Our Presbyterian forefathers are good caretakers of our ancient fireplaces, but many of them haven't started a fire in quite some time. --Rice Brooks
"...if some are evangelists then is it their job to preach the gospel and be responsible for the work of evangelism rather than every Christian? I remember well when this idea first came to us. It was welcomed with open arms. Everyone immediately discovered they didn't have to bother unless they were 'evangelists'. They were equally certain that none of them was! It was the only time in the history of the country when we were left with no 'evangelists' - (except me, and I had to because I was the Director of the Department of Evangelism!). What a great foolishness it all was."--John Chapman
We are not sent to get galley-slaves for the oars, or a bear to the stake: but He sends us to woo you as spouses, to marry you to Christ. - WALTER CRADOCK
[Christ] feeds and gathers at once, and this gathering of souls is as sweetly refreshing and delightsome to our blessed Lord Jesus , as the plucking of the sweetest flower is to a man walking in a garden. And there is nothing more acceptable and welcome to him, than a seeking sinner....So long as our Lord Jesus has a church and ordinances in it, so he will continue to gather [his people], and he is not idle, but is still gathering; though at some times, and in some places, this may be more sensible and abundant than ordinary. - JAMES DURHAM
As the devil showed great skill in tempting men to perdition., equal skill ought to be shown in saving them. The devil studied the nature of each man, seized upon the traits of his soul, adjusted himself to them and insinuated himself gradually into his victims's confidence -- suggesting splendors to the ambitious, gain to the covetous, delight to the sensuous, and a false appearance of piety to the pious -- and a winner of souls ought to act in the same cautious and skillful way.
Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)
Every generation of Christians has this problem of learning how to speak meaningfully to its own age. It cannot be solved without an understanding of the changing existential situation which it faces. If we are to communicate the Christian faith effectively, therefore, we must know and understand the thought forms of our own generation.--Francis A. Schaeffer (Escape From Reason, Introduction)
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