--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The devil will let a preacher prepare a…" description: "\"The devil will let a preacher prepare a sermon if it will keep him from preparing himself.\" — Vance Havner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/vance-havner-1699_devil_the-devil-will-let-a-preacher-prepare-a_3020648.jpg" --- # The devil will let a preacher prepare a sermon if it will… ![“The devil will let a preacher prepare a sermon if it will keep him from preparing himself.” quote by Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/vance-havner-1699_devil_the-devil-will-let-a-preacher-prepare-a_3020648.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/vance-havner-1699_devil_the-devil-will-let-a-preacher-prepare-a_3020648.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/vance-havner-1699_devil_the-devil-will-let-a-preacher-prepare-a_3020648.jpg) > “The devil will let a preacher prepare a sermon if it will keep him from preparing himself.” [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The devil allows a preacher to prepare a sermon to distract him from self-improvement, implying avoidance of personal growth. **In simple terms:** Preacher avoids self-improvement. Key Takeaway Focus on personal growth over distractions. Themes religion avoidance self-improvement Mood critical humorous Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - self-help - religious study - personal development Key Concepts psychology of distraction spiritual critique Questions to Reflect On - Why do we avoid self-improvement? - How can we recognize distractions? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex motivations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Let Preacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-preacher-2344215/) [Preacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preacher/) [Preacher Prepare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preacher-prepare-4888624/) [Prepare Sermon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepare-sermon-4888625/) [Preparing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparing/) [Sermon Preparing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sermon-preparing-4888626/) ## Related quotes > [Let no preacher in a little church think that he has no audience for his message. An unseen audience of multitudes compass him about!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-rice/let-no-preacher-in-a-little-church-think-that-he-has-no-audience-for/) [John R. Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-rice/) > [It works well for me to go ahead and prepare the sermon with a chapter in mind. What that does is to force me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/it-works-well-for-me-to-go-ahead-and-prepare-the-sermon-with-a/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Let every preacher take note: Amid the frustrations and hardships of ministry, the most Christ-like thing is to stay focused on your calling, give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-beeke/let-every-preacher-take-note-amid-the-frustrations-and-hardships-of/) [Joel Beeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-beeke/) > [“Let the preacher tell the truth. Let him make audible the silence of the news of the world with the sound turned off so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/let-the-preacher-tell-the-truth-let-him-make-audible-the-silence-of/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“Allons! the road is before us! It is safe—I have tried it—my own feet have tried it well—be not detain’d! Let the paper remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/allons-the-road-is-before-us-it-is-safe-i-have-tried-it-my-own-feet/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Isn't that something-to know your own soul by hearsay, instead of its own tidings? Why should I let a preacher tell me if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/isn-t-that-something-to-know-your-own-soul-by-hearsay-instead-of-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A preacher should have the mind of a scholar, the heart of a child, and the hide of a rhinoceros. His problem is how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/a-preacher-should-have-the-mind-of-a-scholar-the-heart-of-a-child-and/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [Make Jesus Christ your theme! I have seen preachers espouse causes and champion movements, and when the cause died and the movement collapsed, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/make-jesus-christ-your-theme-i-have-seen-preachers-espouse-causes-and/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [Some ministers preach from notes and some don't. They have argued about it for centuries. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/some-ministers-preach-from-notes-and-some-don-t-they-have-argued/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [The preacher who is concerned with gaining a reputation, rising in his profession, is always in bondage. The itch for bigness is a dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/the-preacher-who-is-concerned-with-gaining-a-reputation-rising-in-his/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [The devil is not fighting religion. He's too smart for that. He is producing a counterfeit Christianity, so much like the real one that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/the-devil-is-not-fighting-religion-he-s-too-smart-for-that-he-is/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [A true preacher is best measured not by how many bouquets have been pinned on him but by how many brickbats have been pitched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/a-true-preacher-is-best-measured-not-by-how-many-bouquets-have-been/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [The devil is in constant conspiracy against a preacher who really prays, for it has been said that what a minister is in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/the-devil-is-in-constant-conspiracy-against-a-preacher-who-really/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [A preacher who is too big for a little crowd would be too little for a big crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/a-preacher-who-is-too-big-for-a-little-crowd-would-be-too-little-for/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [It is the incongruous thing in my entire life, this isolation.. ... My work requires it - but I myself have no need or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/it-is-the-incongruous-thing-in-my-entire-life-this-isolation-my-work/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) ## More by Vance Havner > [Plenty of church members are shaky about what they believe, while not many are shaken by what they believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/plenty-of-church-members-are-shaky-about-what-they-believe-while-not/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [It is one thing to say Jesus is all you want; until He is all you have and you discover He is all you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/it-is-one-thing-to-say-jesus-is-all-you-want-until-he-is-all-you-have/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [There are many who say they want to be victorious Christians, but few are willing to endure the discipline necessary to make one a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/there-are-many-who-say-they-want-to-be-victorious-christians-but-few/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [The only way to meet the modern demon-stration of the powers of darkness is by a demonstration of the power of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/the-only-way-to-meet-the-modern-demon-stration-of-the-powers-of/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [God is on the lookout today for a man who will be quiet enough to get a message from Him, brave enough to preach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/god-is-on-the-lookout-today-for-a-man-who-will-be-quiet-enough-to-get/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [The last word of our Lord to the church was not the Great Commission. The last thing He said to the church was 'Repent.