--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Still, he never felt that the sermons he…" description: "\"“Still, he never felt that the sermons he wrote at the cottage were good. By the time he got back to Washington to preach them, they no longer excited ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/687/catherine-marshall-11762_peter-marshall_still-he-never-felt-that-the-sermons-he_2127336.jpg" --- # Still, he never felt that the sermons he wrote at the… ![“Still, he never felt that the sermons he wrote at the cottage were good. By the time he got back to Washington to preach them, they no longer excited him. They seemed cold, lifeless. This was probably because Peter's best sermons rose out of the soil of emotion in his own heart. That emotion had…” quote by Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/687/catherine-marshall-11762_peter-marshall_still-he-never-felt-that-the-sermons-he_2127336.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/687/catherine-marshall-11762_peter-marshall_still-he-never-felt-that-the-sermons-he_2127336.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/687/catherine-marshall-11762_peter-marshall_still-he-never-felt-that-the-sermons-he_2127336.jpg) > ““Still, he never felt that the sermons he wrote at the cottage were good. By the time he got back to Washington to preach them, they no longer excited him. They seemed cold, lifeless. This was probably because Peter's best sermons rose out of the soil of emotion in his own heart. That emotion had to be a present, valid reality. He could not conjure it up.”” [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sermons lose power when written without personal emotion; authentic feeling is essential for impact. **In simple terms:** Authentic emotion fuels compelling messages. Key Takeaway Infuse personal feeling into your work. Themes faith authenticity creativity emotion Mood contemplative serious inspirational Type literary reflective When to use this quote - public speaking - writing - teaching - leadership Key Concepts theology writing process personal truth Questions to Reflect On - When have you felt a message lacked feeling? - How can you reconnect with your emotional core? A Different Perspective Relying solely on intellect may neglect the heart’s role. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Like most ministers, Peter was not the best judge of his own sermons. Almost invariably when he thought he had written one of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/like-most-ministers-peter-was-not-the-best-judge-of-his-own-sermons/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [The best sermons are those that are lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolanda-king/the-best-sermons-are-those-that-are-lived/) [Yolanda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolanda-king/) > [The best lessons, the best sermons are those that are lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolanda-king/the-best-lessons-the-best-sermons-are-those-that-are-lived/) [Yolanda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolanda-king/) > [The best sermons are lived, not preached.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-sermons-are-lived-not-preached/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Holy Ghost is certainly the best preacher in the world, and the words of Scripture the best sermons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-taylor/the-holy-ghost-is-certainly-the-best-preacher-in-the-world-and-the/) [Jeremy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-taylor/) > [“What’s your name again?” “Peter. 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I think legal marriage is unnecessary and I would not have formalised the relationship \[with husband Peter Davis\] except for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-clark/i-felt-really-compromised-i-think-legal-marriage-is-unnecessary-and-i/) [Helen Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-clark/) > [Men often joke about this assignment (I Peter 3:7): 'Who can understand a woman?' God has answered the question loud and clear. You can.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stu-weber/men-often-joke-about-this-assignment-i-peter-3-7-who-can-understand-a/) [Stu Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stu-weber/) > [Accepting the reality of our sinfulness means accepting our authentic self. Judas could not face his shadow; Peter could. The latter befriended the impostor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/accepting-the-reality-of-our-sinfulness-means-accepting-our-authentic/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [I was very engaged by the folk music movement.Bob Dylan; Joan Baez; Peter, Paul and Mary. And then I sort of discovered world music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/i-was-very-engaged-by-the-folk-music-movement-bob-dylan-joan-baez/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [“It was through Peter that she first understood that the world existed before her, without her. For a few days she could not forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-barrett/it-was-through-peter-that-she-first-understood-that-the-world-existed/) [Andrea Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-barrett/) > [Doing 'White Collar,' quite often my character goes undercover, so therein lies the compounding of the imagination. I get to play Peter Burke and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-dekay/doing-white-collar-quite-often-my-character-goes-undercover-so/) [Tim DeKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-dekay/) > [It was a nephilim.” “A nephi-what?” asked Hugh, startled. “Isn’t that a character on Sesame Street?” Peter spoke up for the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/it-was-a-nephilim-a-nephi-what-asked-hugh-startled-isn-t-that-a/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [When I talked to him earlier, he said he had to work tonight,” Peter explained, “but that we should go ahead and draw for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/when-i-talked-to-him-earlier-he-said-he-had-to-work-tonight-peter/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) ## More by Catherine Marshall > [“I soon saw, however, that Creed's obsession with death was typical of most of the children. This came out in their play. "Let's play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/i-soon-saw-however-that-creed-s-obsession-with-death-was-typical-of/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [“Living in the middle of beauty like this, we've no call to have puny ideas about God. Why do you suppose His world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/living-in-the-middle-of-beauty-like-this-we-ve-no-call-to-have-puny/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [I believe the old cliché, 'God helps those who help themselves,' is not only misleading but often dead wrong. My most spectacular answers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/i-believe-the-old-clich-god-helps-those-who-help-themselves-is-not/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [The unfolding of our friendship with the Father will be a never-ending revelation strretching on into eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/the-unfolding-of-our-friendship-with-the-father-will-be-a-never/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [The house, it's already been a-settin' here for a hundred years. It'll be right here tomorrow. It's today I must be livin'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/the-house-it-s-already-been-a-settin-here-for-a-hundred-years-it-ll/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [“Evil is real - and powerful. It has to be fought, not explained away, not fled. 