Thread: How Long Does Your Pastor Preach?

This is a poll, How long does your Pastor preach for?

Not long enough .

Usually around 30 to 35 minutes, can be anywhere from 25 to 40 minutes.

We need an "other".

Other:

I don't know; I don't watch the clock
It varies due to subject matter

Good, I'm happy to hear that you don't pay attention and you are paying attention to the preaching! Sorry, too late to do the other.

I just find it weird that some are exactly always 30 minutes (for example).

I know this may sound like a smarty pants answer but it is true none the less....

Until he is done, and we'd have it no other way.

BTW, I voted 45-60 min, as this is a good average but he has gone as long as 2 hr 10 min before.

Anything under 60 minutes means somebody else is preaching!

Originally Posted by Romans922

Sorry, too late to do the other.

No, it's not.

Thanks James.

I try and be about 35 minutes. We have had this discussion before, but I can see it beginning again. So many modern Reformed preachers think it unthinkable to preach of moderate length.

I can't think of 10 guys I would enjoy (and profit from) listening to for 60+ minutes on a regular basis. (And I would not include myself!)

Typically around 60 minutes.

I liked Joey Pipa! He preached for 60 minutes this past February, seemed like a normal 35 minute sermon. So there is one for your list Fred, I'd think you'd agree.

Not including God's call to worship, a prayer, God's greeting/blessing, singing a hymn, God's announcement of His law, our confession, God's announcement of His Gospel, our reciting of a passage, the Doxology, more singing after my pastor's preaching, our confession of one of the creeds, the pastor's prayer, our tithing, and one more hymn......, his preaching lasts about 40 mins. Otherwise, the whole worship service lasts one and half hours. But I voted 35-45 min because I think you want just how long he preaches,,,,right?

35 minutes is my goal...on rare occasions I'll go 40.

Originally Posted by Romans922

I liked Joey Pipa! He preached for 60 minutes this past February, seemed like a normal 35 minute sermon. So there is one for your list Fred, I'd think you'd agree.

Joey would be one - although not every time!

And it should be obvious that not every minister is a Joey in the pulpit.

Originally Posted by CredoFidoSpero

Not long enough .

Usually around 30 to 35 minutes, can be anywhere from 25 to 40 minutes.

Same here. 45 minutes is considered a long sermon at our church. Give me a 70-80 minute sermon! Now that's the ticket!

I never timed it, though church is from 10:20 - 12:00. I would say a good 25 to 30 mins

A typical danish pastor will go for around myself not being a pastor always preached 60+

I preach between 30 to 40 minutes. Seems like 15 minutes to me!

Originally Posted by Ivan

I preach between 30 to 40 minutes. Seems like 15 minutes to me!

Know the feeling

Usually about 30-35 minutes, but sometimes a bit longer.

Ours is soon going to be featured on Sermonaudio.com. Note to Australians here: you'll like his accent! (Voted: he generally preaches between 45-50+ minutes or so.)

Margaret

P. S. Just checked Sermonaudio.com: there he is, our minister, Rev. Sean Humby, with sermons linked!

I typically go 40 in the AM (expository) and 30 in the PM (catechetical).

Tim is gently stretching the congregation--they were used to no more than 15 minutes. He preaches between 25 and 35 minutes currently.

Could it be that those who preach less than a half hour just don't have that much to say on behalf of God and are probably better off not going longer?

Originally Posted by willisadair

Could it be that those who preach less than a half hour just don't have that much to say on behalf of God and are probably better off not going longer?

Not necessarily.

Originally Posted by Whitefield

Originally Posted by willisadair

Could it be that those who preach less than a half hour just don't have that much to say on behalf of God and are probably better off not going longer?

Not necessarily.

True, all I know is I read through a local pastor's sermon and if read aloud it would have been around 15 minutes. His main thesis was that Peter finally "got right" with God when he learned how to agape love Jesus. Agape love according to this pastor meant that Peter grasped the "unconditional love" of God. He repeated this thesis at least 6 times and then closed. I think if he had taken more than 15 minutes then his audience would have been in a worse condition then when he began.

I think these guys really just don't have that much to say for God.

Of course I shouldn't generalize. Jesus first sermon in Mark's account was one sentence and people are still talking about that. "Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." That didn't even take a minute to preach.

Originally Posted by willisadair

Originally Posted by Whitefield

Originally Posted by willisadair

Could it be that those who preach less than a half hour just don't have that much to say on behalf of God and are probably better off not going longer?

Not necessarily.

True, all I know is I read through a local pastor's sermon and if read aloud it would have been around 15 minutes. His main thesis was that Peter finally "got right" with God when he learned how to agape love Jesus. Agape love according to this pastor meant that Peter grasped the "unconditional love" of God. He repeated this thesis at least 6 times and then closed. I think if he had taken more than 15 minutes then his audience would have been in a worse condition then when he began.

I think these guys really just don't have that much to say for God.

Of course I shouldn't generalize. Jesus first sermon in Mark's account was one sentence and people are still talking about that. "Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." That didn't even take a minute to preach.

Nothing magical about 30 minutes. I've heard fantastic 12 minute sermons, and horrible 45 minute sermons.

Originally Posted by Whitefield

Originally Posted by willisadair

Originally Posted by Whitefield

Not necessarily.

