Most of us assume that what we believe is right (of course we do – it is why we believe what we believe) but have never really studied for ourselves. We were simply told, “This is the way it is,” and didn’t question. The problem is much of what we believe is often based more on comfort or our culture’s tradition than on the Bible.
– Chan, Francis; Forgotten God: Reversing the Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit; David C. Cook Publishers; Colorado Springs, CO; copyright 2009; p. 29
We may as face it: the whole level of spirituality among us is low. We have measured ourselves by ourselves until the incentive to seek higher pleasure in the things of the Spirit is all but gone…[We] have imitated the world, sought popular favor, manufactured delights to substitute for the joy of the Lord and produced a cheap, synthetic power to substitute for the power of the Holy Ghost.
– A.W. Tozer
as quoted by – Chan, Francis; Forgotten God: Reversing the Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit; David C. Cook Publishers; Colorado Springs, CO; copyright 2009; p. 27
The difference between living for God and living for anything else is that when we live for anything else we do so to gain acceptance, but when we live for God we do so because we are already accepted. Real freedom (the freedom that only the gospel grants) is living for something because we already have favor instead of living for something in order to gain favor.
– Tchividjian, Tullian; Surprised by Grace: God’s Relentless Pursuit of Rebels; Crossway Books; Wheaton, Il; copyright 2010; p. 156
Churches for years have struggled over whether their worship services ought to be geared toward Christians (to encourage and strengthen them) or non-Christians (to appeal to and win them). But this debate and struggle over it are misguided. We’re asking the wrong questions and making the wrong assumptions. The truth is that our worship services should be geared to sinners in need of God’s rescue – and that includes both Christians and non-Christians.
– Tchividjian, Tullian; Surprised by Grace: God’s Relentless Pursuit of Rebels; Crossway Books; Wheaton, Il; copyright 2010; p. 154-155
The story of Jonah shows us that this gospel of the cross – the good news that God relentlessly pursues sinners in order to rescue them – is just as much for Christians as it is for non-Christians. Jonah’s life proves this, because Jonah, who knows God, obviously needs divine deliverance as much as anyone else in the story. In fact, his need for rescue gets far more emphasis than anyone else’s.
– Tchividjian, Tullian; Surprised by Grace: God’s Relentless Pursuit of Rebels; Crossway Books; Wheaton, Il; copyright 2010; p. 154
Is there any meaning in my life that the inevitable death awaiting does not destroy?
– Leo Tolstoy
as quoted by Tchividjian, Tullian; Surprised by Grace: God’s Relentless Pursuit of Rebels; Crossway Books; Wheaton, Il; copyright 2010; p. 153
In redeeming us, God doesn’t simply rescue us from our sin; he also rescues us to do something – to develop the world around us to the glory of God. Therefore, when God saves us, we no longer have to settle for creating our own transitory meaning.
– Tchividjian, Tullian; Surprised by Grace: God’s Relentless Pursuit of Rebels; Crossway Books; Wheaton, Il; copyright 2010; p. 152
To me, the most startling aspect of God’s mission is that he has called fallible people like you and me to take part in it. When Jesus came the first time, he began the process of “making all things new.” When he comes a second time, he’ll finish what he started. But in between those times, he has called us to carry on his mission.
– Tchividjian, Tullian; Surprised by Grace: God’s Relentless Pursuit of Rebels; Crossway Books; Wheaton, Il; copyright 2010; p. 151-152
The proof of God’s expansive grace is the cross of Christ. And by virtue of what Christ accomplished on the cross, we’re to further appropriate that grace and be killing sin in our lives – or it will be killing us.
– Tchividjian, Tullian; Surprised by Grace: God’s Relentless Pursuit of Rebels; Crossway Books; Wheaton, Il; copyright 2010; p. 149
Regardless of where each of us is on the self-righteousness continuum, we’re all looking down our noses to some degree at someone who is not like us. Our sin-corrupted survival mechanism makes us think “I have to believe I’m better than somebody”
– Tchividjian, Tullian; Surprised by Grace: God’s Relentless Pursuit of Rebels; Crossway Books; Wheaton, Il; copyright 2010; p. 147
Notable Quotables 