--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A truly evangelical sermon must be like…" description: "\"“A truly evangelical sermon must be like offering a child a fine red apple or offering a thirsty man a cool glass of water and then saying: Do you want..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/eric-metaxas-1651_bible_a-truly-evangelical-sermon-must-be-like_2979633.png" --- # A truly evangelical sermon must be like offering a child a… ![“A truly evangelical sermon must be like offering a child a fine red apple or offering a thirsty man a cool glass of water and then saying: Do you want it?” At Finkenwalde he effectively said the same thing: “We must be able to speak about our faith so that hands will be stretched out toward us…” quote by Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/eric-metaxas-1651_bible_a-truly-evangelical-sermon-must-be-like_2979633.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/eric-metaxas-1651_bible_a-truly-evangelical-sermon-must-be-like_2979633.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/eric-metaxas-1651_bible_a-truly-evangelical-sermon-must-be-like_2979633.png) > ““A truly evangelical sermon must be like offering a child a fine red apple or offering a thirsty man a cool glass of water and then saying: Do you want it?” At Finkenwalde he effectively said the same thing: “We must be able to speak about our faith so that hands will be stretched out toward us faster than we can fill them. . . . Do not try to make the Bible relevant. Its relevance is axiomatic. . . . Do not defend God’s Word, but testify to it. . . . Trust to the Word. It is a ship loaded to the very limits of its capacity!”” [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A compelling message must be simple, vivid, and invite an immediate, personal response, trusting the inherent relevance of the truth. **In simple terms:** Speak plainly and let truth draw people in. Key Takeaway Present truth plainly and let people respond. Themes faith communication truth evangelism Mood inspirational urgent Type evangelical motivational When to use this quote - preaching - personal outreach - faith discussions Key Concepts relevance testimony trust Questions to Reflect On - How can you make truth feel inviting rather than imposing? - What personal stories can illustrate the message? A Different Perspective Truth alone may not convince skeptics without relational connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Evangelical Sermon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evangelical-sermon-4628049/) [Sermon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sermon/) [Sermon Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sermon-like-2603488/) [Speak Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-faith-750782/) [Truly Evangelical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truly-evangelical-4628050/) ## Related quotes > [“A sermon should be like a woman’s dress. Long enough to cover the essentials but short enough to keep your attention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-golden-kimball/a-sermon-should-be-like-a-woman-s-dress-long-enough-to-cover-the/) [J. Golden Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-golden-kimball/) > [A bad sermon is like a car wreck - everyone slows down to see what happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/a-bad-sermon-is-like-a-car-wreck-everyone-slows-down-to-see-what/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [A good sermon should be like a woman's skirt: short enough to arouse interest but long enough to cover the essentials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-knox/a-good-sermon-should-be-like-a-woman-s-skirt-short-enough-to-arouse/) [Ronald Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-knox/) > [I went to a Presbyterian college, you know, I was in... all the way, and so I remember doing my first sermon when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/i-went-to-a-presbyterian-college-you-know-i-was-in-all-the-way-and-so/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [We may define "faith" as the firm belief in something for which there is no evidence. Where there is evidence, no one speaks of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/we-may-define-faith-as-the-firm-belief-in-something-for-which-there/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I think when people speak about faith, they always get stuck when they're starting to speak about the terrible things that happen in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aviv-alush/i-think-when-people-speak-about-faith-they-always-get-stuck-when-they/) [Aviv Alush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aviv-alush/) > [“Be Positive I thank my God at all times for you because of the grace (the favor and spiritual blessing) of God which was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/be-positive-i-thank-my-god-at-all-times-for-you-because-of-the-grace/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [When we speak of faith - the faith that can move mountains - we are not speaking of faith in general but of faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/when-we-speak-of-faith-the-faith-that-can-move-mountains-we-are-not/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [“I would never speak about faith, but speak about the Lord himself - not theologically, as to the why and wherefore of his death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-would-never-speak-about-faith-but-speak-about-the-lord-himself-not/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Let us speak no more of faith in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of cryptography.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/let-us-speak-no-more-of-faith-in-man-but-bind-him-down-from-mischief/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“I speak of the power of trying, because I have fallen and struggled to stand. I speak of generosity because I battle selfishness. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/i-speak-of-the-power-of-trying-because-i-have-fallen-and-struggled-to/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) > [I am always surprised by people who speak of faith as if it happens in the air somewhere. Our bodies are God's best way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-brown-taylor/i-am-always-surprised-by-people-who-speak-of-faith-as-if-it-happens/) [Barbara Brown Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-brown-taylor/) > [ “Grace is given not to them who speak \[their faith\] but to those who live their faith.