If we are honest, we have to admit that there are many things we don't understand about God. We do not have final answers to the deep problems of life, and those who say they do are probably living in some degree of delusion. There are areas of mystery in our Christian faith that lie beyond the keenest scholarship or even the most profound spiritual exercises. For many people, these problems raise so many questions and uncertainties that faith itself becomes a struggle, and the very person and character of God are called into question. Chris Wright encourages us to face up to the limitations of our understanding and to acknowledge the pain and grief they can often cause. But at the same time, he wants us to be able to say, like the psalmist in Psalm 73: "But that's all right. God is ultimately in charge and I can trust him to put things right. Meanwhile, I will stay near to my God, make him my refuge, and go on telling of his deeds."

Author John Stott examines the cultural, social, geographical, and historical background of the Bible, as he outlines the story with its central theme, and as he explains its message. The book now includes study questions, index, and maps.

Terrorism. Same-sex marriage. Debt cancellation. The AIDS pandemic. These are just some of the critical contemporary issues addressed in this book. Issues Facing Christians Today helps thinking Christians sift through and respond to a sweeping array of complex and pressing topics. Thoroughly revised and updated by Roy McCloughry and fully endorsed by John Stott, this fourth edition continues a two-decades-plus legacy of bringing important current issues under the lens of biblically informed thinking. Combining a keen global awareness with a gift for penetrating analysis, the authors examine such vital topics as: Pluralism and Christian witness Cohabitation, environmentalism, and ecological stewardship War and peace Abortion and euthanasia And much more. An entirely new chapter on bio-engineering has been contributed by Professor John Wyatt of University College London. Including a study guide, Issues Facing Christians Today is essential reading for Christians who wish to engage our culture with insight, passion, and faith, knowing that the gospel is as relevant and deeply needed today as at any time in history. As the culture wars continue, this book will remain a critical contribution, helping to define Christian social and ethical thinking in the years ahead.

John Stott's masterly distillation of sixty years' reflection on Christian discipleship ranges over the history of the church and its formative teachings, as well as the world-wide church today. He expounds the trinitarian character of the evangelical faith: the gracious initiative of God the Father in revealing himself to us, of Jesus Christ in redeeming us through the cross, and of the indwelling Holy Spirit in transforming us. This is why the three-fold emphasis of evangelical faith is upon the Word of God, the once-for-all nature of the work of Christ and the active, continuing work of the Spirit. This edition of Evangelical Truth contains The Cape Town Commitment, a document produced by The Lausanne Movement faithfully reflecting the proceedings of The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization.

This book strongly challenges the notion that there is no place for preaching in the contemporary world. It sets out the theological case for preaching and then goes on to describe what constitutes good preaching. It does not focus on techniques to be used but on the nature of the task and the character of the one who preaches. The good preacher works to build a bridge between the listeners and the truth being proclaimed. To be able to do this, the preacher must study both the Scriptures and the today's world. The book offers some suggestions on how to go about preparing a sermon and calls for preaching delivered with sincerity, earnestness, courage and humility. ohn Stott's thoughtful and practical advice given at some length in I Believe in Preaching has here been abridged by eliminating quotations and examples that spoke more directly to readers in the UK and the US in the 1980s. Greg Scharf has retained the core of the original book but made it more accessible to contemporary readers.

The subject of infant baptism is undoubtedly a delicate and difficult one ... But this must not make members of the Church of England shrink from holding decided opinions on the subject. That church has declared plainly in its Articles that 'the baptism of young children is in any wise to be retained, as most agreeable with the institution of Christ.' To this opinion we need not be afraid to adhere." J. C. Ryle This book aims to help Anglican Evangelicals recover that same gracious yet unashamed confidence shown by Bishop Ryle in the nineteenth century. The authors defend biblically the doctrine of infant baptism and its proper evangelical practice within the Church of England. They expound a covenantal understanding which has impeccable evangelical credentials in order to reassure a new generation of Anglican Evangelical 'paedobaptists' that theirs is no new or peculiar doctrine, and to persuade those who may not have fully appreciated the Reformed heritage we in the Church of England enjoy. Dr. John R. W. Stott CBE is Rector Emeritus of All Souls, Langham Place in London and over the last 60 years has been one of the most influential leaders of evangelicalism worldwide. Dr. J. Alec Motyer is the former Principal of Trinity College, Bristol, and was for many years incumbent of St. Luke's, West Hampstead and later minister of Christ Church, Westbourne Lee Gatiss is Associate Minister of St. Helen's Bishopsgate and Editor of The Theologian (www.theologian.org.uk).

Leadership today is no easy task. Christian leaders called to shepherd others get caught in power struggles and are tempted to abuse their pastoral authority. Pastors feel that they must project strength and certainty in order to preach and minister credibly. Too often our models of leadership are shaped more by culture than by Christ. John Stott offers an alternative vision in this biblical approach to servant leadership, exemplified by the apostle Paul in his ministry to the church in Corinth. Above all, Stott reassures us that God is at work even in the midst of our human weakness. "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." 1 Corinthians 1:27 A clear articulation of the nature of leadership as well as the thoughtful study of Scripture we have come to expect from John Stott, this exposition of 1 Corinthians 1--4 offers us a model of ministry surprisingly relevant twenty centuries later: leadership rooted in humility and grace, serving the church with the love of Christ. Study guide included.

2000 Christianity Today Award of Merit winner Evangelicalism has divided into various branches--conservative, progressive, Reformed, charismatic and more. Does any common ground remain that all can gladly affirm? From John Stott, one of evangelicalism's leading statesmen over the last fifty years, comes a statement that boldly places the trinitarian gospel at the center of faith. Here is an exquisite crystallization of essential beliefs about revelation, the cross and the work of the Spirit. In addition, recognizing that how we live this truth is as important as believing it, Stott calls all evangelicals to integrity, perseverance and humility. Always lucid, always engaging, John Stott directs readers of many persuasions away from their differences and toward the glorious work of the Father, Son and Spirit that God calls us to celebrate in common.

