Opening Remarks

[deacon blues]

I've got to tell you, I cannot hardly take anymore of these long drawn out opening remarks to sermons especially at special meetings like camp meetings, conferences, etc. I am all for giving honor to whom honor is due, but these long diatribes honoring EVERY SINGLE OFFICIAL and friend of the preacher that goes on for 10 minutes drives me up a wall!!!!!

Protocal is important. Thank the pastor, the Dist. Supt., the Dist. Board, sincerely and genuinely. But these long drawn out ego stroking volumes of flattery are just plain stupid! If an official is going to get their feelings hurt that they weren't mentioned, if the pastor is so shallow he needs to be praised in front of his people, if you have to feed everyone's fragile sense of self worth with a few tokens of praise or you won't get invited back, then its probably not worth it anyway.

Again, if you are truly expressing sincere gratitude and appreciation for the pastor and the leaders, that's one thing. Its easy to listen to those kinds of words. But to the listener who wants to hear the Word, to the hard working saint who is running on six hours of sleep the night previous because of overtime, to the family who has to drive 45 minutes to get to church, GIVE 'EM WHAT THEY CAME FOR---------THE PURE, UNADULTERATED WORD OF GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep the puffery and the bootlicking to a minimum---keep the focus on the LIVING WORD!

[RandyWayne]

Now tell us what you really think! :)

Actually, I am in agreement. It has been many years but I remember 6+ hour services at our family camps and felt like I was sitting through a looonnngggg commencement ceremony at a college graduation! Granted, the people around me were in a heightened state of emotional bliss the whole time and made sure to clap and 'amen' at all the right times..... but I just wanted something of substance. "oh Lord, give me something of substance!"

[OP_Carl]

I've got to tell you, I cannot hardly take anymore of these long drawn out opening remarks to sermons especially at special meetings like camp meetings, conferences, etc. I am all for giving honor to whom honor is due, but these long diatribes honoring EVERY SINGLE OFFICIAL and friend of the preacher that goes on for 10 minutes drives me up a wall!!!!!

Thou art truly a prophet. Or an eavesdropper. For I have said this very same thing, practically verbatim, on several occasions.

It is nauseating and insulting to me. Preachers that get up as early as I do are as scarce as chicken teeth. My time is precious. What is accomplished by this bloviating?

When this goes, on you should consider yourself free to avail yourself of drinks, snacks, or even, when available, a meal. Make paper airplanes. Discuss the deeper meanings of the Word with your neighbors. Revelation, for instance.

I use this time to catch up with old friends, and scout out marriage prospects for my one-year-old.

[revrandy]

It's the Entertainment Industry that has affected the Church...

It's like an award ceremony and who you'd like to thank for electing you to preach...

:)

[rgcraig]

Thou art truly a prophet. Or an eavesdropper. For I have said this very same thing, practically verbatim, on several occasions.

It is nauseating and insulting to me. Preachers that get up as early as I do are as scarce as chicken teeth. My time is precious. What is accomplished by this bloviating?

When this goes, on you should consider yourself free to avail yourself of drinks, snacks, or even, when available, a meal. Make paper airplanes. Discuss the deeper meanings of the Word with your neighbors. Revelation, for instance.

I use this time to catch up with old friends, and scout out marriage prospects for my one-year-old.:slaphappy

[COOPER]

Thou art truly a prophet. Or an eavesdropper. For I have said this very same thing, practically verbatim, on several occasions.

It is nauseating and insulting to me. Preachers that get up as early as I do are as scarce as chicken teeth. My time is precious. What is accomplished by this bloviating?

When this goes, on you should consider yourself free to avail yourself of drinks, snacks, or even, when available, a meal. Make paper airplanes. Discuss the deeper meanings of the Word with your neighbors. Revelation, for instance.I use this time to catch up with old friends, and scout out marriage prospects for my one-year-old.
:slaphappy:killinme

[COOPER]

. I am all for giving honor to whom honor is due, but these long diatribes honoring EVERY SINGLE OFFICIAL and friend of the preacher that goes on for 10 minutes drives me up a wall!!!!!

OF GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep the puffery and the bootlicking to a minimum---keep the focus on the LIVING WORD!