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/grace-is-given-not-to-them-who-speak-their-faith-but-to-those-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Faith is a belief in things that your senses have not experienced and your mind does not understand, but you have touched them in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/faith-is-a-belief-in-things-that-your-senses-have-not-experienced-and/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [Remember faith is what moves God. When we speak in faith we declare God's favor, we activate the power of the Most High. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/remember-faith-is-what-moves-god-when-we-speak-in-faith-we-declare/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) ## More by Eric Metaxas > [“If we believe miracles cannot happen today but happened to our distant ancestors, what we really seem to be saying is not that miracles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/if-we-believe-miracles-cannot-happen-today-but-happened-to-our/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“(Bonhoeffer's) change was not an ungainly, embarrassing leap from which he would have to retreat slightly when he gained more maturity and perspective. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-s-change-was-not-an-ungainly-embarrassing-leap-from-which/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Religious liberty is the salt and light that has made us the great nation we are in a whole number of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/religious-liberty-is-the-salt-and-light-that-has-made-us-the-great/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“But we know that true grace comes to us by costly sacrifice. And if God was willing to go to the cross and endure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/but-we-know-that-true-grace-comes-to-us-by-costly-sacrifice-and-if/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Created in the awesome image of God, men and women know that life has a meaning beyond 'eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/created-in-the-awesome-image-of-god-men-and-women-know-that-life-has/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [I have no doubt, if people are really seeking the big questions, it will lead them to the Lord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/i-have-no-doubt-if-people-are-really-seeking-the-big-questions-it/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“human beings were taken from the earth and don’t just consist of thin air and thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/human-beings-were-taken-from-the-earth-and-don-t-just-consist-of-thin/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“If you board the wrong train it is no use running along the corridor in the opposite direction. —DIETRICH BONHOEFFER”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/if-you-board-the-wrong-train-it-is-no-use-running-along-the-corridor/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Some illustrations of the fine-tuning of our universe deal with the so-called four fundamental forces physicists talk about, and with which most laymen are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/some-illustrations-of-the-fine-tuning-of-our-universe-deal-with-the/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Many years later, after Niemöller had been imprisoned for eight years in concentration camps as the personal prisoner of Adolf Hitler, he penned these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/many-years-later-after-niem-ller-had-been-imprisoned-for-eight-years/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Today, Wilberforce University welcomes many of America's poorest and most underserved populations and transforms their educational dreams into realities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/today-wilberforce-university-welcomes-many-of-america-s-poorest-and/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Although I know full well and hear every day that many people think little of me and say that I only write little pamphlets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/although-i-know-full-well-and-hear-every-day-that-many-people-think/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“The line between courageous faith and foolish idealism is, almost by definition, one angstrom wide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/the-line-between-courageous-faith-and-foolish-idealism-is-almost-by/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Part of my life's thesis is that we live in a culture that has bought into the patently silly idea that there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/part-of-my-life-s-thesis-is-that-we-live-in-a-culture-that-has-bought/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [God designed humans to live in community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/god-designed-humans-to-live-in-community/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) [Explore all 219 Eric Metaxas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) [Michael Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arnold/) > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) [Robert A. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-peterson/) > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) [Stephen Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-taylor/) > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) [Walsham How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walsham-how/) > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) [Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A truly evangelical sermon must be like offering a child a fine red apple or offering a thirsty man a cool glass of water and then saying: Do you want it?” At Finkenwalde he effectively said the same thing: “We must be able to speak about our faith so that hands will be stretched out toward us faster than we can fill them. . . . Do not try to make the Bible relevant. Its relevance is axiomatic. . . . Do not defend God’s Word, but testify to it. . . . Trust to the Word. 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