--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But it's true I hadn't realised quite how…" description: "\"But it's true I hadn't realised quite how much the discipleship of Jesus Christ would involve keeping up with email.\" — Richard Coles" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/richard-coles-14161_email_but-it-s-true-i-hadn-t-realised-quite-ho_1949675.jpg" --- # But it's true I hadn't realised quite how much the… ![“But it's true I hadn't realised quite how much the discipleship of Jesus Christ would involve keeping up with email.” quote by Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/richard-coles-14161_email_but-it-s-true-i-hadn-t-realised-quite-ho_1949675.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/richard-coles-14161_email_but-it-s-true-i-hadn-t-realised-quite-ho_1949675.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/richard-coles-14161_email_but-it-s-true-i-hadn-t-realised-quite-ho_1949675.jpg) > “But it's true I hadn't realised quite how much the discipleship of Jesus Christ would involve keeping up with email.” [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The modern demands of discipleship clash humorously with everyday tasks like email, highlighting the tension between spiritual commitment and contemporary life. **In simple terms:** Spiritual life can feel like ordinary chores. Key Takeaway Balance faith with daily responsibilities. Themes faith modern life humor discipleship Mood lighthearted thoughtful Type conversational inspirational When to use this quote - church work - remote work - personal devotion - time management Key Concepts spiritual discipline digital overload religious practice Questions to Reflect On - How do you integrate spiritual practice into routine tasks? - What boundaries help you keep faith distinct from digital noise? A Different Perspective Risk of trivializing deep spiritual work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christ Involve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ-involve-3156429/) [Discipleship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipleship/) [Discipleship Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipleship-jesus-550097/) [Email](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/email/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Jesus christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus-christ/) [Keeping Email](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeping-email-3156428/) [Quite Discipleship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quite-discipleship-3156427/) [True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) ## Related quotes > [If we are serious about our discipleship, Jesus will eventually request each of us to do those very things which are most difficult for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/if-we-are-serious-about-our-discipleship-jesus-will-eventually/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [“I do not politicize Christianity nor my discipleship as Jesus did not politicize either His divinity nor his humanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/i-do-not-politicize-christianity-nor-my-discipleship-as-jesus-did-not/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [Your strengths develop your confidence; your weaknesses develop your faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/your-strengths-develop-your-confidence-your-weaknesses-develop-your/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) > [You cannot impart what you do not possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/you-cannot-impart-what-you-do-not-possess/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) > [We even talked like Hemingway characters, though in travesty, as if to deny our discipleship: That is your bed, and it is a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/we-even-talked-like-hemingway-characters-though-in-travesty-as-if-to/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [Jesus never discipled one-on-one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/jesus-never-discipled-one-on-one/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) > [“The evangelical wing of the Church spends a lot of energy on being "born again" but little time on "growing up" again. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-stockman/the-evangelical-wing-of-the-church-spends-a-lot-of-energy-on-being/) [Steve Stockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-stockman/) > [“(Bonhoeffer's) change was not an ungainly, embarrassing leap from which he would have to retreat slightly when he gained more maturity and perspective. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-s-change-was-not-an-ungainly-embarrassing-leap-from-which/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Christian discipleship is a decision to walk in his ways, steadily and firmly, and then finding that the way integrates all our interests, passions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-peterson/christian-discipleship-is-a-decision-to-walk-in-his-ways-steadily-and/) [Eugene Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-peterson/) > [“There is no shortcut for hard work that leads to effectiveness. You must stay disciplined because most of the work is behind the scenes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/there-is-no-shortcut-for-hard-work-that-leads-to-effectiveness-you/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“There are two choices: to be human, made in the image of God, with Jesus; warp to be in human, consumed with greed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mckenna/there-are-two-choices-to-be-human-made-in-the-image-of-god-with-jesus/) [Megan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mckenna/) > [Most neuroses and some psychoses can be traced to the unnecessary and unhealthy habit of daily wallowing in the troubles and sins of five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/most-neuroses-and-some-psychoses-can-be-traced-to-the-unnecessary-and/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [I have no disciples, being myself an aspirant after discipleship and in search of a guru.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-have-no-disciples-being-myself-an-aspirant-after-discipleship-and/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It is one thing being disciplined to plan and it is another thing being a disciple of great work. Be your own disciplinarian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-is-one-thing-being-disciplined-to-plan-and-it-is-another-thing/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“every church can treat each discipleship class and each worship service as an opportunity for continual rehearsal of what the words, stories, symbols, rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/every-church-can-treat-each-discipleship-class-and-each-worship/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) ## More by Richard Coles > [I spend much of my time in a broadly liberal secular world but I don't belong to it, I belong somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/i-spend-much-of-my-time-in-a-broadly-liberal-secular-world-but-i-don/) [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) > [God chooses to arrive among the poor and the insignificant and the politically awkward, so what are we missing when we overlook them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/god-chooses-to-arrive-among-the-poor-and-the-insignificant-and-the/) [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) > [The thought of having sclerosis of the synapses is alarming. I wonder if in later life I will pay the price for having overstimulated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/the-thought-of-having-sclerosis-of-the-synapses-is-alarming-i-wonder/) [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) > [There's more of me on Twitter than there is in real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/there-s-more-of-me-on-twitter-than-there-is-in-real-life/) [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) > [I suppose I've always had a very genuine curiosity about religion. I loved the atmosphere of churches, the ethos; I adored Evensong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/i-suppose-i-ve-always-had-a-very-genuine-curiosity-about-religion-i/) [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) > [This unthinking assumption of moral virtue on the Left is frustrating. I saw someone on Facebook talking about capitalist scum, he was angry and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/this-unthinking-assumption-of-moral-virtue-on-the-left-is-frustrating/) [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) > [In