--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Without an acceptance of multiple…" description: "\"“Without an acceptance of multiple biblical church models, your own movement and network may plant cookie-cutter churches in neighborhoods where that m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/timothy-keller-240_leadership_without-an-acceptance-of-multiple-biblic_580003.jpg" --- # Without an acceptance of multiple biblical church models… ![“Without an acceptance of multiple biblical church models, your own movement and network may plant cookie-cutter churches in neighborhoods where that model is inappropriate or may employ leaders whose gifts don’t fit it. Your own movement would risk becoming too homogeneous, reaching only one kind…” quote by Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/timothy-keller-240_leadership_without-an-acceptance-of-multiple-biblic_580003.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/timothy-keller-240_leadership_without-an-acceptance-of-multiple-biblic_580003.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/timothy-keller-240_leadership_without-an-acceptance-of-multiple-biblic_580003.jpg) > ““Without an acceptance of multiple biblical church models, your own movement and network may plant cookie-cutter churches in neighborhoods where that model is inappropriate or may employ leaders whose gifts don’t fit it. Your own movement would risk becoming too homogeneous, reaching only one kind of neighborhood or one kind of person, and fail to reflect the God-ordained diversity of humanity in your church. As much as we want to believe that most people will want to become our particular kind of Christian, it is not true. The city will not be won unless many different denominations become dynamic mini-movements.”” [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. Churches must adapt to varied cultural contexts; uniform models limit outreach and ignore humanity’s God‑ordained diversity. **In simple terms:** Different church models suit different neighborhoods and people. Key Takeaway Embrace diverse church expressions. Themes diversity contextualization mission homogeneity culture Mood thoughtful strategic Type theological missional When to use this quote - urban outreach - rural ministry - multicultural congregations - leadership training Key Concepts ecclesiology missiology incarnational ministry Questions to Reflect On - How can your movement identify local cultural needs? - What structures support varied church expressions? A Different Perspective Uniform models can stifle local relevance and miss unique gifts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [“Why is understanding church models essential in enabling a city’s churches to work together in unity? Without this understanding, there will be no catholicity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/why-is-understanding-church-models-essential-in-enabling-a-city-s/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [We want to live a simple life, ... I want to emphasize I'm not an environmentalist who goes to church. I want my principal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-johnson/we-want-to-live-a-simple-life-i-want-to-emphasize-i-m-not-an/) [Allen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-johnson/) > [“The fact is, it is selfish for a church to not want to grow. A church that says, “We’ve got enough people, we’ve got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-fact-is-it-is-selfish-for-a-church-to-not-want-to-grow-a-church/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Most people already know what they're doing wrong. When I get them to church I want to tell them that you can change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/most-people-already-know-what-they-re-doing-wrong-when-i-get-them-to/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [“Is that what you are, Alexander? Are you a sin waiting to happen?” “I’m a sin waiting to be confessed.” “Then take me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-l-scott/is-that-what-you-are-alexander-are-you-a-sin-waiting-to-happen-i-m-a/) [S.L. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-l-scott/) > [My sense is if the Episcopal Church can't stand challenge within its own ranks, then it is not a church I would want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/my-sense-is-if-the-episcopal-church-can-t-stand-challenge-within-its/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [“I'm a public sinner with a ton of money. Any church would want me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/i-m-a-public-sinner-with-a-ton-of-money-any-church-would-want-me/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [“More men go to church than want to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/more-men-go-to-church-than-want-to/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I will go where the Lord and the leaders of His Church want me to go, I will do what they want me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/i-will-go-where-the-lord-and-the-leaders-of-his-church-want-me-to-go/) [David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/) > [Pass the pub that wrecks your body And the church, all they want is your money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-morrissey/pass-the-pub-that-wrecks-your-body-and-the-church-all-they-want-is/) [Steven Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-morrissey/) > [See, that why I ain’t go to church. Figger I got me a church wherever I be. Want’a talk to God, well I say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baldacci/see-that-why-i-ain-t-go-to-church-figger-i-got-me-a-church-wherever-i/) [David Baldacci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baldacci/) > [We sometimes idealize the early church and want our churches to go back to the simple, old ways. We need to carefully read the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-b-jenkins/we-sometimes-idealize-the-early-church-and-want-our-churches-to-go/) [Jerry B. Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-b-jenkins/) > [During my visit to the Philippines, I wanted in a particular way to meet with young people, to listen to you and to talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/during-my-visit-to-the-philippines-i-wanted-in-a-particular-way-to/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“We as the church do not want to lag behind society today, in terms of welcoming people of different cultures, races, and abilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-fenton-lee/we-as-the-church-do-not-want-to-lag-behind-society-today-in-terms-of/) [Amy Fenton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-fenton-lee/) > [ I believe that he \[Jesus\] is Lord of the government, and the church, and business and education, and, hopefully, one day, Lord of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/i-believe-that-he-jesus-is-lord-of-the-government-and-the-church-and/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) ## 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. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [The more you rejoice in your own forgiveness, the quicker you will be to forgive others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-more-you-rejoice-in-your-own-forgiveness-the-quicker-you-will-be/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Evangelism will come organically in friendship if we don’t let our pride, fears, and pessimism cause us to hide our faith and heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/evangelism-will-come-organically-in-friendship-if-we-don-t-let-our/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“The coming of the messianic King occurs in two stages. At his first coming, he saved us from the penalty of sin and gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-coming-of-the-messianic-king-occurs-in-two-stages-at-his-first/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [ “24 A few pages later, Delbanco writes the following: \[Alexis de\] Tocqueville’s detection of a “strange melancholy in the midst of abundance” has a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/24-a-few-pages-later-delbanco-writes-the-following-alexis-de/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“To stay away from Christianity because part of the Bible's teaching is offensive to you assumes that if there is a God he wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/to-stay-away-from-christianity-because-part-of-the-bible-s-teaching/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [If the preaching of our ministers and the practice of our parishioners do not have the same effect on people that Jesus had, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-the-preaching-of-our-ministers-and-the-practice-of-our/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“of temple, presence, and sacrifice; of covenant and faithfulness; of kingdom and victory. When we seek to communicate the gospel to a particular culture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/of-temple-presence-and-sacrifice-of-covenant-and-faithfulness-of/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Finally, you are ready to launch your church. Begin by developing action steps and goals that can be used as benchmarks to track your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/finally-you-are-ready-to-launch-your-church-begin-by-developing/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [If you are a child of God, you don’t lose your status if you have a bad week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-a-child-of-god-you-don-t-lose-your-status-if-you-have-a/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [God's salvation does not come in response to a changed life. A changed life comes in response to the salvation, offered as a free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/god-s-salvation-does-not-come-in-response-to-a-changed-life-a-changed/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“When anything in life is an absolute requirement for your happiness and self-worth, it is essentially an ‘idol,’ something you are actually worshiping. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/when-anything-in-life-is-an-absolute-requirement-for-your-happiness/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Suffering is the stripping of our hope in finite things, therefore we do not put our ultimate hope in anything finite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/suffering-is-the-stripping-of-our-hope-in-finite-things-therefore-we/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Christ will do everything for you or nothing. 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 Leadership quotes > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [It is absolutely necessary... for me to have persons that can think for me, as well as execute orders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-absolutely-necessary-for-me-to-have-persons-that-can-think-for/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“Under the treaty of Sevres in 1920 Greece had been given Smyrna, and by 1922 the Greek army was trying to push its way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-faulks/under-the-treaty-of-sevres-in-1920-greece-had-been-given-smyrna-and/) [Sebastian Faulks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-faulks/) > [“If you're focused, you can't get bored.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/if-you-re-focused-you-can-t-get-bored/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [Some people you speak to you speak into their heads. It's logical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-hunt/some-people-you-speak-to-you-speak-into-their-heads-it-s-logical/) [Johnny Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-hunt/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [Leaders need to compromise, negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies, and reform health care the right way - by developing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/leaders-need-to-compromise-negotiate-with-members-of-both-parties-and/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [You can have Asians being leading men that are sex symbols. You can have leading women powering through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/you-can-have-asians-being-leading-men-that-are-sex-symbols-you-can/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [“A man who saw has turned blind, A hearer deaf, A leader now leads astray!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-lichtheim/a-man-who-saw-has-turned-blind-a-hearer-deaf-a-leader-now-leads-astray/) [Miriam Lichtheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-lichtheim/) [Browse all 20,954 Leadership quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Without an acceptance of multiple biblical church models, your own movement and network may plant cookie-cutter churches in neighborhoods where that model is inappropriate or may employ leaders whose gifts don’t fit it. Your own movement would risk becoming too homogeneous, reaching only one kind of neighborhood or one kind of person, and fail to reflect the God-ordained diversity of humanity in your church. As much as we want to believe that most people will want to become our particular kind of Christian, it is not true. The city will not be won unless many different denominations become dynamic mini-movements.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Timothy Keller" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/without-an-acceptance-of-multiple-biblical-church-models-your-own/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Leadership" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/without-an-acceptance-of-multiple-biblical-church-models-your-own/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/timothy-keller-240_leadership_without-an-acceptance-of-multiple-biblic_580003.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/timothy-keller-240_leadership_without-an-acceptance-of-multiple-biblic_580003.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae3/timothy-keller-240_leadership_without-an-acceptance-of-multiple-biblic_580003.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Without an acceptance of multiple biblical church models, your own movement and network may plant…” — Timothy Keller", "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": "Timothy Keller", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Without an acceptance of multiple biblical...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/without-an-acceptance-of-multiple-biblical-church-models-your-own/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/without-an-acceptance-of-multiple-biblical-church-models-your-own/#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 } } ] } ```