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/the-last-word-of-our-lord-to-the-church-was-not-the-great-commission/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [Salt seasons, purifies, preserves. But somebody ought to remind us that salt also irritates. Real living Christianity rubs this world the wrong way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/salt-seasons-purifies-preserves-but-somebody-ought-to-remind-us-that/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [I can conceive of no greater, more romantic and interesting adventure than to undertake to live like Jesus in this complicated day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/i-can-conceive-of-no-greater-more-romantic-and-interesting-adventure/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [The church is so subnormal that if it ever got back to the New Testament normal it would seem to people to be abnormal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/the-church-is-so-subnormal-that-if-it-ever-got-back-to-the-new/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [A preacher who is too big for a little crowd would be too little for a big crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/a-preacher-who-is-too-big-for-a-little-crowd-would-be-too-little-for/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [Jesus Christ demands more complete allegiance than any dictator who ever lived. The difference is, He has a right to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/jesus-christ-demands-more-complete-allegiance-than-any-dictator-who/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [In other days people chose a church on the basis of their doctrinal convictions. Now, lacking doctrinal convictions, they choose for social reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/in-other-days-people-chose-a-church-on-the-basis-of-their-doctrinal/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [We honor God by asking for great things when they are a part of His promise. We dishonor Him and cheat ourselves when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/we-honor-god-by-asking-for-great-things-when-they-are-a-part-of-his/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [To some Christianity is an argument. To many it is a performance. To a few, it is experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/to-some-christianity-is-an-argument-to-many-it-is-a-performance-to-a/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [Doing leads more surely to talking than talking to doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/doing-leads-more-surely-to-talking-than-talking-to-doing/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) [Explore all 214 Vance Havner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) ## More Devil quotes > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) [Michael Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arnold/) > [Alimony - the ransom that the happy pay to the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/alimony-the-ransom-that-the-happy-pay-to-the-devil/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“Beauty is not only a terrible thing, it is also a mysterious thing. There God and the Devil strive for mastery, and the battleground…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/beauty-is-not-only-a-terrible-thing-it-is-also-a-mysterious-thing/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [The devil has been defeated, stop trying to defeat him. What we have left is the fight of faith, and it's a good fight!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oyakhilome/the-devil-has-been-defeated-stop-trying-to-defeat-him-what-we-have/) [Chris Oyakhilome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-oyakhilome/) > [You gonna take the case?" It's not a case. It's a missing person. Sort of." You're gonna have a devil of a time finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/you-gonna-take-the-case-it-s-not-a-case-it-s-a-missing-person-sort-of/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [Your head's like mine, like all our heads; big enough to contain every god and devil there ever was. Big enough to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/your-head-s-like-mine-like-all-our-heads-big-enough-to-contain-every/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [And so it is, that both the Devil and the angelic Spirit present us with objects of desire to awaken our power of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/and-so-it-is-that-both-the-devil-and-the-angelic-spirit-present-us/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Remember that Abraham Lincoln was a Whig far longer than he was a Republican. As a whole, the Whigs looked upon banks and corporations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/remember-that-abraham-lincoln-was-a-whig-far-longer-than-he-was-a/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [Wine is the first weapon that devils use in attacking the young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/wine-is-the-first-weapon-that-devils-use-in-attacking-the-young/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [“I tend to agree with that little devil more and more these days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-casey/i-tend-to-agree-with-that-little-devil-more-and-more-these-days/) [Elle Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-casey/) > [This is the gift of your species and this is the danger, because you do not choose to control your imaginings. You imagine wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/this-is-the-gift-of-your-species-and-this-is-the-danger-because-you/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [“The devil?” Jason heaved the tick over his shoulder like a collier with his sack. “Satan. The adversary. The enemy of the plan of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/the-devil-jason-heaved-the-tick-over-his-shoulder-like-a-collier-with/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [God never talks. But the devil keeps advertising, Father. The devil does a lot of commercials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-peter-blatty/god-never-talks-but-the-devil-keeps-advertising-father-the-devil-does/) [William Peter Blatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-peter-blatty/) > [If it was a sin for you to choose me . . . then I would go to the Devil himself and bless him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/if-it-was-a-sin-for-you-to-choose-me-then-i-would-go-to-the-devil/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist”—Charles Baudelaire “The second greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/the-greatest-trick-the-devil-ever-pulled-was-convincing-the-world-he/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) [Browse all 4,283 Devil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The devil will let a preacher prepare a sermon if it will keep him from preparing himself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Vance Havner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/the-devil-will-let-a-preacher-prepare-a-sermon-if-it-will-keep-him/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Devil" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/the-devil-will-let-a-preacher-prepare-a-sermon-if-it-will-keep-him/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/vance-havner-1699_devil_the-devil-will-let-a-preacher-prepare-a_3020648.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/vance-havner-1699_devil_the-devil-will-let-a-preacher-prepare-a_3020648.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/vance-havner-1699_devil_the-devil-will-let-a-preacher-prepare-a_3020648.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The devil will let a preacher prepare a sermon if it will keep him from preparing himself.” — Vance Havner", "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": "Vance Havner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The devil will let a preacher...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/the-devil-will-let-a-preacher-prepare-a-sermon-if-it-will-keep-him/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/the-devil-will-let-a-preacher-prepare-a-sermon-if-it-will-keep-him/#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 } } ] } ```