Because I still travel quite a bit, I’m sure I get to hear more different speakers than the average preacher would. For example, this past week I listened to six messages. That’s in addition to the two I delivered. Four were of average length and two were more in the 45-minute range.
I would characterize the two longer messages as rifle shots. The four that were shorter, surprisingly, were more like buckshot. Said differently, the two (though longer) were carefully developed ONE-POINT talks. Each time, the preacher carefully set up the subject and soon those present became totally engaged in listening to the content of the message.
Regarding the four shorter presentations, unfortunately they contained so many diverse points or ideas that, after a while, I sensed people gave up trying to follow what was being said or why. Because I was sitting where people could see me, I was polite and pretended to be more interested than I really was.
The final shorter talk stuck with a given topic, but there was so much information given—including far too many Bible passages—that soon the speaker tired his listeners and, I would say, lost them.
My observation was that the length of time was almost irrelevant. Clearly the rifle shot was more effective than the buckshot! What captured people was a carefully developed, single-point message that had great, life-changing power.
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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?
Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?
David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.
We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.
For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.
You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.
