Have churches abandoned protracted meetings?

[Guest Biblicist]

First, I don't think you can call a revival speaker every spring or every fall and schedule a move of God. But, I have noticed churches in my part of the world have ceased having protracted services. In years past you would see most churches have 2 week revivals at least once a year. Then they reduced them to 1 week a year, then there were weekend revivals and now they are rare events. If this is your observation in your part of the globe, why do you think this has been abandoned?

Revival begins in the heart, not the tent.

Agreed you can't schedule a revival, we probably have wrongly titled protracted meetings as revival meetings. Moves of God are in His timing, but why have ceased finding it important to have protracted meetings. Who did and why was it decided this was no longer needed in the life of the church?

Well, I have never heard of a protracted meeting so maybe if I knew what that was I could better answer. To me this is a protractor....link What does that have to do with church?

protract

1 to draw out; lengthen in duration; prolong

2 to draw to scale; using a protractor and scale

3 Zool. to thrust out; extend: cf.

You have heard a protracted sermon before haven't you? "In closing....(40 minutes later)...my final point.....(20 minutes later)...in conclusion....(10 munutes later)...one final thing......(5 minutes later)...let's pray.....

The length of sermons does not bother me. Our pastor consistantly goes "15 minutes" past 12 every week. I figure, if God places more on his heart to tell us we'd better listen. He's not standing up there to hear himself talk. I've never met a pastor that was. Well, Ok, let me be straight with you, I did, but he never did that.

I don't believe a man should let the clock dictate when his sermon is over as much as the Lord God. When God is finished speaking, we can leave, not before.

I have often said, we should take a noon break, have some sandwiches, and then let the preacher get back to his preachin'! There are so very few people that feel the way I do though, even in my church with the most wonderful Pastor in the WORLD.

[WayneB]

The length of sermons does not bother me.

The length of a sermon doesn't bother me either EXCEPT too often, and not in all cases but just based on my limited observations, some preachers like the "power" to hold a crowd. It isn't the Holy Spirit when the message becomes redundant and fiull of rhetoric. I can listen to a good sermon ALL day long...I will listen to James Mcdonald hour after hour when I travel. BUT 15 minutes of rhetoric is 15 minutes too much. What makes the difference? Preparation by the one delivering the message... and a connection with the congregation. It is easy to tell the difference.

[Guest Biblicist]

The length of sermons does not bother me.

The length of a sermon doesn't bother me either EXCEPT too often, and not in all cases but just based on my limited observations, some preachers like the "power" to hold a crowd. It isn't the Holy Spirit when the message becomes redundant and fiull of rhetoric. I can listen to a good sermon ALL day long...I will listen to James Mcdonald hour after hour when I travel. BUT 15 minutes of rhetoric is 15 minutes too much. What makes the difference? Preparation by the one delivering the message... and a connection with the congregation. It is easy to tell the difference.

We dont' get 15 minutes of rhetoric. And our pastor knows us pretty well. Many of us from when he was a young boy. I think it's sad when people start picking apart pastor's messages and rating them. These are men of God. And there are some things that can't be said enough.

[jesussaves]

Picture this, the room is filling with several hundred saints, some chit chatting here and there, others running in and out the doors until the meeting is about to begin. Then someone begins to play softly on the piano, someone starts to sing Amazing Grace. Many hearts are already focused on the Lord and praising Him as they sing along...still some are rustling around this camp meeting room all set up for the churches. A holy presence begins to press hard and all you can do is raise your hands and wonder why everyone isn't quite...then... the Pastor takes the mike and tells everyone the Lord wants everyone to be quiet. A holy hush fills the room. Tears are beginning to fall down cheeks as the Lord begins to lift heavy burdens and heal brokenness. His presence is so heavy now you have to fall on your knees with those raised hands and praise Him. Someone begins to speak in a heavenly language...someone else interprets and tells the church what the Lord just said to them...now that holy hush turns to rejoicing, hands clap, a shout goes up to Him and the room fills with music and a few saints break out in a Holy Ghost dance...the Lord was given preeminance in the service. No one wanted it to end. Being in His presence, His glorious presence, was where we wanted to be. The preacher waited for the Holy Spirit's o.k before he then began his sermon which was one so blessed and anointed that the alter was full at the close...still no one wanted to leave. The time of refreshing, renewal and yes revival fire was so needed by the saints. Now they were ready to go out and reach others for Christ.

The church needs to be edified...it cannot run on an empty tank. In the presence of the Lord hearts are changed, mended, strengthened...sickness is healed...bondages and habits are broken off lives...people are saved which is the best of all.

We Need Revival!!!

[WayneB]

The length of sermons does not bother me.

