Study Reveals—A new Sabbath-morning study confirms that no Adventist anywhere believes a pastor when he says the words “in conclusion,” having learned through decades of lived experience that this phrase marks not an ending, but a transition.
The study, conducted between Special Music and the first discreet scrolling of Facebook photos, found that members initially experience a brief emotional surge upon hearing the phrase. This includes checking the time, sitting up straighter, and quietly recalculating the odds of still catching the front of the haystack line.
Researchers noted that on Sabbath mornings, “in conclusion” is almost always followed by another Bible text, a story from camp meeting 1997, and a clarification that the pastor “just wants to make this very clear.”
“One conclusion means at least three more,” said a third-generation Adventist who has perfected the art of standing slowly without committing.
The study also revealed that the pastor’s tone becomes noticeably softer during this phase, signaling sincerity rather than finality. Phrases such as “finally,” “just one last thing,” and “I promise I’m closing” were shown to extend the sermon by an average of 12–20 minutes, depending on potluck urgency.
When asked why they continue using the phrase, pastors explained that Sabbath time operates differently and that the Spirit sometimes adds “a few more conclusions.”
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