"I could never myself believe in God, if it were not for the cross. . . . In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it?" With compelling honesty John Stott confronts readers with the centrality of the cross in God's redemption of our pain-filled world. Can we see triumph in tragedy, victory in shame? Why should an object of Roman distaste and Jewish disgust be the emblem of our worship and the axiom of our faith? And what does it mean for us today? From one of the foremost preachers and Christian leaders of his generation, The Cross of Christ is a classic, accessible, and compelling look at the work of Christ. At the cross Stott finds the majesty and love of God disclosed, the sin and bondage of the world exposed. More than a study of the atonement, this book brings Scripture into living dialogue with Christian theology and contemporary issues. What emerges is a pattern for Christian life and worship, hope and mission. In honor of John Stott's one hundredth birthday, this centennial edition includes an updated foreword by Alister McGrath and a new timeline of Stott's life. A study guide equips individuals and groups to more deeply reflect on and apply the book's message.

Christianity the world's largest religion: almost a third of the population describe themselves as Christian. Over 2000 years since it first started, no other religion has had such cultural and global impact and millions today claim their lives are completely changed by their decision to be a Christian. But what is a Christian and how do you become one? What do Christians actually believe and how does that impact their everyday life? As an introduction to Christianity or a refresher course in the essentials, Christian Basics is a concise but comprehensive guide. * How to become a Christian * How to grow as a Christian * Belief in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit * Why church is important * What a Christian life looks like. 'At whatever stage of your spiritual journey, I pray that something or other in this little book may help you to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ' John Stott

"Knowledge is indispensable to Christian life and service," writes John Stott. "If we do not use the mind which God has given us, we condemn ourselves to spiritual superficiality." While Christians have had a long heritage of rigorous scholarship and careful thinking, some circles still view the intellect with suspicion or even as contradictory to Christian faith. And many non-Christians are quick to label Christians as anti-intellectual and obscurantist. But this need not be so. In this classic introduction to Christian thinking, John Stott makes a forceful appeal for Christian discipleship that engages the mind as well as the heart.

We live in times of insecurity. New nations are coming to birth. Social and political patterns are evolving. Violence, terrorism, and war threaten the very foundations of civilization. These external insecurities are reflected in the internal world of the mind and of the spirit. There is widespread distrust of Christian faith and a preference for agnosticism or free thought. Many church members are confused and uncertain. Against this background, to read the letters of John is to enter another world marked by assurance, knowledge, confidence, and boldness. The certainty of Christian people is twofold: objective (that the Christian religion is true) and subjective (that they have been born of God and possess eternal life). Both are expounded by John, who takes it for granted that this double assurance is right and healthy. Today we urgently need to hear and heed his teaching about the nature of these certainties and the grounds on which they are built. John Stott was one of the world's leading and most-loved Bible teachers and preachers. In this Bible study guide you can explore Scripture under his guidance, enhancing your own in-depth study with insights gained from his years of immersion in God's Word.

The good news about injustice is that God is against it. God is in the business of using the unlikely to bring about justice and mercy. In Good News About Injustice, Gary Haugen offers stories of courageous Christians who have stood up for justice in the face of human trafficking, forced prostitution, racial and religious persecution, and torture. Throughout he provides concrete guidance on how ordinary Christians can rise up to seek justice throughout the world. This landmark work, featuring newly updated statistics, is now part of the IVP Signature Collection, which features special editions of iconic books in celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of InterVarsity Press. A five-session companion Bible study is also available.

Study Scripture with John Stott We live in a culture where the beliefs and preferences of the individual are given final authority. Paul's firm commitment to the church as "the pillar and foundation of the truth" stands against the current. His letters to Timothy and Titus call us to reestablish the core beliefs of Christianity and affirm our convictions about the gospel. Through these newly updated studies, John Stott challenges readers to carry on in faithfully guarding and passing on the truth of the gospel. John Stott was one of the world's leading and most-loved Bible teachers and preachers. In this Bible study guide you can explore Scripture under his guidance, enhancing your own in-depth study with insights gained from his years of immersion in God's Word.

Study Scripture with John Stott Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. For centuries Christians have proclaimed these central truths. The gospel that began in space and time will ultimately be fulfilled at Christ's return. And as we wait and long for Christ's return, this gospel gives us encouragement and a reason for hope. These ten studies on Paul's letters to the Thessalonians open our minds to the truth, lift our hearts to hope, and cause us to worship our faithful, victorious God. John Stott was one of the world's leading and most-loved Bible teachers and preachers. In this Bible study guide you can explore Scripture under his guidance, enhancing your own in-depth study with insights gained from his years of immersion in God's Word.

Study Scripture with John Stott The gospel has power: the power to save us, the power to change the world. In Paul's letter to the Romans he explains the power we've been given to be effective witnesses, overcome sin, be wholly committed to God, handle differences in Christ's body, and be responsible Christian citizens. The truth in Romans will transform your thinking and convict your heart as you discover the power of the gospel for every area of your life and our world. John Stott was one of the world's leading and most-loved Bible teachers and preachers. In this Bible study guide you can explore Scripture under his guidance, enhancing your own in-depth study with insights gained from his years of immersion in God's Word.

Study Scripture with John Stott The Spirit moved in dramatic ways in the early church. The gospel was preached, thousands were added to their number, many were healed, and the good news about Jesus was spread across continents. Covering the exciting action of the Spirit in the years just following Jesus' life on earth, this study will open your eyes to the Spirit's power in the past and present and help you apply the riches of Scripture to your own life. John Stott was one of the world's leading and most-loved Bible teachers and preachers. In this Bible study guide you can explore Scripture under his guidance, enhancing your own in-depth study with insights gained from his years of immersion in God's Word.

Study Scripture with John Stott "Our era is one of theological and moral confusion, even of apostasy. And the apostle summons us, as he summoned Timothy, to be strong, brave and steadfast." In this way John Stott summarizes the message of Paul's second letter to Timothy, a letter about leadership and responsibility. The inductive studies in this newly updated guide speak to all who would stand for Christ in a world of slippery, relative truth. Our call is to bring the only real, solid Word of grace and truth to a world without hope. John Stott was one of the world's leading and most-loved Bible teachers and preachers. In this Bible study guide you can explore Scripture under his guidance, enhancing your own in-depth study with insights gained from his years of immersion in God's Word.

We live in a land where truth is subjective, individualized, and culturally conditioned. That same troubling thinking had invaded the churches led by Timothy and Titus, so Paul's pastoral letters to them focus on the objective and universal truth revealed in Jesus. John Stott's teachings from The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus and The Message of 2 Timothy are offered here as brief devotional readings suitable for daily use. Designed as a church resource for small groups, this book includes thirteen weekly studies that take you passage by passage through the pastoral letters, allowing readers to enjoy the riches of Stott's writings in a new, easy-to-use format.

False teachers had infiltrated the churches in Galatia, attacking Paul's authority as well as the gospel he preached. So Paul's letter to the Galatians is not only a defense of his authority as an apostle, but also a celebration of the remarkable grace offered through Jesus Christ. John Stott's teachings from The Message of Galatians are offered here as brief devotional readings suitable for daily use. Designed as a church resource for small groups, this book includes nine weekly studies that take us passage by passage through Galatians, allowing readers to enjoy the riches of Stott's writings in a new, easy-to-use format.

Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus is a concise yet comprehensive summary of the good news and its implications. The entire letter is a magnificent combination of Christian doctrine and Christian duty-faith and life-written that we might recognize the hope to which we are called. In this volume, John Stott's teachings from The Message of Ephesians are offered as brief devotional readings suitable for daily use. Designed as a church resource for small groups, this book includes eleven weekly studies that take you passage by passage through Ephesians, allowing readers to enjoy the riches of Stott's writings in a new, easy-to-use format.

Why Jesus? Perhaps you have had the funny feeling that God wants to get your attention. Or maybe you're intrigued with what you've heard about Jesus. Or maybe you're simply looking for meaning and direction in your life. John Stott spent a lifetime wrestling with questions about Jesus both personally and in dialogue with skeptics and seekers around the globe. In Why I Am a Christian he provides a compelling, persuasive case for considering the Christian faith. If you take an honest look at Jesus, you will discover that following him gives you the purpose, identity and freedom you've been searching for--and far more than you have ever imagined.

