--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I say that a Christian congregation can…" description: "\"I say that a Christian congregation can survive and often appear to prosper in the community by the exercise of human talent and without any touch from..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_activity_i-say-that-a-christian-congregation-can_1552526.jpg" --- # I say that a Christian congregation can survive and often… ![“I say that a Christian congregation can survive and often appear to prosper in the community by the exercise of human talent and without any touch from the Holy Spirit! All that religious activity and the dear people will not know anything better until the great and terrible day when our…” quote by Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_activity_i-say-that-a-christian-congregation-can_1552526.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_activity_i-say-that-a-christian-congregation-can_1552526.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_activity_i-say-that-a-christian-congregation-can_1552526.jpg) > “I say that a Christian congregation can survive and often appear to prosper in the community by the exercise of human talent and without any touch from the Holy Spirit! All that religious activity and the dear people will not know anything better until the great and terrible day when our self-employed talents are burned with fire and only that which was wrought by the Holy Ghost will stand forever!” [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human talent alone cannot sustain a congregation; divine guidance is essential for lasting impact. **In simple terms:** Talent without Spirit fails. Key Takeaway Seek spiritual guidance. Themes faith leadership community spirituality Mood reflective serious Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - church leadership - community building - personal growth Key Concepts Divine providence human limitation Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance skill and faith? - What role does the Holy Spirit play in your work? A Different Perspective Human effort alone is insufficient without divine inspiration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [Burned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burned/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian Congregation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-congregation-5805934/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Congregation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congregation/) [Congregation Survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congregation-survive-5805933/) [Dear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dear/) [Employed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employed/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever/) [Ghost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ghost/) [Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/) [Holy ghost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-ghost/) [Holy spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-spirit/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Spirit Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit-religious-1000884/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Talents Burned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talents-burned-5805935/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) [Terrible day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible-day/) ## Related quotes > [Any spirit that permits compromise with the world is a false spirit. Any religious movement that imitates the world in any of its manifestations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/any-spirit-that-permits-compromise-with-the-world-is-a-false-spirit/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Your spirit is your spirit, whether you're religious or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-morton/your-spirit-is-your-spirit-whether-you-re-religious-or-whatever/) [Samantha Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-morton/) > [God prefers fruits of the spirit over religious nuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-rogers/god-prefers-fruits-of-the-spirit-over-religious-nuts/) [Adrian Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-rogers/) > [The 'religious spirit,' it's demonic, and it attempts to substitute a demonic power or a fleshly power for the power of the Holy Spirit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-deere/the-religious-spirit-it-s-demonic-and-it-attempts-to-substitute-a/) [Jack Deere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-deere/) > [“true Democratic Spirit is up there with religious faith and emotional maturity and all those other top-of-the-Maslow-Pyramid-type qualities that people spend their whole lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/true-democratic-spirit-is-up-there-with-religious-faith-and-emotional/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [God loves everyone, but probably prefers 'fruits of the spirit' over 'religious nuts!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-loves-everyone-but-probably-prefers-fruits-of-the-spirit-over/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Do you think that a man is renewed by God's Spirit, when except for a few religious phrases, and a little more outside respectability,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/do-you-think-that-a-man-is-renewed-by-god-s-spirit-when-except-for-a/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [The spirit of religious persecution is not the special failing of any particular faith, but springs eternal in the human breast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dion-fortune/the-spirit-of-religious-persecution-is-not-the-special-failing-of-any/) [Dion Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dion-fortune/) > [Jesus our Lord is Prophet, Priest, and King. The concept is not new, yet many preachers never preach it, and many congregations never hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/jesus-our-lord-is-prophet-priest-and-king-the-concept-is-not-new-yet/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Certainly what happened to the dinosaurs was not good - that was a terrible day for the dinosaurs, very sad. But I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-nugent/certainly-what-happened-to-the-dinosaurs-was-not-good-that-was-a/) [Carrie Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-nugent/) > [Euclid alone has looked on Beauty bare. Let all who prate of Beauty hold their peace, And lay them prone upon the earth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/euclid-alone-has-looked-on-beauty-bare-let-all-who-prate-of-beauty/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [“If you have read this far in the chronicle of the Baudelaire orphans - and I certainly hope you have not - then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/if-you-have-read-this-far-in-the-chronicle-of-the-baudelaire-orphans/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [The broken heart. You think you will die, but you just keep living, day after day after terrible day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-broken-heart-you-think-you-will-die-but-you-just-keep-living-day/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Just because today was a terrible day doesnt mean that tomorrow wont be the best day of your life, you just have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-all-his/just-because-today-was-a-terrible-day-doesnt-mean-that-tomorrow-wont/) [Im\_all\_his](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/im-all-his/) > [I play because I have fun. The vets of this team, I just wanted to say thanks to them. You guys mean so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/i-play-because-i-have-fun-the-vets-of-this-team-i-just-wanted-to-say/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) ## More by Aiden Wilson Tozer > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [One thing the young Christian should be taught as quickly as possible after his conversion is that Jesus Christ is all he needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/one-thing-the-young-christian-should-be-taught-as-quickly-as-possible/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [The idea that this world is a playground instead of a battleground has now been accepted in practice by the vast majority of Christians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-idea-that-this-world-is-a-playground-instead-of-a-battleground/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Pay no heed to the passing religious vogue. Go back to the grass roots. Open your hearts and search the Scriptures. Bear your cross,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/pay-no-heed-to-the-passing-religious-vogue-go-back-to-the-grass-roots/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [To pray without expectation is to misunderstand the whole concept of prayer and relationship with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/to-pray-without-expectation-is-to-misunderstand-the-whole-concept-of/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [It's time for us to rise up, get out of the rut and routine, and begin to take our Christian faith seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/it-s-time-for-us-to-rise-up-get-out-of-the-rut-and-routine-and-begin/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [The true Christian ideal is not to be happy but to be holy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-true-christian-ideal-is-not-to-be-happy-but-to-be-holy/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [The goodness of God is infinitely more wonderful than we will ever be able to comprehend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-goodness-of-god-is-infinitely-more-wonderful-than-we-will-ever-be/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [A holy man isn't aware that he's holy..As soon as we begin to talk about how holy we are, we aren't holy any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/a-holy-man-isn-t-aware-that-he-s-holy-as-soon-as-we-begin-to-talk/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [There is a strain of loneliness infecting many Christians, which only the presence of God can cure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/there-is-a-strain-of-loneliness-infecting-many-christians-which-only/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Where God is not glorified, that place is sick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/where-god-is-not-glorified-that-place-is-sick/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Hope is the music of the whole Bible, the heartbeat, the pulse and the atmosphere of the whole Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/hope-is-the-music-of-the-whole-bible-the-heartbeat-the-pulse-and-the/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Christian liberty is freedom from sin, not freedom to sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/christian-liberty-is-freedom-from-sin-not-freedom-to-sin/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Outside of the will of god, there is nothing I want. And in the will of god there is nothing I fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/outside-of-the-will-of-god-there-is-nothing-i-want-and-in-the-will-of/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) [Explore all 720 Aiden Wilson Tozer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) [Gero Miesenbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gero-miesenbock/) > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I say that a Christian congregation can survive and often appear to prosper in the community by the exercise of human talent and without any touch from the Holy Spirit! 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