--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: THE ABSENT ELEMENT IS what is expressed…" description: "\"“THE ABSENT ELEMENT IS what is expressed in the final sentence of the prayer recorded in Acts 4: “Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/jim-cymbala-7997_gospel_the-absent-element-is-what-is-expressed_902881.jpg" --- # THE ABSENT ELEMENT IS what is expressed in the final… ![“THE ABSENT ELEMENT IS what is expressed in the final sentence of the prayer recorded in Acts 4: “Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders” (v. 30). What gains unbelievers’ attention and stirs the heart is seeing the gospel expressed in power. It takes more than…” quote by Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/jim-cymbala-7997_gospel_the-absent-element-is-what-is-expressed_902881.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/jim-cymbala-7997_gospel_the-absent-element-is-what-is-expressed_902881.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/jim-cymbala-7997_gospel_the-absent-element-is-what-is-expressed_902881.jpg) > ““THE ABSENT ELEMENT IS what is expressed in the final sentence of the prayer recorded in Acts 4: “Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders” (v. 30). What gains unbelievers’ attention and stirs the heart is seeing the gospel expressed in power. It takes more than academic rigor to win the world for Christ. Correct doctrine alone isn’t enough. Proclamation and teaching aren’t enough. God must be invited to “confirm the word with signs following” (see Heb. 2:4). In other words, the gospel must be preached with the involvement of the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven.”” [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote emphasizes that the gospel must be demonstrated through miraculous signs, not just doctrine, to engage and convert unbelievers. **In simple terms:** Faith needs visible signs, not just words. Key Takeaway Combine belief with tangible demonstration. Themes faith miracles evangelism Mood hopeful evocative Type religious motivational When to use this quote - church outreach - personal testimony - mission trips - faith education Key Concepts spiritual authority experiential learning religious conviction Questions to Reflect On - What balance should be struck between doctrine and signs? - How do you discern genuine miracles? A Different Perspective Relying solely on signs can lead to sensationalism over substance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel/) [Holy spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-spirit/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [Wherever the Gospel is preached, no matter how crudely, there are bound to be results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/wherever-the-gospel-is-preached-no-matter-how-crudely-there-are-bound/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [The more fully that the gospel is preached, in the grand old apostolic way, the more likely is it to accomplish the results which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatius-bonar/the-more-fully-that-the-gospel-is-preached-in-the-grand-old-apostolic/) [Horatius Bonar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatius-bonar/) > [We are not responsible to God for the soul that are saved, but we are responsible for the Gospel that is preached, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/we-are-not-responsible-to-god-for-the-soul-that-are-saved-but-we-are/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [The gospel cannot be preached and heard enough, for it cannot be grasped well enough ... Moreover, our greatest task is to keep you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-gospel-cannot-be-preached-and-heard-enough-for-it-cannot-be-2/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The gospel cannot be preached and heard enough, for it cannot be grasped well enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-gospel-cannot-be-preached-and-heard-enough-for-it-cannot-be/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [I thank God that the gospel is to be preached to every creature. There is no man so far gone, but the grace of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/i-thank-god-that-the-gospel-is-to-be-preached-to-every-creature-there/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [The gospel is NOT preached if Christ is not preached.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/the-gospel-is-not-preached-if-christ-is-not-preached/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [Don’t go where it is all fine music and grand talk and beautiful architecture; those things will neither fill anybody’s stomach, nor feed his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/don-t-go-where-it-is-all-fine-music-and-grand-talk-and-beautiful/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [If the gospel be not preached, Jesus Christ is, as it were, buried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/if-the-gospel-be-not-preached-jesus-christ-is-as-it-were-buried/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [“The Marrow Controversy raised a major question about how the gospel is to be preached. But the answer to that question depends on our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/the-marrow-controversy-raised-a-major-question-about-how-the-gospel/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [“The gospel is preached in the ears of all men; it only comes with power to some. The power that is in the gospel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-gospel-is-preached-in-the-ears-of-all-men-it-only-comes-with/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [The gospel must be preached afresh and told in new ways to each generation, since every generation has its own unique questions. The gospel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-thielicke/the-gospel-must-be-preached-afresh-and-told-in-new-ways-to-each/) [Helmut