that the finest theological seminary on earth is absolutely incompetent at replicating the actual life of a Gospel congregation. I want to train a generation of pastors who will train pastors, and I want to help them in that task." --- Dr. R. Albert Mohler, President of THE Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY