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Originally Posted by Shelli  Jesus spoke concisely, directly, and briefly upon all His topics, never spending more than a few short minutes on any one subject. |
The cool part is that He was speaking to accomplish purposes both at that time and in the distant future.
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Professional church talkers are to do the same, rather than pontificate for 30-50 minutes at a stretch.
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I've only been in the pulpit a few times, but I've never gone over 25 minutes.
On the other hand, Paul preached so long that some guy fell out a window. Sometimes the reasons for why a thing is true take more than a few minutes to explain. (These reasons are generally edification for those who already accept the truth. Those who have already decided that they won't accept will go on as if the speech had never been made.)
This reminds me about a response a deacon made in a discussion about services running long. Some people have to leave for work right at the regular end of services and can't stay longer.
His response: "If you have to go, go." It is not written in stone that we must sit through the entirety of a pulpit lesson if there is a legitimate demand on our time elsewhere. It is the man who does not support his family who is worse than an infidel, and not the man who nips out five minutes early so that he can get to the job that supports his family.