The meaning, purpose, and significance of our lives are found only by aligning our lives with God's purposes, in lives committed to following Jesus Christ.
Richard StearnsThe beautiful simplicity of our faith is that it distills down to the exact same bottom line for both the brilliant theologian and the five-year-old child: love God and love each other - period.
Richard StearnsCan you imagine the impact on our own culture if American Christians began using their riches as if they belonged to God?
Richard StearnsIf I have learned anything about the purpose, meaning, and significance of life over the years, I have learned that, for a Christian, it is not found in any job, even a job like mine. It is not found in any human relationship, no matter how important. Nor is it found in any accomplishment, no matter how significant. Meaning, purpose, and significance are found only by aligning our lives with God's purposes in lives committed to following Jesus Christ.
Richard StearnsWhat if we actually demonstrated God's love for the world instead of just talking about it?
Richard StearnsGod never asks us to give what we do not have . . . But he cannot use what we will not give.
Richard StearnsWhat if there are children who will suffer somehow because I failed to obey God? What if my cowardice costs even one child somewhere in the world his or her life?
Richard StearnsIf we are not personally engaged in God's great mission in the world, then we have missed the very thing he created us to do. We are like birds meant to fly but living in a cage; fish meant to swim but floundering on the beach. It makes sense when you think about it. If the Author of the universe created us to play a key role in his unfolding drama but we have failed to find our place in that story, then of course we would feel incomplete.
Richard StearnsIf we are ever truly going to find purpose and meaning in our lives, we first have to rise above the trees to rediscover the forest - we have to understand what God is doing in the world and how we fit in.
Richard StearnsAnd when we go to church, read our Bibles, have our quiet times, and go to Christian conferences, we too can build some impressive spiritual muscles, but unless we use those spiritual muscles to change our lives, build the church, love our neighbors, and care for the sick and the poor, we...are just posers. Let us not take God's truth for granted.
Richard Stearns