--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Too much preaching nowadays pats the back…" description: "\"Too much preaching nowadays pats the back and tickles the ear, but does not get under the skin. There is no conviction and therefore no conversion. I a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/748/vance-havner-1699_christian_too-much-preaching-nowadays-pats-the-bac_645084.jpg" --- # Too much preaching nowadays pats the back and tickles the… ![“Too much preaching nowadays pats the back and tickles the ear, but does not get under the skin. There is no conviction and therefore no conversion. I am thinking not only of the ministry of reproof and rebuke but also of the message of inspiration, of encouragement, of comfort. People go out of…” quote by Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/748/vance-havner-1699_christian_too-much-preaching-nowadays-pats-the-bac_645084.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/748/vance-havner-1699_christian_too-much-preaching-nowadays-pats-the-bac_645084.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/748/vance-havner-1699_christian_too-much-preaching-nowadays-pats-the-bac_645084.jpg) > “Too much preaching nowadays pats the back and tickles the ear, but does not get under the skin. There is no conviction and therefore no conversion. I am thinking not only of the ministry of reproof and rebuke but also of the message of inspiration, of encouragement, of comfort. People go out of church at noon with the depths unstirred, the heart untouched, the conscience unpricked.” [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. Preaching often offers comfort without deep conviction, leading to superficial faith experiences. **In simple terms:** Preaching can be comforting but lacks deep impact. Key Takeaway Seek depth beyond mere comfort. Themes faith conviction religion Mood thoughtful critical Type theological critique motivational When to use this quote - church services - personal reflection - spiritual counseling Key Concepts spiritual depth authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What would make preaching feel more transformative? - How can comfort and conviction coexist? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of comfort in faith journeys. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-inspirational/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Conversion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversion/) [Conviction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) [Depth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depth/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Ears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears/) [Encouragement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouragement/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Messages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messages/) [Ministry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ministry/) [Ministry Reproof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ministry-reproof-5171217/) [Noon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noon/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Preaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preaching/) [Preaching Nowadays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preaching-nowadays-5171216/) [Rebuke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rebuke/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Reproof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reproof/) [Skins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skins/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking Ministry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-ministry-5171218/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) ## Related quotes > [The preacher who jests and jokes with his people all week will soon find that he cannot stand in his pulpit on Sunday with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/the-preacher-who-jests-and-jokes-with-his-people-all-week-will-soon/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [Because the Lord loves us He chastens and rebukes us. Modern sentimentality has reduced God to a tolerant indulgent grandfatherly being who winks at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/because-the-lord-loves-us-he-chastens-and-rebukes-us-modern/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [Conscience is justice's best minister; it threatens, promises, rewards, and punishes and keeps all under control; the busy must attend to its remonstrances, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/conscience-is-justice-s-best-minister-it-threatens-promises-rewards/) [Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/) > [An ingenuous mind feels in unmerited praise the bitterest reproof. If you reject it you are unhappy, if you accept it you are undone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/an-ingenuous-mind-feels-in-unmerited-praise-the-bitterest-reproof-if/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [Better a little chiding than a great deal of heartbreak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/better-a-little-chiding-than-a-great-deal-of-heartbreak/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [One easily bears moral reproof, but never mockery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/one-easily-bears-moral-reproof-but-never-mockery/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [I would prefer a thousand times to receive reproofs than to give them to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/therese-of-lisieux/i-would-prefer-a-thousand-times-to-receive-reproofs-than-to-give-them/) [Therese of Lisieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/therese-of-lisieux/) > [To be pleased at correction and reproofs shows that one loves the virtues which are contrary to those faults for which he is corrected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/to-be-pleased-at-correction-and-reproofs-shows-that-one-loves-the/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [Harsh reproof is like a violent storm, soon washed down the channel; but friendly admonitions, like a small shower, pierce deep, and bring forth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-chamberlain/harsh-reproof-is-like-a-violent-storm-soon-washed-down-the-channel/) [Roger Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-chamberlain/) > [Some persons take reproof good-humoredly enough, unless you are so unlucky as to hit a sore place. Then they wince and writhe, and start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-william-hare/some-persons-take-reproof-good-humoredly-enough-unless-you-are-so/) [Augustus William Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-william-hare/) > [The pastoral labours of the archbishop of Constantinople provoked and gradually united against him two sorts of enemies; the aspiring clergy, who envied his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-pastoral-labours-of-the-archbishop-of-constantinople-provoked-and/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Fear not the anger of the wise to raise; Those best can bear reproof who merit praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/fear-not-the-anger-of-the-wise-to-raise-those-best-can-bear-reproof/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Can you nominate in order now the degrees of the lie? I will name you the degrees. The first, the Retort Courteous; the second,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/can-you-nominate-in-order-now-the-degrees-of-the-lie-i-will-name-you/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The life of a good man is at the same time the most eloquent lesson of virtue and the most severe reproof of vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-life-of-a-good-man-is-at-the-same-time-the-most-eloquent-lesson/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Reproof should not exhaust its power upon petty failings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/reproof-should-not-exhaust-its-power-upon-petty-failings/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## 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 Christian quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [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/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“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/) > [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/) [Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/) > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) [Browse all 14,306 Christian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Too much preaching nowadays pats the back and tickles the ear, but does not get under the skin. There is no conviction and therefore no conversion. I am thinking not only of the ministry of reproof and rebuke but also of the message of inspiration, of encouragement, of comfort. People go out of church at noon with the depths unstirred, the heart untouched, the conscience unpricked.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Vance Havner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/too-much-preaching-nowadays-pats-the-back-and-tickles-the-ear-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/too-much-preaching-nowadays-pats-the-back-and-tickles-the-ear-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/748/vance-havner-1699_christian_too-much-preaching-nowadays-pats-the-bac_645084.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/748/vance-havner-1699_christian_too-much-preaching-nowadays-pats-the-bac_645084.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/748/vance-havner-1699_christian_too-much-preaching-nowadays-pats-the-bac_645084.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Too much preaching nowadays pats the back and tickles the ear, but does not get under the skin. There is no…” — 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": "Too much preaching nowadays pats the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/too-much-preaching-nowadays-pats-the-back-and-tickles-the-ear-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/too-much-preaching-nowadays-pats-the-back-and-tickles-the-ear-but/#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 } } ] } ```