John Stott has made a most profound statement in this book - calling God's Church to the act of "Double Listening", or continuing to listen to the Bible as well as the culture, to apply Biblical principles to living in the present age, and to reach out with integrity to the world in God's name.

This book should be second only to the Bible on the reading list of every Christian!

This book is the first book by John Stott I have read and I found it very readable and profound at the same time. It challenged a lot of my attitudes about Christians and the world and really made me think about how I can live in the world without compromising my faith in Jesus. I did not agree with everything in the book, but it was definitely well-thought out and well-argued. I am looking forward to reading other books by Stott.

I highly recommend this book for two reasons. First, this book underscores the important of the Christian world view in contemporary times. Stott is very methodical at outlining the relevancy and importance of theological and historical issues (such as the resurrection) to our contemporary world. He does this without diluting historic Christianity. Secondly, this book reaffirmed my faith in Jesus Christ.

John Stott is a thought-provoking writer with dozens of helpful titles in print, from books about his travels [People My Teachers: around the world in 80 years], books about his life-long habit of bird-watching [The Birds Our Teachers] to the many helpful books about Christian teaching, guides to the Bible and commentaries on specific books of the Bible.

His exposition of Acts has been a great help to us in our bible study group, as we are ploughing through Acts. He gives you several interpretations of controversial issues, but also lets you know his own thoughts. If you want a conservative, evangelical treatment of Luke's book about the Early Church, you will appreciate this book.

The study guide is helpful, but bear in mind that it is intended to be a guide to Stott's book, not to Acts itself. As we were not studying Stott's book, but Acts, we adapted the questions to suit ourselves, and did not find this too difficult to do.

Highly recommended. I am also finding Howard Marshall's Tyndale Commentary useful, as I prepare the studies for our group.

Stott does an amazing job of making Acts come alive. Stott is so readable that this book just flows in a way unlike most commentaries. If you are considering diving into the book of Acts, I suggest having this book as your companion.

This is a wonderful book to use as a resource. I got it yesterday and have had a hard time putting it down. I only wish it was hard cover. Why would anybody make a commentary a paperback book??

John Stott is a preacher of great renown so it is both enlightening and encouraging to read about his struggles with preaching as well as the advice he gives after a lifetime in the pulpit. Throughout the book he inserted small parentheses which seem minuscule but are very helpful to the aspiring preacher. Another delight in reading Stott's book is his thorough scouring of many homiletical books of others. In reading this book, one gets the sense they are reading somewhere between 8-10 books since Stott is culling information from them. This book is a far cry from being a shot from the hip. Stott has researched his topic well. I found this book to be more than just an homiletics book but also a history book and a spiritual formation book. With the modern crisis in preaching of preachers who are ignorant of the history of preaching and more importantly impotent in their spirituality, I can hardly criticize Stott for giving more attention to these matters. Since I enjoy Church history a great deal, I was pleased to read the perspectives many of the great preachers had on the form, power and content of preaching. This bred a great deal of understanding in my own mind toward the task of preaching. I was also greatly encouraged to see the effects of God's Word as it has been preached from faithful vessels with God's glory in mind. If there is one thing I would want to communicate to others about this book it would be its emphasis on the mandatory spiritual life. From cover to cover Stott is emphatic in separating God's Word from man's word. Since the preacher is not preaching his own ideas but rather God's, it is imperative that the preacher not impede the power of the message with his own shoddy character. The preacher is first of all a man of God and secondly a receptacle and a distributor of God's Word.

I just finished this book (English edition "I Believe in Preaching") and, though I had a number of quibbles, I think this is one of Stott's most classic books. Churches throughout the world have systematically abandoned expository preaching and taken hold of secular business growth strategies. While growth in numbers may occur, the depth of faith is not there because the preaching is not from the Bible. Stott's book is a reminder that preachers should not preach what the audience wants to hear, but what they need to hear. What Stott really pushed for me was the notion that preachers should engage both the intellect and the emotion. Preaching which is merely intellectual is dry and uninteresting, no matter how true it is. Preaching which is merely emotional has little substance to it. True Expository preaching (the systematic preaching through books of the Bible, rather than topics or themes or hobbyhorses of the preacher) engages both the head and the heart, the intellect and the emotions, the ancient world (of the Bible) with the modern world of today.

