Digestion Quote by John Owen
“A man preacheth that sermon only well unto others which preacheth itself in his own soul. And he that doth not feed on and thrive in the digestion of the food which he provides for others will scarce make it savoury unto them; yea, he knows not but the food he hath provided may be poison, unless he have really tasted of it himself. If the word do not dwell with power in us, it will not pass with power from us.”
About This Quote
Source Sermon: The Power of Preaching, 1650
A teacher must embody their message; without personal experience, their words lack power and can harm.
In simple terms: Teach by living your message.
Key Takeaway
Live your teachings.
Themes
integrity
leadership
communication
Mood
serious
reflective
Type
theological
advice
When to use this quote
- public speaking
- mentoring
- spiritual guidance
- education
Key Concepts
embodied teaching
personal experience
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you test your teachings before sharing?
- What risks arise from preaching without experience?
A Different Perspective
Hard to fully internalize every lesson before teaching.