corporate life, I have noticed, it is getting harder and harder to say that things are bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/in-corporate-life-i-have-noticed-it-is-getting-harder-and-harder-to/) [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) > [I am not in favour of hierarchies that grant privileges to members who fail to uphold those values - there are plenty of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/i-am-not-in-favour-of-hierarchies-that-grant-privileges-to-members/) [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) > [Trying to do Christianity properly is tough. Life as a priest is rigorous and disciplined. It involves sacrifices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/trying-to-do-christianity-properly-is-tough-life-as-a-priest-is/) [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) > [I got lucky with my parents. They were unfailingly loving and supportive, which gave me confidence about my place in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/i-got-lucky-with-my-parents-they-were-unfailingly-loving-and/) [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) > [I don't think you need to justify faith, faith is its own justification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/i-don-t-think-you-need-to-justify-faith-faith-is-its-own-justification/) [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) > [I will be doing a lot of human interest interviews. It involves empathising and listening. Which is a lot of what my day job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/i-will-be-doing-a-lot-of-human-interest-interviews-it-involves/) [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) > [I don't think of myself as a maverick at all. Quite the opposite - I really think of myself as quite conventional but dispersed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-maverick-at-all-quite-the-opposite-i/) [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) > [Jesus comes among us, in our all division, not to instruct, comfort or inspire but to die. In doing so, He answers the sum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/jesus-comes-among-us-in-our-all-division-not-to-instruct-comfort-or/) [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) > [Like most people, I cook about a dozen dishes, over and over again, and to stretch the menu has meant stretching my competence to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/like-most-people-i-cook-about-a-dozen-dishes-over-and-over-again-and/) [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) [Explore all 47 Richard Coles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) ## More Discipleship quotes > [“every church can treat each discipleship class and each worship service as an opportunity for continual rehearsal of what the words, stories, symbols, rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/every-church-can-treat-each-discipleship-class-and-each-worship/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [“It is one thing being disciplined to plan and it is another thing being a disciple of great work. Be your own disciplinarian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-is-one-thing-being-disciplined-to-plan-and-it-is-another-thing/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I have no disciples, being myself an aspirant after discipleship and in search of a guru.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-have-no-disciples-being-myself-an-aspirant-after-discipleship-and/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Most neuroses and some psychoses can be traced to the unnecessary and unhealthy habit of daily wallowing in the troubles and sins of five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/most-neuroses-and-some-psychoses-can-be-traced-to-the-unnecessary-and/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“There are two choices: to be human, made in the image of God, with Jesus; warp to be in human, consumed with greed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mckenna/there-are-two-choices-to-be-human-made-in-the-image-of-god-with-jesus/) [Megan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mckenna/) > [“There is no shortcut for hard work that leads to effectiveness. You must stay disciplined because most of the work is behind the scenes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/there-is-no-shortcut-for-hard-work-that-leads-to-effectiveness-you/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“Christian discipleship is a decision to walk in his ways, steadily and firmly, and then finding that the way integrates all our interests, passions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-peterson/christian-discipleship-is-a-decision-to-walk-in-his-ways-steadily-and/) [Eugene Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-peterson/) > [“(Bonhoeffer's) change was not an ungainly, embarrassing leap from which he would have to retreat slightly when he gained more maturity and perspective. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-s-change-was-not-an-ungainly-embarrassing-leap-from-which/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“The evangelical wing of the Church spends a lot of energy on being "born again" but little time on "growing up" again. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-stockman/the-evangelical-wing-of-the-church-spends-a-lot-of-energy-on-being/) [Steve Stockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-stockman/) > [Jesus never discipled one-on-one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/jesus-never-discipled-one-on-one/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) > [We even talked like Hemingway characters, though in travesty, as if to deny our discipleship: That is your bed, and it is a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/we-even-talked-like-hemingway-characters-though-in-travesty-as-if-to/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [You cannot impart what you do not possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/you-cannot-impart-what-you-do-not-possess/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) > [Your strengths develop your confidence; your weaknesses develop your faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/your-strengths-develop-your-confidence-your-weaknesses-develop-your/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) > [Discipleship' as a term has lost its content, and this is one reason why it has been moved aside. I've tried to redeem the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/discipleship-as-a-term-has-lost-its-content-and-this-is-one-reason/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“Being saved by discipleship is not a human possibility, but for God all things are possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-combs/being-saved-by-discipleship-is-not-a-human-possibility-but-for-god/) [Rodney Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-combs/) [Browse all 545 Discipleship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipleship/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But it's true I hadn't realised quite how much the discipleship of Jesus Christ would involve keeping up with email.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Coles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/but-it-s-true-i-hadn-t-realised-quite-how-much-the-discipleship-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Discipleship" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/but-it-s-true-i-hadn-t-realised-quite-how-much-the-discipleship-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/richard-coles-14161_email_but-it-s-true-i-hadn-t-realised-quite-ho_1949675.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/richard-coles-14161_email_but-it-s-true-i-hadn-t-realised-quite-ho_1949675.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/richard-coles-14161_email_but-it-s-true-i-hadn-t-realised-quite-ho_1949675.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But it's true I hadn't realised quite how much the discipleship of Jesus Christ would involve keeping up…” — Richard Coles", "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": "Richard Coles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But it's true I hadn't realised...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/but-it-s-true-i-hadn-t-realised-quite-how-much-the-discipleship-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/but-it-s-true-i-hadn-t-realised-quite-how-much-the-discipleship-of/#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 } } ] } ```