March 15, 2010

Should Sermons Be Less Than 8 Minutes?

…according to Archbishop Nikola Eterovic they should be:

“The homily in general should not go over eight minutes – the average amount of time for a listener to concentrate…”

Father Andrew Headon offers his thoughts:

“There is a saying among clergy, If you haven’t struck oil in seven minutes, stop boring.”

Now I’ve heard my far share of “injurious” 3+ hour sermons back in my Pentecostal days. Those sermons really should have come with a health warning. I’m also aware that this media saturated generation has trouble sitting down and concentrating. But surely the answer isn’t cutting the sermon down to 8 minutes is it?!

I think when looking at the subject of sermon length it’s important to make a big distinction; length of sermon does not equate to quality of sermon. Believe me, I’ve suffered through sermons that were less than 8 minutes in length but were more painful (or as painful) as some of those 3+ hour sermons I mentioned before.

I’m not sure if this is original to him or not, but to paraphrase what a preaching lecturer once said to a class I was in:

“Every sermon should feel as if it were 25 minutes long. The sermon’s actual length may be much longer (or shorter if you’re not that skilled yet), but it should feel like only 25 minutes.”

Although it’s a painful job, if preachers forced themselves to hear recordings of their sermons I think we could really improve homiletic skill. A preacher may be surprised how unclear, confusing, repetitious (sometimes even contradictory) his sermons can be.

I don’t think 8 minutes is the answer. Let’s teach our congregations how to listen and concentrate longer instead of encouraging the problem. Yet at the same time, I’d much rather hear and understand God’s Word clearly in 25 minutes than sit there for an hour because an hour sermon is considered “solid” or “serious” or simply because the preacher likes the sound of his own voice.

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March 13, 2010

Some Interesting Thoughts On Redemptive Historical Preaching

…are being aired over at Reformation 21.

Carl Trueman begins:

“If the game is simply to get from Text A to Bethlehem, what do you do with a book like Judges? Preach 200 sermons which essentially say `This judge failed; but, surprise surprise, there is a judge who didn’t fail; let’s talk about him, shall we?’ ? This scarcely does justice to the richness of the text or produces the kind of preaching that equips the people of God to be the people of God.”

Sean Lucas responds:

“I’m pretty content to run week-by-week to Bethlehem and Calvary–whether I’m preaching Colossians or Exodus (as I’m right now). Because it is only as I preach Christ from whatever text I come across do I remain faithful to my calling as a Gospel minister.”

Oh, Carl Trueman doesn’t disagree with Sean Lucas’ response, but…

I’m finding this exchange particularity interesting as I’m currently in the study working away at a sermon on Genesis 27.

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March 4, 2010

Why Do You Desire To Know and Preach God’s Word?

Consider the words of Richard Baxter:

“Hard studies, much knowledge, and excellent preaching, if the ends be not right, is but more glorious hypocritical sinning. The saying of Bernard is commonly known: ‘Some desire to know merely for the sake of knowing, and that is shameful curiosity. Some desire to know that they may sell their knowledge, and that too is shameful. Some desire to know for reputation’s sake, and that is shameful vanity. But there are some who desire to know that they may edify others, and that is praiseworthy; and there are some who desire to know that they themselves may be edified, and that is wise.’”

I may be revealing my ignorance, but who is the Bernard that Baxter quotes?

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February 25, 2010

Would You Preach From The End Of Mark's Gospel?

…based on textual critical evidence many wouldn’t. But what about John 7:53-8:11 the “woman caught in adultery”?

We were discussing this in class the other day and we acknowledged the following strange occurrence. There aren’t many sermons preached on Mark 16:9ff, but there are comparably more sermons preached on the “woman caught in adultery” from John 7:53-8:11. Yet, it is generally agreed based on textual critical evidence that there is more support for Mark’s ending than for the “woman caught in adultery”.

So, would you preach from the ending of Mark’s gospel as the Word of God, and if not, are you consistent in your treatment of other passages? I have a feeling that it may be as the content of Mark’s ending is more difficult than the story of the “woman caught in adultery” that it’s therefore a lot easier to skip. This would explain the apparent inconsistency.

