Why I Preach 45-Minute Sermons
July 5, 2018 - Pastor David S. Rogol
Recently someone commented that he appreciates the 40-50 minute length of my sermons. Wow, there’s a first time for everything! The liberal mainstream churches limit their preaching to 10-20 minutes. Most Bible-believing churches, however, spend more serious time in the Word. While there can be great quality in brevity, I want my congregation to be immersed in God’s Word on Sundays. Once in a while someone might fall asleep on the window ledge and be in danger of falling to the ground outside. But usually, most are attentive.
THIRSTY
Sadly, many professing believers hardly ever dust off the covers and crack open their bibles. So when they come to church from a barren land desolate of all things spiritual, they’re thirsty for truth. God’s Word is truth.
HOW MUCH IS REALLY TOO MUCH?
While my goal is to aim for 30-40 minutes, sometimes I need more time to express what God has laid on my heart. Other times, I recognize the message could be abbreviated. I’m thankful for a congregation that’s patient with my shortcomings as a pastor. For visiting believers and others, I only ask this; of the 168 hours available, is 45 minutes per week under the hearing of God’s Word really too much for you to bear? If yes then you might need to adjust some of your priorities. Are you living beyond your means and running around frantically to meet overextended financial commitments? Are your children's sports activities more important than your, and your child’s, soul? What decisions can you make to clear your schedule on Sundays and make a commitment to the Lord to assemble with His people? As for you and your house, will you ever serve the Lord or are you too busy serving yourself?
GLORIFY GOD AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER
As for the additional hour or so we spend in church worshipping God in prayer, song, the reading of His Word, and fellowship, God’s children are supposed to glorify Him and love one another. If that’s unacceptable to some then perhaps “they went out from us” because “they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us” (1 John 2:19).
THE LOCAL CHURCH
The local Bible-believing church (a living organism) is the most important institution in a believer’s life. You need her and, without your continual presence, she’s missing an important member of her body (Romans 12). How can we expect the influence of the Gospel to impact society if God's people aren't in the unity of the Spirit, listening to the preaching of His Word, and meeting together to glorify His name?
THIRSTY
Sadly, many professing believers hardly ever dust off the covers and crack open their bibles. So when they come to church from a barren land desolate of all things spiritual, they’re thirsty for truth. God’s Word is truth.
HOW MUCH IS REALLY TOO MUCH?
While my goal is to aim for 30-40 minutes, sometimes I need more time to express what God has laid on my heart. Other times, I recognize the message could be abbreviated. I’m thankful for a congregation that’s patient with my shortcomings as a pastor. For visiting believers and others, I only ask this; of the 168 hours available, is 45 minutes per week under the hearing of God’s Word really too much for you to bear? If yes then you might need to adjust some of your priorities. Are you living beyond your means and running around frantically to meet overextended financial commitments? Are your children's sports activities more important than your, and your child’s, soul? What decisions can you make to clear your schedule on Sundays and make a commitment to the Lord to assemble with His people? As for you and your house, will you ever serve the Lord or are you too busy serving yourself?
GLORIFY GOD AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER
As for the additional hour or so we spend in church worshipping God in prayer, song, the reading of His Word, and fellowship, God’s children are supposed to glorify Him and love one another. If that’s unacceptable to some then perhaps “they went out from us” because “they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us” (1 John 2:19).
THE LOCAL CHURCH
The local Bible-believing church (a living organism) is the most important institution in a believer’s life. You need her and, without your continual presence, she’s missing an important member of her body (Romans 12). How can we expect the influence of the Gospel to impact society if God's people aren't in the unity of the Spirit, listening to the preaching of His Word, and meeting together to glorify His name?