Church ministry Quote by Paul David Tripp
““The great danger . . . lies precisely in his constant contact with divine things.” What is the danger? It is that familiarity with the things of God will cause you to lose your awe. You’ve spent so much time in Scripture that its grand redemptive narrative, with its expansive wisdom, doesn’t excite you anymore. You’ve spent so much time exegeting the atonement that you can stand at the foot of the cross with little weeping and scant rejoicing. You’ve spent so much time discipling others that you are no longer amazed at the reality of having been chosen to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. You’ve spent so much time unpacking the theology of Scripture that you’ve forgotten that its end game is personal holiness. You’ve spent so much time in strategic, local-church ministry planning that you’ve lost your wonder at the sovereign Planner that guides your every moment. You’ve spent so much time meditating on what it means to lead others in worship, but you have little private awe. It’s all become so regular and normal that it fails to move you anymore; in fact, there are sad moments when the wonder of grace can barely get your attention in the midst of your busy ministry schedule. Artists””
About This Quote
Source Sermon: The Danger of Spiritual Familiarity, 2020
Overexposure to sacred practices can dull reverence, turning worship into routine and diminishing awe of divine grace.
In simple terms: Too much familiarity with God can make worship feel ordinary.
Cultivate fresh reverence through intentional practice.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal devotion
- church leadership
- theological study
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you renew awe in daily faith?
- What practices keep worship vibrant?
Awe can be lost if worship becomes habit.