Darrin Patrick Quotes & Sayings

If there is no challenging of the sinful heart, there is no gospel preaching, — Darrin Patrick

God doesn't want your crises-mode promises. — Darrin Patrick

Humility is not just declaring that you are not God. It is deciding daily to not be God. — Darrin Patrick

While our heart for social justice grows out from the gospel, social justice by itself will not communicate the gospel. We need gospel proclamation, for as much as people may see our good deeds, they cannot hear the good news unless we tell them. Social justice, though valuable as an expression of Christian love, should, especially as a churchwide endeavor, serve the goal of gospel proclamation. — Darrin Patrick

Our lack of discipline destroys our freedom. Because we try and don't train wisely, we end up being emotionally driven. We are slaves to the spectacular and the spontaneous. Most men would rather be entertained than be a part of transforming the world, and that erodes manliness and undercuts our confidence. If we can't control ourselves, then we will be controlled by everything else. The angry, domineering masculinity that is so dangerous arises in part because impotent men lack self-control. They lash out because they are frustrated that they cannot control others around them. But they do not control themselves, either, and self-control is where true freedom begins. — Darrin Patrick

You don't measure your maturity by comparing yourself with others. You judge maturity by comparing yourself to Jesus. — Darrin Patrick

A good preacher, for example, must be able to exegete not only the text but also the culture of the hearers in order to be a faithful and fruitful missionary. We are to bring the gospel through the church to the world and avoid allowing the world to influence the church and corrupt the gospel. This definition also hints at the thoroughness required in contextualization. It must be comprehensive. This involves examining every aspect of the text being preached and the truth being explained through the eyes of those who are listening to that truth.17 This is why a missional pastor should always preach as if there are unbelievers in the crowd. He should never assume that his audience is comprised only of those already convinced of the truth and power of the gospel. We must literally consider everything we do through the lens of the unbeliever, always asking the question, "How does this come across to unbelievers?"18 — Darrin Patrick

Well-meaning members lose sight of their role as servants and become increasingly focused on controlling the very church they are called to serve. When a serving heart is replaced by a controlling heart, division is bound to ensue. And when selfish division lies unchallenged, areas of ministry and service become turfs to be defended, and brother and sisters in Christ become opponents and obstacles to individual accomplishment. — Darrin Patrick

Discipline is rarely enjoyable, but almost always profitable. — Darrin Patrick

Any person that says, "Of course I wouldn't do " doesn't know their own heart. — Darrin Patrick

We should never intentionally offend, but if you follow Jesus, you will offend religious people. — Darrin Patrick

The key to ministry in any and every context, both now and for the last two thousand years, is missionary flexibility. — Darrin Patrick

Worry is worthless. It can't change the past or control the future. It only spoils the moment. — Darrin Patrick

Authentic friendship is not one-sided. It is an equal commitment from both parties. True friends both give and receive. True friends know you and want to be known by you - celebrate you and are willing to be celebrated by you. They challenge you and seek to be challenged by you. And they serve you and are willing to be served by you. — Darrin Patrick

Is Jesus a Saviour who saves you, or is he an assistant who helps you save yourself? — Darrin Patrick

If your friends never make you uncomfortable. You don't have friends. You have fans. — Darrin Patrick

ARE YOU A SETTLER, DRIVER, OR REBEL? — Darrin Patrick

Would your city weep if your church did not exist? — Darrin Patrick

God, make me a man with thick skin and a soft heart. Make me a man who is tough and tender. Make me tough so I can handle life. Make me tender so I can love people. God, make me a man. — Darrin Patrick

Turns out, we don't want to be content. We keep buying more stuff and doing more things. The striving is endless. The pile of gadgets grows, and the desire for bigger houses, nicer cars, and a cooler wardrobe is insatiable. — Darrin Patrick

You don't preach to hear yourself, you preach to heal the church. — Darrin Patrick

When we think of pride we tend to think about arrogance - the guy who talks about himself all the time. But we don't often recognize it in the guy who spends his days worrying about his own success even if he never says a word about it. They are both consumed with themselves, but their pride takes different forms. Pride is ultimately an inordinate focus on the self. — Darrin Patrick

Most people think that Christianity is spelled DO: they look at the Bible or the life of Christ, and they simply try hard to live like Jesus. Christianity is really spelled DONE: it is what Christ has done that enables us to live a life of obedience.30 — Darrin Patrick

Faith, not cowardice, takes the step into unknown territory for the sake of Jesus Christ and His church. Love, not self-preserving protectiveness, sacrifices its own life that others might live. Hope of new life, not resignation to inevitable decline, yields itself up in the quest for a better future. — Darrin Patrick