True, all I know is I read through a local pastor's sermon and if read aloud it would have been around 15 minutes. His main thesis was that Peter finally "got right" with God when he learned how to agape love Jesus. Agape love according to this pastor meant that Peter grasped the "unconditional love" of God. He repeated this thesis at least 6 times and then closed. I think if he had taken more than 15 minutes then his audience would have been in a worse condition then when he began.

I think these guys really just don't have that much to say for God.

Of course I shouldn't generalize. Jesus first sermon in Mark's account was one sentence and people are still talking about that. "Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." That didn't even take a minute to preach.

Nothing magical about 30 minutes. I've heard fantastic 12 minute sermons, and horrible 45 minute sermons.

I once heard a Jewish Christian preach under a 10 minute sermon and it really was impressive. I didn't learn anything new about the Bible but the though he left me with played over for a few months. I must also confess I've preached more than a few horrible 45 minute ones in my life. Very true. I think if your doing exegitcal sermons 30 is probably a good safe minimum, since your weekly building on each message. I still prefer around 40 to 50 minutes or so.

Originally Posted by willisadair

Originally Posted by Whitefield

Originally Posted by willisadair

True, all I know is I read through a local pastor's sermon and if read aloud it would have been around 15 minutes. His main thesis was that Peter finally "got right" with God when he learned how to agape love Jesus. Agape love according to this pastor meant that Peter grasped the "unconditional love" of God. He repeated this thesis at least 6 times and then closed. I think if he had taken more than 15 minutes then his audience would have been in a worse condition then when he began.

I think these guys really just don't have that much to say for God.

Of course I shouldn't generalize. Jesus first sermon in Mark's account was one sentence and people are still talking about that. "Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." That didn't even take a minute to preach.

Nothing magical about 30 minutes. I've heard fantastic 12 minute sermons, and horrible 45 minute sermons.

I once heard a Jewish Christian preach under a 10 minute sermon and it really was impressive. I didn't learn anything new about the Bible but the though he left me with played over for a few months. I must also confess I've preached more than a few horrible 45 minute ones in my life. Very true. I think if your doing exegitcal sermons 30 is probably a good safe minimum, since your weekly building on each message. I still prefer around 40 to 50 minutes or so.

I guess it depends on how large the passage is and what you are trying to accomplish. I tend to go 25-30 minutes.

I hear outstanding 20-25 minute sermons weekly and our Pastor doesn't apologize for the sermon length. He even quips that for some it takes some getting used to but I'd much rather hear a 20-25 minute inspirational and informational packed message than a longer one which belabors the point.

However after reading "Why Johnny Can't Preach" by T. David Gordon I do understand there are sermons which can go as long as an hour without a person even noticing so length in those cases is inconsequential.

Originally Posted by Whitefield

Originally Posted by willisadair

Originally Posted by Whitefield

Nothing magical about 30 minutes. I've heard fantastic 12 minute sermons, and horrible 45 minute sermons.

I once heard a Jewish Christian preach under a 10 minute sermon and it really was impressive. I didn't learn anything new about the Bible but the though he left me with played over for a few months. I must also confess I've preached more than a few horrible 45 minute ones in my life. Very true. I think if your doing exegitcal sermons 30 is probably a good safe minimum, since your weekly building on each message. I still prefer around 40 to 50 minutes or so.

I guess it depends on how large the passage is and what you are trying to accomplish. I tend to go 25-30 minutes.

I recently preached an 8 minute sermon at a wedding ceremony and was surprised at how well it was received. Think about the sermons by Peter and Stephen in Acts. It wasn't the length, but the content, and the occasion, and the audience etc.

I'm currently at 30-35 minutes.

Originally Posted by willisadair

Could it be that those who preach less than a half hour just don't have that much to say on behalf of God and are probably better off not going longer?

Or that they will be back next week

Usually for 45-50 minutes.

Excellent preachers can preach a sermon with power and authority in shorter time than lesser preachers, in general. I, being less experienced, don't seem to be able to preach less than 45 minutes. I've gone as long as about 75 minutes, but only on occasion. Generally I'm around 55 or so. I don't attribute that so much to me having so much to say, but to not learning what to take out to make the message more powerful. I could easily preach a two hour sermon each week, but I doubt it would be appreciated. One of the most difficult aspects to sermon preparation is knowing what to NOT say and what will distract from the point of the message.
A great preacher can preach a powerful message in just 10 minutes, but just as well hold your attention for 60 and leaving you wanting more.

Originally Posted by willisadair

Could it be that those who preach less than a half hour just don't have that much to say on behalf of God and are probably better off not going longer?

Definitely not in our case. I could listen to our Pastor for an hour and go away wanting more but he chooses to keep it around 20-25 minutes and every minute is packed full of inspiration and information that edifies. As Jessi stated it does make you want to come back next week to hear more which I appreciate.

Originally Posted by Wannabee

One of the most difficult aspects to sermon preparation is knowing what to NOT say and what will distract from the point of the message.

Truer words have not been spoken by man nor beast. Would that I could obtain this discipline.

I don't know; I don't watch the clock
It varies due to subject matter

20-45 minutes. Depends.

John MacArthur, as is well-known, is one of the few men who has the ability to preach for an hour and make it seem like only 30 or 40 minutes. He usually preaches about 45-50 minutes, though. Now that all his sermons are online (Welcome to Grace to You), you can watch the minutes and seconds tick by...