Pastors: It’s Time to Kill the 45-Minute Sermon
In the heart of our church services, there is a practice so ingrained that to question it seems sacrilegious: the 45-minute sermon. This has been the cornerstone of Sunday services across the Christian world, in particular Western and Protestant churches. Perhaps it worked for a time, but as we move further into the 21st century, a pressing question emerges: Is it time to retire the lengthy homily in favor of something more effective?
I would estimate that less than 5% of preachers possess the rare gift to captivate an audience’s attention for longer than 30 minutes. These are the Rick Warrens, Steven Furticks, Mark Driscolls, and John Pipers. But the majority of pastors find themselves caught in a relentless cycle of stress and preparation, dedicating upwards of 30 hours each week to crafting a message that, frankly, is forgotten once people sit down for their Sunday lunch.
So this begs the question: Are we truly engaging our congregations with God’s word, or merely adhering to a stale tradition?
Research in educational psychology suggests that lecture-based learning, the format most sermons follow, has the lowest retention rate among learners. Meanwhile, discussion-based and hands-on learning methods significantly enhance retention and understanding. If the goal of the church is to make disciples, then we need to shift our teaching methodology. We must ask ourselves how we can encourage our congregations to not only listen to the Word but to act upon it, to not merely accumulate head knowledge but to deeply understand and live out their faith.
Our current model may be doing more harm than good. Apart from wasting precious time, we are erecting barriers to spiritual transformation. Despite knowing something isn’t effective, we continue to spend the majority of our time, money, and resources on it. It seems we are more focused on maintaining tradition than obedience to God. I believe it’s time to challenge the status quo and step out to seek where the Spirit is leading.
Interview with John Mark Comer: Stage-based ministry only accounts for 5% of spiritual formation
So what could we do? Imagine a Sunday service where the sermon is a concise, thought-provoking 10-15 minutes, designed to spark interest and curiosity. Following this, the congregation breaks into small groups to discuss the message, ask questions, and explore how to apply it to their lives. This format not only facilitates deeper understanding but also builds community and accountability among church members.
Such an approach requires pastors to rethink their role. No longer the sole dispenser of truth, a pastor becomes more of a facilitator, guiding their congregation into a deep and real faith. This shift not only alleviates the immense pressure pastors face in sermon preparation but also empowers church members to take an active role and own their spiritual growth and maturity.
I don’t have all the answers, but incorporating interactive elements into services — such as Q&A sessions, workshops, community projects, prayer — will enrich the amount of spiritual growth that happens in churches. Lectures are the least effective way to form disciples, yet we continue to spend the majority of our time doing it.
The Church has always been called to be a body, not an audience. It’s time our Sunday services reflect this. Innovation in how we conduct services isn’t just about keeping up with the times; it’s about being faithful to our ancient mission to make disciples. The life of Jesus was profoundly interactive and relational. Even when preaching, He welcomed questions and was consistently interrupted. Rather than being upset by this, Jesus welcomed the interaction, knowing that it would lead to true and lasting learning.
We have the opportunity to build a church of strong disciples who know and love God’s Word. Let’s not stick with tradition for tradition’s sake. Don’t be afraid to question practices in order to find what works. And the first thing that I invite you to question is the 45-minute sermon.
Other articles to check out:
Megachurch has peaked. Here’s what’s next.
