--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think it's unhelpful to suggest that…" description: "\"I think it's unhelpful to suggest that the task of evangelism is essentially the responsibility of ministers.\" — Mark Dever" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/mark-dever-3175_evangelism_i-think-it-s-unhelpful-to-suggest-that-t_1739.png" --- # I think it's unhelpful to suggest that the task of… ![“I think it's unhelpful to suggest that the task of evangelism is essentially the responsibility of ministers.” quote by Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/mark-dever-3175_evangelism_i-think-it-s-unhelpful-to-suggest-that-t_1739.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/mark-dever-3175_evangelism_i-think-it-s-unhelpful-to-suggest-that-t_1739.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/mark-dever-3175_evangelism_i-think-it-s-unhelpful-to-suggest-that-t_1739.png) > “I think it's unhelpful to suggest that the task of evangelism is essentially the responsibility of ministers.” [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. Challenges the notion that spreading faith is solely a clergy task, urging broader participation. **In simple terms:** Evangelism isn’t just ministers’ job. Key Takeaway Everyone can share beliefs. Themes religious responsibility lay participation mission strategy Mood thought‑provoking encouraging Type challenge call to action When to use this quote - church outreach planning - faith‑based community projects Key Concepts clergy‑laity divide Practical Applications - training lay volunteers - creating inclusive evangelism resources Questions to Reflect On - What benefits arise when all members engage in outreach? - How might this shift affect institutional authority? A Different Perspective Some argue clergy have unique theological training that laypeople lack. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evangelism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evangelism/) [Evangelism Essentially](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evangelism-essentially-253893/) [Ministers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ministers/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Task Evangelism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/task-evangelism-253894/) [Tasks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tasks/) [Think Unhelpful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-unhelpful-253895/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Unhelpful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhelpful/) ## Related quotes > [My response to my friend Naheed Nenshi was simply to say that some of the hyperbolic language that's being used to critique this sensible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kenney/my-response-to-my-friend-naheed-nenshi-was-simply-to-say-that-some-of/) [Jason Kenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kenney/) > [The task of evangelism often involves preparing an open road so offenders can find their refuge in Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-anders/the-task-of-evangelism-often-involves-preparing-an-open-road-so/) [Max Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-anders/) > [There are actually only ever two pastoral problems you will ever encounter. The first is this: persuading those who are under the dominion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/there-are-actually-only-ever-two-pastoral-problems-you-will-ever/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [“Helpful is happy. Selfish is sad. (It's not uncommon to confuse the two.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/helpful-is-happy-selfish-is-sad-it-s-not-uncommon-to-confuse-the-two/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“We’ve searched all of the homes and carried the food to Ralph’s,” Sam continued. “The problem is that all the fruit and veggies spoiled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grant/we-ve-searched-all-of-the-homes-and-carried-the-food-to-ralph-s-sam/) [Michael Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grant/) > [“She couldn't or simply wouldn't understand why I wanted to sleep all the time, and she was always rubbing my nose in her moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottessa-moshfegh/she-couldn-t-or-simply-wouldn-t-understand-why-i-wanted-to-sleep-all/) [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) > [How do you express to one so eagerly ignorant that their glaring inherent ability to do evil is right then piercing through the veil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-johnson/how-do-you-express-to-one-so-eagerly-ignorant-that-their-glaring/) [Molly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-johnson/) > [The artistic temperament is particularly unhelpful if it is just that, with no end product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/the-artistic-temperament-is-particularly-unhelpful-if-it-is-just-that/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [“Talking to Reva about misery was insufferable. 'Look on the bright side,' was what she wanted everyone to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottessa-moshfegh/talking-to-reva-about-misery-was-insufferable-look-on-the-bright-side/) [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) > [“An effective plan consists of a set of rules that cover every possible misbehavior and a set of consequences that matter to students. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-linsin/an-effective-plan-consists-of-a-set-of-rules-that-cover-every/) [Michael Linsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-linsin/) > [With success comes unhelpful criticism - ignore it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/with-success-comes-unhelpful-criticism-ignore-it/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [I have stood by, confounded and speechless, while others have projected their stories over my narrative, each an excuse to appear helpful while remaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-johnson/i-have-stood-by-confounded-and-speechless-while-others-have-projected/) [Molly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-johnson/) > [Personally I think people's labels are terribly unhelpful because they enable you to dismiss things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/personally-i-think-people-s-labels-are-terribly-unhelpful-because/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) > [“Don't hang out with people who are: Ungrateful Unhelpful Unruly Unkindly Unloving Unambitious Unmotivated or make you feel... Uncomfortable”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/don-t-hang-out-with-people-who-are-ungrateful-unhelpful-unruly/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“…it is easier for us to examine the behaviour of the victim than it is for us to challenge the perpetrator. This may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-hennessy/it-is-easier-for-us-to-examine-the-behaviour-of-the-victim-than-it-is/) [Don Hennessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-hennessy/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [Friend, the church finds its life as it listens to the Word of God. It finds its purpose as it lives out and displays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/friend-the-church-finds-its-life-as-it-listens-to-the-word-of-god-it/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) [Explore all 137 Mark Dever quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) ## More Evangelism quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [Every man is a missionary, now and forever, for good or for evil, whether he intends or designs it or not. He may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/every-man-is-a-missionary-now-and-forever-for-good-or-for-evil/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [“Evangelism will come organically in friendship if we don’t let our pride, fears, and pessimism cause us to hide our faith and heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/evangelism-will-come-organically-in-friendship-if-we-don-t-let-our/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Be a Kingmaker, Not Just a King.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-seow-how/be-a-kingmaker-not-just-a-king/) [Tan Seow How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-seow-how/) > [“Author conveys contemporary respect for Methodist preachers who rode the circuit of frontier settlements to put themselves at risk for the Gospel near the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/author-conveys-contemporary-respect-for-methodist-preachers-who-rode/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [Well, the mission statement of Heart of David is that we're a ministry of evangelism and encouragement. Evangelism meaning that I evangelize I travel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/well-the-mission-statement-of-heart-of-david-is-that-we-re-a-ministry/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [May even the concept of unreached peoples be totally intolerable to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/may-even-the-concept-of-unreached-peoples-be-totally-intolerable-to-us/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [“Run to and fro everywhere, holy fires, beautiful fires; for you are the light of the world, nor are you put under a bushel.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/run-to-and-fro-everywhere-holy-fires-beautiful-fires-for-you-are-the/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“Most Christians have enormous respect for the space and freedom of others, it is only that they have found a joy in Jesus they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/most-christians-have-enormous-respect-for-the-space-and-freedom-of/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“Typical evangelism books always seem to locate airplanes as the most advantageous setting for evangelistic encounters, where, at 30,000 feet, restive unvelievers are unable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-s-mchugh/typical-evangelism-books-always-seem-to-locate-airplanes-as-the-most/) [Adam S. McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-s-mchugh/) > [“I’ve heard it said many times when talking about going to heaven, ‘You can’t take it with you.’ It’s true that you cannot take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-harden/i-ve-heard-it-said-many-times-when-talking-about-going-to-heaven-you/) [Van Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-harden/) > [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/) > [“A schoolmate of Matt Chandler's with the locker next to his: "I need to tell you about Jesus. When do you want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/a-schoolmate-of-matt-chandler-s-with-the-locker-next-to-his-i-need-to/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [“God directs his people not simply to worship but to sing his praises “before the nations.” We are called not simply to communicate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/god-directs-his-people-not-simply-to-worship-but-to-sing-his-praises/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) [Browse all 363 Evangelism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evangelism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think it's unhelpful to suggest that the task of evangelism is essentially the responsibility of ministers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Dever" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/i-think-it-s-unhelpful-to-suggest-that-the-task-of-evangelism-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Evangelism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/i-think-it-s-unhelpful-to-suggest-that-the-task-of-evangelism-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/mark-dever-3175_evangelism_i-think-it-s-unhelpful-to-suggest-that-t_1739.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/mark-dever-3175_evangelism_i-think-it-s-unhelpful-to-suggest-that-t_1739.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/mark-dever-3175_evangelism_i-think-it-s-unhelpful-to-suggest-that-t_1739.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think it's unhelpful to suggest that the task of evangelism is essentially the responsibility of ministers.” — 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": "I think it's unhelpful to suggest...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/i-think-it-s-unhelpful-to-suggest-that-the-task-of-evangelism-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/i-think-it-s-unhelpful-to-suggest-that-the-task-of-evangelism-is/#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 } } ] } ```