Bailey

“Other truths can bring you some measure of joy, but why not remind yourself of and reflect on the greatest news in all the world? Why look for lesser truths to bring you hope in your pain than the most joy-inflicting, radical reminder that Jesus went to the cross in your place?”
― Dave Furman, Kiss the Wave: Embracing God in Your Trials

“Not an ounce of holiness is possible apart from the work of Jesus applied through the Spirit. To bluntly summarize Owen: no Spirit, no gospel holiness. Without reliance on the Spirit we may get morality, even a veneer of Christianity, but no gospel holiness. Apart from the presence and power of the Spirit, our attempt to desire God, believe his promises, fear his warnings, and walk in his ways is absolutely futile. Disciples need more than resolve to believe the gospel; they need the Holy Ghost.”
― Jonathan K. Dodson, Gospel-Centered Discipleship (Foreword by Matt Chandler): Revised and Expanded

“Depending on what your biological family was like, church-as-family may intimidate or inspire you. It’s easy to import our own baggage or expectations into the church, but it’s also important to be aware of the baggage. Creating some space to talk about these issues with one another can be very fruitful. But in our society, meeting with relative strangers for two-and-a-half hours a week, sharing a meal, giving and receiving grace from people very different from us, isn’t ordinary. We are used to being dependent on ourselves and, if we are honest, our highest obligation is to self—doing, saying, and feeling whatever we want. In an interesting twist, self-love is the paradigm for true love. Jesus tells us to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 19:19; see Lev. 19:18). Disciples of Jesus should do, say, and try to feel what is best for others, not just for themselves. To put it bluntly, disciples of Jesus should regularly sacrifice privacy, convenience, and comfort in order to love and serve one another.”
― Jonathan K. Dodson, Gospel-Centered Discipleship (Foreword by Matt Chandler): Revised and Expanded

“Confession divorced from repentance reduces holiness to half-hearted morality.”
― Jonathan K. Dodson, Gospel-Centered Discipleship (Foreword by Matt Chandler): Revised and Expanded