--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The big idea here is not, have you…" description: "\"“The big idea here is not, have you sinned, but are you changing?”\" — Mark Driscoll" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/mark-driscoll-2287_big-idea_the-big-idea-here-is-not-have-you-sinned_3231864.png" --- # The big idea here is not, have you sinned, but are you… ![“The big idea here is not, have you sinned, but are you changing?” quote by Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/mark-driscoll-2287_big-idea_the-big-idea-here-is-not-have-you-sinned_3231864.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/mark-driscoll-2287_big-idea_the-big-idea-here-is-not-have-you-sinned_3231864.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/mark-driscoll-2287_big-idea_the-big-idea-here-is-not-have-you-sinned_3231864.png) > ““The big idea here is not, have you sinned, but are you changing?”” [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True change is measured by ongoing transformation, not merely past faults. **In simple terms:** Change matters more than guilt. Key Takeaway Focus on continual growth. Themes redemption personal growth responsibility Mood hopeful determined Type religious motivational When to use this quote - spiritual counseling - self‑assessment - life coaching Key Concepts theology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What steps are you taking to change? - How do you avoid falling back into old habits? A Different Perspective Change can be uncomfortable and slow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-idea/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-your-life/) [Discipleship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipleship/) [Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance/) ## Related quotes > [“Father forgive me for I have sinned. -Damian”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-tomasi/father-forgive-me-for-i-have-sinned-damian/) Peter J. Tomasi > [Had the Holy Spirit not been with Jesus, He would have sinned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-hinn/had-the-holy-spirit-not-been-with-jesus-he-would-have-sinned/) [Benny Hinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-hinn/) > [But the guilt goes even deeper than that. It, too, is dust: Layers and layers of it have accumulated. Because if it weren’t for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/but-the-guilt-goes-even-deeper-than-that-it-too-is-dust-layers-and/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [You're never so bad you can't have a Savior, no matter how much you've sinned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kimmel/you-re-never-so-bad-you-can-t-have-a-savior-no-matter-how-much-you-ve/) [Tim Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kimmel/) > [We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. So when we are in the mess, remember Jesus made it right.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jud-wilhite/we-have-all-sinned-and-fall-short-of-the-glory-of-god-so-when-we-are/) [Jud Wilhite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jud-wilhite/) > [If we consider how greatly he has sinned against the masses in the course of the centuries, how he has squeezed and sucked the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/if-we-consider-how-greatly-he-has-sinned-against-the-masses-in-the/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/for-if-god-did-not-spare-angels-when-they-sinned-but-cast-them-into/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [I have sinned against you, my Lord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-swaggart/i-have-sinned-against-you-my-lord/) [Jimmy Swaggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-swaggart/) > [“I'm blessed, for I have sinned with the best damned fuck in the universe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-ridgway/i-m-blessed-for-i-have-sinned-with-the-best-damned-fuck-in-the/) [Christie Ridgway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-ridgway/) > [Christianity teaches that when man sinned, God opted for forgiveness rather than fairness. He opted for grace and mercy rather than justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/christianity-teaches-that-when-man-sinned-god-opted-for-forgiveness/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [No matter how much you've sinned, no matter how much you've stumbled, no matter how much you fall, no matter how far you've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/no-matter-how-much-you-ve-sinned-no-matter-how-much-you-ve-stumbled/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [He who repents of having sinned is almost innocent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/he-who-repents-of-having-sinned-is-almost-innocent/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [“the pair of us were inextricably linked together. We must have sinned against each other in a previous existence, so that each of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jia-pingwa/the-pair-of-us-were-inextricably-linked-together-we-must-have-sinned/) [Jia Pingwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jia-pingwa/) > [You can rake the muck this way, rake the muck that way-- it will always be muck. Have I sinned or have I not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-buber/you-can-rake-the-muck-this-way-rake-the-muck-that-way-it-will-always/) [Martin Buber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-buber/) > [Repentance always brings a person to the point of saying, “I have sinned.” The surest sign that God is at work in his life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/repentance-always-brings-a-person-to-the-point-of-saying-i-have/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) ## More by Mark Driscoll > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [A single woman should only marry a man she can follow: Ladies if you are single, be very, very careful who you date and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/a-single-woman-should-only-marry-a-man-she-can-follow-ladies-if-you/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [ “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.”\[213\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/to-live-is-christ-and-to-die-is-gain-213/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“The “who” question does not seek answers from God as much as it seeks God himself. The one who asks who seeks to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/the-who-question-does-not-seek-answers-from-god-as-much-as-it-seeks/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“The book of Luke is the account of the Spirit-empowered ministry of Jesus on the earth, and Acts is the account of the Spirit-empowered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/the-book-of-luke-is-the-account-of-the-spirit-empowered-ministry-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [This world needs more than good works. It needs good news. Good works come out of the good news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/this-world-needs-more-than-good-works-it-needs-good-news-good-works/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [There is a pile of dead bodies behind the Mars Hill bus, and by God's grace, it'll be a mountain by the time we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/there-is-a-pile-of-dead-bodies-behind-the-mars-hill-bus-and-by-god-s/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“Contextualization is about showing the relevance of the gospel, not making the gospel relevant. That’s the essence of contextualization.