The length of a sermon doesn't bother me either EXCEPT too often, and not in all cases but just based on my limited observations, some preachers like the "power" to hold a crowd. It isn't the Holy Spirit when the message becomes redundant and fiull of rhetoric. I can listen to a good sermon ALL day long...I will listen to James Mcdonald hour after hour when I travel. BUT 15 minutes of rhetoric is 15 minutes too much. What makes the difference? Preparation by the one delivering the message... and a connection with the congregation. It is easy to tell the difference.

We dont' get 15 minutes of rhetoric. And our pastor knows us pretty well. Many of us from when he was a young boy. I think it's sad when people start picking apart pastor's messages and rating them. These are men of God. And there are some things that can't be said enough.

Sounds like you have a good pastor then. Prasie God.

Regarding "picking apart a pastor's message", were the Bereans picking apart Paul's meassge when the checked Scripture to see if it measured up? Were the disciples with Peter wrong when they questioned his actions and association with Cornelius? Of coarse not. We are responsible to the Lord and not all "men of God" are truly men of God.

A true man of God not only allows himself to be accountable but wants to be accountable to those placed in his charge. Paul, Peter and others showed us that.

You may not have experienced it but there are too many who step up to the pulpit unprepared and wax on with rhetoric...no meat to feed the sheep but keep them on a milk diet. Being a pastor is a HIGH calling and a great responsibility...and you are blessed to have one who understands that.

[Guest Biblicist]

The length of sermons does not bother me.

The length of a sermon doesn't bother me either EXCEPT too often, and not in all cases but just based on my limited observations, some preachers like the "power" to hold a crowd. It isn't the Holy Spirit when the message becomes redundant and fiull of rhetoric. I can listen to a good sermon ALL day long...I will listen to James Mcdonald hour after hour when I travel. BUT 15 minutes of rhetoric is 15 minutes too much. What makes the difference? Preparation by the one delivering the message... and a connection with the congregation. It is easy to tell the difference.

We dont' get 15 minutes of rhetoric. And our pastor knows us pretty well. Many of us from when he was a young boy. I think it's sad when people start picking apart pastor's messages and rating them. These are men of God. And there are some things that can't be said enough.

Sounds like you have a good pastor then. Prasie God.

Regarding "picking apart a pastor's message", were the Bereans picking apart Paul's meassge when the checked Scripture to see if it measured up? Were the disciples with Peter wrong when they questioned his actions and association with Cornelius? Of coarse not. We are responsible to the Lord and not all "men of God" are truly men of God.

A true man of God not only allows himself to be accountable but wants to be accountable to those placed in his charge. Paul, Peter and others showed us that.

You may not have experienced it but there are too many who step up to the pulpit unprepared and wax on with rhetoric...no meat to feed the sheep but keep them on a milk diet. Being a pastor is a HIGH calling and a great responsibility...and you are blessed to have one who understands that.

I agree with you, we are to be as the Bereans and measure what we are told against what God's Word says. But I don't understand why people expect a preacher to preach a certain amount of time and be done. That is what I meant about "picking apart the message". The Spirit of God is not on any time table, and I don't think our Pastors should be either.

We are VERY blessed with a truly Godly Pastor. I thank the Lord for him every day!

[WayneB]

The length of sermons does not bother me.

The length of a sermon doesn't bother me either EXCEPT too often, and not in all cases but just based on my limited observations, some preachers like the "power" to hold a crowd. It isn't the Holy Spirit when the message becomes redundant and fiull of rhetoric. I can listen to a good sermon ALL day long...I will listen to James Mcdonald hour after hour when I travel. BUT 15 minutes of rhetoric is 15 minutes too much. What makes the difference? Preparation by the one delivering the message... and a connection with the congregation. It is easy to tell the difference.

We dont' get 15 minutes of rhetoric. And our pastor knows us pretty well. Many of us from when he was a young boy. I think it's sad when people start picking apart pastor's messages and rating them. These are men of God. And there are some things that can't be said enough.

Sounds like you have a good pastor then. Prasie God.

Regarding "picking apart a pastor's message", were the Bereans picking apart Paul's meassge when the checked Scripture to see if it measured up? Were the disciples with Peter wrong when they questioned his actions and association with Cornelius? Of coarse not. We are responsible to the Lord and not all "men of God" are truly men of God.

A true man of God not only allows himself to be accountable but wants to be accountable to those placed in his charge. Paul, Peter and others showed us that.

You may not have experienced it but there are too many who step up to the pulpit unprepared and wax on with rhetoric...no meat to feed the sheep but keep them on a milk diet. Being a pastor is a HIGH calling and a great responsibility...and you are blessed to have one who understands that.

I agree with you, we are to be as the Bereans and measure what we are told against what God's Word says. But I don't understand why people expect a preacher to preach a certain amount of time and be done. That is what I meant about "picking apart the message". The Spirit of God is not on any time table, and I don't think our Pastors should be either.

We are VERY blessed with a truly Godly Pastor. I thank the Lord for him every day!

I agree.

For me it isn't about the time but about the message, which is why I said I could listen to the Word for hours but quickly get bored with rhetoric.