Ideas

God’s Mission

Quotations to stir the heart and mind on being Christian

The absolute became our contemporary; God became man for 30 years or so, in order to bring us to a new dimension of life, through knowing him. But how can you demonstrate so staggering a claim? How can you bring it home to others? The answer is, by witness.

Michael Green, Evangelism in the Early Church

For us Christians, all truth is “relative,” relative to this Jew named Jesus. We really do not know what the world is, much less where it is headed, until we know him.

William H. Willimon, “Postmodern Preaching”

I think if I had to preach week in and week out, especially in a culture saturated with entertainment, I would tack a reminder to myself in the pulpit: “It’s about God, stupid!”

William D. Hendricks, Exit Interviews

We should be less concerned about making churches full of people and more concerned about making people full of God.

C. Kirk Hadawy and David A. Roozen, The Christian Ministry

God is active in the world at all times—but God acts through people. In Jesus, his Messiah, God acted with finality, and this messianic action of God continues in the church. The church is the place where the messianic renewal of the world, which God began irreversibly in Jesus, must go forward. That is the essence of the church. That is its calling.

Gerhard Lohfink, The Work of God Goes On

The scope of who it is that God means to invite to the feast, you see, is not ours to define. We are not put in charge of the guest list.

Don S. Skinner, Passage through Sacred History

If rich Christians today would only practice solidarity with poor Christians—let alone the billions of poor people who are not Christians—this in itself would be a powerful missionary testimony.

David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission

When the heathen hear God’s oracles on our lips they marvel at their beauty and greatness. But afterwards, when they mark that our deeds are unworthy of the words we utter, they turn from this to scoffing, and say that it is a myth and a delusion.

2 Clement 13:4

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere

Past Reflections columns include:

On Enemies (January 8, 2002)

Life After Christmas (December 26, 2001)

Love & Marriage (November 13, 2001)

The Word of God (October 22, 2001)

Leadership (October 11, 2001)

Suffering (September 13, 2001)

Change (August 14, 2001)

Living Tradition (July 18, 2001)

Sacred Spaces (June 11, 2001)

Friendship (May 17, 2001)

The Cross (Apr. 12, 2001)

The Quotable Stott (Apr. 27, 2001)

Also in this issue

Is the God of Muhammad the Father of Jesus? The answer to this question reveals the heart of our faith.

Cover Story

Is the God of Muhammad the Father of Jesus?

Missing God at Macalester

Afghanistan: Entrapment Suspected

Deann Alford

North Africa: Interest in Satellite TV Up Since 9/11

Philipines: Missionary Couple Remains in Limbo

Anil Stephen

Church Leader Gets Reprieve

Tony Carnes

Kenya: Christians Flee Rioting

Sue Sprenkle

Quotation Marks

Today's Sermon: Thou Shalt Not Steal

Raiders of the Lost Ark

The Holy City

Commercial Brake

Southern Baptists: SBC Agency May Revoke D.C. Funds

Ken Walker

Outpaced by Islam?

Christianity Today Editorial

Bad Priorities Can Kill

Christianity Today Editorial

In the Word: The Jesus Scandal

James R. Edwards

The Long View: Wielding the Sword

A Quiet Compromise

Tall Tales

Jeremy Lott

Was Just Wondering…

The 10,000-Mile Courtship

Whatever Happened to Repentance?

News

Coming to a Screen Near You

Douglas LeBlanc

News

The Lowdown on Downloads

News

Go Figure

Does God Hear Muslims' Prayers?

James Lewis

One African Nation Under God

Fire in the Sky

Wendy Murray Zoba

"Big, Soft Targets"

Jeff M. Sellers

The Agony of the Families

Jeff M. Sellers

News

No Longer Just a Rock Band

Todd Hertz

A Daily Repentance Workout

Classroom Corrections

Still Somebody

Only God Is Free

Geoffrey Bromiley

Midterm Exams

Sheryl Henderson

September 11: Church Binds 9/11 Wounds with Quick Cash

LaTonya Taylor

Mining Controversy: Robertson Takes Flak for Gold-Mining Venture

Chuck Fager

Rite of Passage: Promise Keepers Begins to Evangelize Boys

Larry Pierce

Bible Translation: Revised NIV Makes Its Debut

Timothy C. Morgan

View issue

Our Latest

Evangelism and All That Jazz

In 1966, CT reported on church activities but also on LSD, The Beatles, and the war in Vietnam.

Why The Body Matters

Justin Ariel Bailey

Three books on ministry and church life to read this month.

Hark! The Boisterous Carolers Sing

Ann Harikeerthan

I grew up singing traditional English Christmas hymns. Then I went caroling with my church in India.

“Christian First, and Santa Next”

Even while wearing the red suit, pastors point people to Jesus.

How Pro-life Groups Help When a Baby’s Life Is Short

Adam McGinnis

Christian groups offer comfort and practical support for expectant families grappling with life-limiting illness.

The Russell Moore Show

A Reading of Luke 2

Voices across Christianity Today join together to read the Christmas story found in Luke 2.

The Bulletin

The Christmas Story

The CT Media voices you know and love present a special reading of the Christmas story.

My Top 5 Books on Christianity in East Asia

Insights on navigating shame-honor cultural dynamics and persecution in the region.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube