Actscelerate.com

Dean Steenburgh

Somebody said something like, "if you can't say it in 20 minutes, sit down"

Golf Cart Mafia Capo Famiglia Posts: 4682 **2/16/20 12:18 am**

Years ago I heard someone say something along the line of, "as the old famous preacher once said, 'son, if you can't say it in 20 minutes or less, sit down'"

Any of you ever remember hearing this great sage advice?
Maybe somebody's memory is a lot sharper than mine lol
_________________
"Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!"

Email me at: SteenburghDean@gmail.com

Church planters are focused on just one thing ...introducing people to Jesus!
What are you focused on?

caseyleejones

Here is the deal Dean, it has been proven that the

caseyleejones · Acts-perienced Poster Posts: 11794 **2/16/20 9:36 am**

mind can only tolerate what the butt can. Also, a child's attention span is only good for 1 minute per year and peaks out at 15 minutes. That means you really only have an adults attention at most 15 minutes before the mind wanders.

That said, it doesn't mean you have to stop. Switch gears for a minute then go back. As a teacher, I lecture 10-15 minutes then students might debate a point for a minute or students work a problem on the board for a minute or two. Guess what, go back to lecture and the 15 minutes starts over. Switch gears and then go back.

Think church, doing an illustration, add a time of pondering or soul searching then go back to the sermon...your 15 minutes begins again.

That said, I have sat under bible teachers where 90 minutes of straight one directional teaching had me the whole time but understand, this was not weekly church and was more of a church conference.

Think about how Jesus used illustrations. He used everything around him to make illustrations. The fruit around him, objects as well as current events. God made people with unlimited imaginations. I use that. I can honestly say I remember many of the sermons I saw on stage as opposed to the ones I heard.

Cojak

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24277 **2/16/20 5:58 pm**

I have heard it said that Bill Sheeks was the master of the short sermon. I have heard him preach many times and worked for him once and never noticed it, other than to say "He always said something, something real."

Also one of my businesses was a roach-coach (catering truck to the uninitiated) in the Charlotte area. I had heard of Loran Livingston . I knew his father in law, but not him. Loran had a 5 minute daily radio program that I caught during the morning. After a few mornings I realized many times he said in 5 minutes more than I and many others could say in 30-60.
His ability and his anointing has proven itself in his winning of souls.

My dad was a successful pastor and 90% of the time his sermons were less than 30 minutes.

I look back thru all the schools I attended in my life and remember only 2 teachers who held your attention for an entire class. Looking back at the preachers I have heard and there were several after an hour, I could have listened to more. examples: George Vhooris, Charles Conn, EArl Paulk Sr. and SA Lankford. But in my lifetime most long-winded preachers I started looking at my watch... Embarassed

_________________
Some facts but mostly just my opinion!
jacsher@aol.com
http://shipslog-jack.blogspot.com/

Dave Dorsey

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 13654 **2/16/20 6:54 pm**

Our pastors typically preach 40-50 minutes, and generally do exactly what Casey described -- a well-timed illustration or media element to briefly change the pace and "reset" the timer. I don't think this is an intentional strategy on their part (resetting the timer) so much as it's just something they've come to recognize as effective over the years.

Unless we are somehow physically afflicted (sick, or just tired -- thanks kids!) my wife and I never have any trouble staying plugged in for the whole sermon. I didn't really recognize why until I read Casey's post, but I think that's it.

I'm not sure who said the original quote, though I've also heard it. It's a good quote and worth considering. Though, I mostly agree with folks who say that is not enough time to get into a proper exegesis of a text.

Quiet Wyatt

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12792 **2/16/20 7:10 pm**

I wonder if Jesus or Paul knew about this â€˜sageâ€™ advice? Seems they were so longwinded people were about to faint from exhaustion. Some fell asleep.

All these nifty marketing strategies are just worldly wisdom.

MrSippi

Friendly Face Posts: 156 **2/16/20 8:38 pm**

I just donâ€™t buy it! We watch 4 hour football games, two hour movies, 2 hour basketball games, and etc.

One will be passionate and engaged in what they care about.

THE LOVE OF GOD

Friendly Face Posts: 383 **2/16/20 9:41 pm**

roughridercog

We specialize in taking something Jesus said in 2 minutes...,

Acts Mod Posts: 25306 **2/17/20 7:49 am**

And trying to improve upon it by elaborating on it for an hour. Laughing

_________________
Doctor of Bovinamodulation

jeremiah2911_4me

Acts-celerater Posts: 938 **2/17/20 9:15 am**

Dr Tom Tatum used to tell us in his classes the best advice he ever received and he passed on to his preaching students is :

Stand up to be seen

Speak up to be heard

Sit down to be appreciated......
_________________
Pastor Mike
IPHC Pastor
You ARE a wonderful human being!!!

roughridercog

And when you have a guest speaker...

Acts Mod Posts: 25306 **2/17/20 12:16 pm**

Don't repreach the message or preach a second one at the close. Smile

_________________
Doctor of Bovinamodulation

KevinWallace

I am doing it all wrong...

Friendly Face Posts: 450 **2/17/20 1:50 pm**

I need to revisit and retool my pulpit approach.
_________________
Once I thought was wrong, but...I was mistaken

Cojak

Re: I am doing it all wrong...

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24277 **2/17/20 6:40 pm**

Eduardo Nieves

Golf Cart Mafia Consigliere Posts: 3174 **2/18/20 3:15 pm**

It's O.K. to go longer, but if we are not careful we will have 10 minutes of content and 30 minutes of repetition and rabbit chasing. When I'm given a time limit, it forces me to be concise and clear with my points. In one of may class projects in seminary was to do a 15 minute service including the Lord's supper. This was to help us understand how some persecuted congregations meet for fellowship. To my surprise, all the groups were creative and effective. I still prefer a longer service, but it showed me that time is not a factor for the sake of the Gospel.
_________________
Romanos 8:37
37 Sin embargo, en todo esto somos más que vencedores por medio de aquel que nos amó.

"A Church Without Walls, A Place for All People"
El Nuevo Mana
Eduardo Nieves

Dave Dorsey

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 13654 **2/18/20 3:25 pm**

Wow Eduardo, that sounds like a really, really cool assignment. Thanks for sharing about it.

Cojak

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24277 **2/18/20 4:57 pm**

Eduardo Nieves

Golf Cart Mafia Consigliere Posts: 3174 **2/19/20 5:52 pm**

Thanks Cojak! We are doing well. I've been praying for you.

Dean Steenburgh

Golf Cart Mafia Capo Famiglia Posts: 4682 **2/19/20 7:51 pm**

My question was more along the lines of, 'does anyone remember the saying or maybe the one who originally said it?'

I wasn't referring to the content or the pace of our current churches or the lack thereof lol
_________________
"Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!"

Email me at: SteenburghDean@gmail.com

Church planters are focused on just one thing ...introducing people to Jesus!
What are you focused on?

Cojak

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24277 **2/20/20 12:30 pm**

sadlytrue77

Friendly Face Posts: 113 **2/20/20 7:23 pm**

If it can't be said in 30 minutes, it ought to be two sermons.
_________________
Hate to say it, but its true

New Orleans Bred, Mississippi Led, Hopefully Arizona will be home before I'm dead.
*OnceASaintsFanAlwaysASaintsFan*