Most preachers used to speak for 45 minutes. Today, few dare to top 25 minutes. In other churches, 20-minute sermons have been trimmed to 12 minutes, or less. Obviously, one reason is that post-television attention spans are shorter. This adds an appearance of freedom, helps the preacher make visual contact with people in the pews and emphasizes subtle physical gestures.
Television tells stories and so do modern ministers.
It's hard to quote doctrine or the Bible to people baptized in years of media. Thus, many preachers tell stories that gently deliver moral messages. The story wins you over and pulls you along,'' he said. Humor is terribly important and offers preachers another way to lower defenses. But sarcasm or angry humor is rare.