Longer is better. I hate short naps.
(kidding)
While not Catholic himself, Episcopalian General Patton frequently attended Mass because a majority of the chaplains under his command were Catholic priests.
It is said that at the 10 minute mark of a sermon, Patton would draw his revolver and set it on the pew in view of the preacher as a signal time was up.
Well, if people are dozing off, maybe go shorter. Or at least snazz it up a little and keep it interesting.
I think more from the bible would be good.
Sometimes, just a scripture reading is better than a “sermon”.
As long as it needs to be. No more. No less.
It is rare that I see a speaker -- whether a minister, priest or a person giving a non-religious speech -- who can successfully pull off a 55 minute speech. You have to be a very skilled speaker to keep people's attention and give them an hours worth of memorable content. The reason the 20 minute speech is a good bet is because it includes 2 or 3 well-developed concepts that people will remember, at least for a short while.
I also give a fair number of talks and presentations in my job and the one humbling fact that you learn is that you are lucky if people remember one thing you said a week after you speak.
About 4 or 5 weeks ago, he started reading an entire chapter (we're going through the bible page by page) before beginning his message and though the chapter may be longer than a verse or two, I HAVE found it to be most helpful to the congregation to pay attention (ordinarily out of church about 12 ... now pushing 1220, 1230 .. ) and the preaching is easier (his statement) because more 'meat' is in the prelude (so to speak)
In the past, pastor would (it seemed) preach droningly because he had finished his message (IMO), but 'there was still some clock left' and it was watch watching boring.
NOW however, the message is aligned with the entire passage of scripture as opposed to a text verse or two
I'd suggest this to your pastor ... you'll be as interested as when you're reading your bible in an interesting section and you keep going until the end of David's life (f'rinstance ... or whatever)
Longer if I’m there by myself, shorter if I’m there with children.
A good sermon may be long, if necessary. A lousy sermon should be short, or should never be started.
He means "reluctant." I can't take seriously a person who falls into a common blunder like that. It means he is going through life half-asleep. His life is hardly worth living, in fact.
I think there have been studies on teaching classes that show anything beyond about 45 minutes the students stop being able to retain as well and/or start to lose information. I’d put it at 35-45 myself just for that reason.
It would seem most pulpits are failing to deliver His message so in that sense they should probably be shorter...
When I fall asleep, it’s too long. I’ve heard preachers that could preach for 1 & 1/2 hours and keep me on the edge of my seat. Other guys ought to shut up after 15 minutes.
Our pastor limits his to 45 minutes so they’ll fit on a single audio CD, for those that are absent any given Sunday.
30 to 50 minutes.
Old saying from a parish priest, There are no souls saved after 15 minutes.