I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day; I’d rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way: The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear, fine counsel is confusing, but example’s always clear.
—Edgar Guest (1881–1959) English-born American Poet, Radio Personality, TV Personality
The world looks at preachers out of church to know what they mean in it.
—Richard Cecil
He preaches well that lives well.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
Few sinners are saved after the first 20 minutes of a sermon.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
I love a serious preacher, who speaks for my sake and not for his own; who seeks my salvation, and not his own vainglory. He best deserves to be heard who uses speech only to clothe his thoughts, and his thoughts only to promote truth and virtue. Nothing is more detestable than a professed declaimer, who retails his discourses as a quack does his medicine.
—Jean Baptiste Massillon (1663–1742) French Catholic Religious Leader, Theologian
Many a meandering discourse one hears, in which the preacher aims at nothing, and—hits it.
—Richard Whately (1787–1863) English Philosopher, Theologian
It was said of one who preached very well, and lived very ill, “that when he was out of the pulpit it was pity he should ever go into it; and when he was in the pulpit, it was pity he should ever come out of it.”
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Men of God have always, from time to time, walked among men, and made their commission felt in the heart and soul of the commonest hearer.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
One filled with joy preaches without preaching.
—Mother Teresa (1910–97) Roman Catholic Missionary, Nun
The world is dying for want, not of good preaching, but of good hearing.
—George Boardman the Younger (1801–31) American Baptist Minister
The meanness of the earthen vessel which conveys to others the Gospel of treasure, takes nothing from the value of the treasure. A dying hand may sign a deed of gift of incalculable value. A shepherd’s boy may point out the way to a philosopher. A beggar may be the bearer of an invaluable present.
—Richard Cecil
It is a good divine that follows his own instructions. I can easier teach twenty men what were good to be done, than to be one of twenty to follow mine own teaching.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Grant that I may never rack a Scripture simile beyond the true intent thereof, lest, instead of sucking milk, I squeeze blood out of it.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
All things with which we deal preach to us. What is a farm but a mute Gospel? The chaff and the wheat, weeds and plants, blight, rain, insects, sun,—it is a sacred emblem from the first furrow of spring to the last stack which the snow of winter overtakes in the fields.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Let your sermon grow out of your text, and aim only to develop and impress its thought.—Of a discourse that did not do this it was once wittily said, “If the text had the small-pox, the sermon would never catch it.”
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than fifty preaching it.
—Knute Rockne (1888–1931) American College Football Coach
The life of a pious minister is visible rhetoric.
—Thomas Hooker (c.1586–1647) English-born American Nonconformist Clergyman
Pulpit discourses have insensibly dwindled from speaking to reading; a practice of itself sufficient to stifle every germ of eloquence.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
Go into the street, and give one man a lecture on morality, and another a shilling, and see which will respect you most.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
It is hardly to be believed how spiritual reflections when mixed with a little physics can hold people’s attention and give them a livelier idea of God than do the often ill-applied examples of his wrath.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
A minister asked a little boy how to get to the Post Office. After the little boy told him, the minister said, Why don’t you come to church tonight? I’m giving instructions on how to get to heaven. After thinking a minute, the boy replied, I don’t think so. You don’t even know how to get to the Post Office.
—Unknown
A man who is good enough to go to heaven is not good enough to be a clergyman.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
The pulpit is the clergyman’s parade; the parish is his field of active service.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
The good rain, like a bad preacher, does not know when to leave off.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The Christian ministry is the worst of all trades, but the best of all professions.
—John Newton (1725–1807) English Clergyman, Writer
Preach in the name of God. The learned will smile; ask the learned what they have done for their country. The priests will excommunicate you; say to the priests that you know God better than all of them together do, and that between God and His law you have no need of any intermediary. The people will understand you, and repeat with you: We believe in God the Father, who is Intelligence and Love, Creator and Teacher of Humanity. And in this saying you and the People will conquer.
—Giuseppe Mazzini (1805–72) Italian Patriot, Political Leader
To love to preach is one thing—to love those to whom we preach, quite another.
—Richard Cecil
Though we live in a reading age and in a reading community, yet the preaching of the Gospel is the form in which human agency has been and still is most efficaciously employed for the spiritual improvement of men.
—Daniel Webster (1782–1852) American Statesman, Lawyer
The defects of a preacher are soon spied. Let him be endued with ten virtues, and have but one fault, and that one fault will eclipse and darken all his virtues and gifts, so evil is the world in these times.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
It requires as much reflection and wisdom to know what is not to be put into a sermon, as what is.
—Richard Cecil