“The fact is, it is selfish for a church to not want to grow. A church that says, “We’ve got enough people, we’ve got a nice fellowship. Our church is just the right size. We just need to focus on the members we already have.” That church is, in reality, actually saying, “The rest of the world can go to hell. We don’t care.”
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Rick Warren
“When you committed your life to Christ, he moved into the center; but you must keep him there through worship.”
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Rick Warren
“James said, “Anyone who knows the right thing to do, but does not do it, is sinning.”
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Rick Warren
“Without a clear purpose, you will keep changing directions, jobs, relationships, churches, or other externals — hoping each change will settle the confusion or fill the emptiness in your heart. You think, Maybe this time it will be different, but it doesn’t solve your real problem — a lack of focus and purpose.”
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Rick Warren
“If you are in a period of discouragement because you are going through a trial and you are asking yourself, “Why is this happening to me?” consider this: Never make a major decision when you are depressed. Often, when we get discouraged, we are tempted to say, “I’m just going to quit” or “I’m going to move” or “I’m going to change jobs” or “I’m going to file for divorce.” Never make a major decision when you are depressed, because at that time your feelings are unreliable and you cannot exercise accurate judgment. Your focus is blurry, and your perspective is distorted. Instead, face the storm head-on and don’t get involved in self-pity.”
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Rick Warren
“Holocaust survivor Corrie Ten Boom said, “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest.”
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Rick Warren
“Worship is far more than praising, singing, and praying to God. Worship is a lifestyle of enjoying God, loving him, and giving ourselves to be used for his purposes.”
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Rick Warren
“It’s encouraging to know that all of God’s closest friends — Moses, David, Abraham, Job, and others — had bouts with doubt. But instead of masking their misgivings with pious clichés, they candidly voiced them openly and publicly. Expressing doubt is sometimes the first step toward the next level of intimacy with God.”
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Rick Warren
“The great evangelist D. L. Moody once said, “The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge, but to change our lives.”
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Rick Warren
“He helped them to know and love God (worship), taught them to love each other (fellowship), gave them the Word so they could grow to maturity (discipleship), showed them how to serve (ministry), and sent them out to tell others (mission).”
―
Rick Warren
“يشعر الكثيرون أن الله كامن في مكان سري يتصيد لهم الأخطاء. وأنهم حالما يخطئون فإن سعادته تكتمل وهو يصرخ لهم بزهو: "ها قد أوقعت بك".وأنه منتظر ليسقطوا فيقول لهم:"ألم أقل لك". إنهم ينظرون إلي الله وكأنه الكائن الكوني الذي يتصف بالسادية والنكد. والذي يستمتع بأن يفشل خططنا. ودائماً ما يجد الطرق التي ينتقدنا بها، ويوجه بها الاتهامات لنا.وينتقم منا.
ولكن الله نفسه يقول: "لأني عرفت الأفكار التي أنا مفتكر بها عنكم، يقول الرب، أفكار سلام لا شر، لأعطيكم آخرة ورجاء."
(إرميا 29:11)
لا يوجد من يريد الأفضل والأصلح لك أكثر من الله. لا أحد يعلم ما هو الأفضل لك. وليس هناك من يجعلك تتمتع بالسعادة الحقيقية أكثر منه. الله لا يريدك أن تخاف منه.إنه يريدك أن تسرع إليه، لا أن تهرب منه.
في الواقع يذكر لنا الكتاب المقدس 365 مرة أن الله يقول :"لا تخف". واحدة لكل يوم من أيام السنة. فما الذي تخاف منه؟ لا أحد منا يعرف ما الذي سيواجهه خلال العام. لكن يمكننا أن نعرف أن الله يحبنا، وأن الله معنا، وأن الله لنا (أي في صفنا) . إن الواحد منا مضافاً إلي الله يصبح اغلبية في موقف.
فمن أين إذن ينبع خوفنا من الله؟ هناك مصدران أساسيان ضمير مذنب، وجهل بطبيعة الله. يقول الكتاب المقدس :
" لا خوف في المحبة، بل المحبة الكاملة تطرح الخوف إلى خارج لأن الخوف له عذاب. وأما من خاف فلم يتكمل في المحبة"
(يوحنا الأولي4:18)
الذنب يجعلنا نشعر بعدم الأمان.”
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Rick Warren
“Todo parece nuevo si uno ignora la historia. Muchos de los métodos que marchan bajo el estandarte del “cambio” han sido utilizados en el pasado ligeramente modificados.”
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Rick Warren
“While it is wise to learn from experience, it is wiser to learn from the experiences of others.
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Rick Warren
“If there was no God, we would all be “accidents,” the result of astronomical random chance in the universe. You could stop reading this book, because life would have no purpose or meaning or significance. There would be no right or wrong, and no hope beyond your brief years here on earth.”
―
Rick Warren
