--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a poor sermon that gives no…" description: "\"It is a poor sermon that gives no offense; that neither makes the hearer displeased with himself nor with the preacher.\" — George Whitefield" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/george-whitefield-3091_offense_it-is-a-poor-sermon-that-gives-no-offens_1997666.jpg" --- # It is a poor sermon that gives no offense; that neither… ![“It is a poor sermon that gives no offense; that neither makes the hearer displeased with himself nor with the preacher.” quote by George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/george-whitefield-3091_offense_it-is-a-poor-sermon-that-gives-no-offens_1997666.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/george-whitefield-3091_offense_it-is-a-poor-sermon-that-gives-no-offens_1997666.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/george-whitefield-3091_offense_it-is-a-poor-sermon-that-gives-no-offens_1997666.jpg) > “It is a poor sermon that gives no offense; that neither makes the hearer displeased with himself nor with the preacher.” [George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A sermon that avoids offense fails to challenge listeners, leaving both preacher and audience unprovoked and unchanged. **In simple terms:** Non‑offensive preaching lacks impact. Key Takeaway Embrace honest, challenging truth. Themes religion communication truth ethics preaching Mood reflective serious Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - church service - public speaking - personal reflection Key Concepts moral responsibility courage integrity Questions to Reflect On - How can truth be spoken without alienating? - When is offense necessary for growth? A Different Perspective Avoiding offense can dilute moral urgency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Displeased Preacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/displeased-preacher-3497868/) [Hearer Displeased](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hearer-displeased-3497870/) [Offense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offense/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor Sermon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-sermon-3497867/) [Preacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preacher/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sermon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sermon/) [Sermon Gives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sermon-gives-3497869/) ## Related quotes > [“Mother Teresa would seek no other pulpit than the hovels of the poor, and no other sermon than her works of love, performed for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-langford/mother-teresa-would-seek-no-other-pulpit-than-the-hovels-of-the-poor/) [Joseph Langford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-langford/) > [“the primary purpose of sermon introductions is to produce imbalance for the sake of engagement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-l-lowry/the-primary-purpose-of-sermon-introductions-is-to-produce-imbalance/) [Eugene L. 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Your golden days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/o-poor-new-england-there-is-a-deep-laid-plot-against-your-civil-and/) [George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/) > [I found by daily experience, the more I did, the more I might do for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/i-found-by-daily-experience-the-more-i-did-the-more-i-might-do-for-god/) [George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/) > [The Lord Jesus sits in heaven, ruling over all, and causing all things to work for his children's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/the-lord-jesus-sits-in-heaven-ruling-over-all-and-causing-all-things/) [George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/) > [I say salvation is the free gift of God. 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I would as soon think of climbing to the moon on a rope of sand!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/works-works-a-man-get-to-heaven-by-works-i-would-as-soon-think-of/) [George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/) > [The Christian world is in a deep sleep; nothing but a loud shout can awaken them out of it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/the-christian-world-is-in-a-deep-sleep-nothing-but-a-loud-shout-can/) [George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/) > [At the day of judgment we shall all meet again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/at-the-day-of-judgment-we-shall-all-meet-again/) [George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/) > [Our food and our rest, our trades and our labors, are to be attended to, and all the offices of humanity performed in obedience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/our-food-and-our-rest-our-trades-and-our-labors-are-to-be-attended-to/) [George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/) > [We are immortal until our work on earth is done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/we-are-immortal-until-our-work-on-earth-is-done/) [George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/) > [For it pleased God, after he had made all things by the word of his power, to create man after his own image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/for-it-pleased-god-after-he-had-made-all-things-by-the-word-of-his/) [George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/) > [The fall of man is written in too legible characters not to be understood: Those that deny it, by their denying, prove it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/the-fall-of-man-is-written-in-too-legible-characters-not-to-be/) [George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/) > [This discourse, and the present frame of my mind, lead me rather to speak to those, who by feeling Satan's fiery darts, know assuredly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/this-discourse-and-the-present-frame-of-my-mind-lead-me-rather-to/) [George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/) [Explore all 140 George Whitefield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/) ## More Offense quotes > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Humor is a great defense, and an offense too. 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Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [People who wish to be offended will always find some occasion for taking offense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/people-who-wish-to-be-offended-will-always-find-some-occasion-for/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [I like the offense to flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/i-like-the-offense-to-flow/) [Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/) > [Truth is not only a matter of offense, in that it makes certain assertions. It is also a matter of defense in that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/truth-is-not-only-a-matter-of-offense-in-that-it-makes-certain/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [God's wrath is not an implacable, blind rage. However emotional it may be, it is an entirely reasonable and willed response to offenses against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/god-s-wrath-is-not-an-implacable-blind-rage-however-emotional-it-may/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [It is madness to wear ladies' straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/it-is-madness-to-wear-ladies-straw-hats-and-velvet-hats-to-church-we/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Thou shalt not steal. I mean defensively. 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