We really do this to the detriment of our own discipleship and corporate sense of worshiping. Gathering together for worship ought to be embodied and communal, and we rob ourselves of that formative experience when the near entirety of a service is spent silently listening to one person speak.Â
Even Still, There Is No ‘Perfect’ Sermon Length.
All this to be said, I still wouldn’t presume to suggest a specific sermon length to be imposed across churches and theological traditions—or even as a uniform standard within one church. Depending on the passage of Scripture or topic you are preaching on, you may need more or less time to develop and explain the central truth of your message.Â
Be that as it may, resolve to only preach as long as you need to. Preach until the message of the text is clear—no shorter and no longer. Your church will thank you. More importantly, they will benefit from your preaching more than they ever have before.
