--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We preach sermons, write books on…" description: "\"We preach sermons, write books on apologetics, conduct city-wide evangelistic campaigns. For those alienated from the church, that approach no longer h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/957/philip-yancey-840_apologetic_we-preach-sermons-write-books-on-apologe_83868.png" --- # We preach sermons, write books on apologetics, conduct… ![“We preach sermons, write books on apologetics, conduct city-wide evangelistic campaigns. For those alienated from the church, that approach no longer has the same drawing power. And for the truly needy, words alone don't satisfy; "A hungry person has no ears," as one relief worker told me. A…” quote by Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/957/philip-yancey-840_apologetic_we-preach-sermons-write-books-on-apologe_83868.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/957/philip-yancey-840_apologetic_we-preach-sermons-write-books-on-apologe_83868.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/957/philip-yancey-840_apologetic_we-preach-sermons-write-books-on-apologe_83868.png) > “We preach sermons, write books on apologetics, conduct city-wide evangelistic campaigns. For those alienated from the church, that approach no longer has the same drawing power. And for the truly needy, words alone don't satisfy; "A hungry person has no ears," as one relief worker told me. A skeptical world judges the truth of what we say by the proof of how we live.” [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actions speak louder than words; genuine compassion and lived integrity are needed to convince skeptics and help the marginalized. **In simple terms:** Words without deeds fail to reach the hungry. Key Takeaway Live the message you preach. Themes Compassion Authenticity Evangelism Social Justice Skepticism Mood Hopeful Urgent Reflective Type Inspirational Didactic Testimonial When to use this quote - Missionary outreach - Urban ministry - Humanitarian aid - Community development Key Concepts Empathy Integrity Witnessing Practical Applications - Faith-based social programs - Public speaking with personal testimony Questions to Reflect On - How can we align our words with our actions? - What practical steps demonstrate our convictions? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apologetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologetic/) [Apologetics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologetics/) [Apologetics Conduct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologetics-conduct-1059049/) [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Campaigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaigns/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Drawing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawing/) [Ears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears/) [Evangelistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evangelistic/) [Evangelistic Campaigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evangelistic-campaigns-1059048/) [Hungry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hungry/) [Judging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judging/) [Needy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needy/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Preach Sermons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preach-sermons-1059047/) [Proof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proof/) [Relief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relief/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sermons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sermons/) [Skeptical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skeptical/) [Wide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wide/) [Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workers/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The purpose of apologetics is not just to win an argument or a discussion, but that people with whom we are in contact may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/the-purpose-of-apologetics-is-not-just-to-win-an-argument-or-a/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [It's no longer enough to teach our children Bible stories; they need doctrine and apologetics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/it-s-no-longer-enough-to-teach-our-children-bible-stories-they-need/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [The heart must be kept tender and pliable; otherwise agnosticism converts to skepticism. In such a case, the value of apologetics is voided, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-john-carnell/the-heart-must-be-kept-tender-and-pliable-otherwise-agnosticism/) [Edward John Carnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-john-carnell/) > [Our Christian faith - and correlatively, our account of apologetics - is tainted by modernism when we fail to appreciate the effects of sin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-christian-faith-and-correlatively-our-account-of-apologetics-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm noticing an exciting trend around the country: a resurgence of interest in Christian apologetics (the defense of the faith). This is a reaction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/i-m-noticing-an-exciting-trend-around-the-country-a-resurgence-of/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [I wonder how appropriate it is to try to 'argue someone into the kingdom.' Many apologists hotly deny any such charge, but I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-price/i-wonder-how-appropriate-it-is-to-try-to-argue-someone-into-the/) [Robert M. Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-price/) > [I've always been a huge fan of apologetics. C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite authors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-harper/i-ve-always-been-a-huge-fan-of-apologetics-c-s-lewis-is-one-of-my/) [Shane Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-harper/) > [For me, apologetics proved to be the turning point of my life and eternity. I'm thankful for the scholars who so passionately and effectively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/for-me-apologetics-proved-to-be-the-turning-point-of-my-life-and/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [An argument in apologetics, when actually used in dialogue, is an extension of the arguer. The arguer's tone, sincerity, care, concern, listening, and respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/an-argument-in-apologetics-when-actually-used-in-dialogue-is-an/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [The longer I am in this work, the more I realize that intellectual struggles are merely the hazardous waste of life, blocking the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/the-longer-i-am-in-this-work-the-more-i-realize-that-intellectual/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [I love people thinking about apologetics. I just think that we have to be careful. We need to realize that we can argue about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/i-love-people-thinking-about-apologetics-i-just-think-that-we-have-to/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [It's fine to deal with people's doubts and explain why they have good reasons to believe in Christ. But until we tell them the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/it-s-fine-to-deal-with-people-s-doubts-and-explain-why-they-have-good/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [“The new and needed apologetics will differ from previous apologetic models geared at convincing people solely or even mainly from a rationalistic perspective or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-mcneal/the-new-and-needed-apologetics-will-differ-from-previous-apologetic/) [Reggie McNeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-mcneal/) > [Apologetics has an important place in the local church as we seek to influence our communities for Christ in an increasingly skeptical culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/apologetics-has-an-important-place-in-the-local-church-as-we-seek-to/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [The difference between apologetics and evangelism is that in apologetics, you are answering objections that the world raises, whereas in evangelism, you are bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/the-difference-between-apologetics-and-evangelism-is-that-in/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) ## More by Philip Yancey > [“God reproduces and lives out His image in millions of ordinary people like us. It is a supreme mystery. We are called to bear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/god-reproduces-and-lives-out-his-image-in-millions-of-ordinary-people/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Curiously, the righteous Pharisees had little historical impact, save for a brief time in a remote corner of the Roman Empire. But Jesus' disciples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/curiously-the-righteous-pharisees-had-little-historical-impact-save/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Jesus never met a disease he could not cure, a birth defect he could not reverse, a demon he could not exorcise. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-never-met-a-disease-he-could-not-cure-a-birth-defect-he-could/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Love deems this world worth rescuing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/love-deems-this-world-worth-rescuing/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [People instinctively know the difference between something done with a profit motive and something done with a love motive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/people-instinctively-know-the-difference-between-something-done-with/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [In a nutshell, the Bible from Genesis 3 to Revelation 22 tells the story of a God reckless with desire to get his family back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/in-a-nutshell-the-bible-from-genesis-3-to-revelation-22-tells-the/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [You can know the law by heart without knowing the heart of it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/you-can-know-the-law-by-heart-without-knowing-the-heart-of-it/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [“I have marveled at, and sometimes openly questioned, the self-restraint God has shown throughout history, allowing the Genghis Khans and the Hitlers and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/i-have-marveled-at-and-sometimes-openly-questioned-the-self-restraint/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [C. S. Lewis observed that almost all crimes of Christian history have come about when religion is confused with politics. Politics, which always runs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/c-s-lewis-observed-that-almost-all-crimes-of-christian-history-have/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Having spent time around "sinners" and also around purported saints, I have a hunch why Jesus spent so much time with the former group:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/having-spent-time-around-sinners-and-also-around-purported-saints-i/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [I begin with confession not in order to feel miserable, rather to call to mind a reality I often ignore. When I acknowledge where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/i-begin-with-confession-not-in-order-to-feel-miserable-rather-to-call/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Jesus reserved his hardest words for the hidden sins of hypocrisy, pride, greed and legalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-reserved-his-hardest-words-for-the-hidden-sins-of-hypocrisy/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [“What greater gift could Christians give to the world than the forming of a culture that upholds grace and forgiveness?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/what-greater-gift-could-christians-give-to-the-world-than-the-forming/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [“For us who are Christians, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is proof positive that love is stronger than hate, that life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/for-us-who-are-christians-the-death-and-resurrection-of-jesus-christ/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [It's easy to fall into the trap of feeling like you've heard everything before and that you have nothing left to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/it-s-easy-to-fall-into-the-trap-of-feeling-like-you-ve-heard/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) [Explore all 351 Philip Yancey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) ## More Apologetic quotes > [If writing with a goal - whether it be evangelistic, apologetic, or didactic - implies propaganda, then all recorded history is propaganda. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/if-writing-with-a-goal-whether-it-be-evangelistic-apologetic-or/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) > [In the New Testament alone there are Gospels, acts, epistles, and an apocalypse. Gospels contain literary forms like miracles, parables, pronouncements, proverbs, farewell discourses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-blomberg/in-the-new-testament-alone-there-are-gospels-acts-epistles-and-an/) [Craig Blomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-blomberg/) > [The purpose of apologetics is not just to win an argument or a discussion, but that people with whom we are in contact may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/the-purpose-of-apologetics-is-not-just-to-win-an-argument-or-a/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [I'm a single-issue voter, to get straight to the point. I'm really only interested in the candidate who's toughest and least apologetic when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-m-a-single-issue-voter-to-get-straight-to-the-point-i-m-really-only/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Writing is a vocation and, as in any other calling, a writer should develop his talents for the greater glory of God. Novels should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-paul-read/writing-is-a-vocation-and-as-in-any-other-calling-a-writer-should/) [Piers Paul Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-paul-read/) > [... and yet he could also be very charming, in a bookish, infinitely apologetic way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-mclain/and-yet-he-could-also-be-very-charming-in-a-bookish-infinitely/) [Paula McLain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-mclain/) > [When I started playing in bands, we had to be apologetic for what we did. We had to be apologetic because the mainstream was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-antonoff/when-i-started-playing-in-bands-we-had-to-be-apologetic-for-what-we/) [Jack Antonoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-antonoff/) > [“The snow lay thin and apologetic over the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cooper/the-snow-lay-thin-and-apologetic-over-the-world/) [Susan Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cooper/) > [In a post-modern culture we need an apologetic that is felt and seen because if post-moderns are not feeling it, they are not believing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/in-a-post-modern-culture-we-need-an-apologetic-that-is-felt-and-seen/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [I'm apologetic when I feel like I've made a mistake. And when I have done a disservice to myself or someone else. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/i-m-apologetic-when-i-feel-like-i-ve-made-a-mistake-and-when-i-have/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [I know I'm an overachiever, and I'm not apologetic about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-know-i-m-an-overachiever-and-i-m-not-apologetic-about-it/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [Apologetics has an important place in the local church as we seek to influence our communities for Christ in an increasingly skeptical culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/apologetics-has-an-important-place-in-the-local-church-as-we-seek-to/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [If you don't feel apologetic for slavery, if you don't feel apologetic for colonialism, if you feel proud of it then say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/if-you-don-t-feel-apologetic-for-slavery-if-you-don-t-feel-apologetic/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Most apologetic books are really written for Christians, even the ones that purport to be written for non-believers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/most-apologetic-books-are-really-written-for-christians-even-the-ones/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“The new and needed apologetics will differ from previous apologetic models geared at convincing people solely or even mainly from a rationalistic perspective or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-mcneal/the-new-and-needed-apologetics-will-differ-from-previous-apologetic/) [Reggie McNeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-mcneal/) [Browse all 127 Apologetic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologetic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We preach sermons, write books on apologetics, conduct city-wide evangelistic campaigns. 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