This is an excellent and wise book on Christian marriage which started life as a sermon series preached at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in 1991.  At least two sections are more strongly shaped by Kathy (chapter 6 “Embracing the other” and the appendix “Decision making and gender roles”).

 The 8 chapters are:

-         The Secret of Marriage;

-         The Power for Marriage;

-         The Essence of Marriage;

-         The Mission of Marriage;

-         Loving the Stranger;

-         Embracing the Other;

-         Singleness and Marriage;

-         Sex and Marriage.

 The context in which the book is written, 20+ years in Manhattan, New York, clearly shapes the way in which the conversation about marriage takes place.  Theirs is a congregation full of many single young adults living out their relationships where tolerance is expected, “try before you buy” is the norm, and hopes of a “fairy tale ending” are often dashed.

 What is particularly helpful is the way in which the Kellers have an eye to their context, a good grasp of the social sciences’ perception on gender roles, but primarily seek to see the Gospel shape and pervade their interpretation of what makes for marriage as God intended it.

 There are four particular areas which I found refreshing:-

 1)      The basis for a strong marriage is friendship.  Marriages that last for a lifetime are those where partners work at being good friends to each other, above almost everything else.  This also means that if Christian marriages are based on friendship then they can be the place where single people are brought into the friendship.

 2)      The foundation of strong marriage is the Gospel.  The book carefully answers the concerns of the postmodernist (who might tend to think that marriage is archaic and unsustainable) and also the traditionalist (who might tend to have a blinkered romanticism attached to bygone traditional roles). As with all Tim’s writing and speaking, the good news is a message to the religious and the irreligious:

The reason that marriage is so painful and yet wonderful is because it is a reflection of the gospel, which is painful and wonderful at once.  The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope… love without truth is sentimentality; it supports and affirms us but keeps us in denial about our flaws.  Truth without love is harshness; it gives us information but in such a way that we cannot really hear it.  God’s saving love in Christ, however, is marked by both radical truthfulness about who we are and yet also radical, unconditional commitment to us (p48).

 3)      The power for a strong marriage is found in knowing its purpose. Here Tim draws on the excellent work in Peter O’Brien’s commentary on Ephesians (Eerdmans 1999). The mysterion (Eph 5:32) is God’s unveiling of that which was previously hidden.  The profound insight of Ephesians 5 is the way Paul applies the foundational text of Genesis 2:24 (for this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh). The created purpose of marriage, it would seem, is in order that God would have demonstrated on earth a living, breathing illustration of his divine purposes, subsequently to be fully revealed in Christ’ relationship with the Church. Christians will find purpose in their marriage when they see the way in which God expects it to perform for the Gospel’s sake. My own debt to Peter O’Brien is acknowledged in The Diamond Marriage. Have Ultimate Purpose in your Marriage. (Christian Focus 2005) which explores many similar themes.

 4)      The mission of marriage of to have God’s sanctifying work on display for the benefit of others too.  The goal of Christian marriage is much the same as the goal for the Christian life: to be like Jesus.  Here, issues of complementarity come into play.  Headship is defined as “servant leadership” and submission as being a “strong helper”. Of course, not everyone buys into the complementarian theology which pervades much of this book, but there is great insight here and the Kellers carefully warn about sins of overbearing dominance, and passive surrender; and I hope persuade others of the biblical wisdom in the complementary way in which the sexes are made.

 There is more to say.  But for now the wisest move would be buy the book, read it and give it away.  I highly commend it.

 Simon Vibert, January 2012

http://metamorphe.wordpress.com/

www.SimonVibert.com

 Lecture 1: The case for preaching: What makes for good preaching and how do we know when it is done well?

 Lecture 2: Christian Communication in a postmodern age: biblical words which define the task of preaching today.