Thielicke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-thielicke/) > [On the contrary, therefore, Christ declares that the doctrine of the Gospel, though it is preached to all without exception, cannot be embraced by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/on-the-contrary-therefore-christ-declares-that-the-doctrine-of-the/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [“I remember when I had the Gospel first preached to me---before I was baptized; I heard a lecture something like this: 'Now, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/i-remember-when-i-had-the-gospel-first-preached-to-me-before-i-was/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [“The sequence of events described in the gospel is the work of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is hardly my own discovery. Consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-f-bird/the-sequence-of-events-described-in-the-gospel-is-the-work-of-father/) [Michael F. Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-f-bird/) ## More by Jim Cymbala > [The old saying is true: If you have only the Word, you dry up. If you have only the Spirit, you blow up. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-old-saying-is-true-if-you-have-only-the-word-you-dry-up-if-you/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [The reason "other churches" don't grow: "Jim, the truth is, I couldn't have a real prayer meeting in my church. I'd be embarrassed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-reason-other-churches-don-t-grow-jim-the-truth-is-i-couldn-t-have/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [People who have a seeking heart still make mistakes. But their reaction to rebuke and correction shows the condition of that heart. It determines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/people-who-have-a-seeking-heart-still-make-mistakes-but-their/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [“In too many churches today, people don’t see manifestations of God’s power in answer to fervent praying. Instead, they hear arguments about theological issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/in-too-many-churches-today-people-don-t-see-manifestations-of-god-s/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [The more we pray, the more we sense our need to pray. And the more we sense a need to pray, the more we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-more-we-pray-the-more-we-sense-our-need-to-pray-and-the-more-we/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [What does it say about our churches today that God birthed the church in a prayer meeting, and prayer meetings today are almost extinct?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/what-does-it-say-about-our-churches-today-that-god-birthed-the-church/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [Jesus called fishermen, not graduates of rabbinical schools. The main requirement was to be natural and sincere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/jesus-called-fishermen-not-graduates-of-rabbinical-schools-the-main/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [God nowhere asks anyone to have a large church. He only calls us to do his work, proclaiming his Word to people he loves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/god-nowhere-asks-anyone-to-have-a-large-church-he-only-calls-us-to-do/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [For all of us involved in preaching the gospel, performing music, publishing Christian materials, and all the rest, there is an uncomfortable message here:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/for-all-of-us-involved-in-preaching-the-gospel-performing-music/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [The work of God can only be carried on by the power of God. The key is not $, organization, cleverness or education. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-work-of-god-can-only-be-carried-on-by-the-power-of-god-the-key-is/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [You can tell how popular a church is by who comes on Sunday morning. You can tell how popular the pastor or evangelist is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/you-can-tell-how-popular-a-church-is-by-who-comes-on-sunday-morning/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [“The British Bible translator J. B. Phillips, after completing his work on this section of Scripture, could not help reflecting on what he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-british-bible-translator-j-b-phillips-after-completing-his-work/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [Prayer cannot truly be taught by principles and seminars and symposiums. It has to be born out of a whole environment of felt need.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/prayer-cannot-truly-be-taught-by-principles-and-seminars-and/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [Persistent calling upon the name of the Lord breaks through every stronghold of the devil, for nothing is impossible with God. For Christians in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/persistent-calling-upon-the-name-of-the-lord-breaks-through-every/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [“the Creator of all things is looking throughout the whole earth for a certain kind of heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-creator-of-all-things-is-looking-throughout-the-whole-earth-for-a/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) [Explore all 82 Jim Cymbala quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) ## More Gospel quotes > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [You can't live for God until you learn how to live because of God. And you can't go and make good choices for