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/contextualization-is-about-showing-the-relevance-of-the-gospel-not/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“To make matters worse, seemingly every book I read by Christians on sex and marriage sounded unfair. Nearly every one said the husband had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/to-make-matters-worse-seemingly-every-book-i-read-by-christians-on/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [While this may look loving, when we struggle with an idol of dependence, we’re in fact not loving people as much as we’re using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/while-this-may-look-loving-when-we-struggle-with-an-idol-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [Fear is vision without hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/fear-is-vision-without-hope/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [The only thing worse than dying is living a boring life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/the-only-thing-worse-than-dying-is-living-a-boring-life/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“Overt persecution is a daily threat to millions of Christians around the world. Visit Persecution.org to read about current examples of such cases and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/overt-persecution-is-a-daily-threat-to-millions-of-christians-around/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [Work like an Arminian, sleep like a Calvinist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/work-like-an-arminian-sleep-like-a-calvinist/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“The essence of masculinity is taking responsibility for yourself, then a wife, then children. These are the kinds of things the Bible says qualify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/the-essence-of-masculinity-is-taking-responsibility-for-yourself-then/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) [Explore all 174 Mark Driscoll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) ## More Big idea quotes > [I am not going to make promises I can't keep. I am not going to talk about big ideas like single-payer and then not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-not-going-to-make-promises-i-can-t-keep-i-am-not-going-to-talk/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I really like Kickstarter because you don't have to be a Medici to fund the arts and sciences or to get behind a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-gansky/i-really-like-kickstarter-because-you-don-t-have-to-be-a-medici-to/) [Lisa Gansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-gansky/) > [Believe in something larger than yourself... get involved in the big ideas of your time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/believe-in-something-larger-than-yourself-get-involved-in-the-big/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [“You want the story of my life? Big ideas, small results.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-stanwyck/you-want-the-story-of-my-life-big-ideas-small-results/) [Barbara Stanwyck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-stanwyck/) > [It takes a big idea to attract the attention of consumers and get them to buy your product. Unless your advertising contains a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/it-takes-a-big-idea-to-attract-the-attention-of-consumers-and-get/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [The only big ideas I've ever had came from daydreaming, but modern life keeps people from daydreaming. Every moment of the day your mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-maccready/the-only-big-ideas-i-ve-ever-had-came-from-daydreaming-but-modern/) [Paul MacCready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-maccready/) > [You will never win fame and fortune unless you invent big ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/you-will-never-win-fame-and-fortune-unless-you-invent-big-ideas/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [People laugh at me because I use big words. But if you have big ideas, you have to use big words to express them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-laugh-at-me-because-i-use-big-words-but-if-you-have-big-ideas/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All the big ideas for getting us onto a lower carbon trajectory involve a lot of people doing a lot of work, and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/all-the-big-ideas-for-getting-us-onto-a-lower-carbon-trajectory/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [I've never been shy about big ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-x-suarez/i-ve-never-been-shy-about-big-ideas/) [Francis X. Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-x-suarez/) > [“The path to success involves two parts. Part One is all about imagination and dreaming up a big idea. Part Two is all about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-clark/the-path-to-success-involves-two-parts-part-one-is-all-about/) [Clay Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-clark/) > [You never know when some small thing will lead to a big idea. Travel is very inspirational - but it's in the ordinary that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriana-trigiani/you-never-know-when-some-small-thing-will-lead-to-a-big-idea-travel/) [Adriana Trigiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriana-trigiani/) > [The job of the leader is to get the big ideas right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/the-job-of-the-leader-is-to-get-the-big-ideas-right/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [“There is a current perception is that science has overtaken Philosophy and in effect rendered Philosophy irrelevant. Science, when sufficiently abstracted, approaches Philosophy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-golway/there-is-a-current-perception-is-that-science-has-overtaken/) [Tom Golway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-golway/) > [I always tell people that revelling in big ideas for me is kind of like an antidote to existential angst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-silva/i-always-tell-people-that-revelling-in-big-ideas-for-me-is-kind-of/) [Jason Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-silva/) [Browse all 254 Big idea quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-idea/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The big idea here is not, have you sinned, but are you changing?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Driscoll" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/the-big-idea-here-is-not-have-you-sinned-but-are-you-changing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Big idea" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/the-big-idea-here-is-not-have-you-sinned-but-are-you-changing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/mark-driscoll-2287_big-idea_the-big-idea-here-is-not-have-you-sinned_3231864.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/mark-driscoll-2287_big-idea_the-big-idea-here-is-not-have-you-sinned_3231864.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/mark-driscoll-2287_big-idea_the-big-idea-here-is-not-have-you-sinned_3231864.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The big idea here is not, have you sinned, but are you changing?” — Mark Driscoll", "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 Driscoll", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The big idea here is not,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/the-big-idea-here-is-not-have-you-sinned-but-are-you-changing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/the-big-idea-here-is-not-have-you-sinned-but-are-you-changing/#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 } } ] } ```