How long should church service be ?

[The Matt]

I just don't agree with music being played during alter calls, prayer and repentance shouldn't need emotional support.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Midweek house church is a different subject altogether. When we have about 12 of us gathered at an elder's house for discussional meetings we eat, talk, and share thoughts until 1am at times. It's like we can't get enough. Especially if the elder guides us well. The body just begins to minister to itself and compile all the knowledge and different perspectives in the room. It's great!

I think there is a reason that house church lasts longer and is not so tiring... it is interactive. I mean, how long can you sit and listen to someone before zoning out, and going places in your mind... unless the preacher/teacher has really got your attention... and there are some that can do this... but most preachers/teachers say all they really have to say in about 2-3 mins summed up.

However, in house church or bible study groups, things are much different. When you are able to interact, question, discuss, study, read, and so on, there is so much more potential to grow and learn in that kind of a setting.

For instance, when our family holds home bible studies together, which we try to do as often as possible, because they are so wonderful, all of us have our bibles, and take turns reading, and then discussing what we are reading. It is amazing the insight our kids have shown when being able to discuss what they have just read. They have said to me many times... this is waaay better than church, because now I can ask and discuss what is being said. They have learned so much more, and even now have study Bibles themselves, because they want to study and know the Bible more too. I couldn't be happier about this!

I think people in mainstream churches have a "preach it to me" mentality, and don't really want to take the time to study it out for themselves. They'd rather serve their conscience, listen to the preacher, and feel like they've got all they need for another week...

But when you are in a small group setting, and everyone has their Bibles out, it is amazing how much growth and learning can be accomplished. Instead of zoning out, you can participate, and learn, and truly this is why I think the Early Church went from house to house... it grows you as a believer far more than just passively sitting, and listening to someone preach or teach for an hour or more and where you can't ask any questions....

[Bro. Vince]

I remember back in the days we have church on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and two services on Sunday. Each service is about three hours on weekdays from 7:00 PM to 10PM - 12AM. Then back early to work the next day. I didn't mind, but ended up leaving church because I decided that was not the life that I wanted. I told GOD, I just want to be normal !! LOL.... But now church services have been drastically reduced. One hour prayer and bible study on Wednesdays, and 9:00 Prayer, 9:45 Christian Education, and 11:30 to 2:00 Church service, with young people every other Sundat from 4 to 5 PM....So I kinda want a feel of what everyone is doing. I like the house Bible Study as long s it does not interfere with the "Assembly of yourselves together" in Hebrews.

[Margies3]

There is no pat answer for this question. It really all depends on the situation and the circumstances. Each service is different. Each type of service is different. I would not expect the sermon for Wednesday night Bible Study to be the same length or type as the sermon for Sunday evening Evangelistic Service. Sunday mornings are probably the one service where I would feel most comfortable saying that across the board - any denomination, any church - the sermon should never run more than about 20 minutes. If you can't say what you need to say in 20 minutes, you should spend more time figuring out what exactly it is that you are trying to get across.

[Bro. Vince]

Originally Posted by Margies3

There is no pat answer for this question. It really all depends on the situation and the circumstances. Each service is different. Each type of service is different. I would not expect the sermon for Wednesday night Bible Study to be the same length or type as the sermon for Sunday evening Evangelistic Service. Sunday mornings are probably the one service where I would feel most comfortable saying that across the board - any denomination, any church - the sermon should never run more than about 20 minutes. If you can't say what you need to say in 20 minutes, you should spend more time figuring out what exactly it is that you are trying to get across.

I like that !! Straight, direct, no sugar coating !!! love your candor !

[Nitehawk013]

I always find it funny, if not annoying and sometimes offensivly disrespectful of others time, that most Pastors I know will say frequentlky that 30-40 minutes is plenty of time for a sermon/lesson. That "it is long enough for a good sermon, and too long for a bad one".

Yet they get the pulpit and decide to go on and on for an hour or more. I guess for them it is fine to just ignore what they have said to countless others about only needing to go for 30-40 minutes.

Oh I know...they are in the "anointing" so it's ok. I guess all the rest of us preachers and teachers were just fakin git so we have a time limit.

