John Stott Ends His Public Ministry at Keswick
Well-known evangelical preacher and theologian John Stott (Wikipedia | Theopedia) has finished his public ministry at the age of 86 with his final sermon as this year’s Keswick Convention: “The Model—Becoming More Like Christ” (MP3). Stott answered the question, “What is God’s purpose for his people?” this way: “God wants His people to become like Christ. . . . Christ-likeness is the will of God for the people of God.”
Building his sermon on three texts—Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18 and 1 John 3:2—Stott affirmed Wednesday night that “if we claim to be a Christian, we must be Christ-like.”
He went on to stress the five main examples in the New Testament of how Christians should seek to imitate Christ.
“We are to be like Christ in his Incarnation,” he said. “It was unique, in the sense that the Son of God took our humanity to himself in Jesus of Nazareth, but the amazing grace of God in the Incarnation of Christ is to be followed by all of us. We are to be like Christ in his Incarnation in the amazing self-humbling which lies behind the Incarnation.”
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From the Islamic world, Stott noted the words of the Rev. Iskandar Jadeed, a former Arab Muslim, who said: “If all Christians were Christians—that is, Christ-like—there would be no more Islam today.”
Rallying a captivated congregation, Stott asked the question: “Is Christ-likeness attainable?”
He concluded: “In our own strength it is clearly not attainable but God has given us his Holy Spirit to dwell within us, to change us from within . . . God’s way to make us like Christ is to fill us with His Spirit.”
NEW:
Read more:
- Christian Post: John Stott Ends Public Ministry with Call for Christ-Like Efforts
- Christian Today: John Stott Concludes Public Ministry: ‘Be More Like Jesus Christ’
- Langham Partnership: John Stott’s Final Public Address
- News & Star: Preacher John’s last appearance
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Mackill Lima Vasconcelos
A disciple of Christ
I cannot describe the influence I have received from John Stott on my christian life and also in my ministry.
As he retires from his public ministry, his legacy will continue with the people of God, since he never preachead, or promoted himself. It is wonderful to know that a man with so many opportunities could have done for his own glory. But Stott as a leader of our people worked hard to show us the glory of God through His Son Christ Jesus.
So, I think that as this man of God reaches the final stage of his earthly life, we can visualize a man and a good model, who dare to be just a disciple of Jesus.
May God give us grace to folloew this good example.
Mackill Lima Vasconcelos - November/ 2007 - Goiânia - Brazil
Nov 13th, 2007 9:30 am