Using the church as a framework, Through the Year with John Stott explores in 365 days the whole biblical story from creation to the end times. One of the most highly respected Bible teachers of our times, John Stott gets to the heart of each of the 365 carefully selected passages, covering every essential Christian teaching in a single volume. The readings are broken up into weekly themes. Each devotion is based on a key passage of Scripture, and includes biblical references for further exploration. This new edition of this much-loved classic devotional includes a new foreword from Old Testament Scholar Chris Wright.

IVP Readers' Choice Award Paul's letter to the Romans has for two thousand years been a touchstone for all who want to understand the power of the gospel and the righteousness of God revealed from heaven. The truth in Romans transforms our thinking and convicts our hearts as we discover the power of the gospel for every area of our life and our world. In this volume, the first half of John Stott's The Message of Romans is offered in brief readings suitable for daily use which take us passage by passage through the Scripture text. Including ten weekly studies for individuals or groups, this book covering Romans 1-8 allows readers to enjoy the riches of Stott's writings in a new, easy-to-use format. The remainder of Romans is presented in the companion to this volume. John Stott was one of the most beloved and masterful Bible teachers of the last fifty years. His books have sold in the millions. Christians on every continent have heard and read his instructive and inspiring expositions of Scripture. The books in the Reading the Bible with John Stott series offer the essential message of Stott's teaching, largely drawn from his Bible Speaks Today volumes, and present it in a format suitable for daily reading. Questions at the end of each section make these books even more useful for individuals or groups.

Paul's letter to the Romans has for two thousand years been a touchstone for all who want to understand the power of the gospel and the righteousness of God revealed from heaven. The truth in Romans transforms our thinking and convicts our hearts as we discover the power of the gospel for every area of our life and our world. In this volume, the second half of John Stott's The Message of Romans is offered in brief readings suitable for daily use which take us passage by passage through the Scripture text. Including eight weekly studies for individuals or groups, this book covering Romans 9-16 allows readers to enjoy the riches of Stott's writings in a new, easy-to-use format. The remainder of Romans is presented in the companion to this volume. John Stott was one of the most beloved and masterful Bible teachers of the last fifty years. His books have sold in the millions. Christians on every continent have heard and read his instructive and inspiring expositions of Scripture. The books in the Reading the Bible with John Stott series offer the essential message of Stott's teaching, largely drawn from his Bible Speaks Today volumes, and present it in a format suitable for daily reading. Questions at the end of each section make these books even more useful for individuals or groups.

The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus' most inspiring and challenging description of the Christian counterculture. John Stott's teaching on this timeless text shows how its value system, ethical standard, religious devotion and network of relationships clearly distinguish it from both the nominal church and the secular world. In this volume Stott's The Message of the Sermon on the Mount is offered in brief readings suitable for daily use which take us passage by passage through the Scripture text. Including eight weekly studies for individuals or groups, this book covering Matthew 5-7 allows readers to enjoy the riches of Stott's writings in a new, easy-to-use format. John Stott was one of the most beloved and masterful Bible teachers of the last fifty years. His books have sold in the millions. Christians on every continent have heard and read his instructive and inspiring expositions of Scripture. The books in the Reading the Bible with John Stott series offer the essential message of Stott's teaching, largely drawn from his Bible Speaks Today volumes, and present it in a format suitable for daily reading. Questions at the end of each section make these books even more useful for individuals or groups.

A deep look at Scripture-God's very words-is never wasted. In fact, not only is it never wasted; it's richly rewarded. The more deeply we dive into the riches of the Bible, the more deeply we can experience and serve God, the giver of all truth, wisdom, love and understanding. The new LifeGuide (R) in Depth Bible Studies help you do just that, taking you further into themes and books of Scripture than you might have gone before. As you see new connections between the Old and New Testament, gain an understanding of the historical and cultural background of passages, engage in creative exercises, and concretely apply what you've learned, you'll be amazed at the breadth of the knowledge and wisdom you gain and the transformation God can work in you as you meet him in his Word. Each session provides enough material for a week's worth of Scripture study along with a weekly group discussion guide that pulls all of the elements together. This guide is based on and includes the inductive Bible study Sermon on the Mount from the bestselling LifeGuide (R) Bible Study Series--only now it has been expanded for a new kind of study experience. Drawn from John Stott's Sermon on the Mount LifeGuide Bible Study and his The Message of the Sermon on the Mount commentary, A Deeper Look at the Sermon on the Mount will help you discover how powerful meekness is how you can influence the desolate places of society (hint: it has to do with character) how to experience God's law as delightful how to treat your enemies and much more. If you're longing to go deeper in your understanding of God and his Word, LifeGuide (R) in Depth Bible Studies are for you. These new studies will meet your need for both rich, solidly researched content and personal application. They'll meet your need for Bible study that challenges your head and your heart. Most of all, we pray you'll meet God in them.

