Chiefs Quote by Martin Luther
“It is not necessary for a preacher to express all his thoughts in one sermon. A preacher should have three principles: first, to make a good beginning, and not spend time with many words before coming to the point; secondly, to say that which belongs to the subject in chief, and avoid strange and foreign thoughts; thirdly, to stop at the proper time.”
About This Quote
Source Sermon: The Art of Preaching, 1520
Effective preaching requires a clear start, focus on the main topic, and ending at the right moment.
In simple terms: Good preaching is concise, focused, and well‑timed.
Key Takeaway
Structure sermons with a strong opening, stay on topic, and conclude promptly.
Themes
communication
focus
timing
Mood
thoughtful
purposeful
Type
instructional
advisory
When to use this quote
- church services
- public speaking
- teaching
- leadership
- training
Key Concepts
Rhetoric
clarity
discipline
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide what to omit?
- When is a longer explanation necessary?
A Different Perspective
Over‑emphasis on brevity may oversimplify complex ideas.
![“[Six principles that make for a good story:] 1. Absence of lengthy verbiage of a political-social-economic nature; 2. total objectivity; 3. truthful descriptions of persons and objects; 4. extreme brevity; 5. audacity and originality: flee the stereotype; 6. compassion.” quote by Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/23f/anton-chekhov-298_absence_six-principles-that-make-for-a-good-stor_663582.jpg)