 Lecture 3: Introduction to the Exegetical task

 Lecture 4: Introduction to the Homiletical Task

 Lecture 5: From text to Sermon

 Lecture 6: Beginnings, endings, applications and illustrations

 Lecture 7: The preacher’s life and integrity

 Abbreviated Bibliography

Chapell, Bryan Christ Centred Preaching (Baker 1994) 

Jensen, P. & Grimmond, P. The Archer and the Arrow (Matthias Media 2010)

Robinson, Haddon Expository Preaching: Principles and Practice (IVP 1986)

Vibert, Simon Excellence in Preaching.  Learning from the Best (IVP 2011)

I am in Osijek, Croatia, and about to begin teaching a one week Langham Preachers seminar.  It is nothing other than John Stott’s vision to train a new generation of preachers who will faithfully expound the word of God that has brought me here. Dick Lucas and the Proclamation Trust have probably had the greatest influence on expository preaching in the UK. But in terms of world-wide impact, none surpasses the spread of influence of John Stott. Those who heard him preach noted his disciplined, almost dogged, determination to bring out the meaning of the biblical text such that the hearer really felt as if they had heard the last word about it. But it was not dry or academic because it was heart warming and always Christ and cross focussed.

Secondly, over the Christmas break I have been reading “John Stott: A portrait by his friends”, Chris Wright (ed, IVP, 2011).  I have already reviewed Roger Steer’s excellent biography of Stott, but this portrait intends to be different. For some readers it will be the first time they see the humanity of our evangelical luminary.  Key themes reoccur throughout the book: his mischievous sense of humour; his deep humility; his rigorous self-discipline; and above all, his Christ-likeness. Indeed, how fitting that his last platform message should be on precisely this topic (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qGHSBZph3g)

Thirdly, from 11th – 15th June 2012, Wycliffe Hall will be hosting an exciting conference on “Charles Simeon, John Stott and the Expository Method”.  We shall be looking at the legacy of these two great british preachers and consider the benefits of their preaching for a contemporary audience.  In particular, I am keen that we answer the question: “is expository preaching a transferable method and can it be done well by the average preacher?”  If you are a preacher, I hope that you can come.  More at SoP leaflet 2 and www.wycliffe.ox.ac.uk.

So, I am truly am grateful to God for this remarkable man of God who, through his wit, wisdom and winsomeness has influenced many for good.  But, as John Stott would be the first to remark: all glory and thanks goes to God.

 We begin 2012 with a sense of straining forward: what will this New Year hold for us?  There is a sense of new beginnings. But in order to go forward we also look back. My personal evaluation of the past year is probably different to yours: I tend to ask questions such as: What did I read? What did I publish?  What did I teach? Where did I go? Who has been added to the family?  Let’s start there.

 What did I read?

Reading is both a pleasure and an occupational necessity!  Under the topic of “reading for pleasure/personal edification” I would recommend: Two excellent Tim Keller books: his commentary on Mark’s Gospel “King’s Cross” and “The Meaning of Marriage” (Tim Keller’s excellent article on the dangers of ministry is also well worth reading); “Subversive Obedience” by Walter Brueggemann for good observations on OT text; “The Cross and the Prodigal” by Kenneth Bailey for his amazing insight on reading the Gospels with a Palestinian mindset; “Think” by John Piper, which, er, encouraged me to think and “John Stott” by Chris Wright (Ed) as a great overview of a godly, humane and simply Christ-like man .  I don’t read much fiction (other than student essays – juuuuust kidding J).  I have enjoyed “A Prayer for Owen Meaney” by John Irving, very perceptive observations on humankind with some penetrating questions about the meaning of life.

 What did I publish?

My book Excellence in Preaching. Learning from the Best  was published by IVP (UK) in September 2011 (due out January 2012 in USA).  Comments have been mainly positive with remarks on how helpful it can be to look at exactly what it is that preachers do when they preach and how we might do it better.  Criticisms have surrounding the selection of preachers and some anxieties over whether they also raise the bar too high (one person has asked for a second volume Learning from Mediocrity, and I take their point!).  I have done various interviews including http://reformedcast.com/2011/12/13/episode-65-excellence-in-preaching/ and  http://janetmefferd.com/

 I am hoping to write something of the ever present reality of Stress! later in the year and maybe take some of the lessons to heart!

