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Years ago I heard someone say something along the line of, as the old famous preacher once said, 'son, if you can't say it in 20 minutes or less, sit down'Any of you ever remember hearing this great sage advice?Maybe somebody's memory is a lot sharper than mine lo Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!Email me at: [email protected] planters are focused on just one thing ...introducing people to Jesus!

mind can only tolerate what the butt can. Also, a child's attention span is only good for 1 minute per year and peaks out at 15 minutes. That means you really only have an adults attention at most 15 minutes before the mind wanders.That said, it doesn't mean you have to stop. Switch gears for a minute then go back. As a teacher, I lecture 10-15 minutes then students might debate a point for a minute or students work a problem on the board for a minute or two. Guess what, go back to lecture and the 15 minutes starts over. Switch gears and then go back.Think church, doing an illustration, add a time of pondering or soul searching then go back to the sermon...your 15 minutes begins again.That said, I have sat under bible teachers where 90 minutes of straight one directional teaching had me the whole time but understand, this was not weekly church and was more of a church conference.

I have heard it said that Bill Sheeks was the master of the short sermon. I have heard him preach many times and worked for him once and never noticed it, other than to say He always said something, something real.Also one of my businesses was a roach-coach (catering truck to the uninitiated) in the Charlotte area. I had heard of Loran Livingston . I knew his father in law, but not him. Loran had a 5 minute daily radio program that I caught during the morning. After a few mornings I realized many times he said in 5 minutes more than I and many others could say in 30-60.His ability and his anointing has proven itself in his winning of souls.My dad was a successful pastor and 90% of the time his sermons were less than 30 minutes.I look back thru all the schools I attended in my life and remember only 2 teachers who held your attention for an entire class. Looking back at the preachers I have heard and there were several after an hour, I could have listened to more. examples: George Vhooris, Charles Conn, EArl Paulk Sr. and SA Lankford. But in my lifetime most long-winded preachers I started looking at my watch... Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

Our pastors typically preach 40-50 minutes, and generally do exactly what Casey described -- a well-timed illustration or media element to briefly change the pace and reset the timer. I don't think this is an intentional strategy on their part (resetting the timer) so much as it's just something they've come to recognize as effective over the years.Unless we are somehow physically afflicted (sick, or just tired -- thanks kids!) my wife and I never have any trouble staying plugged in for the whole sermon. I didn't really recognize why until I read Casey's post, but I think that's it.

I wonder if Jesus or Paul knew about this ‘sage’ advice? Seems they were so longwinded people were about to faint from exhaustion. Some fell asleep.

I just don’t buy it! We watch 4 hour football games, two hour movies, 2 hour basketball games, and etc.

We specialize in taking something Jesus said in 2 minutes...,

And trying to improve upon it by elaborating on it for an hour.

Dr Tom Tatum used to tell us in his classes the best advice he ever received and he passed on to his preaching students is :Stand up to be seenSpeak up to be heardSit down to be appreciated..... Pastor Mike IPHC Pastor

Don't repreach the message or preach a second one at the close.