God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-donehey/you-can-t-live-for-god-until-you-learn-how-to-live-because-of-god-and/) [Mike Donehey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-donehey/) > [The gospel assures you that your value is not dependent on your looks or material possessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-l-jack/the-gospel-assures-you-that-your-value-is-not-dependent-on-your-looks/) [Elaine L. Jack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-l-jack/) > [“The core message of the gospel is that God invades us with new life, but the setting for this is most often in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/the-core-message-of-the-gospel-is-that-god-invades-us-with-new-life/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [My mother kept asking me, 'When are you going to do a gospel album?' And I've always wanted to do a gospel album. Everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/my-mother-kept-asking-me-when-are-you-going-to-do-a-gospel-album-and/) [Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/) > [If you want to see the big stuff that God has, you've got to take some risk and trust only in the Gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/if-you-want-to-see-the-big-stuff-that-god-has-you-ve-got-to-take-some/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [How happy we would be if we could find the treasure of which the Gospel speaks; all else would be as nothing. As it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/how-happy-we-would-be-if-we-could-find-the-treasure-of-which-the/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [“I have established my throne in heaven, and my kingdom rules over all. The day is mine, and mine also the night; I established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-yun/i-have-established-my-throne-in-heaven-and-my-kingdom-rules-over-all/) [Zhang Yun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-yun/) > [The good word of the Lord with which we must nourish is the simple doctrine of the gospel. We need not fear either simplicity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/the-good-word-of-the-lord-with-which-we-must-nourish-is-the-simple/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [If the gospel isn't good news for everybody, then it isn't good news for anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/if-the-gospel-isn-t-good-news-for-everybody-then-it-isn-t-good-news/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the easiest times in life can be a blessing. In all conditions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/if-we-have-faith-in-jesus-christ-the-hardest-as-well-as-the-easiest/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Its not living the gospel thats hard. Its life thats hard...How often do we make the mistake of talking to our youth about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/its-not-living-the-gospel-thats-hard-its-life-thats-hard-how-often-do/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [Once God saves us He doesn't move us beyond the gospel, but He moves us more deeply into the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/once-god-saves-us-he-doesn-t-move-us-beyond-the-gospel-but-he-moves/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Perhapsthemost sublimeinsights oftheJewishprophets and the Christian gospel is the knowledge that since perfection is love, the apprehension of perfection is at once the means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/perhapsthemost-sublimeinsights-ofthejewishprophets-and-the-christian/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [I listened to gospel music because that was just our culture, you know? My parents are pastors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masego/i-listened-to-gospel-music-because-that-was-just-our-culture-you-know/) [Masego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masego/) [Browse all 1,857 Gospel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“THE ABSENT ELEMENT IS what is expressed in the final sentence of the prayer recorded in Acts 4: “Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders” (v. 30). What gains unbelievers’ attention and stirs the heart is seeing the gospel expressed in power. It takes more than academic rigor to win the world for Christ. Correct doctrine alone isn’t enough. Proclamation and teaching aren’t enough. God must be invited to “confirm the word with signs following” (see Heb. 2:4). In other words, the gospel must be preached with the involvement of the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jim Cymbala" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-absent-element-is-what-is-expressed-in-the-final-sentence-of-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gospel" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-absent-element-is-what-is-expressed-in-the-final-sentence-of-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/jim-cymbala-7997_gospel_the-absent-element-is-what-is-expressed_902881.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/jim-cymbala-7997_gospel_the-absent-element-is-what-is-expressed_902881.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/jim-cymbala-7997_gospel_the-absent-element-is-what-is-expressed_902881.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“THE ABSENT ELEMENT IS what is expressed in the final sentence of the prayer recorded in Acts 4: “Stretch out…” — Jim Cymbala", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jim Cymbala", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“THE ABSENT ELEMENT IS what is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-absent-element-is-what-is-expressed-in-the-final-sentence-of-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-absent-element-is-what-is-expressed-in-the-final-sentence-of-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```