 What did I teach?

My teaching is mainly in the area of homiletics (the “art” of preaching) and hermeneutics (biblical interpretation, the word is taken from the Greek god hermes whose role was to communicate the mind of the gods to the people).  I also look after the Focus Days at Wycliffe Hall which are the most integrative parts of the curriculum, combining academic learning with practical ministry skills as well as addressing personal and spiritual issues for the students.

 Where did I go?

It was a great privilege to take a small group of students to Tanzanian March (more on this at http://metamorphe.wordpress.com/2011/03/22/balancing-short-term-and-long-term-mission/).  As is quite typical in Africa we ended up doing things we had not exactly planned.  The result was a very challenging and stimulating visit to a Maasai tribe where we were asked to do “door-to-door” evangelism and train them in how they should do it.  Leaving aside the obvious problem of the lack of doors in their primitive accommodation (!), we wrestled with the cross-cultural implications of what we were being asked to do. In the end we taught them the brief evangelistic outline “Two Ways to Live”, we helped them commit to memory the bible verses and did some in-depth bible teaching in each of those passages.  My initial challenge to the students was “Prepare hard but be prepared to do anything, including that for which you are not prepared.” This turned out to be good advice!

 In August I spent a week in Singapore teaching at Adam Road Presbyterian Church.  It was a privilege to be asked to do bible expositions and also to do some training in the area of preaching.  They worked me hard but they also had a great appetite to learn!  The Pastor took me on a fascinating tour which culminated in a Japanese meal and a visit to a Buddhist temple. The discipline of the Monks in praying round the clock was challenging, but the lack of assurance of any answers to their prayers was not!  This was followed by a week in Sydney Australia visiting Churches, Colleges and friends.

 Who has been added to the family?

On September 10^th Naomi married Jonny Dennis at St Andrew’s Church in North Oxford.  It was a great day and a lovely chance to catch up with family and friends.  As well as being a Grandfather I am also seeking to come to terms with being a Father-in-law J.

 These are very “me” centred questions, and for those of you who follow this blog but don’t know me personally the detail may be of little interest. But I have also been challenged by another set of questions which I have been asking myself.  When it comes to reviewing 2011 and looking forward to 2012, I think I should ask:-

 What did I learn and in which areas did I grow?

I haven’t written the book on Stress yet but the reactions I get from people when I tell them that this is my next project are enough to make me realise that this is an important area for Christians to tackle.  Stress is not all bad.  After all, one of the highest achievers and most ambitious of men was the Apostle Paul (e.g. 1 Corinthians 9:27).

 One key realisation for me this year is: I should do less and but I should do it better.  In fact, to take this one stage further: I should learn less but learn it deeper. This lesson has partly arisen out of research in teaching and learning in higher education (and completing the PGDipLATHE in Oxford University). More particularly though: being mastered by convictions that flow from the truth of God; being a man of THE book; loving God with heart, soul, mind and strength and keeping the main things the main things in my thought-life and daily devotion, are all important.  How much of my energy in 2011 was wasted in superficial or trivial things? And how much of my time is stretched across a wide range of interests, pleasure, contacts and relationships?  Yes, this makes for a sociable, entertaining, connected world.  But I have concluded that if it stops me going deeper (rather than wider) then I have lost balance and focus in my Christian life.  That causes stress. So: I must not write lessons which I have not learnt deeply myself!

 Who did I disciple?

I should keep a smaller circle of friends.  I can’t possibly keep contact with, let alone help bring to maturity, the 700+ facebook friends I’m associated with.  “Liking” them, “poking” them, “friending” them is not enough!  Actually, I love the wider contacts which facebook and other social media brings.  To be in some kind of relationship with a broad cross section of people is a privilege.  But: I need to invest more time in a smaller group of people so that together we might grow in Christ-likeness.  Intimacy and community are at the heart of Christian “being”. Am I in an accountable Christian relationship with others? And am I growing with and through them?  Have the many circles of relationships I have found myself in during 2011 resulted in me – or anyone else – growing in their relationship with God?

