Theses on Preaching: If the preacher preaches long enough, even he'll get hungry too

For some reason, many presbyterians I meet seem to think a good sermon will be a long one, "long" being defined as "an hour at minimum." In my experience, however, such sermons rarely stick to an exposition of the text being considered, but frequently digress into extended consideration of some topic mentioned in the text, but far from central to its point. That is, the really long sermons aren't (always) long because the text has so much within it, but because the preacher has so much to say.

The preacher's job, however, is not to talk. Rather, it's to explain and apply the text. That's it. If we believe in the Spirit-driven power of God's Word, then it doesn't need our help. People aren't going to get saved or sanctified because the preacher kept talking until he explained the idea in just the right way to every individual in the sanctuary that morning. They'll get saved and/or sanctified because the Holy Spirit used the Word to that end at that moment.

To my brethren: trust the Word, don't talk it to death. As Lyle Lovett, the prophet from Katy, Texas, once sang, "If the preacher preaches long enough, even he'll get hungry, too." In other words, shut up already and let us get downstairs for the coffee.