Practice What You Preach

Story★★★★

Two bachelor brothers named Smythe lived together in London. Both of them were doctors—one was a doctor of medicine and the other a doctor of theology. They hired a housekeeper to look after their domestic needs.

One day, a visitor rang the doorbell. When the housekeeper answered, the visitor said, “I would like to see Doctor Smythe, please.” After a moment of hesitation, the housekeeper said, “Which doctor Smythe would you see, the one who preaches or the one who practices?”

— Norman G. Wilson

Norman G. Wilson, Follow the Leader, 337.

The point

Two brothers, one a medical doctor and one a theology doctor, hired a housekeeper; when asked which doctor to see, she asked which one practices versus which one preaches.

Scripture

Matthew 23:3

Audience

Adults

Tone

Humorous · Convicting

To tell aloud

under a minute · 94 words

Subjects

Practice Preachers Authenticity Practice Vs. Preaching Integrity Hypocrisy

Community

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