I once heard Alister Begg get up in front of a group of pastors and say, “I’ve heard the best sermons are those with a great introduction and a great conclusion, with those two things kept as close together as possible.”
Though this joke got a good laugh, there was truth to his statement – especially that day. Begg’s preaching time had been eaten away by announcements and raffles before him, so he informed us “…I now only have 8 minutes left to speak, so I will only speak 7 minutes and 59 seconds” and he did just that.
Though I loved Begg’s content, the more impressive thing to me that was that he stayed exactly within his time (I will never forget that). It wasn’t even his fault that time had ran out, nonetheless he honored the timeframe he was given and didn’t go one second over.
As I’ve preached all over the country, I’ve learned that by staying within the time I am allotted, I can gain favor with any sponsor. The first time I lead the importance of ending my sermons on time what when I was 17 years only and speaking at a national event (that one of my mentors, Rolly Richert was running).
The event sponsor, Rolly, had told the stage manager to tell me (in the meanest voice possible), if you go over the time on that clock, I am coming up on stage to get you. I was terrified because I remember this man to be 6 foot and 5 inches tall, nearly 300 pounds of pure muscle, and someone that you’d never want to meet in a dark alley. I got the point.
In all seriousness, as a preacher (and especially a guest preacher) you must stay within the time you are given, or the time you said you would take. Even as a pastor preaching every week, I would strive to preach my allotted 35 minutes, and not another second over.
The main way that I keep on time in any venues is by using an timer on my iPhone or iPad. I set it on the table or pulpit before me, or on the floor in front of me (that way I can sneak a peak when I look down to read my Bible). The best timer app I have ever found is Presentation Clock by Shawn Welch. You can set the time, change the colors on the clock as time runs out, and start it with a discrete tap. I LOVE THIS APP and I use it every time I preach.
I find that trying to read a clock, say at the back of the room, and then do the math in my head while preaching to figure out how long I have left, is too hard of a task for me. I don’t want to be distracted… I want to exactly how long I have left with a simple glance; Presentation Clock does just that!
So give your sponsor a gift (or your congregation) and finish when you are supposed to be done. This doesn’t mean that you have to cut short what God has told you to say, it just means you have to say it a well (and quickly) as possible.
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