Jo Graham Quotes

Oh God, if You want me to preach, I will do it.

I preach a Gospel not of despair but of hope for the individual, hope for society, and hope for the world.

Many churches have their eyes on the culture instead of on Christ. Many pastors preach on common unity instead of calling the community to repent.

When we preach or teach the Scriptures, we open the door for the Holy Spirit to do His work. God has not promised to bless oratory or clever preaching. He has promised to bless His Word.

Effective preaching must be biblical preaching, whether it is the exposition of a single word in the Bible, a text, or a chapter. The Word is what the Spirit uses.

Double-mindedness means the faculty of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind and accepting both of them. We talk out of both corners of our mouths at once.

Only God knows when the alarm will sound, ending the work and ministry of evangelism as we have known it.

Nations and civilizations rise, flourish for a time, and then decay. Eventually each comes to an end. This, because of sin, is the decree of history and the way of life on this planet.

Each of us has a tongue and a voice. These instruments of speech can be used destructively or employed constructively.

Some of the most healing words in any language are, “I’m sorry. Will you forgive me?” How much more we need that confession to our Father in heaven.

Our daily conversation when we meet each other, whether it be in the office or on the campus or in the shop, should be concerned with the things of God.

We should say nothing that we would not wish to say in His Presence. We should do nothing that we would not do in His Presence.

We insult God by speaking to Him with our lips while our hearts are far from Him.

The Bible teaches that a man who can control his tongue can control his whole personality.

God speaks to those who are prepared in their hearts to listen. Discern the voice from heaven above the noisy din of earth’s confusion.

Pain has many faces . . .the unseen part of man is often the victim of the most debilitating of pains . . . a man can endure excruciating physical pain, and yet he can be felled by one unkind word.

Are you willing to follow [Christ] with a disciplined mind and tongue?

When worry is present, trust cannot crowd its way in.

Worries flee before a spirit of gratitude.

Our worship must be directed to the One who holds the world in His hands.

Christians at work in the world are the only real spiritual light in the midst of great spiritual darkness. This places a tremendous responsibility on all of us.

Worship in the truest sense takes place only when our full attention is on God—on His glory, power, majesty, love and compassion.

Learn to shut out the distractions that keep you from truly worshiping God.

We have come to worship things, status, fame, popularity, money, security. Anything that comes between God and ourselves is idolatry. Jesus demands Lordship over all such things.

Many believe that pagan worship is a thing of the past, but it is ever present—we have just given it a new name: pop culture.

The true child of God will have a hunger for worship and God’s Word.

We are to till the soil and work the land—not worship it.

God is more concerned about the attitude of our hearts than the way we express it. Worship isn’t supposed to be entertainment.

Many people who have lost jobs . . . find that this was God’s way of redirecting their lives.

Often our self-esteem is tied to our work. In our culture, men and women often define themselves by the jobs they hold . . . But a person’s job tells you nothing about a person’s character or value.

Memorizing the Bible is most important. “Thinking God’s thoughts” will take the place of worried, anxious concerns.

Only the Holy Spirit can give us peace in the midst of the storms of restlessness and despair. We should not grieve our Guide by indulging in worry or paying undue attention to self.

Some people spend so much time worrying about what might happen that they never enjoy what is happening [now] . . . Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

Ask God to help you see the world the way He sees it.

One of the great joys of my life has been to travel around the world and meet thousands of Christians in every country.

All over the world God is opening doors of opportunity, making it possible for us to take the Gospel to millions who have never heard of Christ.

The greatest tribute a boy can give to his father is to say, “When I grow up, I want to be just like my dad.” It is a convicting responsibility for us fathers and grandfathers.

If ever we needed to put the Golden Rule into action, it’s with our aging parents.

Although the testimony of my mother’s life helped mold me and taught me how to live, the testimony of her last years and her death gave me insight into how to die.

What a comfort it was for me to know that no matter where I was in the world, my mother was praying for me.

If God gives you responsibility for aging parents, seek what is best for them, not what is most convenient for you. And keep contact with them!

The influence of a mother upon the lives of her children cannot be measured. They know and absorb her example and attitudes when it comes to questions of honesty, temperance, kindness, and industry.

Many parents preach to their children but do not set good examples. Parents want the children to do as they say, not as they do.

Parenting is the most important responsibility most of us will ever face, and none of us does it perfectly.

My father-in-law . . . was a great inspiration to me both in life and in his preparation for death.

What a blessing it is for parents to believe in their children.

Parents, pray that God may crown your home with grace and mercy.

Jesus worked all His life. But the greatest work that Jesus did was not in the carpenter’s shop . . .His greatest work was achieved in those three dark hours on Calvary . . . dying for us.

Calloused hands were the badge of the pioneer, while furrowed brows are the insignia of modern man.

Think of working forever at something you love to do, for [the] one you love with all your heart, and never getting tired! We will never know weariness in heaven.