As a Bass player, standing there waiting to be seated while they did this was a trip.

[mizpeh]

It's like when commericials come on TV, time to go to the refrigerator, bathroom, call a friend....anything else. Is there a word of God against these type of things?

Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away. Job 32:21-22

[CC1]

I've got to tell you, I cannot hardly take anymore of these long drawn out opening remarks to sermons especially at special meetings like camp meetings, conferences, etc. I am all for giving honor to whom honor is due, but these long diatribes honoring EVERY SINGLE OFFICIAL and friend of the preacher that goes on for 10 minutes drives me up a wall!!!!!

Protocal is important. Thank the pastor, the Dist. Supt., the Dist. Board, sincerely and genuinely. But these long drawn out ego stroking volumes of flattery are just plain stupid! If an official is going to get their feelings hurt that they weren't mentioned, if the pastor is so shallow he needs to be praised in front of his people, if you have to feed everyone's fragile sense of self worth with a few tokens of praise or you won't get invited back, then its probably not worth it anyway.

Again, if you are truly expressing sincere gratitude and appreciation for the pastor and the leaders, that's one thing. Its easy to listen to those kinds of words. But to the listener who wants to hear the Word, to the hard working saint who is running on six hours of sleep the night previous because of overtime, to the family who has to drive 45 minutes to get to church, GIVE 'EM WHAT THEY CAME FOR---------THE PURE, UNADULTERATED WORD OF GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep the puffery and the bootlicking to a minimum---keep the focus on the LIVING WORD!

Sometimes it is not even this kind of "puffery". In the last few years I have heard a few sermons where I thought the preacher was about ten or fifteen minutes well into the sermon when he would then announce he was going to get to his sermon!!

Apparentlt the first few minutes were somehow not part of his preaching time in his mind. LOL.

[Monkeyman]

My church has wi-fi in the sanctuary, he he he, so I "look" for altar call songs on my laptop. I might give it away though when I crack up at one of Cee Cee Won's dumb posts!!

[COOPER]

Sometimes it is not even this kind of "puffery". In the last few years I have heard a few sermons where I thought the preacher was about ten or fifteen minutes well into the sermon when he would then announce he was going to get to his sermon!!

Apparentlt the first few minutes were somehow not part of his preaching time in his mind. LOL.
Do you see this in some of their prayers too?

[CC1]

Do you see this in some of their prayers too?

LOL!!! Don't you know it. I have seen supposed "prayer" turned into a sermon or at least sermonette many times.

Ever been in a meeting where a preacher is asked to pray over the offering or for the service, etc and you can tell he is just itching to preach so in lieu of being able to offically do that he uses his prayer as a pulpit?

[COOPER]

LOL!!! Don't you know it. I have seen supposed "prayer" turned into a sermon or at least sermonette many times.

Ever been in a meeting where a preacher is asked to pray over the offering or for the service, etc and you can tell he is just itching to preach so in lieu of being able to offically do that he uses his prayer as a pulpit?

Yes!:killinme

[Felicity]

I've got to tell you, I cannot hardly take anymore of these long drawn out opening remarks to sermons especially at special meetings like camp meetings, conferences, etc. I am all for giving honor to whom honor is due, but these long diatribes honoring EVERY SINGLE OFFICIAL and friend of the preacher that goes on for 10 minutes drives me up a wall!!!!!

Protocal is important. Thank the pastor, the Dist. Supt., the Dist. Board, sincerely and genuinely. But these long drawn out ego stroking volumes of flattery are just plain stupid! If an official is going to get their feelings hurt that they weren't mentioned, if the pastor is so shallow he needs to be praised in front of his people, if you have to feed everyone's fragile sense of self worth with a few tokens of praise or you won't get invited back, then its probably not worth it anyway.

Again, if you are truly expressing sincere gratitude and appreciation for the pastor and the leaders, that's one thing. Its easy to listen to those kinds of words. But to the listener who wants to hear the Word, to the hard working saint who is running on six hours of sleep the night previous because of overtime, to the family who has to drive 45 minutes to get to church, GIVE 'EM WHAT THEY CAME FOR---------THE PURE, UNADULTERATED WORD OF GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep the puffery and the bootlicking to a minimum---keep the focus on the LIVING WORD!Oh my goodness! Yes, I totally agree.

