The tragedy of today is that the situation is desperate but the saints are not.

When Christ possesses the will He keeps it fixed. The trouble comes when we take matters out of His hand and try to handle them ourselves.

We need a dedicated minority who, like the apostles of old, are willing to be called the scum of the earth and a spectacle to the world for the scandal of the cross.

Too much preaching nowadays pats the back and tickles the ear, but does not get under the skin. There is no conviction and therefore no conversion. I am thinking not only of the ministry of reproof and rebuke but also of the message of inspiration, of encouragement, of comfort. People go out of church at noon with the depths unstirred, the heart untouched, the conscience unpricked.

I'm tied of hearing about temperance instead of abstinence, in order to please the cocktail crowd in church congregations.

People get so used to the dark that they think it is growing brighter.

The gospel is for lifeboats, not showboats, and a man must make up his mind which boat he is going to operate.