Is more really more?

I took to preaching like a duck to water. At age 7, I was conducting the funeral services for our goldfish. On arriving home from school, I would burst in the door eager to know if another one had died, giving me another shot at leading at the graveside, matchbox all prepared. (Regrettably, our family had a penchant for killing its goldfish, more than likely from overfeeding. I'm sure every time my dad made it to the pet shop to purchase one or two replacements, the fish began furiously mouthing “not me, take him”).

Growing up in a church where lay preaching was strongly encouraged, I began speaking regularly from the age of 14. I believed the art of good preaching was to pack in as much material as I could.

One of my early messages was on honouring the Lord's Day and I know I didn't step down till after 50 minutes. The congregation was very patient with me.

At the age of 35, I was employed as a fulltime teaching elder (open brethren were very cautious in those days about adopting the tag “pastor”). This was a role I very much loved. I couldn't imagine a greater joy than being involved 24/7 working out your passion and actually being paid for it.

There is such a thing as taxing a congregation.
There is also such a thing as insensitivity to the Spirit.

Again, my messages while well received were lengthy. I remember one morning well into my time at Rutland Street. I was approached by a fellow-elder and his wife after my preaching from Philippians 3. They enquired why I had taken extra time and gone on to verses 12 to 13. It was clear to everyone this was an add-on because I thought I had extra time when the message was already complete at verse 11. I protested my innocence and could show from my notes that I had already worked on the additional thoughts to share if the time was available.

In hindsight, I believe my response bordered on being obnoxious. There is such a thing as taxing a congregation. There is also such a thing as insensitivity to the Spirit. The Lord had already spoken profoundly through the passage > that I may know Him > the power of His resurrection > the fellowship of His sufferings. Give space for the Lord to do His work. Verses 12 to 13 needed air time on their own account, they were another message.

A new song

One day, it hit me that when still small, my dad would regularly sit on the end of my bed so as we had time to review my day, and help cleanse my conscience before going off to sleep, by asking me to "tell it all." I wonder if this became part of the mix as I grew up and gave myself to sermon preparation – tell it all! It had certainly taken a long time to teach this “old dog” a new approach.

I think being asked to participate in St Christopher's "walk through the bible" series helped. This was a large church family in Avonhead, Christchurch that engaged in weekly communion, an exercise that took 45 minutes all up. As a result, all guest speakers were requested to keep to the culture and follow the precedent set by the vicar of a message of 17 minutes. Imagine an overview of the Book of Ezekiel in 17 minutes! quite a challenge but very rewarding.

I hasten to mention I am a strong proponent of systematic consecutive Bibleteaching. Yes, some messages require more in-depth exposition but God's people can handle that if preaching time is also regularly sprinkled with shorter, punchier messages as part of their overall teaching diet. Let's surprise them.

Indeed, I believe one of the most significant messages I have ever given was at a time of considerable church conflict. I simply shared on Romans 15:7 – "Accept one another… just as Christ accepted you" (NIV). I wouldn't have been on my feet more than quarter of an hour and God moved that day.

We can sometimes miss the highpoint God has for us to settle on.

I once spoke from 2 Corinthians 12. Paul humbly opens his life to be transparent about his thorn in the flesh. It is a special passage to me, ever reminding me that Christ's strength comes to perfection in my weakness.

However, for a number of men in the church family the message had reached its climax that day in the phrase "My grace is sufficient for you" and they got together in a prayer circle at end of service to claim that grace. I spoke to this three quarters of the way through the message.

My learning:

We can expect the high point of any message comes to every listener differently

The reality is piling on, loading up doesn't always add, sometimes it reduces, it diminishes – the opposite to everything we wanted. The sermon on the mount is Jesus' longest sermon on record. It is complete in itself and utterly perfect, yet we can read it in about 12 minutes.

Watch Jesus' simplicity. Read His parables, see Him kneeling on the ground, then when He is ready rising to face the woman's accusers with just 13 words – He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone (John 8:7).

No-one wins if we rush through the Word of God. Let the Word run deep but do not try to give oceans of truth in one sitting, the mind can only take in what the seat can endure. It is then we will find the human spirit is most open to streams of life. For myself, 50 minute messages are out the window. And I aim to end on the Spirit's highnote, not push through.

Perhaps less can be more.