[Pragmatist]

I've got to tell you, I cannot hardly take anymore of these long drawn out opening remarks to sermons especially at special meetings like camp meetings, conferences, etc. I am all for giving honor to whom honor is due, but these long diatribes honoring EVERY SINGLE OFFICIAL and friend of the preacher that goes on for 10 minutes drives me up a wall!!!!!

Protocal is important. Thank the pastor, the Dist. Supt., the Dist. Board, sincerely and genuinely. But these long drawn out ego stroking volumes of flattery are just plain stupid! If an official is going to get their feelings hurt that they weren't mentioned, if the pastor is so shallow he needs to be praised in front of his people, if you have to feed everyone's fragile sense of self worth with a few tokens of praise or you won't get invited back, then its probably not worth it anyway.

Again, if you are truly expressing sincere gratitude and appreciation for the pastor and the leaders, that's one thing. Its easy to listen to those kinds of words. But to the listener who wants to hear the Word, to the hard working saint who is running on six hours of sleep the night previous because of overtime, to the family who has to drive 45 minutes to get to church, GIVE 'EM WHAT THEY CAME FOR---------THE PURE, UNADULTERATED WORD OF GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep the puffery and the bootlicking to a minimum---keep the focus on the LIVING WORD!

Great post. State your appreciation and be done with it.

We attended a church at one point, where every occasion: birthday, anniversary, mother's day, etc was a LONG presentation and gift to pastor or pastor's wife. I couldn't stand it.

[Pragmatist]

I use this time to catch up with old friends, and scout out marriage prospects for my one-year-old.

Male or female?

I have a four month old girl. :)

[SDG]

Thou art truly a prophet. Or an eavesdropper. For I have said this very same thing, practically verbatim, on several occasions.

It is nauseating and insulting to me. Preachers that get up as early as I do are as scarce as chicken teeth. My time is precious. What is accomplished by this bloviating?

When this goes, on you should consider yourself free to avail yourself of drinks, snacks, or even, when available, a meal. Make paper airplanes. Discuss the deeper meanings of the Word with your neighbors. Revelation, for instance.

I use this time to catch up with old friends, and scout out marriage prospects for my one-year-old.

Is your one year old a boy or a girl? ... my son is 3 ....

Does said child have a dowery?

[crakjak]

I've got to tell you, I cannot hardly take anymore of these long drawn out opening remarks to sermons especially at special meetings like camp meetings, conferences, etc. I am all for giving honor to whom honor is due, but these long diatribes honoring EVERY SINGLE OFFICIAL and friend of the preacher that goes on for 10 minutes drives me up a wall!!!!!

Protocal is important. Thank the pastor, the Dist. Supt., the Dist. Board, sincerely and genuinely. But these long drawn out ego stroking volumes of flattery are just plain stupid! If an official is going to get their feelings hurt that they weren't mentioned, if the pastor is so shallow he needs to be praised in front of his people, if you have to feed everyone's fragile sense of self worth with a few tokens of praise or you won't get invited back, then its probably not worth it anyway.

Again, if you are truly expressing sincere gratitude and appreciation for the pastor and the leaders, that's one thing. Its easy to listen to those kinds of words. But to the listener who wants to hear the Word, to the hard working saint who is running on six hours of sleep the night previous because of overtime, to the family who has to drive 45 minutes to get to church, GIVE 'EM WHAT THEY CAME FOR---------THE PURE, UNADULTERATED WORD OF GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep the puffery and the bootlicking to a minimum---keep the focus on the LIVING WORD!


Well said, Deacon I love for the preacher to get directly to the Word. With so many different folks in the pew, the speaker should respect their time not waste it with comments that have little or zero relevance to the listeners at large. I have a new appreciation for the unadulterated Word of God.

[Hesetmefree238]

I thought that our district officials did the best job ever this year at
campmeeting. The service started at 7pm. The evangelist was on the
floor by 8pm. I applaud our district officials (TN district) for this.

