Why are sermons so long?
As we plan the launch of an Internet Campus for Gateway Church this keeps coming up in my mind.
On the internet the average user will pay attention to video for about two and a half minutes.
Last time I checked most pastors are in the 35-45 minute range with their sermons. Why?
I’ll be honest with you, the idea that sermons have to be longer than twenty minutes has bothered me ever since I took Homiletics in college.
So what’s the deal with the forty minute sermons?
The best advice I have ever heard on preaching was from the late comedian George Burns:
“Have a good beginning and a good ending and have the two as close together as possible”
I have always taken that to heart every time I take the pulpit. The people that are sitting in front of me are precious and so is their time.
So someone has to explain to me why sermons are longer than twenty minutes…
{photo \\ Rich Lewis}
