How long is too long for a sermon?
In an article by the Christian Post, the outlet discussed how megachurch Pastor Ed Young of Fellowship Church located in Grapevine, Texas believes that half hour sermons are beyond the capacity of the modern-day listener.
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“The first service I preached 36 minutes. Way too long. The second service I did it in 20 minutes and 43 seconds,” Young said. “…the 20-minute message was better than the 36-minute message.”
The Post noted how Young also called out other pastors for being too long-winded in their messages. “Preachers, we preach too long, I guarantee it. Just look at yourself…I preach too long. Once a sermon gets past 25 minutes…I lose it.”
As the Post further reported, a survey by the Pew Research Center from 2019 showed how the median Catholic sermon was 14 minutes long, with Evangelical sermons with a median at 39 minutes in length. Mainline churches had a media of 25 minutes for sermon lengths, while black Protestant church sermons weighed in at about 54 minutes long.
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We live in a world full of distractions, where our attention is constantly pulled in a hundred directions, yet the Word remains our most vital source of spiritual nourishment, guidance and strength. More than anything else in this world, we need to let Scripture dwell richly within us, shaping our thoughts, decisions, and actions.
As believers, our priority must be to receive the Word, meditate on it, and allow it to penetrate every part of our being. When the Word becomes our primary sustenance, we are equipped to live victoriously, to walk in faith and to impact the world around us for the kingdom of God.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.
