We have control over our prayer life, our relationship with Jesus.
Francis ChanRead
Where it gets weird is that nowadays there are millions of people on this earth who call themselves followers of Jesus, but their lives look nothing like His, and they're not obeying the things that He called them to do.
Interpretation
This quote critiques those who identify as followers of Jesus yet do not embody His teachings in their lives.
Francis Chan highlights a disconnect between the self-identified followers of Jesus and the true essence of His teachings. He points out that many who claim to represent Him fail to live according to His values and directives, suggesting a broader issue within religious practice where individuals may adopt a label without genuine commitment to its principles.
In practice
In a sermon about genuine faith and action.
We have control over our prayer life, our relationship with Jesus.
A disciple is a disciple maker.
Don't fall into the trap of studying the Bible without doing what it says.
Our God listens to us. Our God is a living God. He's not a block of wood you made up that's not going to answer you. My God listens to me. He answers me.
...I don't have to worry about not meeting His expectations. God will ensure my success in accordance with His plan, not mine.
People who are obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress.
A man will renounce any pleasures you like but he will not give up his suffering.
There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.
Shrinking away from death is something unhealthy and abnormal which robs the second half of life of its purpose.
We judge people in areas where we're vulnerable to shame, especially picking folks who are doing worse than we're doing.
Through forgiveness, which essentially means recognizing the insubstantiality of the past and allowing the present moment to be as it is, the miracle of transformation happens not only within but also without.
We may not agree with what religions are trying to teach us, but we can admire the institutional way in which they're doing it.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.