Preacher Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old preacher quotes, preacher sayings, and preacher proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.

The preacher's sharpest and strongest preaching should be to himself. His most difficult, delicate, laborious, and thorough work must be with himself. Edward Mckendree Bounds
A preacher's life should be a commentary upon his doctrine. Heavenly doctrines should always be adorned with a heavenly life. Thomas Brooks
The life-giving preacher is a man of God, whose heart is ever athirst for God, whose soul is ever following hard after God, whose eye is single to God, and in whom by the power of God's Spirit the flesh and the world have been crucified, and his ministry is like the generous flood of a life-giving river. Edward Mckendree Bounds
Nobody can do as much damage to the church of God as the man who is within its walls, but not within its life. Charles Spurgeon
The kind of sermon which is likely to break the hearer's heart is that which first has broken the preacher's heart, and the sermon which is likely to reach the heart of the hearer is the one which has come straight from the heart of the preacher. Charles Spurgeon
Time is short. Eternity is long. It is only reasonable that this short life be lived in the light of eternity. Charles Spurgeon
God's thoughts of you are many, let not yours be few in return. Charles Spurgeon
The preacher's work is to throw sinners down into utter helplessness that they may be compelled to look up to Him Who alone can help them. Charles Spurgeon
We cannot play at preaching. We preach for eternity. Charles Spurgeon
Prayer is the highest intelligence, the profoundest wisdom, the most vital, the most joyous, the most efficacious, the most powerful of all vocations. Edward Mckendree Bounds
Preaching is to much avail, but practice is far more effective. A godly life is the strongest argument you can offer the skeptic. Hosea Ballou
The Holy Ghost is certainly the best preacher in the world, and the words of Scripture the best sermons. Jeremy Taylor
The first and principal duty of a pastor is to feed the flock by diligent preaching of the word John Owen
Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon Earth. John Wesley
The world's greatest need is preaching preachers. The Gospel is our emancipation proclamation let's take it to the slaves of sin. Lester Roloff
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 King Jr.
The defects of a preacher are soon spied. Martin Luther
The work of preaching is the highest and greatest and most glorious calling to which anyone can ever be called. Martyn
You can have knowledge, and you can be meticulous in your preparation, but without the unction of the Holy Spirit you will have no power, and your preaching will not be effective. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
The wizard [of Oz] says look inside yourself and find self. God says look inside yourself and find [the Holy Spirit]. The first will get you to Kansas. The latter will get you to heaven. Take your pick. Max Lucado
One filled with joy preaches without preaching. Mother Teresa
For the preacher's merit or demerit, It were to be wished that the flaws were fewer In the earthen vessel, holding treasure, But the main thing is, does it hold good measure Heaven soon sets right all other matters. Robert Browning
The test of a preacher is that his congregation goes away saying, not "What a lovely sermon!" but "I will do something. Saint Francis De Sales
Some preachers ought to put more fire into their sermons or more sermons into the fire. Vance Havner
A preacher should have the mind of a scholar, the heart of a child, and the hide of a rhinoceros. His problem is how to toughen his hide without hardening his heart. Vance Havner
It is imperative that preachers of today learn how to declare the spiritual law of God for, until we learn how to wound consciences, we shall have no wounds to bind with Gospel bandages. Walter J Chantry