[RevDWW]

Get to it!. Get the feed down where the sheep and goats can get at it!!!!!:killinme

[OP_Carl]

Male or female?

I have a four month old girl. :)
Is your one year old a boy or a girl? ... my son is 3 ....

Does said child have a dowery?

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:spit

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:slaphappy :slaphappy :slaphappy :slaphappy :killinme :killinme :killinme :killinme

Oh my sides are hurting!

[tamor]

I thought that our district officials did the best job ever this year at
campmeeting. The service started at 7pm. The evangelist was on the
floor by 8pm. I applaud our district officials (TN district) for this.

I agree. I went Friday night and I didn't think it was bad at all.

[Sandra]

What about giving honor to God and moving on. And a sermon shouldn't be longer than 30 min. We can only retain so much, some preachers just like to hear themselves talk. JMO

[chseeads]

I've got to tell you, I cannot hardly take anymore of these long drawn out opening remarks to sermons especially at special meetings like camp meetings, conferences, etc. I am all for giving honor to whom honor is due, but these long diatribes honoring EVERY SINGLE OFFICIAL and friend of the preacher that goes on for 10 minutes drives me up a wall!!!!!

Protocal is important. Thank the pastor, the Dist. Supt., the Dist. Board, sincerely and genuinely. But these long drawn out ego stroking volumes of flattery are just plain stupid! If an official is going to get their feelings hurt that they weren't mentioned, if the pastor is so shallow he needs to be praised in front of his people, if you have to feed everyone's fragile sense of self worth with a few tokens of praise or you won't get invited back, then its probably not worth it anyway.

Again, if you are truly expressing sincere gratitude and appreciation for the pastor and the leaders, that's one thing. Its easy to listen to those kinds of words. But to the listener who wants to hear the Word, to the hard working saint who is running on six hours of sleep the night previous because of overtime, to the family who has to drive 45 minutes to get to church, GIVE 'EM WHAT THEY CAME FOR---------THE PURE, UNADULTERATED WORD OF GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep the puffery and the bootlicking to a minimum---keep the focus on the LIVING WORD!


I agree with your sentiments....and not just at conferences or camps.... It can be done anytime and anyplace....

A lot of stuff that preachers get up and say is just a bunch of hot air they feel compelled to do to act like.....uh...whatever they think they're acting like.

I tire of listening to people blow smoke up everybody's behinds. :nah

[SDG]

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:spit

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:slaphappy :slaphappy :slaphappy :slaphappy :killinme :killinme :killinme :killinme

Oh my sides are hurting!

You are wise, Sensai.

[Ronzo]

I agree with your sentiments....and not just at conferences or camps.... It can be done anytime and anyplace....

A lot of stuff that preachers get up and say is just a bunch of hot air they feel compelled to do to act like.....uh...whatever they think they're acting like.

I tire of listening to people blow smoke up everybody's behinds. :nah
Spoken like a true preacher. :)

["GL"]

...a sermon shouldn't be longer than 30 min. We can only retain so much, some preachers just like to hear themselves talk. JMO


Yes, we should sing for one hour and limit a sermon to 30 minutes...

How long are your concerts, btw?

:blink

[NLYP]

Yes, we should sing for one hour and limit a sermon to 30 minutes...

How long are your concerts, btw?

:blink

:killinme:killinme:killinme:killinme:killinme

[deacon blues]

I thought that our district officials did the best job ever this year at
campmeeting. The service started at 7pm. The evangelist was on the
floor by 8pm. I applaud our district officials (TN district) for this.

You are correct my TN brother! Camp meeting was excellent this year with large crowds and a streamlined service with plenty of worship and preaching. I thought of this thread listening to the CD of another camp meeting from 2006 in another district. The speaker spent 15 minutes rambling about the officials, his books he was selling, trying to be humorous, etc. Finally I shouted at the CD player, "Just preach would ya?"

It made me think about other times in my church experience where the opening remarks just wore me out. I try to keep my remarks to a minimum at home and out of town.

In addition, I heard recently that a well known camp speaker, pastor and great communicator in our movement told a friend of mine, "If I was young and had it to do all over again, I'd preach shorter sermons."