4 Quotes About Preaching to Get You Out of a Sermon Rut
Winter can be a rough time. Maybe you live in an area that gets hit by frigid mountains of snow. Maybe you live in a place that’s warm year round, but let’s be honest. Anywhere you live, this time of year has less daylight, less vitamin D, and often? Less motivation.
We get it, and in an effort to help boost morale, we’ve rounded up some quotes on preaching that speak to us and, hopefully, encourage you!
“A speaker should approach his preparation not by what he wants to say, but by what he wants to learn.” ― Todd Stocker
We love the message in Stocker’s quote. Sometimes all we need to light a fire is a reminder that we’re not so different from our congregation. We all just want to learn, and nothing is more engaging than an authentic and inviting search for the Truth.
“A prepared heart is much better than a prepared sermon. A prepared heart will make a prepared sermon.” ― E.M. Bounds
Now, we’re not saying you should skip sermon planning this week or next. But we do think that what Bounds is getting at definitely applies and should uplift. Don’t underestimate the influence the status of your heart will have on your congregation. In other words, take care of you and don’t feel guilty about it.
“Stories arrest us. Parents use stories to capture the attention of active children. Preachers use stories to capture the attention of sleepy adults.” ― Tony Reinke
We all know this one’s true! Let yourself keep some spark in your sermons. Have some fun!
“I don’t like to hear cut and dried sermons. No—when I hear a man preach, I like to see him act as if he were fighting bees.” ― Abraham Lincoln
To be honest, there’s something kind of funny about Abraham Lincoln wanting to see his pastor flailing about as if being attacked by bees. To be serious, know you can let your passions show. If it would move one of our nation’s greatest leaders, it can move any one.
Spring will be here before we know it. Until then, use these encouragements to get out of your sermon rut.