Modern Church

Reading William Gurnall – JC Ryle

For my own part, I can only say that I read everything I can get hold of which professes to throw light on my Master’s business, and the work of Christ among men. But, the more I read, the less I admire modern theology. The more I study the productions of the new schools of theological teachers, the more I marvel that men and women can be satisfied with such writings. There is a vagueness, a mistiness, a shallowness, an indistinctness, a superficiality, an aimlessness, a hollowness about the literature of the “broader and kinder systems”, as they are called, which to my mind stamps their origin on their face. They are of the earth, earthy. I find more of definite soul-satisfying thought in one page of Gurnall than in five pages of such books as the leaders of the so-called “Broad Church School” put forth. In matters of theology, the old is better.

– JC Ryle –
talking about William Gurnall’s book, “The Christian In Complete Armour” (dated April 23, 1864)

Holy Spirit Imparts – DL Moody

The Spirit of God first imparts love; he next inspires hope, and then gives liberty; and that is about the last thing we have in many of our churches.

– Dwight L. Moody –

The Difference Between Prayer Meetings – Norman Grubb

Prayer meetings are dead affairs when they are merely asking sessions; there is adventure, hope, and life when they are believing sessions, and the faith is corporately, practically and deliberately affirmed.

– Norman Grubb –

A Generation of Zombies – AW Tozer

Secularism, materialism, and the intrusive presence of things have put out the light in our souls and turned us into a generation of zombies.

– AW Tozer –

We Are Smug to the Lostness of Men – Leonard Ravenhill

We Christians are debtors to all men at all times in all places, but we are so smug to the lostness of men. We’ve been “living in Laodicea”—lax, loose, lustful, and lazy. Why is there this criminal indifference to the lostness of men? Our condemnation is that we know how to live better than we are living.

– Leonard Ravenhill –

We Have Lost Our Lofty Concept of God – AW Tozer

The Church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and has substituted for it one so low, so ignoble, as to be utterly unworthy of thinking, worshiping men. This she has not done deliberately, but little by little and without her knowledge; and her very unawareness only makes her situation all the more tragic.

– AW Tozer –

Greatest Barrier to Revival – Ted Rendall

Perhaps the greatest barrier to revival on a large scale is the fact that we are too interested in a great display. We want an exhibition; God is looking for a man who will throw himself entirely on God. Whenever self-effort, self-glory, self-seeking or self-promotion enters into the work of revival, then God leaves us to ourselves.

– Ted Rendall –

Don’t Preach Repentance Unless … – Joseph Parker

The man whose little sermon is “repent” sets himself against his age, and will for the time being be battered mercilessly by the age whose moral tone he challenges. There is but one end for such a man—”off with his head!” You had better not try to preach repentance until you have pledged your head to heaven.

– Joseph Parker –