'The followers of Jesus are to be different,' writes John Stott, 'different from both the nominal church and the secular world, different from both the religious and the irreligious. The Sermon on the Mount is the most complete delineation anywhere in the New Testament of the Christian counter-culture. Here is a Christian value-system, ethical, standard, religious devotion, attitude to money, ambition, lifestyle and network of relationships - all of which are totally at variance with those in the non-Christian world. And this Christian counter-culture is the life of the Kingdom of God, a fully human life indeed but lived out under the divine rule.' In his careful exposition of the Sermon on the Mount, John Stott accurately expounds the biblical text and relates it to life today. Above all, the author says, he wants to let Christ speak this sermon again, this time to the modern world.

Is preaching dead - or at least dying? In a digital age, where congregations have unprecedented access to resources, do we still need sermons? John Stott's I BELIEVE IN PREACHING has been essential reading for ministers, students and lay preachers for over three decades. Its message is as relevant today as ever. 'I do believe in preaching. . . I believe that nothing is better calculated to restore health and vitality to the Church or to lead its members into maturity in Christ than a recovery of true, biblical, contemporary preaching.' John Stott This edition also contains a brand new introduction form the original series editor Michael Green.

"The Christian life is life in the Spirit," writes John Stott. "It would be impossible to be a Christian, let alone to live and grow as a Christian, without the ministry of the gracious Spirit of God. All we have and are as Christians we owe to him." The Holy Spirit continues to be at work around the world, as numerous renewal movements attest. Yet much confusion and controversy remain regarding the Holy Spirit's activity. In this classic study, John Stott provides clear biblical exposition on the promise, the fruit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He offers particular guidance on the nature of "the baptism of the Spirit" and whether certain spiritual gifts and experiences should be normative for all Christians. Always irenic and gracious, Stott points the way to both greater biblical understanding and deeper fullness of spiritual life.

Study Scripture with John Stott In Christ we have salvation as a gift of grace. But what is our responsibility? Maybe you're confused about the various requirements different Christians say accompany being a follower of Christ. Galatians raises questions of law: What rules should a Christian follow? Are we exempt through Christ? These studies from Galatians help us understand what God-not others-requires of his followers and how we can live out our faith in both obedience and freedom. John Stott was one of the world's leading and most-loved Bible teachers and preachers. In this Bible study guide you can explore Scripture under his guidance, enhancing your own in-depth study with insights gained from his years of immersion in God's Word.

Study Scripture with John Stott Readers' reactions to the book of Revelation are remarkably varied. Some Christians are obsessed with it, viewing it as a kind of secret history of the world and seeking the key to decipher it. Other Christians go to the opposite extreme of neglect. They are mystified and even intimidated by the unfamiliar, so they ignore the book or give up reading it in despair. The truth is that Revelation is a part of God's holy Word, and with a bit of help and sound interpretation it has much to offer to nurture our spiritual lives. John Stott was one of the world's leading and most-loved Bible teachers and preachers. In this Bible study guide you can explore Scripture under his guidance, enhancing your own in-depth study with insights gained from his years of immersion in God's Word.

Study Scripture with John Stott We long to belong. We crave unity. We want to be loved and accepted by others. Paul's letter to the Ephesians is about uniting all things in Christ. Here we learn how to break down what separates us from God, as well as what causes disconnection within families, in churches, and between racial and ethnic groups. These newly updated studies provide a vision of the new society God has planned in his church. John Stott was one of the world's leading and most-loved Bible teachers and preachers. In this Bible study guide you can explore Scripture under his guidance, enhancing your own in-depth study with insights gained from his years of immersion in God's Word.