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I ruffled a few feathers in a twitter thread today because I said sermons should not be longer than 35 minutes. As someone who has an MA in homiletics, has preached 100s of sermons, and has taught preaching internationally, take my advice. Less is more. 1/5
In my experience, preachers think they are far more interesting than their congregants do. People don't want to hear long sermons. Apart from that, science tells us that people can't concentrate for that long. So do us all a favor and preach shorter sermons. 2/5
I'm not saying that an occasional sermon won't go 42 minutes or whatever. What am I saying is that your average sermon should aim to be 35 minutes or less. If you can't communicate the content of your message in 35 minutes, then you are sharing way too much content. 3/5
While we're at it, here's a few more things to keep in mind.
1. Introductions - make them juicy by raising a need.
2. Transitions - make them logical or psychological.
3. History - leave most of it out unless the text demands it.
4. Text - preach the text, not backgrounds. 4/5
1. Introductions - make them juicy by raising a need.
2. Transitions - make them logical or psychological.
3. History - leave most of it out unless the text demands it.
4. Text - preach the text, not backgrounds. 4/5
5. Images - make them concrete.
6. Big Ideas - have one.
7. Word studies - don't do them.
8. Objections - anticipate them, and answer them.
9. Pericopes - don't preach 1 verse.
10. Conclusions - point us to Jesus
Have any preaching questions? Just ask. 5/5
6. Big Ideas - have one.
7. Word studies - don't do them.
8. Objections - anticipate them, and answer them.
9. Pericopes - don't preach 1 verse.
10. Conclusions - point us to Jesus
Have any preaching questions? Just ask. 5/5
