- Joined
- Feb 9, 2004
- Messages
- 17,078
CHURCH
The cold water of persecution is often thrown on the church’s face to fetch her to herself when she is in a swoon of indolence or pride. FA163
A church is a soul-saving company or it is nothing. GF46
The elect church is saved that she may save, cleansed that she may cleanse, blessed that she may bless. GF48
You shall not find on the roll of history that for a length of time any Christian community has flourished after it has become negligent of the outside world. TN82
Whenever the church meets, either as a whole or representatively, there is a solemn dignity cast about that assembly which is not to be found in a parliament of kings and princes. TN277
The eyes of the world are intended to be checks upon the church. 359.95
We, as a Church, have had much reason to thank God, but how many more might within these walls have been added to the number of this Church if it had not been for the coldness of some, the indifference of others, the inconsistency of a few, and the worldliness of many more! 657.605
Do-nothing churches are usually very jealous lest any should encroach on their domains. 984.196
An unwatchful church will soon become an unholy church. 1022.653
It has been said that Dissenters in years gone by placed the clock outside the meeting-house, so that they might never enter late, but the modern Dissenters place the clock inside, that their preachers may not keep them too long. 1107.223
I wish late comers would remember David’s choice. You remember what part he wished to take in the house of God: he was willing to be a doorkeeper, and that not because the doorkeeper has the most comfortable berth, for that is the hardest post a man can choose, but he knew that doorkeepers are the first in and the last out, and
so David wishes to be first at the service and the last at the going away. 1107.223
God will not cause his children to be born where there are none to nurse them; he will be sure not to send converts to churches which do not want them. 1167.211
They (the early church) were so generous that they threw in their property into a common stock lest any should be in need. They were not communists, they were Christians; and the difference between a communist and a Christian is this—a communist says, “All yours is mine;” while a Christian says, “all mine is yours;” and that is a very different thing. The one is for getting, and the other for giving. 1167.213
Do not come in to weaken us, we are weak enough already. Do not come in to adulterate our purity, we have enough impurity even now. Pray that God may make you a real increase to our prayerfulness, to our holiness, to our earnestness, to our higher life, and then come and welcome, and the Lord be with you! 1167.215
I have observed that churches which do not care for the outlying population speedily suffer from disunion and strife. 1170.244
And then we must not talk about setting the church right, we must pray for grace each one for himself, for the text does not say, “If the church will open the door,” but “If any man hear my voice and open the door.” It must be done by individuals: the church will only get right by each man getting right. 1185.432
The church is not perfect, but woe to the man who finds pleasure in pointing out her imperfections. Christ loved his church, and let us do the same. I have no doubt that the Lord can see more fault in his church than I can; and I have equal confidence that he sees no fault at all. Because he covers her faults with his own love—that love which covers a multitude of sins; and he removes all her defilement with that precious blood which washes away all the transgressions of his people. 1770.152
If you come into the church of God, and expect to get among angels, you will be mightily mistaken; and if the brethren should receive you, and hope that they are receiving angels unawares, they will be mistaken, too. 1807.598
How very different the church looks to different eyes: one sees a thousand virtues to admire, and another a world of evil to expose. 1841.284
A do-nothing professor is a merely nominal member, and a nominal member is a real hindrance. He neither contributes, nor prays, nor works, nor agonizes for souls, nor takes any part in Christian service, and yet he partakes in all the privileges of the church. Is this fair? 1916.461
I notice in our churches that a few earnest men and women lead the way, and others are sweetly drawn to follow them. 1916.462
Beloved, if it had been possible to destroy the church of God on earth, it would have been destroyed long ago. 2186.56
The gallant vessel of the church ploughed the red waves of a crimson sea, her prow scarlet with gore, but the ship itself was better for the washing, and sailed all the more gallantly because of boisterous winds. 2186.56
Half the strength of the church goes in ambulance service towards the weak and wounded. 2198.194
How many are quite unable to bear arms against the foe; for they need to be themselves guarded from the enemy! 2198.194
The church of God owes very little to kings and princes and nobles. She owes far more to fishermen and peasants. 2255.219
The world is all scaffolding; the Church of Christ is the true building. 2799.473
Stagnation in a church is the devil’s delight. 2802.514
I have known persons join the church, and after they have been a little while in it, they have said, “There is no love there.” Now, when a brother says, “There is no love there,” I know that he has been looking in the glass, and that his own reflection has suggested the remark. 3065.549
The church nowadays is for the most part too strong, too wise, too self-dependent, to do much. 3187.113
Alas! there are some who will always be contented enough if their own house flourish, though God’s house should be utterly ruined. 3239.98