Good theology, flawless logic and lots of practical "how to's". If you are now a proclaimer of Truth or are kicking the tires on it, so to speak, this book is essential.

Everybody has a hero mine is Billy Graham. Finally, a book that does justice to a great man and his message of salvation through the LORD Jesus Christ. Iam a Christian and after I read this book,I learn more about the man that I ever imagine before. I attended his Philadelphia crusade in 1992, but if you want to know the whole story buy this book and listen to his message. You will never regret it.

I was very impressed with this book. This book can be for anyone. If you just want to learn about Billy Graham and his ministry and how it functions and how it has served God then this book is for you. If your in the ministry and want to feel inspired you can learn about how Billy Grahams ministry has chnaged the world that may give you inspiration in your ministry. I recomend this book to anyone really. It's easy to read and understand and covers the material very well. The special CD on Billy Graham is also very nice and inspirational. Every time I read about Billy Graham, I am in awe about him and how faithfull he was and is to God's calling to be a evangelist. This will make a addition to any library.

In non-technical but scholarly style, John Stott presents an excellent evangelical commentary on the rich and powerful letter to the Romans by the apostle Paul. Stott has great expository skills, and they are displayed here. This really isn't a traditional Bible commentary at all because it reads like a regular book, and that is one of its primary appeals to the serious but lay Bible student. I also enjoyed F.F. Bruce's Romans commentary in the Tyndale New Testatment Commentary series.

John Stott has really hit a homerun with this scholarly, yet easy-to-understand commentary. My eyes to the depth and wealth of what can be gotten out of Romans were really opened. Stott frequently relates Biblical teachings to what can be applicable to our lives today, so this is a very practical as well as theological book. By all means, GET IT!

Albert Einstein once said, "If most of us are ashamed of shabby clothes and shoddy furniture, let us be more ashamed of shabby ideas and shoddy philosophies." That idea is fleshed out from a Christian perspective by John Stott. He wrote to address a spirit of anti-intellectualism in Christian circles. Some point to their zeal and spirituality with pride, claiming that zeal is all you need, and knowledge is superfluous. Stott states plainly, "God's purpose is both, zeal directed by knowledge, knowledge fired with zeal." It's ludicrous to believe that Christians can have an impact in the world if they don't use their minds to understand their own faith and to interact effectively in the arena of ideas. Stott's book is very short, an easy read, and his argument is solid and effective. Definitely 5 stars!

Okay, now I've caught your attention. John Stott and others like J. P. Moreland ("Love the Lord Your God with All Your Mind") seek to win back Christianity from its Fundamentalistic (and thus somewhat anti-intellectual) tendencies, and seek to state why the cognitive/intellectual side of faith is important. For the heart does not rejoice with which the mind does not agree upon! Prov. 19:2 "It is not good to have zeal without knowledge..."

Stott wishes to have Christians to be zeal guided by knowledge, both zeal and knowledge, even though sometimes we might set one against the other (e.g., zealous pietists vs. dead logical rationalists). Stott believes in the power of the truth (p.13), and that the rationality of man is sometimes seen as one of the aspects of being created in the image of God, and is basically taken for granted by many. Stott lays out how God's revelation is primarily to our minds, that it is through knowledge of God and God's will that we are to obey, and that we will be judged. Thus, Stott is trying to state how the intellectual sphere is will play an important role within Christian life.

Stott namely names spheres of worship, faith, holiness, guidance, evangelism, and ministry as areas where we will require the intellectual pursuits. For instance, true worship loves God with our minds. Stott then moves on to name what faith isn't: faith is not credulity, it is not blind, it is not optimism, and it isn't placed in oneself, but rather in God. Faith is a trust in the promises of God in His trustworthiness, based on one's walk with Him. Faith thus goes along with knowledge and thinking. Holiness requires that we know what God wants of us, and that the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, humility, self-control) and knowledge of God require that we discipline our minds. Guidance (i.e., knowing God's will) requires that we know what God's will is generally -- in Scripture, guided by Scriptural and theological principles. Evangelism requires that we know the Gospel is and how to explain it (i.e., we must know its content), and sometimes even that we give a defense, or apologia (giving rise to apologetics) for the faith that we have (1Pet. 3:15). We must also not dilute or distort the Gospel, and this requires a discipline of mind. One of the gifts of ministry is that of Christian Education, in edifying the saints. This requires discipline of the mind.