[Amanah]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attenti...th_of_the_span

speaking of attention span:

Length of the span

Estimates for the length of human attention span are highly variable and depend on the precise definition of attention being used.
Focused attention is a short-term response to a stimulus that attracts attention. The attention span for this level is very brief, with a maximum span, without any lapse at all, that may be as short as 8 seconds.[2] This level of attention is attracted by a ringing telephone, or other unexpected occurrence. After a few seconds, it is likely that the person will look away, return to a previous task, or think about something else.
Sustained attention is the level of attention that produces the consistent results on a task over time. If the task is handling fragile objects, such as hand-washing delicate crystal glasses, then a person showing sustained attention will stay on task and will not break any dishes. A person who loses focus may break a glass or may stop washing the dishes to do something else. Most healthy teenagers and adults are unable to sustain attention on one thing for more than about 20 minutes at a time, although they can choose repeatedly to re-focus on the same thing.[2] This ability to renew attention permits people to "pay attention" to things that last for more than a few minutes, such as long movies.

Attention span, as measured by sustained attention, or the time spent continuously on task, varies with age. Older children are capable of longer periods of attention than younger children.[3]

For time-on-task measurements, the type of activity used in the test affects the results, as people are generally capable of a longer attention span when they are doing something that they find enjoyable or intrinsically motivating.[2] Attention is also increased if the person is able to perform the task fluently, compared to a person who has difficulty performing the task, or to the same person when he or she is just learning the task. Fatigue, hunger, noise, and emotional stress reduce time on task. Common estimates for sustained attention to a freely chosen task range from about five minutes for a two-year-old child, to a maximum of around 20 minutes in older children and adults.[2]

After losing attention from a topic, a person may restore it by taking a rest, doing a different kind of activity, changing mental focus, or deliberately choosing to re-focus on the first topic.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

I think there is a reason that house church lasts longer and is not so tiring... it is interactive. I mean, how long can you sit and listen to someone before zoning out, and going places in your mind... unless the preacher/teacher has really got your attention... and there are some that can do this... but most preachers/teachers say all they really have to say in about 2-3 mins summed up.

However, in house church or bible study groups, things are much different. When you are able to interact, question, discuss, study, read, and so on, there is so much more potential to grow and learn in that kind of a setting.

For instance, when our family holds home bible studies together, which we try to do as often as possible, because they are so wonderful, all of us have our bibles, and take turns reading, and then discussing what we are reading. It is amazing the insight our kids have shown when being able to discuss what they have just read. They have said to me many times... this is waaay better than church, because now I can ask and discuss what is being said. They have learned so much more, and even now have study Bibles themselves, because they want to study and know the Bible more too. I couldn't be happier about this!

I think people in mainstream churches have a "preach it to me" mentality, and don't really want to take the time to study it out for themselves. They'd rather serve their conscience, listen to the preacher, and feel like they've got all they need for another week...

But when you are in a small group setting, and everyone has their Bibles out, it is amazing how much growth and learning can be accomplished. Instead of zoning out, you can participate, and learn, and truly this is why I think the Early Church went from house to house... it grows you as a believer far more than just passively sitting, and listening to someone preach or teach for an hour or more and where you can't ask any questions....

Amen. A BIG benefit of house churching and home Bible study groups.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Bro. Vince

I remember back in the days we have church on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and two services on Sunday. Each service is about three hours on weekdays from 7:00 PM to 10PM - 12AM. Then back early to work the next day. I didn't mind, but ended up leaving church because I decided that was not the life that I wanted. I told GOD, I just want to be normal !! LOL.... But now church services have been drastically reduced. One hour prayer and bible study on Wednesdays, and 9:00 Prayer, 9:45 Christian Education, and 11:30 to 2:00 Church service, with young people every other Sundat from 4 to 5 PM....So I kinda want a feel of what everyone is doing. I like the house Bible Study as long s it does not interfere with the "Assembly of yourselves together" in Hebrews.

Ummmm... for the first 200 to 300 years the vast majority of Christians met in homes to study the Word and learn about Jesus. Church buildings came in as Christianity was Romanized and the Emperor took temples and made churches out of them to gain Christian approval and solidify his power. So technically, when the writer of Hebrews talks about our "assembling together"... he's most likely talking about fellowshipping, breaking bread, learning the Word, and worshiping Jesus in a smaller home based group.

[Aquila]

Of course I have to admit... I could listen to Bro. Jerry Jones all night long. lol I love how he weaves his stories and his expository preaching. He's absolutely amazing!