Shorter can be better
PASTOR’S CORNER, Rex Petty, Faith Tabernacle Church, Liberal
A pastor once had a member of his church tell him a good sermon needs a good beginning and an excellent ending, with the start and the finish being as close together as possible. Even the Sermon on the Mount given by Jesus, which is the greatest sermon ever preached, can be read in Matthew Chapters 5 through 7 in less than 15 minutes!
It is amazing how God can speak with such brevity. Psalm 23 is only six verses and contains only 118 words. The Ten Commandments have 300 words and were later condensed by Jesus into only two commandments with only 21 words, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37,39). The Lord’s Prayer given in Luke 11:2-4 is also brief with only 58 words.


