How long sermon

Christ is my help and supporter, and thus armed I will never serve your gods nor do I Scripture: Revelation Denomination: Foursquare. This sermon asks the question, How long will we be listeners to the word of God without following?

How Long? John 22 - 30 Intro: When I was a youngster, members of our family would often gather around the piano on Sunday afternoon and sing hymns from a very old hymnbook. Scripture: John Scripture: Joel When the child of God is hard-pressed by the wicked, a cry escapes the lips, "How Long? Jesus very specifically knew that this man had been lying there for 38 long years!

He knew! I felt a massive wave of relief crash over me, when I read these words! How long? Denomination: Pentecostal. How long will it take us to not only listen to the voice of Christ; but also, to act like we actually hear Christ speak?

John 22 - 30 Intro: One of the hymns I remember from my childhood came to me when I read this passage of scripture. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? Scripture: Psalms How long with eternity be for the unbeliever and for the believer? Scripture: Ecclesiastes In our times of despair, we are like David and ask "How long, O Lord, how long!

Have you ever been in a bad situation, everything seemed to be mounting up against you and you wondered how long will this last? Maybe it was an illness, maybe it was a loved one who was dying, maybe a career that was being cut This sermon is about living a long time with issues and problems without asking God to intervene on our behalf. This sermon points us to the question of 1. Do we want to be healed 2. First, determine what the bottom line is. Then chart the best course to get them there — through exposition and illustration, to the final arrival at your main application.

Consider your audience. To whom are you preaching? What are the demographics of your church? This may determine how long you should preach. Older congregations, especially those with college degrees, often enjoy longer sermons. There is some research to indicate that younger crowds have shorter attention spans today, so a briefer message may be optimal in that setting. Individual tastes and the culture of your church matter.

Get to know your audience. Ask some people you trust about your sermon length. Poll a wide range of individuals who represent all corners of your church and city. Consider your level of creativity. Some pastors like to incorporate videos, graphics, skits or even objects in their preaching.

You may lean on humor in your message, or you may be more serious. But your style may affect your sermon length. An audience will likely endure a longer sermon if there are breaks for humor along the way or creative interaction that holds their attention.

Consider your intent. What is the purpose of your sermon? To strengthen their powers of listening. To risk callousing their backsides. They watch baseball for three. Why not teach them to expect the Word of God for at least one? For the last sixty years, churches have done the opposite.

Instead, a good preacher is one part smiley news anchor, one part late-night talk show host, and one part Sunday School teacher.

Yet imagine an alternative world, where every gospel preacher offered sixty minutes of beefy exegesis and application. Where people expected that from churches just like they expected minute lectures from a high school classroom.

I dare say, they would become more capable of learning about the Bible and its applications to our lives.

And might they be stronger for it? After all, more Bible is, well, more Bible. He is also the author of several books on the church. Since his call to ministry, Jonathan has earned a master of divinity from Southern Seminary and a Ph. He lives with his wife and four daughters in Cheverly, Maryland, where he is an elder at Cheverly Baptist Church. Purchase a Print Edition. Our work is possible by the generosity of our readers. Give Today. Read Now » Ask a Question ».

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