Followers of Jesus who count the cost and are willing to take up their crosses after him must have broad shoulders.

The opposite of having faith is having self-pity.

Thus, for followers of Christ, calling neutralizes the fundamental position of choice in modern life. “I have chosen you,” Jesus said, “you have not chosen me.” We are not our own; we have been bought with a price. We have no rights, only responsibilities. Following Christ is not our initiative, merely our response, in obedience. Nothing works better to debunk the pretensions of choice than a conviction of calling. Once we have been called, we literally “have no choice.

We may be in the dark about what God is *doing*, but we are not in the dark about God.

Christ is the only way to God, but there are as many ways to Christ as there are people who come to Him.

Evangelicalism can only remain evangelical if it is passionately serious about truth and theology.

If Jesus Christ is the head of the church and hence the source and goal of its entire life, true growth is only possible in obedience to Him. Conversely, if the church becomes detached from Jesus Christ and His Word, it cannot grow however active and successful it may seem to be.