--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: DEVOTION TO GOD’S KINGDOM OVER SELF OR…" description: "\"“DEVOTION TO GOD’S KINGDOM OVER SELF OR TRIBE ENABLES SACRIFICE People in a church with movement dynamics put the vision ahead of their own interests a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/timothy-keller-240_devotion-to-god_devotion-to-god-s-kingdom-over-self-or-t_800391.png" --- # DEVOTION TO GOD’S KINGDOM OVER SELF OR TRIBE ENABLES… ![“DEVOTION TO GOD’S KINGDOM OVER SELF OR TRIBE ENABLES SACRIFICE People in a church with movement dynamics put the vision ahead of their own interests and needs. What matters to the members and staff is not their own individual interests, power, and perks, but the fulfillment of the vision. They…” quote by Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/timothy-keller-240_devotion-to-god_devotion-to-god-s-kingdom-over-self-or-t_800391.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/timothy-keller-240_devotion-to-god_devotion-to-god-s-kingdom-over-self-or-t_800391.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/timothy-keller-240_devotion-to-god_devotion-to-god-s-kingdom-over-self-or-t_800391.png) > ““DEVOTION TO GOD’S KINGDOM OVER SELF OR TRIBE ENABLES SACRIFICE People in a church with movement dynamics put the vision ahead of their own interests and needs. What matters to the members and staff is not their own individual interests, power, and perks, but the fulfillment of the vision. They want to see it realized through them, and this satisfaction is their main compensation. The willingness to sacrifice on the part of workers and members is perhaps the key practical index of whether you have become a movement or have become institutionalized. Members of a church with movement dynamics tend to be more self-motivated and need less direct oversight. They are self-starters. How does this happen? Selfless devotion is not something that leaders can create — indeed, it would be dangerous emotional manipulation to try to bring this about directly. Only leaders who have the vision and devotion can kindle this sacrificial spirit in others. A dynamic Christian movement convinces its people — truthfully — that they are participating in God’s redemptive plan in a profoundly important and practical way. Participants say things like, “I’ve never felt more useful to the Lord and to others.” Church meetings in movement-oriented churches feel deeply spiritual. There is much more “majoring in the majors” — the cross, the Spirit, the grace of Jesus. People spend more time in worship and prayer.”” [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When leaders embody a higher vision, members willingly sacrifice personal interests, fostering a self‑driven movement rather than a rigid institution. **In simple terms:** Selfless devotion fuels thriving communities. Key Takeaway Cultivate vision‑driven leadership. Themes leadership community spirituality Mood inspirational thoughtful Type religious motivational When to use this quote - church leadership - team building - non‑profit management Key Concepts mission self‑sacrifice motivation Questions to Reflect On - What practices sustain healthy sacrifice? - How to differentiate genuine devotion from coercion? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on sacrifice can lead to burnout or manipulation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Devotion to god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotion-to-god/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) ## Related quotes > [“How much self-love comes in the guise of selfless devotion!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/how-much-self-love-comes-in-the-guise-of-selfless-devotion/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [“with faith,discipline and selfless devotion to the duty,there is nothing worthwhile that you cannot achieve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali-jinnah/with-faith-discipline-and-selfless-devotion-to-the-duty-there-is/) [Muhammad Ali Jinnah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali-jinnah/) > [“I want to live not for selfish gain, but for selfless devotion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanner-di-bella/i-want-to-live-not-for-selfish-gain-but-for-selfless-devotion/) Tanner Di Bella > [“Church historians often ask, ‘Is the church a movement or an institution?' . . . I think it is both. . . . I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-l-shelley/church-historians-often-ask-is-the-church-a-movement-or-an/) [Bruce L. Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-l-shelley/) > [The Church is not a movement but a meeting place, the trysting-place of all the truths in the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-church-is-not-a-movement-but-a-meeting-place-the-trysting-place/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To Christy Wimber: "Are you even aware of the massive growth of the 'organic' home church movement in the USA??? They are primarily comprised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/to-christy-wimber-are-you-even-aware-of-the-massive-growth-of-the/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [When the church becomes an institution, people are nothing more than volunteers to be recruited. When the church is a movement, our stewardship becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/when-the-church-becomes-an-institution-people-are-nothing-more-than/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [“Veterans