The cold water of persecution is often thrown on the church’s face to fetch her to herself when she is in a swoon of indolence or pride. FA163
A church is a soul-saving company or it is nothing. GF46
The elect church is saved that she may save, cleansed that she may cleanse, blessed that she may bless. GF48
You shall not find on the roll of history that for a length of time any Christian community has flourished after it has become negligent of the outside world. TN82
Whenever the church meets, either as a whole or representatively, there is a solemn dignity cast about that assembly which is not to be found in a parliament of kings and princes. TN277
The eyes of the world are intended to be checks upon the church. 359.95
We, as a Church, have had much reason to thank God, but how many more might within these walls have been added to the number of this Church if it had not been for the coldness of some, the indifference of others, the inconsistency of a few, and the worldliness of many more! 657.605
Do-nothing churches are usually very jealous lest any should encroach on their domains. 984.196
An unwatchful church will soon become an unholy church. 1022.653
It has been said that Dissenters in years gone by placed the clock outside the meeting-house, so that they might never enter late, but the modern Dissenters place the clock inside, that their preachers may not keep them too long. 1107.223
I wish late comers would remember David’s choice. You remember what part he wished to take in the house of God: he was willing to be a doorkeeper, and that not because the doorkeeper has the most comfortable berth, for that is the hardest post a man can choose, but he knew that doorkeepers are the first in and the last out, and
so David wishes to be first at the service and the last at the going away. 1107.223
God will not cause his children to be born where there are none to nurse them; he will be sure not to send converts to churches which do not want them. 1167.211
They (the early church) were so generous that they threw in their property into a common stock lest any should be in need. They were not communists, they were Christians; and the difference between a communist and a Christian is this—a communist says, “All yours is mine;” while a Christian says, “all mine is yours;” and that is a very different thing. The one is for getting, and the other for giving. 1167.213
Do not come in to weaken us, we are weak enough already. Do not come in to adulterate our purity, we have enough impurity even now. Pray that God may make you a real increase to our prayerfulness, to our holiness, to our earnestness, to our higher life, and then come and welcome, and the Lord be with you! 1167.215
I have observed that churches which do not care for the outlying population speedily suffer from disunion and strife. 1170.244
And then we must not talk about setting the church right, we must pray for grace each one for himself, for the text does not say, “If the church will open the door,” but “If any man hear my voice and open the door.” It must be done by individuals: the church will only get right by each man getting right. 1185.432
The church is not perfect, but woe to the man who finds pleasure in pointing out her imperfections. Christ loved his church, and let us do the same. I have no doubt that the Lord can see more fault in his church than I can; and I have equal confidence that he sees no fault at all. Because he covers her faults with his own love—that love which covers a multitude of sins; and he removes all her defilement with that precious blood which washes away all the transgressions of his people. 1770.152
If you come into the church of God, and expect to get among angels, you will be mightily mistaken; and if the brethren should receive you, and hope that they are receiving angels unawares, they will be mistaken, too. 1807.598
How very different the church looks to different eyes: one sees a thousand virtues to admire, and another a world of evil to expose. 1841.284
A do-nothing professor is a merely nominal member, and a nominal member is a real hindrance. He neither contributes, nor prays, nor works, nor agonizes for souls, nor takes any part in Christian service, and yet he partakes in all the privileges of the church. Is this fair? 1916.461
I notice in our churches that a few earnest men and women lead the way, and others are sweetly drawn to follow them. 1916.462
Beloved, if it had been possible to destroy the church of God on earth, it would have been destroyed long ago. 2186.56
The gallant vessel of the church ploughed the red waves of a crimson sea, her prow scarlet with gore, but the ship itself was better for the washing, and sailed all the more gallantly because of boisterous winds. 2186.56
Half the strength of the church goes in ambulance service towards the weak and wounded. 2198.194
How many are quite unable to bear arms against the foe; for they need to be themselves guarded from the enemy! 2198.194
The church of God owes very little to kings and princes and nobles. She owes far more to fishermen and peasants. 2255.219
The world is all scaffolding; the Church of Christ is the true building. 2799.473
Stagnation in a church is the devil’s delight. 2802.514
I have known persons join the church, and after they have been a little while in it, they have said, “There is no love there.” Now, when a brother says, “There is no love there,” I know that he has been looking in the glass, and that his own reflection has suggested the remark. 3065.549
The church nowadays is for the most part too strong, too wise, too self-dependent, to do much. 3187.113
Alas! there are some who will always be contented enough if their own house flourish, though God’s house should be utterly ruined. 3239.98
