--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Listen to yourself speak, saying, “The…" description: "\"“Listen to yourself speak, saying, “The knowledge of God has no practical application.” Do you know why all your Christian bookstores are filled up wit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/paul-washer-1468_books_listen-to-yourself-speak-saying-the-know_2197136.png" --- # Listen to yourself speak, saying, “The knowledge of God… ![“Listen to yourself speak, saying, “The knowledge of God has no practical application.” Do you know why all your Christian bookstores are filled up with self-help books, and five ways to do this or that, and six ways to be godly, and 10 ways not to fall?—because people don’t know God! And so they…” quote by Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/paul-washer-1468_books_listen-to-yourself-speak-saying-the-know_2197136.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/paul-washer-1468_books_listen-to-yourself-speak-saying-the-know_2197136.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/paul-washer-1468_books_listen-to-yourself-speak-saying-the-know_2197136.png) > ““Listen to yourself speak, saying, “The knowledge of God has no practical application.” Do you know why all your Christian bookstores are filled up with self-help books, and five ways to do this or that, and six ways to be godly, and 10 ways not to fall?—because people don’t know God! And so they have to be given all sorts of trivial little devices of the flesh to keep them walking as sheep ought to walk! “Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame” (1Co 15:34). Why the rampant sinning even among God’s people? It is a lack of the knowledge of God!”” [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that without true knowledge of God, people turn to superficial self‑help and rituals, leading to continued sin and spiritual emptiness. **In simple terms:** Without real God knowledge, people rely on shallow fixes and stay sinful. Key Takeaway Seek deep, personal understanding of God. Themes faith spirituality knowledge sin religion Mood concerned challenging reflective Type sermonic theological motivational When to use this quote - church teaching - personal Bible study - spiritual counseling - community discipleship Key Concepts theology personal transformation biblical literacy Questions to Reflect On - What does “knowledge of God” mean to you? - How can you move beyond superficial religious practices? A Different Perspective True knowledge of God is hard to attain and may challenge comfortable beliefs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Knowledge of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-of-god/) ## Related quotes > [If the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, then growing in our knowledge of God is always practical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/if-the-fear-of-the-lord-is-the-beginning-of-wisdom-then-growing-in/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“The only motive in the world that will keep me from sin is the knowledge that God is mine and I am his.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/the-only-motive-in-the-world-that-will-keep-me-from-sin-is-the/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“True and sound wisdom consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/true-and-sound-wisdom-consists-of-two-parts-the-knowledge-of-god-and/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [“Of all knowledge, the knowledge of God is the principal. There is no true knowledge without godliness (cp. Deu 4: 6, 7).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bridges/of-all-knowledge-the-knowledge-of-god-is-the-principal-there-is-no/) Charles Bridges > [“The knowledge of God is a sacred pursuit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-knowledge-of-god-is-a-sacred-pursuit/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 1o) can he interpreted mystically in such a way that the question of the knowledge of God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothee-soelle/the-story-of-the-good-samaritan-luke-1o-can-he-interpreted-mystically/) [Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) > [Certainly it does make the greatest possible difference what we think about God; the knowledge of God is the very basis of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/certainly-it-does-make-the-greatest-possible-difference-what-we-think/) [John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) > [“Knowlege of God without knowledge of man's wretchedness leads to pride. Knowledge of man's wretchedness without knowledge of God leads to despair. Knowledge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/knowlege-of-god-without-knowledge-of-man-s-wretchedness-leads-to/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [A little knowledge OF God is worth more than a great deal of knowledge ABOUT him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/a-little-knowledge-of-god-is-worth-more-than-a-great-deal-of/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [The knowledge of God is very far from the love of Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-knowledge-of-god-is-very-far-from-the-love-of-him/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“No matter how hard people work to suppress their knowledge of God, creation itself keeps challenging them. “Human life is a continual wrestling match…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/no-matter-how-hard-people-work-to-suppress-their-knowledge-of-god/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [In all thy actions think God sees thee; and in all His actions labor to see Him; that will make thee fear Him; this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/in-all-thy-actions-think-god-sees-thee-and-in-all-his-actions-labor/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [We find the instrument for the Knowledge of God in ourselves But we find God everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-steiner/we-find-the-instrument-for-the-knowledge-of-god-in-ourselves-but-we/) [Rudolf Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-steiner/) > [The sum total of all possible knowledge of God is not possible for a human being, not even through a true revelation. But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/the-sum-total-of-all-possible-knowledge-of-god-is-not-possible-for-a/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [“You do not say someone is holy because he puts forth great ideas concerning the knowledge of God and the attributes of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-molinos/you-do-not-say-someone-is-holy-because-he-puts-forth-great-ideas/) [Michael Molinos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-molinos/) ## More by Paul Washer > [The question is not whether you would like to pray this prayer and ask Jesus to come into your heart - after all, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/the-question-is-not-whether-you-would-like-to-pray-this-prayer-and/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > ["But I got saved that way!" No, you got saved in spite of that way not because of that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/but-i-got-saved-that-way-no-you-got-saved-in-spite-of-that-way-not/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [I would not trade the difficult years for all the prosperity in the world. God knows what each one of us must suffer in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/i-would-not-trade-the-difficult-years-for-all-the-prosperity-in-the/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [We must not adopt the world's view and then tweak it to make it Christian. We must draw a line in the sand and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/we-must-not-adopt-the-world-s-view-and-then-tweak-it-to-make-it/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [“There are few things more blasphemous than a preacher who compliments the unbeliever on the wonderful life he has made for himself, extolling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/there-are-few-things-more-blasphemous-than-a-preacher-who-compliments/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [The person that I most admire is Jesus Christ. He is the only perfect Person. There is simply no comparison. The difference between Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/the-person-that-i-most-admire-is-jesus-christ-he-is-the-only-perfect/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [The terrible sticky thing about truth is if it exists, it's coming for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/the-terrible-sticky-thing-about-truth-is-if-it-exists-it-s-coming-for/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [The evidence that a person has truly opened their life to Christ is continued fellowship with Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/the-evidence-that-a-person-has-truly-opened-their-life-to-christ-is/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [Over the epitaph of this generation it will say ENTERTAINED TO DEATH.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/over-the-epitaph-of-this-generation-it-will-say-entertained-to-death/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [“the proof or validation of genuine conversion is that the one who professes faith in Christ perseveres in that faith and grows in sanctification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/the-proof-or-validation-of-genuine-conversion-is-that-the-one-who/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [In that moment of salvation, of belief, they are opening their lives to the person of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/in-that-moment-of-salvation-of-belief-they-are-opening-their-lives-to/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [A lot of people think that Christianity is you doing all the righteous things you hate and avoiding all the wicked things you love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/a-lot-of-people-think-that-christianity-is-you-doing-all-the/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [ In modern day evangelism, this precious doctrine \[of regeneration\] has been reduced to nothing more than a human decision to raise one's hand, walk… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/in-modern-day-evangelism-this-precious-doctrine-of-regeneration-has/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [The mark of a man of God is God upon the man,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/the-mark-of-a-man-of-god-is-god-upon-the-man/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [What can not be overcome in prayer? Answer me! What cannot be done by the hand of the Almighty? Answer me! What can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/what-can-not-be-overcome-in-prayer-answer-me-what-cannot-be-done-by/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) [Explore all 234 Paul Washer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Listen to yourself speak, saying, “The knowledge of God has no practical application.” Do you know why all your Christian bookstores are filled up with self-help books, and five ways to do this or that, and six ways to be godly, and 10 ways not to fall?—because people don’t know God! 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