 How much did I suffer?

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.  (Philippians 3:1-11).

 Paul spoke about his desire to know Christ better.  My favourite verse, also in Philippians, is “For me, to live is Christ, to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).  Both these verses indicate that suffering is normal Christian living and the means that God most seems to use for Christians to grow in their faith.  I don’t think that I am alone in finding it hard to see suffering in this positive light.  But in reviewing the past year it is in times when I have not “got it all together”, and times when I am “not the most popular” or “got my own way” and the times when life is not all “plain sailing” that God is actually doing his most significant work in my life.  I need to revaluate 2011 with this heavenly check list!

 It is good to look back and reflect.  But it’s hard to measure progress. Who can see themselves grow? Perhaps we are not supposed to try to do so.  As we go into 2012 I want to echo Paul’s ambitions:

… one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3:13-14).

 As John Piper has put it: I look back to say “thank-you” but I look forward with “faith in future grace”, i.e., with an expectancy that God will supply grace for the future as I step forward in faith.  So, onwards into 2012!

The following comments are taken from “Lives Jesus Changed” (http://www.christianfocus.com/item/show/1310/-) and reflect on why it might be better to ask “What would John do?”

What Would Jesus Do?

In John 1 John the Baptist tells us of two tasks which the Messiah/Christ will perform.

He is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (v29, v37)

It is a staggering claim.  There are at least two possible thoughts in mind here.  In Isaiah 53 we are given a prophecy about a character who will be led like a lamb to the slaughter (v7) and one who would have the iniquity of us all laid upon him (v6b).  Many people see a strong allusion to the servant-messiah who will take away the sins of the world through his saving death.  Is John at least strongly hinting here that finally the servant-messiah figure is among them now?

The Passover celebrations (recorded in Exodus 12) may well be the more likely insinuation which John has in mind.  As a yearly memorial each Jewish household was to recollect God’s rescue fromEgyptby killing a lamb.  This helped them remember the day when God passed over faithful Jewish homes and spared them from God’s wrath, whilst killing the first-born in every Egyptian home.  The blood of the lamb that had been slain then was splattered on the lintels and posts of their front door, showing God that a lamb had died in place of the firstborn.  In that way sin had been atoned for and God passed over them.  Later in the New Testament (see 1 Corinthians 5:7) the Apostle Paul makes a direct link between the death of Jesus on the cross as our sin-bearer and the picture of the Passover lamb.

Whichever of these two pictures is mainly in John the Baptist’s mind, the conclusion is amazing.  Jesus will do what neither John nor any other religious ritual ceremony (water baptism included) can do:  He will take away the sins of the world through His sin-bearing death.  Isn’t that fantastic news?

He is the one who baptises with the Holy Spirit (v33)

The second thing that Jesus alone can do is baptise with the Holy Spirit.  This is the internal work of washing away sin and the new birth that comes to make us true children of God (see v.13, “born of the spirit of God”).  The Christian life begins with baptism.  Not baptism by water (which is merely a symbol, or better, a sacrament), but baptism in the Spirit.  Whilst we constantly need to be filled and refilled with the Holy Spirit as He takes over God’s rightful rule in every part of our life (see Ephesians 5:21ff.), baptism happens once, and it is our Christian beginning (See Acts 1:5, 1 Corinthians 12:13).

This is great news for all people!  Jesus did what we couldn’t do to or for ourselves.  He deals with our guilt and sin on the cross and puts that remedy straight to work at the very heart of our being: our spirit.

WWJD

It has become trendy to wear little badges or bracelets with the four letters WWJD.  The letters stand for “What would Jesus do”.  In any and every situation, to be reminded “What would Jesus do” is quite a challenge to act as he would act.

However, with John the Baptist’s testimony in front of us, I wonder whether that is quite the right question.  At one level of course, Jesus did for us what we could never do for anyone else.  I cannot die to atone for other people’s sin.  And as a local Church minister I often remind parents of children brought for baptism, that all I can do is make their baby’s head wet! Only God can take sin away. Only God can baptise in the Spirit.  At the heart of John’s witness is a humble signpost to Jesus.  John will decrease.  Jesus must increase.

