--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not necessary for a preacher to…" description: "\"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,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/martin-luther-106_chiefs_it-is-not-necessary-for-a-preacher-to-ex_2131680.jpg" --- # It is not necessary for a preacher to express all his… ![“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…” quote by Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/martin-luther-106_chiefs_it-is-not-necessary-for-a-preacher-to-ex_2131680.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/martin-luther-106_chiefs_it-is-not-necessary-for-a-preacher-to-ex_2131680.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/martin-luther-106_chiefs_it-is-not-necessary-for-a-preacher-to-ex_2131680.jpg) > “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.” [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chiefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chiefs/) [End times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-times/) [Preacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preacher/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Proper time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proper-time/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sermons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sermons/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [He that has but one word of God before him, and out of that word cannot make a sermon, can never be a preacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-that-has-but-one-word-of-god-before-him-and-out-of-that-word/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Saying is one thing and doing is another; we are to consider the sermon and the preacher distinctly and apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/saying-is-one-thing-and-doing-is-another-we-are-to-consider-the/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Preaching is effective as long as the preacher expects something to happen-not because of the sermon, not even because of the preacher, but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-hines/preaching-is-effective-as-long-as-the-preacher-expects-something-to/) John E. Hines > [Saying is one thing, doing another. We must consider the sermon and the preacher distinctly and apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/saying-is-one-thing-doing-another-we-must-consider-the-sermon-and-the/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I probably have mellowed down a bit. But when it comes to principles, I still have to make a stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-wu/i-probably-have-mellowed-down-a-bit-but-when-it-comes-to-principles-i/) [Gordon Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-wu/) > [“Principles make it simple.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peikoff/principles-make-it-simple/) [Leonard Peikoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peikoff/) > [The reason why principles are so important is because principles make life predictable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/the-reason-why-principles-are-so-important-is-because-principles-make/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [“The same principles that make up a good story also make up a good life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/the-same-principles-that-make-up-a-good-story-also-make-up-a-good-life/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [If you have methods without principles, you're going to have trouble. But if you develop methods based on principles, then you can make progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-koch/if-you-have-methods-without-principles-you-re-going-to-have-trouble/) [Charles Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-koch/) > [ \[Six principles that make for a good story:\] 1. Absence of lengthy verbiage of a political-social-economic nature; 2. total objectivity; 3. truthful descriptions of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/six-principles-that-make-for-a-good-story-1-absence-of-lengthy/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [The principles that make someone a master in the chief executive role deal with whether or not they can thrive in an environment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-menkes/the-principles-that-make-someone-a-master-in-the-chief-executive-role/) [Justin Menkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-menkes/) > [Let principles make decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hyles/let-principles-make-decisions/) [Jack Hyles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-hyles/) > [I have many times essayed thoroughly to investigate the ten commandments, but at the very outset, "I am the Lord thy God," I stuck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/i-have-many-times-essayed-thoroughly-to-investigate-the-ten/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [It is an unsufferable blasphemy to reject the public ministry or to say that people can become holy without sermons and Church. This involves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-is-an-unsufferable-blasphemy-to-reject-the-public-ministry-or-to/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Albert Durer, the famous painter, used to say he had no pleasure in pictures that were painted with many colors, but in those which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/albert-durer-the-famous-painter-used-to-say-he-had-no-pleasure-in/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## More by Martin Luther > [“It was easy for you to say these things, since you either knew you were not writing to Luther, but for the general public,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-was-easy-for-you-to-say-these-things-since-you-either-knew-you/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [In a delightful garden, sowing, planting or digging are not hardship but are done with a zeal and a certain pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/in-a-delightful-garden-sowing-planting-or-digging-are-not-hardship/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [If you could understand a single grain of wheat you would die of wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/if-you-could-understand-a-single-grain-of-wheat-you-would-die-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“God