Ellen Gould White über: "How long should a sermon last?"

Preachings should generally be kept short and in most cases not last longer than an hour. Preachers should come directly to the topic without lengthy introductions and end the address while the listeners' interest is at its greatest. Overly long talks tire the listeners and weaken the impact of the message, therefore short, clear, and understandable lessons should be given.

Sermons should not last longer than an hour

»In most cases, our preachers should not continue their efforts for more than an hour. They should omit introductions and go straight to the topic, ensuring they conclude the address while interest is at its peak. They should not prolong their effort until their listeners wish them to stop speaking. Much of this extra effort is lost on people who are often too tired to benefit from what they would like to hear.«

1 - Ellen Gould White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2 (2T 117.2)

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Short sermons at Sabbath meetings

»Preaching at our Sabbath meetings should generally be brief. Those who love God should be given the opportunity to express their gratitude and worship. When the congregation is without a preacher, someone should be appointed as the meeting leader. However, it is not necessary for him to deliver a sermon or take up a large portion of the worship time. A short, interesting Bible reading is often of greater benefit than a sermon.«

2 - Ellen Gould White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6 (6T 361.1)

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Short, focused addresses instead of long lectures

»Do not present the message for this time in long, laborious lectures, but in short addresses, straight to the point. Do not think that once you have covered a topic you can immediately move on to other points and that the listeners will retain everything that was presented. There is a danger of rushing from point to point too quickly. Give short lessons in clear, simple language and repeat them often.«

3 - Ellen Gould White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6 (6T 55.4)

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Stop while interest is still alive

»Many make the mistake while preaching of not stopping while interest is still alive. They continue speaking until the interest that was sparked in the listeners' minds fades and people become truly fatigued by words lacking particular weight or interest. Stop before you reach that point. Stop when you have nothing of special significance left to say.«

4 - Ellen Gould White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3 (3T 419.3)

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