I wonder, then, would it not be as useful to think “What Would John Do?” whenever we see those four letters WWJD.  John’s witness to Jesus is stunning and costly.  He did not fail to speak up nor did he deny he knew Jesus.  He stood before his accusers with a simple testimony: It is not about me, it is all about Him!

It has sometimes been said: if you were arrested for being a Christian would there be enough evidence to bring you to conviction?!

We live in a day and age where the scenario with which I began this chapter is becoming an increasing possibility.  I hope and pray that should that day come, I will think and act like John thought and acted, even if it costs me as much as it cost him.

The all important question is not: “who do you think you are?” but “who do you think He is?” Have you taken John’s own testimony seriously?  What would John do?

I may have a particularly cluttered mind, but one area of preaching used to be troublesome for me.  As I poured over the passage I would end up with reams of jottings which included

• exegetical thoughts on the passage;
• possible central themes arising from the biblical passage;
• possible anecdotes/illustrations
• a “hook” into the sermon and possible applications;
• alliterative or numbered points for the sermon;

In order to declutter my thinking I have come up with “3 pages of the sermon”

• on one page I write down all my thoughts on the passage;
• on the second page I write down possible illustrations, applications, introductions and conclusions;
• on the third page I write down a tentative outline including an “exegetical theme” (single sentence summary of the biblical passage) and “homiletical theme” – sometimes called “the big idea” (single sentence summary of the sermon);

Then comes the time to try to distill the three pages into one.  For the sermon I preached on Luke 17:20-37 recently it ended up looking liks this http://www.simonvibert.com/Luke_1720_37_notes.pdf.  This is a detailed outline of the sermon.  After this it is a matter of taste as to whether a full text is then written (certainly a good discipline for new preachers) or whether these notes are used as the outline from which to preach the sermon.  An audio recording of the preached sermon may also be found on my website http://www.simonvibert.com/Luke1720_31.mp3.

Other’s may have a much more coherent and logic mind which enables a separation out of the discreet parts of sermon preparation, but it doesn’t work that way for me, hence this methodology.

To put the same principle another way round:

• First isolate the heart of the passage and locate the heartbeat;
• Secondly, overlay this heartbeat with a skeletal structure for the sermon;
• Thirdly, overlay this with the flesh or meat of the sermon;
• Fourthly, dress it up so it is ready to go (with illustration, application etc.)

I hope that this may help preachers arrive at clarity in the prepartion process.

My book “Excellence in Preaching.  Learning from the Best” has now been published.  IVP have done a great job and I am most grateful that the 12 preachers I examine have been gracious and cooperative in allowing me to write about them.

What have I learnt as a result?  What produces excellenet preaching? In an attempt to distill my thoughts it includes the following:-

1) A deep love for the Lord, dependence on the Holy Spirit and sustained immersion in Scripture.  Preaching is a deeply spiritual task and the godliness of the preacher shines through whether they intend it or not!

2) A certain grasp of what makes for good communication.  Sermons need a “Big Idea” (or “Homiletical theme”) and preachers need to practice clear, concise, relevant and engaging communication.

3) The third thing preachers need to learn is what motivated the writing of “Excellence in Preaching”, namely that we learn much from preaching by listening to good preachers.  Apart from the obvious fact that preachers need to hear God’s word explained and applied for their own spiritual health, the language of mentoring and modelling is important here.  My prayer and hope is that good preachers will notice and appreciate the things good preachers do: not to mimic but rather to observe and learn.

I have learnt so much from Dick Lucas’ preaching: not from his teaching about preaching but from him doing it!  His style is quite unique, with a delightful self-deprecating and dry sense of humour.  But mainly – and this surely is the best test of preaching – there are so many passages (mainly from Mark’s Gospel) where I cannot read them without hearing Dick’s voice in my head.  He regularly taught me things which I had not known before, and once I had learnt them I could never forgot the lessons.

