tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596708332568087278.post6360361836438755572..comments2024-01-24T10:39:27.668-05:00Comments on Coming Untrue: Inbox: The Problem Begins at the PlatformDr. S. L. Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06303707167715370504noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596708332568087278.post-86042638244189976362023-01-01T10:02:26.489-05:002023-01-01T10:02:26.489-05:00I think you're quite right, Russ. Great thoug...I think you're quite right, Russ. Great thoughts. Personally, I'm aiming to speak only for 30 minutes, maximum, in any platform situation, unless it's one in which I have been specifically asked to give a seminar on some intensive topic, to a highly-motivated audience, for a specific purpose that requires much more length -- so never, in other words, on Sunday morning. That's the goal.<br /><br />The Lord said of the Pharisees, "They think they will be heard because of their many words." To be heard, and to be heard deeply, what is necessary is that the truth of God should be spoken. Tom once pointed out to me that the entire Sermon on the Mount can be read aloud in much less than half the time of most sermons. And who would say that's not "quality teaching"?Immanuel Cannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596708332568087278.post-81916666355173095022022-12-26T19:41:27.080-05:002022-12-26T19:41:27.080-05:00I see great value in self editing, Russell. I thin...I see great value in self editing, Russell. I think you are on the right track. I probably go on way too long on this platform, but rest assured the originals of these posts are 150% longer and are brutally edited to end up where they do. Lately, my favorite thing is to do home Bible studies and limit myself to fifteen minutes of exposition, and then spend the rest of the time answering any questions that arise. (They always do.) It is way more profitable than when I just talk.Tomhttp://www.cominguntrue.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596708332568087278.post-83675319432090160322022-12-26T19:21:49.914-05:002022-12-26T19:21:49.914-05:00Given that my late comments have been referenced (...Given that my late comments have been referenced (I am perfectly OK with that) let me add some more grist for the mill of unbalanced Christian teaching and preaching. Of late it's come to my attention that there are a new generation of preachers, say in their 40s, and perhaps aligned with the Gospel Coalition (those are for statistical reference only, and not necessarily taken in a pejorative manner) who believe that longer sermons, and I mean between 50 and 70 minutes are an indicator of local church health and faithfulness to the Scripture.<br /><br />Being somewhat discouraged that our local teaching brother speaks routinely for 50 minutes and in my estimation says things which could be said in 1/2 or 1/3 the time, I approached him with the question: "How long to you think a sermon should be?" I softened somewhat by saying that on the now rare occasions I speak. I sometimes end up at 45-50 minutes with spur of the moment anecdotes from my experience as a disciple of Christ. I admitted that I thought I was undisciplined in this area and too "extemporaneous" in my delivery. He responded by quoting Tim Keller which was along the lines: long enough to get the message across. (I do note that Mr. Keller is one of the few contemporary speakers who seems engaging, biblical and well read when it comes to history and cultural movements.) Well I could see that I was not really going to get to the point of the matter and I know for some, who make their living by the gospel in particular, this is a very sensitive and personal matter. Incorrectly, a large part of their Christian identity stems from this idea that they are the man with the burden to preach the word, in season, accurately etc. <br /><br />So the next time I spoke to did something different than my norm:<br /><br />a. I wrote out the text. I read the text to myself and knew very accurately how long the delivery was going to take. I rehearsed some parts to make the oratory seem a bit more engaging and personal (rather than say reading a dry lecture). <br /><br />b. My goal was to speak for no more than 20 minutes/<br /><br />c. I had prepared a series of questions for "we" to discuss amongst ourselves (people were encouraged to gather in group of 4 or 5). I had asked that after 10-15 minutes a person from each group might summarize the salient points which came to mind.<br /><br />Of course this methodology is nothing new. It was in large part a technique which I was taught and got to practice, when I studied for my B. Ed. some 25 years ago. <br /><br />Overall I think the experiment was a good one. I step perhaps in a better direction toward some of the practical ideas you had already mentioned.<br /><br />Warmly in Christ,<br />RussellRussell Sutherlandnoreply@blogger.com