Locked church doors and tossed rotten eggs greeted the faithful and patient Charles Simeon in his early years as a pastor. But in humility and simple power he was allowed by God to triumph. He became, as John R.W. Stott notes, "one of the greatest and most persuasive preachers the Church of England has ever known." Why did he have such an impact? You'll discover the reasons yourself as you read these clearflowing sermons, rich in content and clean in style. Shining through his words are Simeon's simple devotion to pure biblical truth, his concise and orderly presentation, and his pastor's mind and heart. James Houston's editorial preface is an instructive guide to Simeon's sound homiletical principles, while Stott's introduction is an engaging portrait of Simeon as a servant of God. Surveying his long life (1758-1836) and fruitful ministry, Stott is especially impressed by Simeon's refreshing, unaffected humility, and writes, "Our proud, self-confident, self-congratulatory generation urgently needs to recover this biblical perspective." Dr. James M. Houston, editor of the CLASSICS OF FAITH AND DEVOTION SERIES, is a highly acclaimed scholar and pioneer in the field of evangelical spirituality. He came to North America from England in 1968 to lead Regent College in Vancouver, Canada, an international graduate school of Christian studies.

During the fifteen-year period between 1974 and 1989 the Lausanne Movement produced a number of key mission documents that have been gathered in this important anthology. Beginning with the "Lausanne Covenant" and ending with the "Manila Manifesto," these vital mission documents have so far been available only as "Lausanne Occasional Papers." Now they are available in book form. Each of the documents is presented here with its historical integrity intact. The only new additions to the collection itself are a historical introduction by John R. W. Stott and a foreword by Billy Graham-both important pieces of writing in themselves.

Christianity Today 1994 Critics Choice Award winner 1993 Christian Booksellers Association/Europe Book of the Year Award winner People today reject Christianity not because they think it is false but because they believe it is irrelevant. John Stott knows otherwise. In this book he challenges all of us to move with the times while standing firmly on the truth of God's Word. "To be 'contemporary' is to live in the present," Stott writes. "To be a 'contemporary Christian, ' however, is to ensure that our present is enriched both by our knowledge of the past and by our expectation of the future." The challenge, then, is to be both conservative and radical--conservative in guarding God's revelation and radical in applying that revelation to the realities of the contemporary world: space travel, homelessness, genetic engineering, pollution, war, health care, gang violence, education and more. Opening our eyes to the Word and the world, Stott shows how Christianity can speak effectively and relevantly to the contemporary world. He includes chapters on the human paradox, authentic freedom, mind and emotions, evangelism and social action, the pastoral ideal and dimensions of renewal. For those familiar with Stott, The Contemporary Christian is a "must-read" book. For those who have not yet benefited from his insight and passion, The Contemporary Christian affords the perfect opportunity to get acquainted with one of the most widely read and respected Christian thinkers at work today.

An expert Bible teacher unpacks key passages from Romans.

VIVIMOS UNOS TIEMPOS DE CAOS ANTE ESTOS RETOS COMPLEJOS, COMO DEBE ACTUAR LA IGLESIA? En un mundo que se enfrenta a problemas sin precedentes, la voz de John Stott llama a la iglesia a convertir las crisis y desafios en grandes oportunidades para el pueblo de Dios. La Serie: Grandes oportunidades y retos que el cristianismo enfrenta hoy es una continuacion de un legado de mas de dos decadas que ha colocado los problemas importantes de nuestra era bajo la lente del pensamiento biblico. John Stott, con la ayuda de Roy McCloghry, combina una aguda conciencia global con el don de un analisis penetrante al examinar los retos principales de nuestra era. Oportunidades y retos contextuales es el primer libro de esta serie y considera el contexto mundial de la iglesia en nuestros tiempos. Se contaminaria la iglesia si se inmiscuyera en los problemas de nuestro mundo siempre cambiante? Cuales son las responsabilidades biblicas de los creyentes en un mundo que se ha vuelto loco? John Stott, con un estilo lucido, revisa el legado historico de las relaciones entre la iglesia y el mundo y sus problemas; y al recurrir a una doctrina mas completa de Dios, el mundo, Cristo, la salvacion y la iglesia, dicta las bases biblicas para unas relaciones adecuadas entre la iglesia y el mundo. El libro incluye una guia de estudio y su lectura debe ser esencial para cada cristiano que desee enfrentar nuestra cultura con perspectiva, pasion y fe."

Esta edicion revisada a fondo y actualizada, continua el legado de mas de dos decadas de poner bajo el lente del pensamiento biblico problemas actuales importantes. Combinando un conocimiento agudo con un don analitico penetrante, los autores examinan temas vitales como el pluralismo, el testimonio cristiano, ambientalismo y la mayordomia ecologia, guerra y paz, aborto y eutanasia y mucho mas. Un capitulo completamente nuevo acerca de la ingenieria biologica, contribucion del Profesor John Wyatt de Universtiy College de Londres. Incluyendo una guia de Estudio, Grandes oportunidades y retos para el cristianismo hoy, es una lectura indispensable para los cristianos que desean involucrar a nuestra cultura con entendimiento, pasion y fe, conociendo que el evangelio es tan relevante y profundamente necesario hoy como en cualquier momento en la historia. Mientras que continuan las guerras culturales, este libro se mantendra una contribucion citica, ayudando a definir la etica y pensamiento cristiano en los anos venideros."