“Excellence in Preaching” will be launched at Wycliffe Hall Oxford at 5pm on Thursday 17th November, but if you can’t wait it is available online in England now! (see http://www.ivpbooks.com/9781844745197 the book will be published in the USA at the end of the yearhttp://www.amazon.com/Excellence-Preaching-Studying-Leading-Preachers/dp/0830838155)

There is, inevitably, much conversation and handwringing over the recent riots in the streets ofLondonand otherUKcities.

Diagnosis of the causes of the riots have been willingly offered by politicians and pundits. Answers differ across the political spectrum with David Cameron focussing on the “brokenness of society”, left wing politicians on “racial tensions”, and Tony Blair in today’s Observer indicating that the more immediate problem is family breakdown: we need to reform and intervene family by family. http://news.sky.com/home/article/16053854

All these issues are important, and evangelical Christians would do well to remember the political and social needs which the church is well placed to contribute towards meeting.

Others have spoken of the spiritual needs.  Mike Ovey is particularly helpful in pointing out the link between greedy bankers, corrupt MPs (0verclaiming expenses) and youths rampaging and looting shopping centres for trainers and designer clothes (see http://www.oakhill.ac.uk/commentary/11_summer/looters_them_or_us.html).

As I have spent the last week preaching inSingaporecountless numbers of the congregation have asked me: what is the matter inEngland? Why are people behaving as they are? Part of the answer, in addition the things mentioned by politicians listed above is that idolatry, covetousness, greed, anger: the breaking of God’s law (at least commandments, 1, 2, 8, and 10!) unites the sins of all social classes and means that I need first to look inwards for a correct diagnosis. As Paul says in Romans 7:20-21 I remain capable of every sin and am enslaved and entrapped “another law” until God delivers me.

Yes, Tony Blair is right, the cure must begin with the correct diagnosis and the right prescription. But failing to see the inherent sickness in the human heart which has personal, social and political ramifications must be the place to start fixing the “brokenness”.

There have been lots of worthy tributes of John Stott, a man of God whose influence was felt throughout the latter half of the 20th century and resonating around the world. I am sure there will be much synthesis and analysis of his 50 books, strategic thinking, insightful logic and godly influence.

Roger Steer’s book belongs in this genre. Although it was published in 2009, in Stott’s 88th year, the biography covers his last public speaking event in Keswick in July 2007 and concludes with comments and appreciation from leaders around the world. Among many other positive comments about the book, “Inside Story” belongs among the first of such tributes and reflections on this great man of God.

On Steer

“Inside Story” provides lots of insights gleaned from Stott’s personal diary and notes, interviews with friends and careful conversation. In fewer than 300 pages Steer has managed a distillation of 90 years and 50 books. He combines biography and bibliography!

He has similar gifts of succinctness and clarity which are so admired in John Stott. For example, in summarising Stott on Evangelical Christianity, he says: Evangelicals held the three “R’s” – revelation, redemption and regeneration, associating revelation with the Father, redemption with the Son, and regeneration with the Holy Spirit. Yet the more the three persons of the Trinity were glorified, the more completely human pride was excluded. To magnify the cross of Christ was to confess our utter lostness without it. To magnify the regenerating, indwelling, and sanctifying role of the Holy Spirit was to confess our abiding self-centredness without it. (p.250).

Though in every respect a saint – a man who took holiness seriously – Uncle John would have hated hagiography. Steer has succeeded in being honest and at the same time deeply appreciative and respectful.

At times there are some clunky gear changes. The transitions from one chapter to another feel a bit arbitrary and the book tends to list rather than critique (e.g. the Peter Forster and Jim Packer comments on “double listening” on p.237 could do with some evaluation).

Nevertheless “Inside Story” is a very valuable addition to the many past (and no-doubt forthcoming) appraisals of John Stott’s ministry. Steer regularly succeeded in causing me to pause and pray; to give thanks and ask to be Christ-like in the way John Stott was. This was the fitting theme of his final Keswick appearance in June 2007: “God wants us to become like Christ. Christ-likeness is the will of God for the people of God.” (p.271).

