"I would therefore suggest that if we are concerned about the state of the church and of the world, if we really do look for revival and reawakening at the present time, we must concentrate on the church rather than on the world. The church is the bearer of the message of salvation; and if the church herself is lifeless or uncertain or unhappy, how can she do the work? It seems to be increasingly clear that the main problem at the moment is in the church herself. The world is sinful. Of course, the world is always sinful. We have no right to expect anything but sin from the world. We should never be surprised at the state of the world or the condition of the masses of the people. It is the essential teaching of the Bible that as long as men remain in the world and outside Christ they must be like that. Is it not the case, however, that perhaps the main explanation of why so many are outside the church and why the church is passing through this difficult period, is the state of the church herself? As Paul puts it in writing to the Corinthians, "If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for the battle?" If we are uncertain about our position, how can we confront the world, and why should the world look at us and be convinced and convicted of its sin as it sees us? Surely the highway to revival, as the history of the great revivals of the past shows us so clearly, is that the church herself must be a living church. When that happens her impact upon the world invariably becomes something powerful and mighty." (D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Expository Sermons on 2 Peter [The Banner of Truth Trust, 1983], 3-4)