Worry is not believing God will get it right, and bitterness is believing God got it wrong.

If God does not have our highest allegiance, we will use prayer to try to get things that have that designation.

The rich brother needs to let the gospel humble him while the poor brother needs to let the gospel affirm him.

To stand in the presence of God, that is what the Gospel is. The Gospel is not primarily about forgiveness. It’s not primarily about good feelings. It’s not primarily about power. All those things are byproducts, sparks. It’s primarily about the presence of God.

The ministry of mercy, then, is the best advertising a church can have. It convinces a community that this church provides people with actions for their problems, not only talk. It shows the community that this church is compassionate.

Jesus says, "I want you to follow me so fully, so intensely, so enduringly that all other attachments in your life look weak by comparison"

Most apologetic books are really written for Christians, even the ones that purport to be written for non-believers.