--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A Christian in his surroundings should…" description: "\"A Christian in his surroundings should encourage everyone to be better, instead of being the one who stoops to be like everyone else.\" — Max Lucado" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a0/max-lucado-190_christian_a-christian-in-his-surroundings-should-e_88175.jpg" --- # A Christian in his surroundings should encourage everyone… ![“A Christian in his surroundings should encourage everyone to be better, instead of being the one who stoops to be like everyone else.” quote by Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a0/max-lucado-190_christian_a-christian-in-his-surroundings-should-e_88175.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a0/max-lucado-190_christian_a-christian-in-his-surroundings-should-e_88175.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a0/max-lucado-190_christian_a-christian-in-his-surroundings-should-e_88175.jpg) > “A Christian in his surroundings should encourage everyone to be better, instead of being the one who stoops to be like everyone else.” [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) ## 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 lead by uplifting others rather than conforming to mediocrity, promoting moral leadership. **In simple terms:** Uplift, moral leadership Key Takeaway True faith inspires others Themes faith leadership morality inspiration community Mood inspirational serene Type advice sermon When to use this quote - church sermon - faith‑based mentorship program - personal reflection Key Concepts Christian ethics social responsibility Practical Applications - community outreach - leadership training Questions to Reflect On - In what ways can one model better behavior? - How does humility differ from conformity? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-instead-1103568/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Encourage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encourage/) [Encourage Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encourage-better-1103566/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Stoops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stoops/) [Surroundings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surroundings/) [Surroundings Encourage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surroundings-encourage-1103567/) ## Related quotes > [“Things that are falling apart encourage me: whatever else, I’m in better shape than they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/things-that-are-falling-apart-encourage-me-whatever-else-i-m-in/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I'm trying to better myself. But instead of being proud of me, you bring me down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-trying-to-better-myself-but-instead-of-being-proud-of-me-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Aspire to do better. Instead of being the leader of the group, be the little person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-m-johnson/aspire-to-do-better-instead-of-being-the-leader-of-the-group-be-the/) [Jake M. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-m-johnson/) > [I think one thing I've always focused on is getting better instead of getting somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hurd/i-think-one-thing-i-ve-always-focused-on-is-getting-better-instead-of/) [Ryan Hurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hurd/) > [Sometimes it is better to move on instead of being the only one willing to fix it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/insane-insomniac/sometimes-it-is-better-to-move-on-instead-of-being-the-only-one/) [Insane & Insomniac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/insane-insomniac/) > [“What if our better nature wasn't better after all? But was instead, well, just nature?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dutton/what-if-our-better-nature-wasn-t-better-after-all-but-was-instead/) [Kevin Dutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dutton/) > [Never try to be better instead try to be the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-country/never-try-to-be-better-instead-try-to-be-the-best/) [Michael Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-country/) > [Don't fool people to think you are better than who you are. Instead of trying to act changed, pray that you will be changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/don-t-fool-people-to-think-you-are-better-than-who-you-are-instead-of/) [LeCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [If you promise you will get better instead of dying, I promise I will, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-sonnenblick/if-you-promise-you-will-get-better-instead-of-dying-i-promise-i-will/) [Jordan Sonnenblick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-sonnenblick/) > [Reformers have long observed city people loitering on busy corners, hanging around in candy stores and bars and drinking soda popon stoops, and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/reformers-have-long-observed-city-people-loitering-on-busy-corners/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [Just let matters slide. How much better to accept each sweet drop of the honey that was Time, than to stoop to the vulgarity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/just-let-matters-slide-how-much-better-to-accept-each-sweet-drop-of/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [Wealth accumulates, and men decay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/wealth-accumulates-and-men-decay/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [A man never stoops so low as when he rises to the challenge of politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/a-man-never-stoops-so-low-as-when-he-rises-to-the-challenge-of/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [To what will love not stoop!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/to-what-will-love-not-stoop/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [I think the public doesn't understand that one of the reasons I haven't stood up for myself is because in order to do that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-broadwell/i-think-the-public-doesn-t-understand-that-one-of-the-reasons-i-haven/) [Paula Broadwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-broadwell/) ## More by Max Lucado > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [When we look at the love of Christ, we make a wonderful discovery. Love is more a decision than an emotion! Christ-like love applauds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/when-we-look-at-the-love-of-christ-we-make-a-wonderful-discovery-love/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [You will be at your best forever, Even now you have good moments. Occasional glimpses of your heavenly self. When you change your baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-will-be-at-your-best-forever-even-now-you-have-good-moments/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“Ageing. We laugh about it, and we groan about it. We resist it, but we cant't stop it. And with the chuckles and wrinkles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/ageing-we-laugh-about-it-and-we-groan-about-it-we-resist-it-but-we/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“You’ve already learned, haven’t you, that a promise made is not always a promise kept? Just because someone is called your dad, that doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-ve-already-learned-haven-t-you-that-a-promise-made-is-not-always/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [God is near whether you sense His presence or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-is-near-whether-you-sense-his-presence-or-not/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [If you're feeling pain, express that to the Lord. If you're feeling worried, express those worries. One passage that gives me comfort is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-you-re-feeling-pain-express-that-to-the-lord-if-you-re-feeling/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [The church is never a place to show off. Do your good deeds quietly. Serve; don't seek to be seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/the-church-is-never-a-place-to-show-off-do-your-good-deeds-quietly/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [If there are a thousand steps between us and God, He will take all but one. He will leave the final one for us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-there-are-a-thousand-steps-between-us-and-god-he-will-take-all-but/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [God's love never ceases. Never... God doesn't love us less if we fail or more if we succeed. God's love never ceases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-s-love-never-ceases-never-god-doesn-t-love-us-less-if-we-fail-or/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Are you on the eve of change? Embrace it. Accept it. Don't resist it. Change is not only a part of life, change is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/are-you-on-the-eve-of-change-embrace-it-accept-it-don-t-resist-it/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [There's no limit to God's love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/there-s-no-limit-to-god-s-love/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [God will use whatever he wants to display his glory. Heavens and stars. History and nations. People and problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-will-use-whatever-he-wants-to-display-his-glory-heavens-and-stars/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Whether or not storms come, we can not choose. But where we stare during a storm, that we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/whether-or-not-storms-come-we-can-not-choose-but-where-we-stare/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Write today's worries in sand. Chisel yesterday's victories in stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/write-today-s-worries-in-sand-chisel-yesterday-s-victories-in-stone/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) [Explore all 968 Max Lucado quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) ## 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. 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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": "A Christian in his surroundings should encourage everyone to be better, instead of being the one who stoops to be like everyone else.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Max Lucado" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/a-christian-in-his-surroundings-should-encourage-everyone-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/a-christian-in-his-surroundings-should-encourage-everyone-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a0/max-lucado-190_christian_a-christian-in-his-surroundings-should-e_88175.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a0/max-lucado-190_christian_a-christian-in-his-surroundings-should-e_88175.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a0/max-lucado-190_christian_a-christian-in-his-surroundings-should-e_88175.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A Christian in his surroundings should encourage everyone to be better, instead of being the one who stoops…” — Max Lucado", "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": "Max Lucado", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A Christian in his surroundings should...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/a-christian-in-his-surroundings-should-encourage-everyone-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/a-christian-in-his-surroundings-should-encourage-everyone-to-be/#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 } } ] } ```