300 Quotations for Preachers

Elliot Ritzema

Editor

Pastorum Series

Introduction

I love to share favorite quotations. They enable me to say what I want to say—better than I could say it myself. There’s something about a well-turned phrase from a well-respected author that speaks deeply to people’s hearts.

Many preachers have had the experience of trying to remember a quote that could make their message stick in the minds of their listeners. So they rack their brains, wondering where it was that Augustine talked about people’s hearts being restless, or Charles Spurgeon made that comment about the gospel being like a lion, able to take care of itself if it is let out of its cage. Or was it the Bible being like a tiger? (See below for the answer.)

This book, part of the Pastorum series of resources for pastors, aims to help preachers and other speakers by offering quotations from hundreds of years of church history from such leading writers and preachers as Richard Baxter, G. K. Chesterton, John Chrysostom, and Thomas à Kempis. Unlike many other books of quotations, however, this one has several stand-out features:

It provides material for sermon preparation. Find quotations by searching for author, theme, or Scripture reference. Most quotations are listed with multiple themes and Scripture references, so you are able to find exactly what you need—fast.

It makes sharing easy. All quotations come with a professionally designed slide featuring an excerpt, making it easier to share with others. Slides with quotations from different eras of church history (Patristic, Medieval, Reformation, and Modern) have different backgrounds.

It takes you to the source. Each quotation includes a bibliographic citation, enabling you to track it down in its original context.

It updates language. Occasionally, quotations that use archaic language (like “thee” and “thou”), or words that have changed in meaning over time, have been updated. This makes the quotations ready to use in a modern context. Those quotations that have been changed from the original include “Adapted from …” in the citation.

It is my hope and prayer that this book will serve you well as you research a topic or Scripture, and as you share God’s truth with others.

Elliot Ritzema

Anselm of Canterbury

Believing in Order to Understand

Hebrews 11:3

Preaching Themes: Faith, Wisdom

I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe, but I believe in order that I may understand; for of this I feel sure, that, if I did not believe, I would not understand.

Anselm of Canterbury*

Psalm 39:4; 144:4; Ecclesiastes 6:12; 8:8

Preaching Themes: Death, Stress

Think day by day that you are going to die, and you will not fidget yourself about tomorrow.

Anselm of Canterbury*