Luke 15:1-7, 11-24

“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”

― Timothy Keller, The Meaning of Marriage

“The Christian Gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think  more of myself nor less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less.” ― Timothy Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

In short, God does not merely send the church in mission.  God already is in mission, and the church must join him. This also means, then, that the church does not simply have a missions department; it should wholly exist to be a mission.  

― Timothy Keller Center Church 

Source:   Rembrandt, "The Return of the Prodigal Son" (c. 1669)