Length of Services & Sermons
by Harry Osborne
November 16, 2008

How long should a sermon be? This question has been the topic for serious discussions and numerous jokes. There is the one asking what it means when a gospel preacher looks at his watch during the sermon -- Answer: "Absolutely nothing." Then there is the one with two brethren where one asks the other, "Why does the preacher spend 20 minutes in the pulpit, but 4 hours on the golf course?" Answer: "His tee time is at noon." While the jokes may be humorous and the discussion of our thoughts may serve some good purpose, they cannot form the pattern for our teaching and practice.

We must all do our very best to help the cause of Christ and avoid any harm. We must evaluate ourselves, in action and attitude, to make sure we conform to the pattern of Scripture from a pure heart in every matter. We want to avoid the denominational tendency towards minimizing time spent in public study of God's word, while also rejecting misguided attempts to oppose such by needless length born of pointless repetition or lack of preparation. Let us assist efforts to fully examine some matters which may require longer periods of time, while also aiding brethren to see the simplicity of other matters through brevity when appropriate. Every faithful preacher has, no doubt, preached both lengths of lessons. Why? Both kinds were needed in Bible times and are needed today.

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