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The God who made giraffes, a baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/whence-comes-this-idea-that-if-what-we-are-doing-is-fun-it-can-t-be/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [When the dream in our heart is one that God has planted there, a strange happiness flowers into us. At that moment all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/when-the-dream-in-our-heart-is-one-that-god-has-planted-there-a/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [“Have you ever watched a baby learning to walk? He totters, arms stretched out to balance himself. He wobbles - and falls, perhaps bumps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/have-you-ever-watched-a-baby-learning-to-walk-he-totters-arms/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [“Truth could never be wholly contained in words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/truth-could-never-be-wholly-contained-in-words/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [I learned that true forgiveness includes total self-acceptance. And out of acceptance wounds are healed and happiness is possible again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/i-learned-that-true-forgiveness-includes-total-self-acceptance-and/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [Of course you'll encounter trouble. But behold a God of power who can take any evil and turn it into a door of hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/of-course-you-ll-encounter-trouble-but-behold-a-god-of-power-who-can/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [A Christian has no business being satisfied with mediocrity. He's supposed to reach for the stars. Why not? He's not on his own anymore.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/a-christian-has-no-business-being-satisfied-with-mediocrity-he-s/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) [Explore all 58 Catherine Marshall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) ## More Peter quotes > [When I talked to him earlier, he said he had to work tonight,” Peter explained, “but that we should go ahead and draw for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/when-i-talked-to-him-earlier-he-said-he-had-to-work-tonight-peter/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [It was a nephilim.” “A nephi-what?” asked Hugh, startled. “Isn’t that a character on Sesame Street?” Peter spoke up for the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/it-was-a-nephilim-a-nephi-what-asked-hugh-startled-isn-t-that-a/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Doing 'White Collar,' quite often my character goes undercover, so therein lies the compounding of the imagination. I get to play Peter Burke and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-dekay/doing-white-collar-quite-often-my-character-goes-undercover-so/) [Tim DeKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-dekay/) > [“It was through Peter that she first understood that the world existed before her, without her. For a few days she could not forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-barrett/it-was-through-peter-that-she-first-understood-that-the-world-existed/) [Andrea Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-barrett/) > [I was very engaged by the folk music movement.Bob Dylan; Joan Baez; Peter, Paul and Mary. And then I sort of discovered world music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/i-was-very-engaged-by-the-folk-music-movement-bob-dylan-joan-baez/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Accepting the reality of our sinfulness means accepting our authentic self. Judas could not face his shadow; Peter could. The latter befriended the impostor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/accepting-the-reality-of-our-sinfulness-means-accepting-our-authentic/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [Men often joke about this assignment (I Peter 3:7): 'Who can understand a woman?' God has answered the question loud and clear. You can.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stu-weber/men-often-joke-about-this-assignment-i-peter-3-7-who-can-understand-a/) [Stu Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stu-weber/) > [ I felt really compromised. I think legal marriage is unnecessary and I would not have formalised the relationship \[with husband Peter Davis\] except for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-clark/i-felt-really-compromised-i-think-legal-marriage-is-unnecessary-and-i/) [Helen Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-clark/) > [Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/robin-williams-was-an-airman-a-doctor-a-genie-a-nanny-a-president-a/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“What’s your name again?” “Peter. Peter Granford.” Lewis opened up his mouth to speak, but then just shook his head. “What?” The boy ducked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/what-s-your-name-again-peter-peter-granford-lewis-opened-up-his-mouth/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Peter Cooper looks at the world with an artist's eye and a human heart and soul. His songs are the work of an original,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/peter-cooper-looks-at-the-world-with-an-artist-s-eye-and-a-human/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [When I discovered blues - I was 12-years-old - I didn't discover it in America where it was from; I discovered it from Fleetwood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/when-i-discovered-blues-i-was-12-years-old-i-didn-t-discover-it-in/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [You load 16 tons, and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt. St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-travis/you-load-16-tons-and-what-do-you-get-another-day-older-and-deeper-in/) [Merle Travis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-travis/) > [I saw a report on the news: 'Peter Dinklage tweeted... ' What? You know, I don't need any of that stuff. I got an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/i-saw-a-report-on-the-news-peter-dinklage-tweeted-what-you-know-i-don/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [I love to come in and play with a wig or glasses or clothes. I love using props. I'm from the Peter Sellers school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/i-love-to-come-in-and-play-with-a-wig-or-glasses-or-clothes-i-love/) [Dan Aykroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/) Browse all 1,105 Peter quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Still, he never felt that the sermons he wrote at the cottage were good. By the time he got back to Washington to preach them, they no longer excited him. They seemed cold, lifeless. This was probably because Peter's best sermons rose out of the soil of emotion in his own heart. That emotion had to be a present, valid reality. 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