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

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

Philipines: Missionary Couple Remains in Limbo

Church Leader Gets Reprieve

Kenya: Christians Flee Rioting

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

Outpaced by Islam?

Bad Priorities Can Kill

In the Word: The Jesus Scandal

The Long View: Wielding the Sword

A Quiet Compromise

Tall Tales

Was Just Wondering…

The 10,000-Mile Courtship

Whatever Happened to Repentance?

News

Coming to a Screen Near You

News

The Lowdown on Downloads

News

Go Figure

Does God Hear Muslims' Prayers?

One African Nation Under God

Fire in the Sky

"Big, Soft Targets"

The Agony of the Families

News

No Longer Just a Rock Band

A Daily Repentance Workout

Classroom Corrections

Still Somebody

Only God Is Free

Midterm Exams

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

Mining Controversy: Robertson Takes Flak for Gold-Mining Venture

Rite of Passage: Promise Keepers Begins to Evangelize Boys

Bible Translation: Revised NIV Makes Its Debut

View issue

Our Latest

Wicked or Misunderstood?

A conversation with Beth Moore about UnitedHealthcare shooting suspect Luigi Mangione and the nature of sin.

Review

The Virgin Birth Is More Than an Incredible Occurrence

We’re eager to ask whether it could have happened. We shouldn’t forget to ask what it means.

The Nine Days of Filipino Christmas

Some Protestants observe the Catholic tradition of Simbang Gabi, predawn services in the days leading up to Christmas.

Why Armenian Christians Recall Noah’s Ark in December

The biblical account of the Flood resonates with a persecuted church born near Mount Ararat.

The Bulletin

Neighborhood Threat

The Bulletin talks about Christians in Syria, Bible education, and the “bad guys” of NYC.

Join CT for a Live Book Awards Event

A conversation with Russell Moore, Book of the Year winner Gavin Ortlund, and Award of Merit winner Brad East.

Excerpt

There’s No Such Thing as a ‘Proper’ Christmas Carol

As we learn from the surprising journeys of several holiday classics, the term defies easy definition.

Advent Calls Us Out of Our Despair

Sitting in the dark helps us truly appreciate the light.

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