being sent into unjust wars for corporate profit is a perversion of trust, at best. I found the emotional manipulation of both sides,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-b-dallocchio/veterans-being-sent-into-unjust-wars-for-corporate-profit-is-a/) [M.B. Dallocchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-b-dallocchio/) > [HIV criminalization is a global trend, but surprisingly Canada has some of the worst HIV laws in the world - they have incarcerated 200…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-schulman/hiv-criminalization-is-a-global-trend-but-surprisingly-canada-has/) [Sarah Schulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-schulman/) > [“Instead, we must forgo emotional manipulation and tell the truth about God’s character. The truth is that God is kind and long-suffering toward us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-anderson/instead-we-must-forgo-emotional-manipulation-and-tell-the-truth-about/) [Hannah Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-anderson/) > [“I’m sorry we mistook emotional manipulation for love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m/i-m-sorry-we-mistook-emotional-manipulation-for-love/) M > [If you stub your toe, you don't need to dialog yourself to be good to your foot, do you? When you see things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/if-you-stub-your-toe-you-don-t-need-to-dialog-yourself-to-be-good-to/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) > [The concept of romantic love affords a means of emotional manipulation which the male is free to exploit, since love is the only circumstance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-concept-of-romantic-love-affords-a-means-of-emotional/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [To advance the Gospel by political lobbying, by any form of pragmatism, shallow Gospel entertainment, emotional manipulation, acceptance of sin and sinners, is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/to-advance-the-gospel-by-political-lobbying-by-any-form-of-pragmatism/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) ## More by Timothy Keller > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. 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He's either all of your righteousness or none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/christ-will-do-everything-for-you-or-nothing-he-s-either-all-of-your/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [If we give God things in hope that they'll earn us blessings, we're really not doing anything for him. It's for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-we-give-god-things-in-hope-that-they-ll-earn-us-blessings-we-re/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) [Explore all 843 Timothy Keller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) ## More Devotion to god quotes > [The discipline of daily devotion to God undergirds decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-louis-cole/the-discipline-of-daily-devotion-to-god-undergirds-decisions/) [Edwin Louis Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-louis-cole/) > [“Godliness is a devotion to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/godliness-is-a-devotion-to-god/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [For many, the hijab represents modesty, piety and devotion to God, and I truly respect that. But the hijab should not be used as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-rania-of-jordan/for-many-the-hijab-represents-modesty-piety-and-devotion-to-god-and-i/) [Queen Rania of Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-rania-of-jordan/) > [The fruit of patience in all its aspects - long-suffering, forbearance, endurance, and perseverance - is a fruit that is most intimately associated with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/the-fruit-of-patience-in-all-its-aspects-long-suffering-forbearance/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [We live in the age of Noah (a.s.) in the sense that a flood of distraction accosts us. 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What matters to the members and staff is not their own individual interests, power, and perks, but the fulfillment of the vision. They want to see it realized through them, and this satisfaction is their main compensation. The willingness to sacrifice on the part of workers and members is perhaps the key practical index of whether you have become a movement or have become institutionalized. Members of a church with movement dynamics tend to be more self-motivated and need less direct oversight. They are self-starters. How does this happen? Selfless devotion is not something that leaders can create — indeed, it would be dangerous emotional manipulation to try to bring this about directly. Only leaders who have the vision and devotion can kindle this sacrificial spirit in others. A dynamic Christian movement convinces its people — truthfully — that they are participating in God’s redemptive plan in a profoundly important and practical way. Participants say things like, “I’ve never felt more useful to the Lord and to others.” Church meetings in movement-oriented churches feel deeply spiritual. There is much more “majoring in the majors” — the cross, the Spirit, the grace of Jesus. 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