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One hour per minute

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Salty, Jul 2, 2011.

  1. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Pastors,
    It has been said that a pastor should spend 1 hour in study for each minute of preaching.

    Do you think that is a good benchmark?

    Thoughts?

    ps, if you are not a pastor, do you have a rough ideal of the time spent by your pastor?
     
  2. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

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    Sunday morning + Sunday Night + Wednesday Night = 45 + 30 + 30 = 105

    105 hours preparing each week? Seems pretty long to me...
     
  3. Pastor_Bob

    Pastor_Bob Well-Known Member

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    I typically put in five or six hours of study for a 35 - 40 minute message. Of course, I do not prepare my messages in one sitting. I may work on a message for three or four weeks before I deliver it.

    That being said, my pastor back home (Dr. S.M. Davis) spends between 25-30 hours preparing for his messages. His typically run anywhere from 55 to 75 minutes.

    My philosophy is, when the message has spoken to your heart, it is ready to be delivered to your people...not a minute before.
     
  4. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    Typically, I spent an hour each day as I travelled about. I completed Sunday morning sermon between friday night and saturday and Sunday evening on sunday afternoon....much thought given beforehand.

    If a pastor is doing his job through the week, he hardly has time to write sermons.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
  5. Pastor_Bob

    Pastor_Bob Well-Known Member

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    The preaching and teaching of God's Word is the most important responsibility of a pastor.

    1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; (KJV)
     
  6. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    A well-developed sermon for a Sunday worship takes 15-20 hours of prep. The lesser preaching (Sunday evening, SS Adult, Mid-week if instead of an hour of prayer we have another preaching time) should take far less - maybe 10 hours total. Extra (for activities, nursing home, mission etc) can be "re-runs" or quck adaptations.

    If a pastor is not spending say 25 hours in intense translation, study, sermon development, what on earth is he doing for heaven's sake??

    Acts 6:4 describes the primary function of an elder: "We will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

    Eph 4:11-13 "The Spirit gifted some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastor/teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

    I Tim 4:13-16 "Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch both your life and doctrine closely."

    I Tim 5:14 "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine."

    II Tim 4:2 "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction."
     
  7. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

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    I think that would keep the sermons pretty short...:laugh:

    peace to you:praying:
     
  8. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    One of my former pastors said he needed to spend at least 20 hours a week on sermon preparation.

    At the beginning of his pastorate, he asked the congregation to help convey their expectations of him. Tell me how many hours you think I should devote to sermon preparation, personal witnessing, teaching, hospital visitation, outreach visitation, personal devotional time, counseling,committee meetings, denominational activities (association, state, SBC, and anything else.

    When he tallied the results, he announced to the church, "You want me to work 122 hours a week."

    Obviously, that was impossible "look," he said, "I'm going to do those things which being your pastor requires; I'll also devote some time to some things that any member should do. But I won't be your member for you. You'll have to do those things. And if you don't do them, they won't get done."

    Some of the older members got upset that he'd tell us to go jump in the lake that way.
     
  9. TC

    TC Active Member
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    I have also known some people that had outrageous expectations of how long and how much a pastor should do. However, if their boss asked them to put in overtime (anything over 40 hours a week), they would complain and moan about being overworked and underpaid and blah,blah,blah...

    Smart man.

    Unfortunately, far too many people think that the pastor should do it all so they won't have to. In reality, all members have work to do for the body to function properly.
     
  10. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    I have a very different method of preparing sermons than the "1 hour study for 1 minute" method. I believe in copious study of the various issues in the Word of God, many hours of that. This study may have nothing to do with your proposed sermon, but just be solid study of what you need yourself. Then when it's time to prepare a sermon, the message will come easily from what you've already studied. The exception is when you're preaching through a book.
     
  11. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    There is also another factor. When I was younger, each sermon took almost that 1 hour per minute thing. I was starting from nothing in terms of how to structure a sermon that was Biblical, hearable and and preachable. After 30 years, I have spend less time in terms of thinking how to get it across and more time making certain it is biblical in content.

    Reminds me of the story that a young preacher told an older preacher, "I'd give my life to be able to preach like that. " To which the older preacher said, "I did."
     
  12. John Toppass

    John Toppass Active Member
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    By the time someone delivers his first "official" sermon, that sermon probably has the hours of preparation that would add up to weeks if not months of study if they did not sleep. I would pray that those who deliver the word remember what they studied so that it would make it easier and even more efficient for the next sermon. Every moment spent in prayer and study of the word is preparation, even if it does not directly involve the next sermon.

    One cannot know the Bible well enough (notice I said know and not quote).

    I think one of the biggest challenges for most pastors have, is that while they do study, pray, meditate and prepare for his pastoral duties, most of his congregation thinks he is doing that so that they don't have too. (after all he is paid)

    Some of the best messages from God are found when digging into scripture with another believer who wants to do this as well. But, nothing beats individual study and prayer with the Holy Ghost as your aid.
     
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