To complete the journey, Stott brings us to the point that knowing is not enough; we must act on our knowledge. For the knowledge of God is not an ends to itself, knowledge of God should bring us to reverence and love for God (worship), faith in God, holiness of character, and love for our neighbor. Knowledge should always lead to love, such that we can speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).

Since receiving this book as a gift last year, I've enjoyed browsing through the amazing photographs and reading the fascinating and inspirational text. It makes the perfect gift for any gender, interest level, or occasion. I'm so disappointed to find it out of print before I've had a chance to share this treasure.

It's hard to believe that Stott wrote this book in 1976, yet, I read it in 1999 for a Christian Mission class, and it seems so appropriate today. Dr. Stott was on the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelism, and has obviously thought about these and researched this deeply. He comes from an Evangelical Protestant heritage.

This is a particularly insighted book, an introduction to Christian Mission. The change from the plural, missions, to the singular, mission, is indicated by Stott as what all Christians should be doing, that is, both evangelism AND striving for social justice (that is, arguing the case of the orphan, widow, feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, fighting against oppression, etc.).

Stott defines a number of crucial terms and places them within the context of Christian theology, for instance, evangelism just means 'proclaiming the Good News,' specifically that of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, Stott is very practical and uses biblical theology (such as the theology of the Incarnation gives us an example of what it means to be involved with others, to share their sufferings and concerns, and to understand their culture and be able to dialogue with them at where they are at). And Stott is very good at providing negative examples, or warnings, such as that Christians are also to be 'salt and light,' maintaining their identity as Christians; that the Gospel is not liberation theology (although the influence of the Gospel may be seen in the culture in fighting against social injustices), the Gospel does not ensure health and wealth. Salvation does mean freedom from sin, to serve and obey God.

The book is divided between 5 large chapters that have a number of topics discussed. The first is Mission -- what is Christian Mission? As mentioned, evangelism, theology, social justice are all discussed.

The second chapter is Evangelism, and the priority and meaning (even definitions) of evangelism, and what we as Christians should be doing.

This leads into dialogue, and how we are to dialogue with others. Stott is very practical at the end of the chapter discussing what are some different arenas of dialogue, for example, with Muslims, within Great Britain, and Hindus.

The next chapter is on Salvation, what it doesn't mean, and what it means.

This leads us into Conversion, and discussion on theology (as well as the individual's responsibility) in matters, such as the Christian doctrines of regeneration, repentance, and the effects of conversion on the church, society, culture, and the role of the Holy Spirit (and even the necessity not to be stupid, like assuming that the Holy Spirit will overcome my own stupidity or lack of preparation).

In all, a very solidly theological and practical work, as all of Stott's works are.

The great thing about this study is that it explores what grace means. By raising awareness of grace in our lives, it helped quell some disputes in our church. The simple discussion of grace and it's application to us by God, followed by our responsible use of grace in our relationships with others, makes this a very effective study. I highly recommend it.

The Cross of Christ would have to be one of the finest Christian books written in the past 20 years. It covers one of the most important areas of Christian understanding - the cross itself. Its coverage is excellent, not just resting on what the cross achieves, but helping to think through some of the implications the cross should have on how we live today.
The title of the conclusion ('The pervasive influence of the cross') does some up the powerful message of the book - that the cross of Christ is central and has a powerful impact on the life of a Christian.
Miss this book to your peril! Highly recommended.

From Satanists to pagans to the non-believing world at large, the cross of Christ is the most despised symbol in probably all creation. What it stands for brings out the snidest comments I have ever heard. And no wonder! Even Paul said that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who perish. Stott does a marvelous job tracking the centrality of the cross and just what it means for the faithful Christian. This is not a skimming kind of book that many non-Christians whose diet consists of 100% fiction will appreciate. It will cause you to think, but as an earlier reviewer hinted, it's the kind of book more people in our churches desperately need to read. If you want milk, as so many Christian bookstores offer, then you will live a superficial Christian life. If you want meat that will help you dig deeper into this relationship you have with God, then I suggest picking up The Cross of Christ and making sure your highlighter is in new condition...you will need it!

