The object of preaching, is, constantly to remind mankind of what they are constantly forgetting; not to supply the defects of human intelligence, but to fortify the feebleness of human resolutions; to recall mankind from the bypaths where they turn into that broad path of salvation which all know, but few tread.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
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-American Poet, Radio/TV Personality
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
One filled with joy preaches without preaching.
—Mother Teresa (1910–97) Roman Catholic Missionary, Nun
A man who is good enough to go to heaven is not good enough to be a clergyman.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Genius is not essential to good preaching, but a live man is.
—Austin Phelps (1820–90) American Clergyman, Author, Professor
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
The worst behaved students turn out to be the most pious preachers.
—German Proverb
But, good my brother, do not, as some ungracious pastors do. Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven whilst like a puffed and reckless libertine himself the primrose path of dalliance treads and wrecks not his own.
—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
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
My grand point in preaching is to break the hard heart, and to heal the broken one.
—John Newton (1725–1807) English Clergyman, Writer
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
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 (1809–94) American Theologian, Author
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
The world is dying for want, not of good preaching, but of good hearing.
—George Boardman the Younger (1828–1903) American Clergyman, Author
There are three things that can destroy a preacher, the glory, the gold, and the girls.
—U.S. Proverb
Some plague the people with too long sermons; for the faculty of listening is a tender thing, and soon becomes weary and satiated.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
Few sinners are saved after the first 20 minutes of a sermon.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Reasons are the pillars of the fabric of a sermon, but similitudes are the windows which give the best light. The faithful minister avoids such stories as may suggest bad thoughts to the auditors, and will not use a light comparison to make thereof a grave application, for fear lest his poison go further than his antidote.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
The life of a pious minister is visible rhetoric.
—Thomas Hooker (c.1586–1647) English-born American Nonconformist Clergyman
Preaching is the expression of moral sentiments applied to the duties of life.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
In pulpit eloquence, the grand difficulty lies here; to give the subject all the dignity it so fully deserves, without attaching any importance to ourselves. The Christian messenger cannot think too highly of his Prince, or too humbly of himself.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
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
One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than fifty preaching it.
—Knute Rockne (1888–1931) American College Football Coach
He preaches well that lives well.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
The clergyman is expected to be a kind of human Sunday.
—Samuel Butler
It requires as much reflection and wisdom to know what is not to be put into a sermon, as what is.
—Richard Cecil
The world looks at ministers out of the pulpit to know what they mean when in it.
—Richard Cecil
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
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