John Stott Concludes Public Ministry: ‘Be More Like Jesus Christ’
Rev Dr John Stott has completed his final public engagement, asking, “What is God's purpose for his people?” as he spoke at the Keswick Convention 17 July.
by Daniel Blake
Posted: Thursday, July 19, 2007, 15:02 (BST)
Rev Dr John Stott concluded his final public engagement at the Keswick Convention last night, asking, "What is God's purpose for his people?”
As the world says goodbye to one of the most celebrated evangelists of the modern era, Dr Stott told the crowd: “I want to share with you where my mind has come to rest as I approach the end of my pilgrimage on earth. God wants His people to become like Christ. Christ-likeness is the will of God for the people of God.”
Giving his last major address before retiring from public ministry, veteran preacher and Queen's Chaplain Dr John Stott electrified his audience and was greeted with a standing ovation.
Building his sermon on three texts, Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18 and 1 John 3:2, Dr Stott affirmed that “if we claim to be a Christian, we must be Christ-like”.
He went on to stress that 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.”
Dr Stott is revered the world over for his life of ministry. The world famous evangelist Rev Billy Graham testified him as “the most respected clergyman in the world today”.
Now 87 and increasingly fragile, Dr Stott's frailty vanished as he started to preach for the final time publicly.
He warned his audience that being Christ-like in “patient endurance...may well become increasingly relevant as persecution increases in many cultures”.
Copyright © 2007 Christian Today. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Have your say on this article
The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Tuesday, July 31, 2007, 23:51 (BST)
Yes I agree, Chris Barratt, with every word you say I was there too.
I shall always remember John's opening words, following the well deserved, and highly complementary introduction, of all that he had achieved, which I expect was an embarrassment to the Rev.d Dr.; they were; 'I think I just listened to my epitaph' , -- said of course with a glint in his eye illustrating his quick wit, true humility and appropriate sens of humour.
Christopher L Dutton, Crawley
Added: Tuesday, July 24, 2007, 11:07 (BST)
My wife and I were present for this event; it truly was an emotional occasion as John Stott was assisted on to the platform; then after being given a small presentation he made his way to the lectern as the marquee full of 3000 Christians gave him a standing ovation reminsicent of the "great clouds of witnesses" of Hebrews 12, encouraging John onwards. The tent descended in to hushed silence and, however frail in body he is, John's mind is as sharp as ever, and the challenge no less than delivered so eloquently on so many past occasions. This was an occasion which spurred me on and will live with me for many years to come. Thankyou John.
Chris Barratt, Gatehouse of Fleet, Scotland
Added: Thursday, July 19, 2007, 16:51 (BST)
I have listened to Stott's sermons for as long as I have been a Christian, read all his books - I can say unequivocally that Christianity is saying goodbye to one of the most TRUE theologians and evangelists Christianity has ever seen. God bless him in his retirement - may your words continue to bring many more to Christ!
Zoe Whitticker, Highbury, London
Added: Thursday, July 19, 2007, 15:30 (BST)
What a truly great man of God!
John Harold, Ipswich
