Ray Stedman Quotes & Sayings

God does not want a church filled with white-robed saints. He does not want a church filled with theological authorities or cultured clergyman. He wants a church filled with ordinary men and women who exemplify the extraordinary integrity, temperament, wholeness, compassion, individuality, boldness, righteousness, earnestness, love, forgiveness, selflessness, and faithfulness of Jesus Christ! — Ray Stedman

To see lonely, selfish, empty individuals transformed slowly but surely into warm, loving, wholesome, and happy people is to become aware of why Paul describes Christ as 'unsearchable riches'. — Ray Stedman

The Christian is more than an empty vessel. He has ... Someone within. We have a treasure in the earthen vessel, and not only a treasure - a transcendent power! That is humanity as God intended it to be. The vessel is not much in itself, but it holds an inestimable treasure, beyond price, and a transcendent power, greater than any other power known to men. — Ray Stedman

The Psalms are much more than poetry. Many of them bear the title, Maskil, or teaching psalm. They are thus intended to instruct the mind as well as to encourage the heart. They are designed not only to reflect a mood, but to show us also how to handle that mood; how to escape from depression or how to balance exaltation with wisdom. — Ray Stedman

It's a weak faith that only serves God in times of blessing. The book of Job teaches us that true faith, genuine faith, great faith is revealed only when we serve and trust God in the hard times, the times of suffering, loss, and opposition. That's the kind of faith that makes the world sit up and take notice. — Ray Stedman

True Christianity is to manifest genuinely Christ-like behavior by dependence on the working of the Spirit of God within. — Ray Stedman

Although God certainly knows all our needs, praying for them changes our attitude from complaint to praise and enables us to participate in God's personal plan for our lives. — Ray Stedman

True prayer is an awareness of our helpless need and an acknowledgment of divine adequacy. — Ray Stedman

God designed it this way; He intended that His great power, wisdom, and love should become visible in very ordinary and otherwise inconsequential people. — Ray Stedman

It has always seemed unfair to me that many churches (and some individual Christians) keep careful records on how many converts they make to Christianity, but never keep any record of how many they drive away from Christ! — Ray Stedman