"But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ," - Galatians 6:14 NASB

The name John Stott is well recognized among Bible students today, and for good reason. He has long been recognized for his gifted teaching, penetrating insight and pastoral warmth. His writings take the profound teachings of Christianity; shine much needed light on them, and in the same fluid motion, they plug the teachings into the lives of their readers. This book is no exception. The Cross of Christ is considered to be Stott's greatest work by more than a few people and I myself would place it in the top five books I've ever read. It's that good. The central theme of this book is to explain why and how the finished work of Christ on the cross is central to the Christian faith. It deals more with how salvation was provided for on the cross and not so much how it becomes effective for salvation in the life of a person. Stott begins by considering some preliminary issues such as the centrality of the cross in our faith. Stott says of Christ, "What dominated his mind was not the living but the giving of His life"(32). Stott rightly suggests that the cause of Christ's death was both the wickedness of men and the plan of God. He was turned over to the priests out of Judas' greed, turned over to Pilate out of the priest's envy, and handed over to the soldiers out of Pilate's cowardice, and the soldiers crucified Him. However, the blame for Christ's death cannot be placed solely on these individuals because He was not only suffering for their sins, but ours too. All this was according to the plan of God also. His love desired out salvation, and the only righteous way to do such a thing was to place our sins on the Savior and to have Him pay our penalty. The chasm is great between ourselves and a holy God. Stott says that "sin is not only the attempt to be God; it is also the refusal to be man, by shuffling off the responsibility for our actions"(101). So in order for God to offer salvation to mankind, He must do so righteously, without contradicting Himself. Man can never repay such a tremendous debt. This is where the Savior enters the picture. In other words, "How can he save us and satisfy himself simultaneously? We reply to this point that, in order to satisfy himself, He sacrificed - indeed substituted - himself for us" (132). Stott declares, "...neither Christ alone as man not the Father alone as God could be our substitute. Only God in Christ, God the Father's own and only Son made man, could take our place" (160). The result of this divine transaction in that man can be pronounced legally righteous, justified, in the sight of God. Stott tells us that it is very important to understand the accomplishments of the cross, "for the better people understand the glory of the divine substitution, the easier it will be for them to trust in the Substitute" (203). After Stott delineates the details involved in the atonement of Christ he does something that few theologians do by discussing what it means to live under the shadow of the cross. He tells us that the greatest singe event, in which God simultaneously shows us His justice and His love, was in the cross. Ultimately, God dealt with the problem of evil at the cross when he provided salvation from it to all those who would trust Him. Now we have unlimited access to God which should mark our lives with joy.

Discipleship logically follows from salvation. Once God saves us, we give up "our supposed right to go on our own way" (279). We realize our position in Christ and we literally mortify the deeds of the flesh that once controlled us. Knowing that we are valuable in the sight of God should cause us to be giving in sacrificial service. Power and pride should now give way to service and humility. Last but not least, Stott deals with Christian suffering. The causes of suffering are varied, but its results should be patient endurance and mature holiness (315,16). Even while our faith is being tried, we can rest easier knowing that God loves us and has promised an ultimate deliverance. Our involvement with evil should not be in its repayment but on letting God deal righteously. The best examples of how we are to react to suffering are the meekness and trust in the sovereignty of God that were displayed in the life of Christ, culminating in His death. In summary, John Stott's The Cross of Christ is a book that teaches the prediction of, the necessity for, the accomplishments gained by and the benefits resulting from Christ's substitutionary death on the cross. I feel like this is a much-needed work at this point in time when much of Christianity is focused on Christian living with our never sufficiently knowing why we live like we do. I am a firm believer that correct behavior can only be consistently lived when our minds are thinking correctly beforehand. Observation tells me that it is virtually impossible to behave correctly without believing correctly. In my opinion, Stott places the importance of Christ's cross exactly where is should be in our list of priorities...right at the top.