---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Bible does not say we should aim at…"
description: "\"The Bible does not say we should aim at numbers but rather urges us faithfully to proclaim God's message in the boldness of the Holy Spirit. This will ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/jim-cymbala-7997_aim_the-bible-does-not-say-we-should-aim-at_2007614.png"
---

#  The Bible does not say we should aim at numbers but rather…

![“The Bible does not say we should aim at numbers but rather urges us faithfully to proclaim God's message in the boldness of the Holy Spirit. This will build God's church God's way.” quote by Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/jim-cymbala-7997_aim_the-bible-does-not-say-we-should-aim-at_2007614.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/jim-cymbala-7997_aim_the-bible-does-not-say-we-should-aim-at_2007614.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/jim-cymbala-7997_aim_the-bible-does-not-say-we-should-aim-at_2007614.png)

> “The Bible does not say we should aim at numbers but rather urges us faithfully to proclaim God's message in the boldness of the Holy Spirit. This will build God's church God's way.”

[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 passage emphasizes that the focus should be on faithful proclamation of God's message, not on numerical goals, trusting the Holy Spirit for boldness and building the church.

**In simple terms:** Faithful preaching matters more than numbers.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize bold, Spirit‑led proclamation.

Themes

faith mission boldness church growth

Mood

inspired determined

Type

theological motivational

When to use this quote

- church planting
- evangelism events
- personal testimony
- leadership training

Key Concepts

spiritual empowerment mission strategy humility

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you measure spiritual growth beyond numbers?
- What steps help you rely on the Holy Spirit for boldness?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on metrics can distract from genuine spiritual impact.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Boldness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boldness/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/) [Holy spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-spirit/) [Messages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messages/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/)

## Related quotes

> [“Instead of trying to bring men and women to Christ in the biblical way, we are consumed with the unbiblical concept of “church growth.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/instead-of-trying-to-bring-men-and-women-to-christ-in-the-biblical/)

[Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/)

> [God allows circumstances to build us up. God has got our back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-gaynor/god-allows-circumstances-to-build-us-up-god-has-got-our-back/)

[Gloria Gaynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-gaynor/)

> [You cannot build God’s reputation if you aren’t willing to risk yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/you-cannot-build-god-s-reputation-if-you-aren-t-willing-to-risk-yours/)

[Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/)

> [“Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one." (God comment to reflect on Nazism)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/any-jackass-can-kick-down-a-barn-but-it-takes-a-carpenter-to-build-2/)

[Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/)

> [You don't decide to build a church because you have money in the bank. You build because God says this is what I should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bakker/you-don-t-decide-to-build-a-church-because-you-have-money-in-the-bank/)

[Jim Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bakker/)

> [“LET'S JUST HOPE WE ACCIDENTALLY BUILD GOD.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/let-s-just-hope-we-accidentally-build-god/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [“I think God comes in many pieces and colours. I can build a peaceful God, all-loving. Or I can build an angry God, punishing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-shafak/i-think-god-comes-in-many-pieces-and-colours-i-can-build-a-peaceful/)

[Elif Shafak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-shafak/)

> [God is always bigger than the boxes we build for God, so we should not waste too much time protecting the boxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/god-is-always-bigger-than-the-boxes-we-build-for-god-so-we-should-not/)

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

> [God build’s God’s kingdom. But God ordered this world in such a way that His own work within that world takes place through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/god-build-s-god-s-kingdom-but-god-ordered-this-world-in-such-a-way/)

[N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/)

> [I don't want a monument. We don't build monuments; we build God's Kingdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/i-don-t-want-a-monument-we-don-t-build-monuments-we-build-god-s/)

[Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/)

> [“This is how Heaven works. They're practical. We are always looking for rays of light. For lightning bolts or burning bushes. But God is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-alberto-urrea/this-is-how-heaven-works-they-re-practical-we-are-always-looking-for/)

[Luis Alberto Urrea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-alberto-urrea/)

> [I learned from my father that music is from God and the message is from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziggy-marley/i-learned-from-my-father-that-music-is-from-god-and-the-message-is/)

[Ziggy Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziggy-marley/)

> [“And the little fellow smiled and said: “Well, father, I shall be with Jesus tonight, shan’t I?” “Yes, you will spend the night with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/and-the-little-fellow-smiled-and-said-well-father-i-shall-be-with/)

[D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/)

> [All people are special, and all moments are golden. There is no person and there is no time more special than another. Many people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/all-people-are-special-and-all-moments-are-golden-there-is-no-person/)

[Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/)

> [“Ask yourself, ‘Why did God create but one man?’” the Reb said, wagging a finger. “Why, if he meant for there to be faiths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/ask-yourself-why-did-god-create-but-one-man-the-reb-said-wagging-a/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

## 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 Aim quotes

> [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/)

[Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/)

> [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/)

[William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/)

> [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/)

[Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/)

> [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/)

[Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/)

> [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/)

[Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/)

> [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/)

[Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/)

> [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/)

[Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/)

> [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/)

[Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/)

> [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/)

[Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/)

> [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/)

[Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/)

> [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/)

[Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/)

> [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

> [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/)

[Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/)

> [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The Bible does not say we should aim at numbers but rather urges us faithfully to proclaim God's message in the boldness of the Holy Spirit. This will build God's church God's way.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jim Cymbala"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-bible-does-not-say-we-should-aim-at-numbers-but-rather-urges-us/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Aim"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-bible-does-not-say-we-should-aim-at-numbers-but-rather-urges-us/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/jim-cymbala-7997_aim_the-bible-does-not-say-we-should-aim-at_2007614.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/jim-cymbala-7997_aim_the-bible-does-not-say-we-should-aim-at_2007614.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/jim-cymbala-7997_aim_the-bible-does-not-say-we-should-aim-at_2007614.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The Bible does not say we should aim at numbers but rather urges us faithfully to proclaim God's message in…” — 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 Bible does not say we...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-bible-does-not-say-we-should-aim-at-numbers-but-rather-urges-us/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-bible-does-not-say-we-should-aim-at-numbers-but-rather-urges-us/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