Please, this is not a post to discuss textual criticism and the KJV vs. other translations. I’m interested in hearing from those who can accept the two propositions that Mark 16:9ff and John 7:5-8:11 are not likely original and that the evidence is greater for Mark’s variant than John’s, and how your treatment of each compares in preaching. Naturally, if you differ on those two propositions you suffer no difficulty or inconsistency at all.

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February 21, 2010

Preaching Is No Easy Matter

…according to Richard Baxter; and I agree.

“It is no easy matter to speak so plainly, that the most ignorant may understand us; and so seriously that the deadest hearts may feel us; and so convincingly, that the contradicting cavillers may be silenced.”

Baxter, Richard. The Reformed Pastor (p. 117)

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February 19, 2010

Expository Preaching is Key to Revival

…according to Steve Lawson:

A heaven-sent revival will only come when Scripture is enthroned once again in the pulpit. There must be the clarion declaration of the Bible, the kind of preaching that gives a clear explanation of a biblical text with compelling application, exhortation, and appeal.

Preacher, is this your goal when you come to sermon preparation?

Notice Lawson’s not endorsing expository lectures but expository sermons / preaching. Joining the explanation must be “compelling application, exhortation, and appeal.”

Lord, by your grace please aid and sustain us in this sober and high calling.

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February 18, 2010

Oh Boy! Oh No! Oh Well. Oh Wow!

…are four stages of software development that David Murray suggests can parallel the preacher and his sermon preparation.

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February 9, 2010

How Sermons Work – A Free e-Book

David Murray has made his first ever e-Book available for free download. It is entitled, How Sermons Work – An Introduction to Sermon Preparation, and although I’ve yet to read it, from the table of contents it looks to be a helpful resource.

It’s on my to read list, why don’t you download it and tell me (and David Murray) what you think.

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January 9, 2010

Symington’s Pastoral Heart – An Example to Follow

As I said earlier this week, I’ve been reading William Symington: Penman of the Scottish Covenanters. After discussing Symington’s work, The Atonement and Intercession of Jesus Christ, Blackwood quotes Symington’s clear pastoral concern that one could read his work and only have an intellectual interest in Christ.

“Be it then the concern of all who read these pages, earnestly to seek such an interest in what the Saviour has done and is still doing…Let them not regard [these] as matters of curious speculation, or content themselves with mere doctrinal belief… They must become the subjects of saving faith…

Let not the reader, then, rise from the perusal of these pages, without seriously and conscientiously asking himself these questions: – Am I interested in the atonement and intercession of Jesus Christ? Have I faith in the sacrifice of the great High Priest? Has my soul been sprinkled with His precious blood? Does He plead in my behalf with the Father?… Were I called, at this moment, to recline my head on the pillow of death, could I indulge the comforting assurance that the advocate within the veil…would present on my behalf the request, ‘Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am’ [John 17:24]…? These are solemn questions. Let no one neglect to put them to himself.”

[This quote, although reproduced in the aforementioned book was originally found in Symington, William. The Atonement and Intercession of Jesus Christ (pp. 301-303)]

What an example to follow, not only when academic work is undertaken but even in ministry. Men, don’t deliver lectures this Lord’s Day, rather preach Christ from all the Scriptures!

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December 7, 2009

Why Would Anyone Want to be Pelagian or Semi-Pelagian?

I was talking with some men recently and we were discussing Pelagianism and Semi-Pelagianism. One man who had the privilege of growing up his whole life with sound Reformed (Biblical) teaching found it difficult to understand why anyone would want to be a Pelagian or Semi-Pelagian. In light of the amazing gospel of grace it is a fair question and we tossed around several answers. However, last night I listened to Michael Horton on Covenant Radio and I thought he summed it up well:

“We fail to realize that our default setting is Pelagian; that’s what we go back to as a “dog returns to its vomit.” (Pro. 26:11) …that is our human nature. We have to be preached out of Pelagianism every Sunday.”

Preachers, remember this next Lord’s Day and every Lord’s Day. Preach the gospel to your hearers! As Horton said, “[preach them] out of Pelagianism every Sunday.”

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