Is much of the fruitlessness of our preaching that we appear in the pulpit and in the congregation with such gloomy faces? Is not this so often a hindrance for the children and young people of our congregation? I trust we give them stout and faithful instruction; but surely much of what we say to them will be forgotten. Much would be gained if they simply took with them this impression: a young man or an old man stood up before us; what he told us we did not always understand, but there must be something wonderfully lovely about the Gospel is a person can talk about it so joyfully!
Friedrich von Bodelschwengh, 1935
