--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: the mission is not ours but God's." description: "\"“the mission is not ours but God's.”\" — Lesslie Newbigin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/200/lesslie-newbigin-11290_goals_the-mission-is-not-ours-but-god-s-229916_2299168.jpg" --- # the mission is not ours but God's. ![“the mission is not ours but God's.” quote by Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/200/lesslie-newbigin-11290_goals_the-mission-is-not-ours-but-god-s-229916_2299168.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/200/lesslie-newbigin-11290_goals_the-mission-is-not-ours-but-god-s-229916_2299168.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/200/lesslie-newbigin-11290_goals_the-mission-is-not-ours-but-god-s-229916_2299168.jpg) > ““the mission is not ours but God's.”” [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The purpose of mission work belongs to a higher divine authority, not human ambition. **In simple terms:** Mission is driven by God, not people. Key Takeaway Align actions with spiritual purpose. Themes faith mission humility service Mood contemplative serene Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - church outreach - charitable work - personal vocation Key Concepts Divine calling theology mission ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you discern divine purpose in your work? - What risks arise when mission is human‑driven? A Different Perspective Human agendas can conflict with spiritual directives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Mission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mission/) [Mission God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mission-god-714337/) ## Related quotes > [The church was made for mission-God's mission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-j-h-wright/the-church-was-made-for-mission-god-s-mission/) [Christopher J. H. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-j-h-wright/) > [Our missionary activities are only authentic insofar as they reflect participation in the mission of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bosch/our-missionary-activities-are-only-authentic-insofar-as-they-reflect/) [David Bosch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bosch/) > [“The mission of God is the origin of every expression of ecclesiology, every understanding of how the church is structured and why it exists.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-wegner/the-mission-of-god-is-the-origin-of-every-expression-of-ecclesiology/) [Rob Wegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-wegner/) > [“The life mission God gave you was only appointed to you. If you are faithful, God will send someone into your life to support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/the-life-mission-god-gave-you-was-only-appointed-to-you-if-you-are/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [It's not about the church meeting your needs; it's about joining the mission of God's people to meet the world's needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/it-s-not-about-the-church-meeting-your-needs-it-s-about-joining-the/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [I am succeeding quite well in my work and the future looks well. What special mission is God preparing me for? Cutting off all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/i-am-succeeding-quite-well-in-my-work-and-the-future-looks-well-what/) [Ellen Swallow Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/) > [It is not so much the case that God has a mission for his church in the world, as that God has a church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-j-h-wright/it-is-not-so-much-the-case-that-god-has-a-mission-for-his-church-in/) [Christopher J. H. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-j-h-wright/) > [We are on a mission for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-belushi/we-are-on-a-mission-for-god/) [John Belushi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-belushi/) > [To think and to live missionally means seeing all life as a way to be engaged with the mission of God in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-mcneal/to-think-and-to-live-missionally-means-seeing-all-life-as-a-way-to-be/) [Reggie McNeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-mcneal/) > [When the church is in mission, it is the true church. The church itself is not only a product of that mission but is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/when-the-church-is-in-mission-it-is-the-true-church-the-church-itself/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) > [It's not so much that the church has a mission, it's that the mission of God has a church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/it-s-not-so-much-that-the-church-has-a-mission-it-s-that-the-mission/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) > [“Harry Dresden. I'm on a mission from God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/harry-dresden-i-m-on-a-mission-from-god/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Call it the Human Mission-to be all and do all God sent us here to do. And notice-the mission to be fruitful and conquer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stasi-eldredge/call-it-the-human-mission-to-be-all-and-do-all-god-sent-us-here-to-do/) [Stasi Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stasi-eldredge/) > [Sometimes I can tell the greatness of my mission with God by the resistance I am met with by the Devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/sometimes-i-can-tell-the-greatness-of-my-mission-with-god-by-the/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“Great groups believe they are on a mission from God. Beyond mere financial success, they genuinely believe they will make the world a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kelley/great-groups-believe-they-are-on-a-mission-from-god-beyond-mere/) [Tom Kelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kelley/) ## More by Lesslie Newbigin > [The living God is a God of justice and mercy and He will be satisfied with nothing less than a people in whom his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/the-living-god-is-a-god-of-justice-and-mercy-and-he-will-be-satisfied/) [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) > [A society which believes in a worthwhile future saves in the present so as to invest in the future. Contemporary Western society spends in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/a-society-which-believes-in-a-worthwhile-future-saves-in-the-present/) [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) > [“The witness of which the New Testament passages speak is God's gift, not our accomplishment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/the-witness-of-which-the-new-testament-passages-speak-is-god-s-gift/) [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) > [“The church is witness insofar as it follows obediently where the Spirit leads. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/the-church-is-witness-insofar-as-it-follows-obediently-where-the/) [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) > [“The minister’s leadership of the congregation in its mission to the world will be first and foremost in the area of his or her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/the-minister-s-leadership-of-the-congregation-in-its-mission-to-the/) [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) > [It is less important to ask a Christian what he or she believes about the Bible than it is to inquire what he or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/it-is-less-important-to-ask-a-christian-what-he-or-she-believes-about/) [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) > [“the authority of Jesus is ultimate, the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/the-authority-of-jesus-is-ultimate-the/) [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) > [The church is not meant to call men and women out of the world into a safe religious enclave but to call them out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/the-church-is-not-meant-to-call-men-and-women-out-of-the-world-into-a/) [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) > [“Universality and particularity do not contradict one another but require one another. How”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/universality-and-particularity-do-not-contradict-one-another-but/) [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) > [To make the improving of our own character our central aim is hardly the highest kind of goodness. True goodness forgets itself and goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/to-make-the-improving-of-our-own-character-our-central-aim-is-hardly/) [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) > [“the Spirit himself is sovereign over the mission, the church can only be the attentive servant. In”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/the-spirit-himself-is-sovereign-over-the-mission-the-church-can-only/) [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) > [“When the Church tries to embody the rule of God in the forms of earthly power it may achieve that power, but it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/when-the-church-tries-to-embody-the-rule-of-god-in-the-forms-of/) [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) > [“A person who wields power cannot see truth; that is the privilege of the powerless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/a-person-who-wields-power-cannot-see-truth-that-is-the-privilege-of/) [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) > [“But if the biblical story is true, the kind of certainty proper to a human being will be one which rests on the fidelity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/but-if-the-biblical-story-is-true-the-kind-of-certainty-proper-to-a/) [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) > [Live in the kingdom of God in such a way that it provokes questions for which the gospel is the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/live-in-the-kingdom-of-god-in-such-a-way-that-it-provokes-questions/) [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) [Explore all 60 Lesslie Newbigin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) ## More Goals quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. 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Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/) [Browse all 21,276 Goals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“the mission is not ours but God's.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lesslie Newbigin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/the-mission-is-not-ours-but-god-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Goals" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/the-mission-is-not-ours-but-god-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/200/lesslie-newbigin-11290_goals_the-mission-is-not-ours-but-god-s-229916_2299168.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/200/lesslie-newbigin-11290_goals_the-mission-is-not-ours-but-god-s-229916_2299168.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/200/lesslie-newbigin-11290_goals_the-mission-is-not-ours-but-god-s-229916_2299168.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“the mission is not ours but God's.” — Lesslie Newbigin", "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": "Lesslie Newbigin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“the mission is not ours but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/the-mission-is-not-ours-but-god-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/the-mission-is-not-ours-but-god-s/#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 } } ] } ```