--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What really concerns me is for Christians…" description: "\"What really concerns me is for Christians to understand the fundamentals of evangelism in a way that is helpful in the contemporary scene.\" — Mark Dever" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/mark-dever-3175_christian_what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christian_4532.png" --- # What really concerns me is for Christians to understand… ![“What really concerns me is for Christians to understand the fundamentals of evangelism in a way that is helpful in the contemporary scene.” quote by Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/mark-dever-3175_christian_what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christian_4532.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/mark-dever-3175_christian_what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christian_4532.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/mark-dever-3175_christian_what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christian_4532.png) > “What really concerns me is for Christians to understand the fundamentals of evangelism in a way that is helpful in the contemporary scene.” [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. A call for Christians to grasp core evangelistic principles in a manner that resonates with modern cultural contexts. **In simple terms:** Modernizing evangelism fundamentals. Key Takeaway Align timeless doctrine with contemporary relevance. Themes Faith practice Cultural adaptation Evangelism strategy Contemporary relevance Mood Urgency Hope Responsibility Type Exhortation Instruction When to use this quote - Teaching church leaders - Designing outreach programs - Addressing secular audiences - Developing digital evangelism Key Concepts Fundamentals of evangelism Christian worldview Modern communication channels Cultural sensitivity Practical Applications - Creating training curricula - Facilitating intergenerational dialogue Questions to Reflect On - What core elements of evangelism risk being lost in translation? - How can tradition inform innovation without dilution? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Evangelism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evangelism/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [“Those who withdraw Christianity from the social order to “focus on evangelism” narrow down our engagement in a similar way. I hope it goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-forster/those-who-withdraw-christianity-from-the-social-order-to-focus-on/) [Greg Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-forster/) > [“Unfortunately, most Christians do not understand the battle they are fighting, the enemy that they face, or the means God has provided to overcome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-ingram/unfortunately-most-christians-do-not-understand-the-battle-they-are/) [Chip Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-ingram/) > [I think it's very hard for us, for Christians, to understand that it's okay to read a book, for instance, on how to manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/i-think-it-s-very-hard-for-us-for-christians-to-understand-that-it-s/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [Many Christians understand the Bible to be a collection of stories without an overarching narrative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kim/many-christians-understand-the-bible-to-be-a-collection-of-stories/) [David Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kim/) > [“we want non-Christians to understand the essentials of our faith so that whether they receive or reject Jesus,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/we-want-non-christians-to-understand-the-essentials-of-our-faith-so/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [If we serve the same God, as Christians we should understand him the same way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-khashane-msendevu/if-we-serve-the-same-god-as-christians-we-should-understand-him-the/) [Wilson Khashane Msendevu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-khashane-msendevu/) > [“Christians who understand biblical truth and have the courage to live it out can indeed redeem a culture, or even create one. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/christians-who-understand-biblical-truth-and-have-the-courage-to-live/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) > [Today we cannot assume people, even all Christians, understand the Bible's implicit, underlying view of reality. We have to dig it out and show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/today-we-cannot-assume-people-even-all-christians-understand-the/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [Few Christians understand the concept of eternal rewards, even thought the Lord dedicated a great deal of His precious time on earth to teaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-burkett/few-christians-understand-the-concept-of-eternal-rewards-even-thought/) [Larry Burkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-burkett/) > [I think if we don't fix the economy and if we don't fix foreign policy, we won't have the luxury of dealing with domestic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/i-think-if-we-don-t-fix-the-economy-and-if-we-don-t-fix-foreign/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [Christians must understand most emphatically that the world around us is in conflict with the Word within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/christians-must-understand-most-emphatically-that-the-world-around-us/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [The holiest of Christians, and those who understand best the gospel of Christ, find in themselves a constant inclination to look to the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-holiest-of-christians-and-those-who-understand-best-the-gospel-of/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## 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/) > [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 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": "What really concerns me is for Christians to understand the fundamentals of evangelism in a way that is helpful in the contemporary scene.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Dever" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christians-to-understand-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christians-to-understand-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/mark-dever-3175_christian_what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christian_4532.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/mark-dever-3175_christian_what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christian_4532.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/mark-dever-3175_christian_what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christian_4532.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What really concerns me is for Christians to understand the fundamentals of evangelism in a way that is…” — 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": "What really concerns me is for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christians-to-understand-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christians-to-understand-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 } } ] } ```