Quotes about “Serving”

The ministerial work must be carried on purely for God and the salvation of souls, not for any private ends of our own...Hard studies, much knowledge, and excellent preaching, if the ends be not right is but more glorious hypocritical sinning. Richard Baxter

So, if you are a Christian looking for an easy ministry in a post-Christian culture where Christians are a minority, you are unrealistic in your outlook. It was not to be so in Jeremiah's day, and it cannot be so in ours. Francis Schaeffer; Death in the City (Downers Grove, InterVarsity Press: 1969) 37

Holiness consisteth not in a cowl or in a garment of gray. When God purifies the heart by faith, the market is sacred as well as the sanctuary; neither remaineth there any work or place which is profane. Martin Luther

"Bishop" is a title which intimates more of labour than of honour,' says Polydore Virgil. To be a bishop, or pastor, is not to be set up as an idol for the people to bow down to, or as idle "slow bellies," to live to our fleshly delight and ease; but to be the guide of sinners to heaven. Richard Baxter

Many times I say, "I can't go up the hill once more. I can't do it again." And what is God's answer? Well, first it is important to know that God doesn't scold a man when his tiredness comes from his battles and his tears from compassion. Francis Schaeffer; Death in the City (Downers Grove, InterVarsity Press: 1969) 69

Let me burn out for God. Henry Martyn

It is a palpable error of some ministers, who make such a disproportion between their preaching and their living; who study hard to preach exactly, and study little or not at all to live exactly. Richard Baxter

This is our real "Program": faith in Christ, fellowship with Christ, faithfulness to Christ, fruitfulness for Christ. Vance Havner

He that serves God for money will serve the devil for better wages. Roger L'Estrange

The only music minister to whom the Lord will say, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant," is the one whose life proves what their lyrics are saying, and to whom music is the least important part of their life. Glorifying the only worthy One has to be a minister's most important goal! Keith Green

What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow. Martin Luther

Those that are good ministers themselves wish that there were more good ministers, for there is work for more. It is common for tradesmen not to care how few there are of their own trade; but Christ would have the labourers in his vineyard reckon it a matter of complaint when the labourers are so few. Matthew Henry

If God would but reform the ministry, and set them on their duties zealously and faithfully, the people would certainly be reformed. Richard Baxter

If any minister can be satisfied without conversions, he shall have no conversions. Charles Spurgeon

Monastic vows rest on the false assumption that there is a special calling, a vocation, to which superior Christians are invited to observe the counsels of perfection while ordinary Christians fulfill only the commands; but there simply is no special religious vocation since the call of God comes to each at the common tasks. Martin Luther

I seldom see ministers strive so furiously, who shall go first to a poor man's cottage to teach him and his family the way to heaven; or who shall first endeavor the conversion of a sinner, or first become the servant of all. Richard Baxter

They forget that elders, as Christ's under-shepherds, must also stand to minister to the saints; they must walk (and sometimes run) to seek Christ's wandering sheep; they must kneel daily to lift up the flock before the throne of grace in prayer. Lawrence R. Eyres

Teach in thy church, not to get the applause of the people, but to set in motion the groan; the tears of the hearers are thy praises. Jerome

Will it not awaken us to compassion, to look on a languishing man, and to think that within a few days his soul will be in heaven or in hell? Surely it will try the faith and seriousness of ministers, to be much about dying men! They will thus have opportunity to discern whether they themselves are in good ernest about the matters of the life to come. Richard Baxter

Many have the flower of utterance that have not the root of knowledge, and their converse is barren. Many have the treasure of knowledge, and want utterance to employ it for the good of others, and then it is in a manner wrapped up in a napkin. But, where God gives both, A man is qualified for eminent usefullness. Matthew Henry

How few ministers do preach with all their might, or speak about everlasting joys and everlasting torments in such a manner as may make men believe that they are in good earnest!...Alas! We speak so drowsily and so softly, that sleepy sinners cannot hear. The blow falls so light that hard-hearted sinners cannot feel. Richard Baxter

Many a church thinks it needs a new pastor when it needs the same pastor renewed. Vance Havner

We complain today that ministers do not know how to preach; but is it not equally true that our congregations do not know how to hear? J.I. Packer

Every time we look upon our congregations, let us believingly remember that they are the purchase of Christ's blood, and therefore should be regarded by us with the deepest interest and the most-tender affection. Richard Baxter

When God's sheep are in danger, the shepherd must not gaze at the stars and meditate on "inspirational" themes. He is morally obliged to grab his weapon and run to their defense. A.W. Tozer

A holy calling will not save an unholy man. Richard Baxter

Ministers must give an account of the success of their ministry. They must do it now at the throne of grace. If they see of the travail of their soul , they must go to God with their thanks; if they labour in vain , they must go to God with their complaints. They will do it hereafter at the judgement seat of Christ: they shall be produced as witnesses against those who persist and perish in their unbelief, to prove that they were fairly invited; and for those who accepted the call, Behold, I and the children thou hast given me. Matthew Henry

The work of the sacred ministry is enough to take up the whole man, if he had the strength and parts of many men...In the primitive Church every congregation had many ministers; but covetousness of clergy and people will now allow scarce two to very great parishes...Believe it, he that will have a wife must spend much of his time in her conference, prayer, and other family duties...And if he have children, O how much care, time and labour they will require. Richard Baxter

The world is my parish. John Wesley

If we fight the Lord's battles merely by duplicating the way the world does its work, we are like little boys playing with wooden swords pretending they are in the battle while their big brothers are away in some distant bloody land. Francis Schaeffer; Death in the City (Downers Grove, InterVarsity Press: 1969) 142

A number of homosexuals and lesbians have come to L'Abri where they hope they can get help. You must first of all show compassion and not act as thought this sin were greater than other sins, or as though you are superior since you are not caught up in it. But at the same time you must point out that the practice of homosexuality is wrong. It is not wrong in away that removes them from the human race or wrong in a way that makes them worse than other sins would do. But its practice is wrong under the absolutes of God. Francis Schaeffer; Death in the City (Downers Grove, InterVarsity Press: 1969) 105-6

Savior, I know Thou hast allowed me absolute liberty, to serve Thee, or to go my own way. I would serve Thee forever, for I love my Master. I will not go out free. Mark my ear, Lord, that it might respond only to Thy voice. Jim Elliot; Shadow of the Almighty