We must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God.
John StottRead
The church lies at the very center of the eternal purpose of God. It is not a divine afterthought.
Interpretation
The church plays a crucial and intentional role in God's eternal plan, rather than being a mere secondary consideration.
John Stott's quote emphasizes the integral role of the church in God's overarching purpose. He suggests that the church is not an addition or an afterthought, but rather a central element in the divine plan, indicating its importance in spiritual life and community for believers.
In practice
In a sermon discussing the importance of community, one might quote this to emphasize the church's role.
We must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God.
Mission arises from the heart of God Himself and is communicated from His heart to ours. Mission is the global outreach of the global people of a global God.
An unchurched christian is a grotesque anomaly. The New Testament knows nothing of such a person. For the church lies at the very center of the eternal purpose of God. It is not a divine afterthought. It is not an accident of history. On the contrary, the church is God's new community.
Saving faith is resting faith, the trust which relies entirely on the Savior.
It is a great comfort to know that our judge will be none other than our savior.
To encounter Christ is to touch reality and experience transcendence. He gives us a sense of self-worth or personal significance, because He assures us of God's love for us. He sets us free from guilt because He died for us and from paralyzing fear because He reigns. He gives meaning to marriage and home, work and leisure, personhood and citizenship.
Nothing will change the fact that I cannot produce the least thing without absolute solitude.
Now the standard cure for one who is sunk is to consider those in actual destitution or physical suffering—this is an all-weather beatitude for gloom in general and fairly salutary day-time advice for everyone. But at three o’clock in the morning, a forgotten package has the same tragic importance as a death sentence, and the cure doesn’t work—and in a real dark night of the soul it is always three o’clock in the morning, day after day.
Instead of loaves of bread, many times God gives out handfuls of purpose.
With the strength of his spiritual sight and insight the distance, and as it were the space, around man continually expands: his world grows deeper, ever new stars, ever new images and enigmas come into view.
If what the heart approves conforms to proper patterns, then even if one's desires are many, what harm would they be to good order?
There is an innocence in admiration; it is found in those to whom it has never yet occurred that they, too, might be admired some day.
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