“Christians, like everyone else, are prone to be selfish and scared, and wanting others to think well of them. So, although we possess what one part of us knows is the greatest news in the world, we don't act as though it is. Consequently, we share the gospel less than we should.” ThinkingKnowsWorldShouldWellsChristianShareNewsScaredSelfishBeing Selfish Author:Mark Dever
“I love Iain Murray's definition of worldliness: towards the end of Evangelicalism Divided, he says that worldliness consists of loving idols and being at war with God. I think that's true in the lives of too many professing Christians today.” ThinkingWarEndsTodayChristianDefinitionsDividedIdolsWorldliness Author:Mark Dever
“Indeed, some secularists are so worried about Christianity, they think Christians are about as dangerous as Muslim terrorists. They get really worried when we don't invest our lives in this-worldly concerns. They look on us as unpredictable free agents. When we reject their relativism and make absolutist spiritual claims, they look at us as nervously as they would a terrorist with a suicide bomb strapped to his back. Of course, Christians are not into coercion in any form. But it is very hard to persuade secularists of that.” ThinkingLooksHardChristianSpiritualFormCoursesChristianityOur LivesDangerousConcernClaimsSuicideTerroristAgentsWorriedBombsRejectsUnpredictableWorldlyGet RealCoercionRelativismFree AgentsMuslim Terrorists Author:Mark Dever
“I think many people in the church are probably concerned that they can't answer all the questions that might come up. I am sure this affects people by playing on their doubts - especially if they have their own questions that they are wrestling with.” PeopleIfsThinkingMightChurchAnswersDoubtConcernedCome UpWrestling Author:Mark Dever
“I want to defend the right of employees to share the gospel in appropriate situations. Every situation requires wisdom and insight. I don't think it's wise to say, "Share the gospel every time you can". I can see all kinds of problems that come from that approach.” ThinkingWantKindI CanProblemSituationWiseShareApproachInsightAll KindsEmployeeAppropriate Author:Mark Dever
“I think we have to realize that God sometimes gives us more time to pray, and when he does this, we can pray that he will bless those who have opportunities to speak to others.” ThinkingGivingDoeSometimesOpportunitySpeakRealizingPrayingBlessMore Time Author:Mark Dever
“Every believer should evangelize. I know some Christians think that evangelism is only for people with special gifts for it, but I don't believe the New Testament teaches that. While Paul does say that some believers have the call to be evangelists, all of us have the responsibility of evangelism.” PeopleThinkingKnowsShouldBelieveDoeChristianResponsibilityTeachSpecialDon't BelieveBelieverTestamentNew TestamentEvangelismEvangelistsSpecial Gifts Author:Mark Dever
“I think it's unhelpful to suggest that the task of evangelism is essentially the responsibility of ministers.” ThinkingResponsibilityTasksMinistersEvangelism Author:Mark Dever
“I think that there are many things in the New Testament that show us that the godliness of our conversation plays an important evangelistic role. The apostles are clear that we mustn't limit the explicit sharing of the gospel to formal preaching. It can also happen in ordinary conversations.” ThinkingImportantPlayShowsHappensRolesClearConversationLimitsOrdinaryPreachingFormalTestamentNew TestamentApostlesGodlinessExplicit Author:Mark Dever
“Let's say that you want to do everything out of the joy that comes from knowing the Lord. Well, a lot of people aren't built like that emotionally. If they think that some sort of feeling is the basis for their action, they are going to feel justified sitting around, although they are going to feel bad that they have never taken one step of obedience because their heart is cold.” PeopleIfsThinkingWantFeelsWellsHeartFeelingsActionJoyLordStepsKnowingTakenColdSittingBuiltBasesObedienceJustifiedSitting Around Author:Mark Dever
“I think that honesty in presenting the gospel goes out the window when you want people to respond to the message, but you are prepared to accept any sort of response. Of course, the only true response is heartfelt repentance and faith. However, if you don't feel the need to be honest in your presentation, then you will calibrate your presentation of the gospel to whatever gets the response you want.” PeopleIfsThinkingWantNeedsFeelsCoursesAcceptingHonestHonestyMessagesWindowPreparedResponseBeing HonestRepentancePresentationPresentingHeartfelt Author:Mark Dever
“I love people thinking about apologetics. I just think that we have to be careful. We need to realize that we can argue about evolution or the existence of God or any number of things, but until we tell people the message of the cross, we have not evangelized them.” PeopleThinkingNeedsRealizingNumbersExistenceEvolutionMessagesCrossesCarefulArguingBe CarefulExistence Of GodApologetic Author:Mark Dever
“There are times when the gospel just seems to be powerfully at work in a nation, and thousands upon thousands are converted. If you think about what has happened in Latin America, Africa and East Asia all in the last hundred years, it is breathtaking. We have seen an expansion of the gospel as we have never seen before in the history of the church.” IfsThinkingYearsSeemsLastsAmericaNationsChurchHappenedHundredEastLatinExpansionAsiaLatin AmericaBreathtakingEast Asia Author:Mark Dever
“If you think that the gospel is all about what we can do, that the practice of it is optional, and that conversion is simply something that anyone can choose at any time, then I'm concerned that you'll think of evangelism as nothing more than a sales job where the prospect is to be won over to sign on the dotted line by praying a prayer, followed by an assurance that he is the proud owner of salvation.” IfsThinkingJobsCan DoLinesPrayerPracticeProudPrayingConcernedSalvationConversionOwnersAssuranceEvangelismOptional Author:Mark Dever
“Pride causes us to care more about what our non-Christian friends think of us than what God will do to them in their sin.” ThinkingGodCareChristianReligionCausesSinChristianityPrideGods WillSinnerChristian Friends Author:Mark Dever
“Do you want to know that your new life is real? Commit yourself to a local group of saved sinners. Try to love them. Don’t just do it for three weeks. Don’t just do it for six months. Do it for years. And I think you’ll find out, and others will, too, whether or not you love God. The truth will show itself” ThinkingKnowsWantTryingYearsRealShowsLife IsThreeGroupsWeekMonthsSixSavedLocalsCommitGod LoveSinnerNew LifeSix MonthsJust Do It Author:Mark Dever
