Issue 37 Encountering JesusBlog | Classic Book Review John Stott
Classic Book Review John Stott
Author: Andy PeckPost Date: 26.12.23
What book, apart from the Bible, have you found yourself returning to again and again, in your preaching ministry? In a new series for Preach magazine, we have asked some preachers to consider that question, and so we begin with Rev Ian White and his choice of John Stott’s I Believe in Preaching
Biography of John Stott John Robert Walmsley Stott CBE 27th April 1921 – 27th July 2011 Early Years John Stott began his education at Oakley Hall preparatory school and then at Rugby School as a boarder. Having gained a place at Cambridge University, he earned a double first in French and Theology, before moving on to Ridley Hall to study for ordination into the Anglican ministry.
Stott was appointed rector of All Souls, Langham Place at the age of 28 and quickly became known as a preacher and innovator. In the 1960s, he played an influential role in the dispute about whether evangelical Anglicans should stay within the Church of England, and sought to bring together different strands of evangelicalism.
Influence
He also played a pivotal role in the drafting of the Lausanne Covenant, which caused Billy Graham to observe that Stott’s work was ‘a significant factor in the explosive growth of Christianity in parts of the Third World.’ It was this commitment to the majority world which characterised his wider ministry. Many of the proceeds from his writing and ministry were diverted to supporting these church leaders through the Langham Partnership International. The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity was also his brainchild, and he remained an honorary president until his death in 2011.
Time magazine ranked Stott among the 100 most influential people in the world in 2005. John Stott authored over fifty books, many of which have been translated into other languages. He is best remembered for Basic Christianity (which examines the evidence for faith in Christ), The Cross of Christ (which considers the atonement and its contemporary significance) and I Believe in Preaching).
For me, John Stott is a compelling example of how to combine an authentic lifestyle with a profound intellect. He declined many offers of influential positions to focus on his calling of communicating Christ and helping others to do the same. He is remembered by words engraved on his tombstone: ‘Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith’ (Hebrews 13:7).
