--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Christian proclamation might make the…" description: "\"Christian proclamation might make the gospel audible, but Christians living together in local congregations make the gospel visible (see John 13:34-35)..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d6/mark-dever-3175_christian_christian-proclamation-might-make-the-go_3204937.png" --- # Christian proclamation might make the gospel audible, but… ![“Christian proclamation might make the gospel audible, but Christians living together in local congregations make the gospel visible (see John 13:34-35). The church is the gospel made visible.” quote by Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d6/mark-dever-3175_christian_christian-proclamation-might-make-the-go_3204937.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d6/mark-dever-3175_christian_christian-proclamation-might-make-the-go_3204937.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d6/mark-dever-3175_christian_christian-proclamation-might-make-the-go_3204937.png) > “Christian proclamation might make the gospel audible, but Christians living together in local congregations make the gospel visible (see John 13:34-35). The church is the gospel made visible.” [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) ## 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 distinguishes between preaching the gospel and living it out in community, arguing that visible Christian fellowship demonstrates the gospel. **In simple terms:** Living together shows the gospel more than words. Key Takeaway Cultivate authentic community. Themes faith community witness Mood hopeful inspirational Type theological practical When to use this quote - church gatherings - small groups - service projects - daily interactions - online faith communities Key Concepts incarnation social witness Questions to Reflect On - How does community reflect belief? - What practices make faith visible? A Different Perspective Community alone may not guarantee gospel truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian Proclamation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-proclamation-1762094/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church Gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-gospel-1394408/) [Congregation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congregation/) [Gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel/) [Gospel Visible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel-visible-3553280/) [Living together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-together/) [Locals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/locals/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Make Gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-gospel-2877837/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Proclamation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proclamation/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Visible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visible/) ## Related quotes > [The church is the gospel made visible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/the-church-is-the-gospel-made-visible/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [For every Christian, the proclamation and witnessing of the Gospel are never an isolated act. This is important. For every Christian the proclamation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/for-every-christian-the-proclamation-and-witnessing-of-the-gospel-are/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [In restating this basic Christian doctrine, Benedict argues that it is not only for Christians alone. Others may not share the Christian faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-j-de-souza/in-restating-this-basic-christian-doctrine-benedict-argues-that-it-is/) [Raymond J. de Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-j-de-souza/) > [Contemporary Christian proclamation is faced with the question whether, when it demands faith from men and women, it expects them to acknowledge this mythical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-bultmann/contemporary-christian-proclamation-is-faced-with-the-question/) [Rudolf Bultmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-bultmann/) > [“Believers must step out of the four walls of the church and take the gospel of the kingdom into every sphere of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/believers-must-step-out-of-the-four-walls-of-the-church-and-take-the/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [It's a blessing to know that the church and the gospel are the same no matter where I go. I can find a church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weddle/it-s-a-blessing-to-know-that-the-church-and-the-gospel-are-the-same/) [Eric Weddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weddle/) > [“Somebody says that a student is down here at BYU and he's a member of the church, but he's a mess. And I say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-eyring/somebody-says-that-a-student-is-down-here-at-byu-and-he-s-a-member-of/) [Henry Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-eyring/) > [“...people who've been hit with the gospel respond naturally with radically changed lives and hearts. The church and the ministries of the church are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-montgomery/people-who-ve-been-hit-with-the-gospel-respond-naturally-with/) [Daniel Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-montgomery/) > [I realize that my ministry would someday come to an end. I am only one in a glorious chain of men and women God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-realize-that-my-ministry-would-someday-come-to-an-end-i-am-only-one/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [In our manner of speech, our plans of living, our dealings with others, our conduct and walk in the church and out of it-all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-c-barnes/in-our-manner-of-speech-our-plans-of-living-our-dealings-with-others/) [Albert C. Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-c-barnes/) > [I wasn't allowed to listen to a lot of music growing up. It wasn't until I started to make my gospel record when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/i-wasn-t-allowed-to-listen-to-a-lot-of-music-growing-up-it-wasn-t/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [My heart is still there in gospel music. It never left . . . I'm gonna make a gospel record and tell Jesus I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aretha-franklin/my-heart-is-still-there-in-gospel-music-it-never-left-i-m-gonna-make/) [Aretha Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aretha-franklin/) > [Young people in particular, I appeal to you: bear witness to your faith through the digital world!