{"id":18235,"date":"2011-07-10T15:38:21","date_gmt":"2011-07-10T20:38:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/community\/jesuscreed\/?p=18235"},"modified":"2011-07-10T18:13:48","modified_gmt":"2011-07-10T23:13:48","slug":"should-we-shorten-sermons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/jesuscreed\/2011\/07\/10\/should-we-shorten-sermons\/","title":{"rendered":"Should We Shorten Sermons?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

From Todd Rhoades<\/strong><\/a>, who is trying to stir the pot on sermon length:<\/p>\n

(I\u2019ll reserve my thoughts until later.)<\/p>\n

OK\u2026 so the Bishop of Lichfield told a group of pastors in London last week that church services have become too long, and that they should aim to keep the time of the service to no more than 50 minutes.<\/p>\n

Stop singing so long. \u00a0Stop praying so long. \u00a0Stop preaching so long.<\/p>\n

This article also says that some services in the UK last up to 2 hours.<\/a><\/p>\n

Another argument: \u00a0people\u2019s attention spans aren\u2019t what they used to be.<\/p>\n

Actually\u2026 I think the Bishop is on to something here.<\/p>\n

I wrote a post about a year ago asking the question about why no church that I know of has begun offering a half hour service.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve done everything else\u2026 hip music, flashy lights, relevant messages, free coffee and donuts. \u00a0But never have we offered to budge, even a little, on our set hour format.<\/p>\n

Would more people come if we offered an \u2018express\u2019 type service? \u00a0Yeah\u2026 actually, I think if you had three services, two of them being an hour and one being 30 minutes, I bet the 30 minutes one would be pretty dang popular.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut that\u2019s because people are shallow\u201d.<\/p>\n

No. \u00a0That\u2019s because pastors have not ever looked at doing things differently.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s face it\u2026 pastors are paid and expected to speak 30-40 minutes each Sunday. \u00a0But can we be honest? \u00a0Most of that 30-40 minutes with most pastors contains A LOT of fluff.<\/p>\n

My experience with The NINES has taught me a lot. \u00a0You absolutely can deliver a compelling point in nine minutes. \u00a0It\u2019s clear, concise, and brief. \u00a0But it sticks with you.<\/p>\n

I think a powerful worship service could be packaged into 30 minutes.<\/p>\n

So\u2026 heads bowed and eyes closed. \u00a0Who will be the first pastor to try this? \u00a0Who will be the first one to give up his 30-40 minute sermon for a 9 minute one?<\/p>\n

Anyone? Anywhere?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not afraid to sing all 329 verses of Just as I am. \u00a0Been there, done that.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m totally serious. \u00a0This would\u00a0work<\/a>. \u00a0In fact, I bet it would get you on FoxNews or CNN.<\/p>\n

OK\u2026 would love to hear your thoughts. \u00a0Am I totally off my rocker to think a substantial, worshipful, God-honoring service could be packaged in 30 minutes? \u00a0And am I totally insane to think that people actually would like this format?<\/p>\n

Why or why not?<\/p>\n

Todd<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From Todd Rhoades, who is trying to stir the pot on sermon length: (I\u2019ll reserve my thoughts until later.) OK\u2026 so the Bishop of Lichfield told a group of pastors in London last week that church services have become too long, and that they should aim to keep the time of the service to no […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":197,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nShould We Shorten Sermons?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"From Todd Rhoades, who is trying to stir the pot on sermon length: (I'll reserve my thoughts until later.) 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