What are some good ways to keep a congregation awake during a 90 minute sermon ?

Answer 1

Espresso instead of coffee. No donuts.

Answer 2

Forget the 90 minute sermon, only the most devout would dare to sit through a 90 minute sermon. I personally would enjoy a good sermon that makes a good point and preaches it the right way. But if that same award winning sermon goes on for longer than 20 minutes, I'll start getting really uncomfortable in my seat and will most likely get up and walk away after 30 minutes.

Answer 3

No one remembers anything past 30 minutes.. so keep it simple and short... In my opinion a sermon should be on a topic that a person off the street can relate to and be encouraged by.. and at the same time lift the spirits of the members who already exist.. so my thing would be to find an enlightening and encouraging topic and limit the talk to 30 min ... Now for more detailed and more in depth subjects of the bible, set up a bible study in which all can participate in and have that one for 90 min. If they participating they stay awake.... just a thought ...

Answer 4

Have the sermon played as a rock song. lol. Make a sermon they can apply to their everyday lives. Don't sit there reading through Scripture the entire time. Read a verse or two of Scripture and tell the congregation what they mean in these times.

Answer 5

There must be an exceptionally dynamic sermon. I have never been bored when a good sermon was delivered in a strong, emotional way. If the preacher feels what he is preaching, the congregation will feel it too.

Answer 6

Watch TV. A lot of it. Many programs have good and bad and bad representations of good and evil. If they are good explain to the congregation the important values that shine through in the show, the lines of thinking that some programs show to its viewers. From my experiences, even people who go to church every Sunday forget everything they hear, and don't take time to reflect on them. They pay more attention to TV though. There are many other things you can do if you don't like this idea. Read up on current events, movies, personal experiences, etc. Show that the message of the gospels apply to the world today. Dont forget to be open minded and ethusiatic! I hope you open at least a few more eyes. Take care!

Answer 7

Be led by the Spirit of God, and you will giving them what they need to hear, and can relate to, rather than what you think is a good sermon. No sermon is interesting, unless the hammer hits the nail on the head, it hits the mark that God intends. Don't try to preach; meditate and listen for the still small voice to lead.

Answer 8

If you do a 90 minute sermon on a dry subject, you are a fool.
With today's short attention spans, people will just drift off into space. Try a shorter sermon, and try to include your audience in the thing. Try to make it a 'living' sermon. Try to get right to the point. If you just drone on and on, people will snooze.

Answer 9

I don't believe any sermon should be 90 minutes long. You actually lose people no matter how good of a christian they are after 25 -30 minutes. Much over this and you are wasting your time and their time.

Answer 10

I'd like to know why your sermons have to be 90 minutes long. If you're so 'on fire for the Lord' that you have to go on and on and on then I have to ask you what is the reconciling nature of vanity in your sermon? K.I.S.S.(keep it simple, stupid). Sincerely UC Steve

Answer 11

I reccomend Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala
I havent gotten to the end yet but am nearing it. It is a great resource. Many would say make the service shorter but I say let the Holy Spirit start and end it. This book has given great insight and have very thoroughly enjoyed it.

Have a great day!