…Employ these new technologies to make the Gospel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/young-people-in-particular-i-appeal-to-you-bear-witness-to-your-faith/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Trying to make the Gospel relevant is like trying to make water wet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/trying-to-make-the-gospel-relevant-is-like-trying-to-make-water-wet/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [Just because you assume something does NOT make it the GOSPEL.Make sure you've heard all sides of the story before you judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/just-because-you-assume-something-does-not-make-it-the-gospel-make/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) ## More by Mark Dever > [“not the writings that come from prophets inspired by the one true God revealed in Jesus Christ, then why do we find those passages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/not-the-writings-that-come-from-prophets-inspired-by-the-one-true-god/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I think it's unhelpful to suggest that the task of evangelism is essentially the responsibility of ministers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/i-think-it-s-unhelpful-to-suggest-that-the-task-of-evangelism-is/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [ T\]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [What really concerns me is for Christians to understand the fundamentals of evangelism in a way that is helpful in the contemporary scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christians-to-understand-the/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [Prayer is the preview of God's action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/prayer-is-the-preview-of-god-s-action/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I assume that normally the Lord will be bringing people to himself through the instrumentality of the preached word. However, we have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/i-assume-that-normally-the-lord-will-be-bringing-people-to-himself/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [“The motive for discipling others begins in the love of God and nothing less. He has loved us in Christ, and so we love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/the-motive-for-discipling-others-begins-in-the-love-of-god-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [If joy or urgency are missing from our presentation of the gospel, then our testimony to Christ will be missing that sort of fullness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/if-joy-or-urgency-are-missing-from-our-presentation-of-the-gospel/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [“Yet the Bible teaches that the local church is the natural environment for discipling. In fact, it teaches that the local church is itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/yet-the-bible-teaches-that-the-local-church-is-the-natural/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [Sin claims to free but in fact it kills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/sin-claims-to-free-but-in-fact-it-kills/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [Some believers are faithful in the way that they live, but at the end of the day, they will not share the gospel with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/some-believers-are-faithful-in-the-way-that-they-live-but-at-the-end/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [We do not fail in our evangelism if we faithfully tell the gospel to someone who is not subsequently converted; we fail only if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/we-do-not-fail-in-our-evangelism-if-we-faithfully-tell-the-gospel-to/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [Once we see more of our need and understand more of what Christ has done for us, he will become more precious to us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/once-we-see-more-of-our-need-and-understand-more-of-what-christ-has/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [Unfortunately, many of our churches calibrate their life to these nominal Christians. The predictable result is that you get fake, hypocritical churches that confuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/unfortunately-many-of-our-churches-calibrate-their-life-to-these/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) [Explore all 137 Mark Dever quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) ## More Christian quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/) [Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/) > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) [Browse all 14,306 Christian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Christian proclamation might make the gospel audible, but Christians living together in local congregations make the gospel visible (see John 13:34-35). The church is the gospel made visible.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Dever" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/christian-proclamation-might-make-the-gospel-audible-but-christians/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/christian-proclamation-might-make-the-gospel-audible-but-christians/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d6/mark-dever-3175_christian_christian-proclamation-might-make-the-go_3204937.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d6/mark-dever-3175_christian_christian-proclamation-might-make-the-go_3204937.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d6/mark-dever-3175_christian_christian-proclamation-might-make-the-go_3204937.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Christian proclamation might make the gospel audible, but Christians living together in local congregations…” — Mark Dever", "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": "Mark Dever", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Christian proclamation might make the gospel...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/christian-proclamation-might-make-the-gospel-audible-but-christians/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/christian-proclamation-might-make-the-gospel-audible-but-christians/#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 } } ] } ```