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Long/short duration (church services)

Classik

Classik

Member
The sermon was very long today. :shocked. I was feeling very dizzy, and I noticed some of our member dozed off, while some murmured impatiently.:confused It was 1 hour +:
WHAT A LONG MESSAGE.
Some pastors naturally preach long sermons. Some spend less than 45minutes, yet delivering the message.

I believe the Holy Spirit should lead the preacher. If He says, 'go ahead', then, preach on. If He says, end it here', please, do end the sermon.
Preachers need to carry the congregation along...and I don't believe the Holy Spirits instructs a preacher to always do long sermons. YOU CAN'T FINISH ALL ABOUT THE BIBLE IN A DAY (or in a single sermon).
Tomorrow is yet another day.
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Study the mood of your congregation, know when they are exhausted. If you continue when they are tired of sitting and listening you would end up messing up the whole thing. Diminishing returns, sort of. (There are very long messages people would still enjoy. Some of our pastors can preach for a decade and you won't get exhausted- here is a case where response is necessary)

At times we spend five hours in church (sunday school class and normal service included)
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:lol The irony, however is: you complain the sermon took 1:30 minutes - while some of us spend more than 2 hours on movies, several hours on sports, swimming, fun etc...Why can't we spend the same amount of time in the presence of God?
I am guilty too. At times I just want the message to end soon...but I could take 2 hours on FC barcelona :sad what an Irony. Should someone really get tired in the presence of God?:)
Barça vs God, which is more important?
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I know we should not take forever in church services...God too has given us tasks to carry out at home.

Long Duration church services give me the creeps (sorry) - maybe unnecessarily long ones. Short duration services is not perfect either.
Everything ought to be done according to the leading of the Spirit
 
When I was at Christian Rehab, they made some points similar to those you made. About how we'd spend hours watching movies or getting drugs (it was rehab, you know), but couldn't spend the same amount of time on the Lord who saved us. Or how we'd get excited over (girls, sports teams, etc.), but were all quiet when it came to the Lord.

Part of that was good ole fashion guilt tripping, of course, but I do think there's something to be said for long, in-depth sermons. Now, long-winded sermons that don't really go anywhere and aren't inspired...that's another thing. I think a good 30-45 minutes is usually sufficient to stay on topic and deliver a coherent, powerful message. Sometimes, though, the Lord wants us to spend a little more (or less) time hearing what our leader has to say.
 
but couldn't spend the same amount of time on the Lord who saved us.

I believe in many situations of long winded speakers it is the Lord that is first to leave. The captive audience proves too much of a temptation. While a paid performer always wants to leave his audience yearning for more.
 
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I think delivery plays an important role too. Some pastors, preachers, etc. have a gift for being able to deliver a message with fire and excitement that keeps their audience captive. Then there's pastors like ours. He has a wonderful message but unfortunately he lacks the skills to deliver his message in such a way to keep us on the edge of our seats.

I think a good preacher will know his/her limitations and work their message accordingly. There's little to gain by speaking to a sleeping audience. Isn't that part of their training in seminary school?
 
When I went through teacher training as part of getting my Evangelistic license years ago these are just some of the things I was taught. It doesn't matter how long or short you make the teaching, just make sure the Holy Spirit is speaking through you and when he is done stop.

Keep your subject of what you are teaching simple so even a child can understand what you are teaching. Do not teach as the Pharisees taught as they loved to be seen for their knowledge. Teach with love and compassion and never consider yourself better than anyone for all have a different level of learning by how they study.

Be slow to speak so people can understand what you are saying. Never go above a person's head by using big words that they could never understand. Keep the message simple and many seeds of the word will be planted in the hearts of all that will hear.

Keep your teachings simple so everyone can understand what is being taught. Learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and allow the Holy Spirit teach through you. We can only teach through the anointing of the Holy Spirit and when that anointing is done has reached it’s purpose for the timing of God learn to end the teaching there and always leave them wanting more. Too much information can confuse the mind and a person’s attention level will soon wonder away from the teachings. Try not to teach for more than an hour unless the Holy Spirit directs you to continue. Usually after an hour of sitting a person will become restless and their concentration will wonder away from the word.
 
for_his_glory said:
When I went through teacher training as part of getting my Evangelistic license years ago these are just some of the things I was taught. It doesn't matter how long or short you make the teaching, just make sure the Holy Spirit is speaking through you and when he is done stop.

Keep your subject of what you are teaching simple so even a child can understand what you are teaching. Do not teach as the Pharisees taught as they loved to be seen for their knowledge. Teach with love and compassion and never consider yourself better than anyone for all have a different level of learning by how they study.

Be slow to speak so people can understand what you are saying. Never go above a person's head by using big words that they could never understand. Keep the message simple and many seeds of the word will be planted in the hearts of all that will hear.

Keep your teachings simple so everyone can understand what is being taught. Learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and allow the Holy Spirit teach through you. We can only teach through the anointing of the Holy Spirit and when that anointing is done has reached it’s purpose for the timing of God learn to end the teaching there and always leave them wanting more. Too much information can confuse the mind and a person’s attention level will soon wonder away from the teachings. Try not to teach for more than an hour unless the Holy Spirit directs you to continue. Usually after an hour of sitting a person will become restless and their concentration will wonder away from the word.
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Beautiful! :yes :nod
 
That is why many people choose where to worship: they do not want to spend more than 3 hours in church. Some spend more than 5 hours. Honestly, it is unacceptable.:sad


Sunday School classes, hymns, prayers, choirs (youth and adult choirs), testimonies, special numbers, drama (not at all times), announcement, sermon, welcoming visitors, closing hymn, etc
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All these are edifying - they are good. But they should be well organised. We musn't spend 5 hours doing them.
At times we need to skip some (examples are: special numbers by members, few could give special numbers, not all testimonies must be taken, merging choirs might just help - although the youth always like their style of music, e.g Kirk Frankline, Donnie M., etc, I'm not against classical choirs:chin etc)
 
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Everything has it's proper order when you allow the Holy Spirit take charge and those are the services I can sit under for hours. I went to a service once that lasted all day and all they did was sing, spoke in tongues, prayed in tongues and flailed themselves on the floor with the pastor yelling purge yourselves, purge yourselves. Nothing edifying, no teaching of Gods word, just fleshly emotionalism. How can one person speak in tongues and have several others interpret that which was spoken. It was like a participator being part of some production or a three ring circus. If I can't feel the Holy Spirit when I walk through the door then I know I need not be there.
 
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