made man out of nothing, and as long as we are nothing, He can make something out of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-made-man-out-of-nothing-and-as-long-as-we-are-nothing-he-can-make/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“But the truth will win out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/but-the-truth-will-win-out/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [God wants us to pray, and he wants to hear our prayers-not because we are worthy, but because he is merciful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-wants-us-to-pray-and-he-wants-to-hear-our-prayers-not-because-we/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Our office...subjects us to great burdens and labors, dangers and temptations, with little reward or gratitude from the world. But Christ himself will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/our-office-subjects-us-to-great-burdens-and-labors-dangers-and/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“Our faith in Christ does not free us from works but from false opinions concerning works, that is, from the foolish presumption that justification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/our-faith-in-christ-does-not-free-us-from-works-but-from-false/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The works of the righteous would be mortal sins if they would not be feared as mortal sins by the righteous themselves out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-works-of-the-righteous-would-be-mortal-sins-if-they-would-not-be/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Do not suppose that abuses are eliminated by destroying the object which is abused. Men can go wrong with wine and women. Shall we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/do-not-suppose-that-abuses-are-eliminated-by-destroying-the-object/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Romans 3:28”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/for-we-maintain-that-a-man-is-justified-by-faith-apart-from-observing/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [There are only two days on my calendar... today and the day of judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/there-are-only-two-days-on-my-calendar-today-and-the-day-of-judgment/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [ Antichrist is the pope and the Turk \[Muslim\] together. A beast full of life must have a body and soul. The spirit or soul… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/antichrist-is-the-pope-and-the-turk-muslim-together-a-beast-full-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [It is not the imitation that makes sons; it is sonship that makes imitators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-is-not-the-imitation-that-makes-sons-it-is-sonship-that-makes/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) [Explore all 1,292 Martin Luther quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## More Chiefs quotes > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [I always wanted to be a fireman, a cop, an Indian chief, a doctor, a lawyer. I always wanted to be all these things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-fireman-a-cop-an-indian-chief-a-doctor-a/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [The chief wonder of education is that it does not ruin everybody concerned in it, teachers and taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-chief-wonder-of-education-is-that-it-does-not-ruin-everybody/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [Las Vegas is a resort whose two chief sources of income are seven and eleven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/las-vegas-is-a-resort-whose-two-chief-sources-of-income-are-seven-and/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [There is no one force, no group, and no class that is the preserver of liberty. Liberty is preserved by those who are against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-burnham/there-is-no-one-force-no-group-and-no-class-that-is-the-preserver-of/) [James Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-burnham/) > [Remember chief of staff Rahm Emanuel's callous enjoinder 'you never want a serious crisis to go to waste'? This White House is a serious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-tyrrell/remember-chief-of-staff-rahm-emanuel-s-callous-enjoinder-you-never/) [Bob Tyrrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-tyrrell/) > [There is a wealth of unexpressed love in the world. It is one of the chief causes of sorrow evoked by death: what might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-hopkins/there-is-a-wealth-of-unexpressed-love-in-the-world-it-is-one-of-the/) Arthur Hopkins > [Pure love is the chief manifestation of education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sai-baba/pure-love-is-the-chief-manifestation-of-education/) [Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sai-baba/) > [The chief beneficiary of life insurance policies for young, single people is the life insurance agent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-smith/the-chief-beneficiary-of-life-insurance-policies-for-young-single/) [Wes Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-smith/) > [Most of my writer friends are women, and they're all extremely talented, so of course I think the state of contemporary fiction for women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/most-of-my-writer-friends-are-women-and-they-re-all-extremely/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) > [No commander in chief would ever say, 'I'm not going to listen to the guys on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/no-commander-in-chief-would-ever-say-i-m-not-going-to-listen-to-the/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [I'm going to be specific so you can render your verdict. Let's go to North Africa, she was the chief engineer of the disastrous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/i-m-going-to-be-specific-so-you-can-render-your-verdict-let-s-go-to/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [...virtue is attended by more peace of mind than vice, and meets with a more favourable reception from the world. 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