---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great danger . . . lies precisely in…"
description: "\"“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 w..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/paul-david-tripp-1637_church-ministry_the-great-danger-lies-precisely-in-his-c_1375487.png"
---

#  The great danger . . . lies precisely in his constant…

![“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…” quote by Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/paul-david-tripp-1637_church-ministry_the-great-danger-lies-precisely-in-his-c_1375487.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/paul-david-tripp-1637_church-ministry_the-great-danger-lies-precisely-in-his-c_1375487.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/paul-david-tripp-1637_church-ministry_the-great-danger-lies-precisely-in-his-c_1375487.png)

> ““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””

[Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

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.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate fresh reverence through intentional practice.

Themes

spirituality faith awe

Mood

contemplative inspirational

Type

sermon spiritual

When to use this quote

- personal devotion
- church leadership
- theological study

Key Concepts

habituation desensitization religious routine

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you renew awe in daily faith?
- What practices keep worship vibrant?

A Different Perspective

Awe can be lost if worship becomes habit.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Church ministry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-ministry/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [End game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-game/) [Every moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-moment/) [Exegeting Atonement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exegeting-atonement-4748277/) [Great Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-danger-901571/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Theology Scripture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology-scripture-1471003/) [Things God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-god/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [“Whether we admit it or not, as people of faith, we sift our theology through Scripture, Church history and tradition, our reason, and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bessey/whether-we-admit-it-or-not-as-people-of-faith-we-sift-our-theology/)

[Sarah Bessey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bessey/)

> [“The study of theology is not merely a theoretical exercise of the intellect. It is a study of the living God, and of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-grudem/the-study-of-theology-is-not-merely-a-theoretical-exercise-of-the/)

[Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/)

> [“I have talked with many pastors whose real struggle isn’t first with the hardship of ministry, the lack of appreciation and involvement of people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/i-have-talked-with-many-pastors-whose-real-struggle-isn-t-first-with-2/)

[Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

> [What manner of men should ministers be? They should thunder in preaching, and lighten in conversation; they should be flaming in prayer, shining in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/what-manner-of-men-should-ministers-be-they-should-thunder-in/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [“Don't just cry over your 10 or 20 member church. Sometimes, God gives you your future first. The ones you call little carry in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-opuwari-manuel/don-t-just-cry-over-your-10-or-20-member-church-sometimes-god-gives/)

[Kingsley Opuwari Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-opuwari-manuel/)

> [As God can send a nation or people no greater blessing than to give them faithful, sincere and upright ministers, so the greatest curse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/as-god-can-send-a-nation-or-people-no-greater-blessing-than-to-give/)

[George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/)

> [Study universal holiness of life. Your whole usefulness depends on this, for your sermons last but an hour or two, your life preaches all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-murray-m-cheyne/study-universal-holiness-of-life-your-whole-usefulness-depends-on-2/)

[Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murray-m-cheyne/)

> [He that is more frequent in his pulpit to his people than he is in his closet for his people, is but a sorry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/he-that-is-more-frequent-in-his-pulpit-to-his-people-than-he-is-in/)

[John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/)

> [The doctrines some now preach could not build a mouse-trap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-doctrines-some-now-preach-could-not-build-a-mouse-trap/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [As a pastor in a Protestant church, my whole ministry centers on the conviction that by grace we are saved through faith. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/as-a-pastor-in-a-protestant-church-my-whole-ministry-centers-on-the/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

> [In preaching you cannot produce at the same time the impression that you are clever and that Christ is wonderful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-denney/in-preaching-you-cannot-produce-at-the-same-time-the-impression-that/)

[James Denney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-denney/)

> [“One of the most amazing and perplexing features of mainstream Christianity is that seminarians who learn the historical-critical method in their Bible classes appear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/one-of-the-most-amazing-and-perplexing-features-of-mainstream/)

[Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/)

> [If people like us, our life is good. If somebody doesn't like us, our whole life is tanked. That happens at your job, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hall/if-people-like-us-our-life-is-good-if-somebody-doesn-t-like-us-our/)

[Mark Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hall/)

> [No man should be alone when he opposes Satan. The Church and the ministry of the Word were instituted for this purpose, that hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/no-man-should-be-alone-when-he-opposes-satan-the-church-and-the/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [A preacher's life should be a commentary upon his doctrine... Heavenly doctrines should always be adorned with a heavenly life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/a-preacher-s-life-should-be-a-commentary-upon-his-doctrine-heavenly/)

[Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/)

## More by Paul David Tripp

> [It is a sweet thing that we serve a dissatisfied God who has destinations in mind for us that we would never choose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/it-is-a-sweet-thing-that-we-serve-a-dissatisfied-god-who-has/)

[Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

> [“DECEMBER 1 You have one place of hope, security, and rest. It is found in these words: “God is love.” It is something every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/december-1-you-have-one-place-of-hope-security-and-rest-it-is-found/)

[Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

> [“Trust is being so convinced that you can rely on the integrity, strength, character, and faithfulness of another that you are willing to place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/trust-is-being-so-convinced-that-you-can-rely-on-the-integrity/)

[Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

> [“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory” (Rev. 19:6–7). On into eternity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/hallelujah-for-the-lord-our-god-the-almighty-reigns-let-us-rejoice/)

[Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

> [“But this book is not a theology of kingdom, nor an exposition of the kingdom passages in the Bible. No, it is simply a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/but-this-book-is-not-a-theology-of-kingdom-nor-an-exposition-of-the/)

[Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

> [“Biblical literacy does not dispel all confusion and mystery from your life because while God reveals his will for you in the Bible, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/biblical-literacy-does-not-dispel-all-confusion-and-mystery-from-your/)

[Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

> [“Your theology won't always work toward your obedience, because your use of theology is dictated by the condition of your heart. If your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/your-theology-won-t-always-work-toward-your-obedience-because-your/)

[Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

> [“In the center of the kingdom of God, you do not find a gargantuan palace inhabited by an unapproachable king. No, in the center…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/in-the-center-of-the-kingdom-of-god-you-do-not-find-a-gargantuan/)

[Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

> [“True humanity is always connected to glory, and true glory can only be found in the One who is glory, the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/true-humanity-is-always-connected-to-glory-and-true-glory-can-only-be/)

[Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

> [Love is willing self-sacrifice for the good of another that does not require reciprocation or that the person being loved is deserving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/love-is-willing-self-sacrifice-for-the-good-of-another-that-does-not/)

[Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

> [“in every moment when you are parenting, you are being parented. In every moment when you are called to give grace, you are being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/in-every-moment-when-you-are-parenting-you-are-being-parented-in/)

[Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

> [Do you require yourself to remember? In order to live as you can and should, you first must remember who you are and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/do-you-require-yourself-to-remember-in-order-to-live-as-you-can-and/)

[Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

> [“We are all capable of fighting for what has little value while forgetting things of transcendent value.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/we-are-all-capable-of-fighting-for-what-has-little-value-while/)

[Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

> [“The bottom line: each of our lives is shaped by the war between the kingdom of god and the kingdom of self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/the-bottom-line-each-of-our-lives-is-shaped-by-the-war-between-the/)

[Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

> [“In a fallen world there is a powerful pressure to constrict your life to the shape and size of your life. There is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/in-a-fallen-world-there-is-a-powerful-pressure-to-constrict-your-life/)

[Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

[Explore all 219 Paul David Tripp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

## More Church ministry quotes

> [A preacher's life should be a commentary upon his doctrine... Heavenly doctrines should always be adorned with a heavenly life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/a-preacher-s-life-should-be-a-commentary-upon-his-doctrine-heavenly/)

[Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/)

> [No man should be alone when he opposes Satan. The Church and the ministry of the Word were instituted for this purpose, that hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/no-man-should-be-alone-when-he-opposes-satan-the-church-and-the/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [If people like us, our life is good. If somebody doesn't like us, our whole life is tanked. That happens at your job, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hall/if-people-like-us-our-life-is-good-if-somebody-doesn-t-like-us-our/)

[Mark Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hall/)

> [“One of the most amazing and perplexing features of mainstream Christianity is that seminarians who learn the historical-critical method in their Bible classes appear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/one-of-the-most-amazing-and-perplexing-features-of-mainstream/)

[Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/)

> [In preaching you cannot produce at the same time the impression that you are clever and that Christ is wonderful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-denney/in-preaching-you-cannot-produce-at-the-same-time-the-impression-that/)

[James Denney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-denney/)

> [As a pastor in a Protestant church, my whole ministry centers on the conviction that by grace we are saved through faith. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/as-a-pastor-in-a-protestant-church-my-whole-ministry-centers-on-the/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

> [The doctrines some now preach could not build a mouse-trap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-doctrines-some-now-preach-could-not-build-a-mouse-trap/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [He that is more frequent in his pulpit to his people than he is in his closet for his people, is but a sorry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/he-that-is-more-frequent-in-his-pulpit-to-his-people-than-he-is-in/)

[John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/)

> [Study universal holiness of life. Your whole usefulness depends on this, for your sermons last but an hour or two, your life preaches all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-murray-m-cheyne/study-universal-holiness-of-life-your-whole-usefulness-depends-on-2/)

[Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murray-m-cheyne/)

> [As God can send a nation or people no greater blessing than to give them faithful, sincere and upright ministers, so the greatest curse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/as-god-can-send-a-nation-or-people-no-greater-blessing-than-to-give/)

[George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/)

> [“Don't just cry over your 10 or 20 member church. Sometimes, God gives you your future first. The ones you call little carry in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-opuwari-manuel/don-t-just-cry-over-your-10-or-20-member-church-sometimes-god-gives/)

[Kingsley Opuwari Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-opuwari-manuel/)

> [What manner of men should ministers be? They should thunder in preaching, and lighten in conversation; they should be flaming in prayer, shining in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/what-manner-of-men-should-ministers-be-they-should-thunder-in/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [Let me ever love Thyself more than Thy service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-carter/let-me-ever-love-thyself-more-than-thy-service/)

[Howard Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-carter/)

> [Congregational life wherein each member has his opportunity to contribute to the life of the whole body, those gifts with which the Spirit endows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/congregational-life-wherein-each-member-has-his-opportunity-to/)

[Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/)

> [“I have talked with many pastors whose real struggle isn’t first with the hardship of ministry, the lack of appreciation and involvement of people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/i-have-talked-with-many-pastors-whose-real-struggle-isn-t-first-with-2/)

[Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

[Browse all 17 Church ministry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-ministry/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“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”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Paul David Tripp"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/the-great-danger-lies-precisely-in-his-constant-contact-with-divine/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Church ministry"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/the-great-danger-lies-precisely-in-his-constant-contact-with-divine/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/paul-david-tripp-1637_church-ministry_the-great-danger-lies-precisely-in-his-c_1375487.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/paul-david-tripp-1637_church-ministry_the-great-danger-lies-precisely-in-his-c_1375487.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/paul-david-tripp-1637_church-ministry_the-great-danger-lies-precisely-in-his-c_1375487.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The great danger . . . lies precisely in his constant contact with divine things.” What is the danger? It is…” — Paul David Tripp",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Paul David Tripp",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The great danger . . . lies precisely...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/the-great-danger-lies-precisely-in-his-constant-contact-with-divine/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/the-great-danger-lies-precisely-in-his-constant-contact-with-divine/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
