The idea that longwinded preachers are committing a form of suicide rang several bells yesterday and I received insightful tongue in cheek responses. George Monday offered this: "Charles Spurgeon responded to a student's question on how long to preach by stating, 'Preach about Christ-preach about 20 minutes.'"
Brevity has been commented on by the greatest of minds. In today's sound bite world, learning to be brief is essential. Some forms of brevity may be too much as in Dorothy Parker's, "Brevity is the soul of lingerie."
Here's one that has helped me to think things through a wee bit: "If you can't write your idea on the back of my calling card, you don't have a clear idea." David Belasco.
Paul is accused of "long-preaching" but there is not an overly long sermon in the entire Bible. I have received numerous notes concerning this reality. We all know people who are so verbose that we hate to even ask the time of day. Rabelais said of such a man "I believe he would make three bites of a cherry."
A member of Ben Townsend's church says, "Our pastor is affectionately called Pharaoh because he won't let God's people go."
Teaching on prayer Jesus is on record with Matthew 6:7 "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking."
