--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whenever a Christian layman, minister…" description: "\"“Whenever a Christian layman, minister, writer, teacher, or whoever it might be, gets to thinking that there is something important about him, he or sh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7be/richard-d-phillips-14207_christianity_whenever-a-christian-layman-minister-wri_2668096.jpg" --- # Whenever a Christian layman, minister, writer, teacher, or… ![“Whenever a Christian layman, minister, writer, teacher, or whoever it might be, gets to thinking that there is something important about him, he or she will always cease to be effective as Christ's wit- ness."3 We” quote by Richard D. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7be/richard-d-phillips-14207_christianity_whenever-a-christian-layman-minister-wri_2668096.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7be/richard-d-phillips-14207_christianity_whenever-a-christian-layman-minister-wri_2668096.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7be/richard-d-phillips-14207_christianity_whenever-a-christian-layman-minister-wri_2668096.jpg) > ““Whenever a Christian layman, minister, writer, teacher, or whoever it might be, gets to thinking that there is something important about him, he or she will always cease to be effective as Christ's wit- ness."3 We”” [Richard D. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-d-phillips/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑importance undermines spiritual wit, making believers ineffective. **In simple terms:** Ego kills spiritual effectiveness. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility. Themes humility spirituality effectiveness Mood reflective serious Type theological practical When to use this quote - church leadership - personal devotion - public speaking Key Concepts theology psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does ego affect service? - What practices foster humility? A Different Perspective Some humility can be mistaken for weakness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“We cannot lead in a way that is faithful to Christ and effective for Christ’s people if we are not deeply invested in Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-mohler/we-cannot-lead-in-a-way-that-is-faithful-to-christ-and-effective-for/) [Albert Mohler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-mohler/) > [“Donald Grey Barnhouse was one who set an example of combining gospel preaching with humble prayer. 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He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) ## More by Richard D. Phillips > [“Donald Grey Barnhouse was one who set an example of combining gospel preaching with humble prayer. 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Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-d-phillips/) > [“Only God can enlighten the mind and open the heart to His gospel. So”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-d-phillips/only-god-can-enlighten-the-mind-and-open-the-heart-to-his-gospel-so/) [Richard D. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-d-phillips/) > [“One of the striking testimonies of the truthfulness of the Bible as God’s revelation is its coherence. Authors separated by centuries of history and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-d-phillips/one-of-the-striking-testimonies-of-the-truthfulness-of-the-bible-as/) [Richard D. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-d-phillips/) > [“Many believe that the new birth is caused by a profession of faith, but the situation is exactly reversed: A confession of faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-d-phillips/many-believe-that-the-new-birth-is-caused-by-a-profession-of-faith/) [Richard D. 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Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-d-phillips/) > [“You may think that you are just one "voice" and that your witness doesn't matter. But if Jesus is the Word your voice brings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-d-phillips/you-may-think-that-you-are-just-one-voice-and-that-your-witness-doesn/) [Richard D. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-d-phillips/) > [“The second sign that the Samaritan woman had been saved was the change that occurred in her life. According to the Bible, a bare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-d-phillips/the-second-sign-that-the-samaritan-woman-had-been-saved-was-the/) [Richard D. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-d-phillips/) > [“This is the highest freedom: to have our souls brought to life so as to desire for ourselves that which is our greatest blessing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-d-phillips/this-is-the-highest-freedom-to-have-our-souls-brought-to-life-so-as/) [Richard D. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-d-phillips/) [Explore all 47 Richard D. Phillips quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-d-phillips/) ## More Christianity quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“some of my good Baptist brethren in Georgia had done a little preaching from the pulpit against the KKK, I would have a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-moss/some-of-my-good-baptist-brethren-in-georgia-had-done-a-little/) [Norman Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-moss/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“every church can treat each discipleship class and each worship service as an opportunity for continual rehearsal of what the words, stories, symbols, rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/every-church-can-treat-each-discipleship-class-and-each-worship/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [The notion of a non-religious Christmas is ridiculous. But so is the insistence on the part of Christians that politicians and retailers carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-notion-of-a-non-religious-christmas-is-ridiculous-but-so-is-the/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. 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You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) [Browse all 14,385 Christianity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Whenever a Christian layman, minister, writer, teacher, or whoever it might be, gets to thinking that there is something important about him, he or she will always cease to be effective as Christ's wit- ness.\"3 We”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard D. 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