On Stott

The John Stott we meet in “Inside Story” could be summarised as follows: He was a man of incredible self-discipline. He took seriously the challenge of Isaiah 1:18 “’Come now, let us reason together,’ says the Lord”, and was sometimes accused of “evangelical tidy mindedness”. But this gift of succinct clarity is unsurpassed in evangelical writing.

He also allowed himself to be challenged and to change, a point which Steer brings out very well. In early years, his self-discipline was perhaps in danger of leading him to an individualistic private pietism. He was challenged to learn to really listen and ultimately developed the notion of “double listening” as a model of faithful biblical preaching. His vision for setting up organisations and evangelical bodies (e.g. , EFAC, CEEC, Langham Partnership), and critical and costly intervention in the 60’s tension between Anglican Evangelicals and the Westminster Fellowship under Martyn Lloyd Jones, has implications even for today.

There is so much more to say, but not to be over-looked was Stott’s personal interest in helping the poor and downtrodden. This was eventually worked out in a thorough evangelical conviction about social concern and evangelism. I was interested to note that both Steer and Stott considered “The Cross of Christ” as his finest and most important book. Of course, the contribution this book makes to a clear understanding of penal substitution as central to the many faceted ways in which the cross may be viewed and the penetrating application of the Scripture’s teaching on what was achieved by God through the work of the cross must not be denied. However, I wonder whether enough has been made of the huge impact of “Issues Facing Christians Today” in encouraging a biblical vision for the poor and the alienated alongside the need for effective evangelism. I know that for me, reading “Issues” was a life transforming experience.

Personal

So many people will want to add their own testimony to the influence of John Stott on their life. For me, there at least four things with which I resonated strongly in Roger Steer’s book.

Firstly, I am inspired by Stott’s amazing self discipline over a lifetime matched by a willingness to change. He stayed faithful and grew in stature and wisdom. He exemplifies what Eugene Peterson calls “A long obedience in the same direction”, which is indeed a challenge to much modern, instant and “quick fix”, spirituality.

Secondly, as a preacher, Stott’s rigorous study of the text alongside the gift of succinct clarity is desperately needed in our pulpits and something which I want to be the hallmark of mine and a new generation of preachers.

Thirdly, despite the caricatures of stuffy upper class Brit (possibly justified in his early years), Roger Steer has done a good job bringing out his great interest and love for all kinds of individuals. Evangelical ministry is about application of the Word of God to people.

Finally, John Stott was a strategic thinker working with the structures of Anglicism but also with the cross-denominational networks. Here is a great lesson from Stott: work out the things you do well, hone those gifts and skills, and spend a lifetime doing them.

So, thank you Roger for a good Steer on Stott!

Reviewed by Simon Vibert

     Tim Keller has been criticised (or complimented) depending on which way you look at it) as being a better speaker than a writer (note the conversation surrounding Reason for God in Newsweek magazine and Tim’s own response http://www.newsweek.com/2008/02/09/the-smart-shepherd.html; http://www.edstetzer.com/2008/02/tim_keller_on_evolution_and_ot.html).  In fact, this criticism does not apply to King’s Cross.  For sure, this book started life as Bible expositions in Mark’s Gospel – and you can “hear” Tim speaking all the way through – but it has been turned into very readable and edifying prose.

 The book received a surprising and insightful boost from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, at the July 2011 General Synod meeting inYork:

 The American Presbyterian writer Timothy Keller has recently published a book on Mark’s gospel, entitled King’s Cross.  It is a vividly written and often very moving presentation of the great themes of the gospel (and incidentally offers a forceful defence of substitutionary language for the atonement that might give second thoughts to some who find this difficult); but perhaps its simplest and most dominant insight is that Christianity is not advice but news. (http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/2122/archbishop-of-canterburys-presidential-address-http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/)

 King’s Cross divides neatly into the two recognisable halves of Mark’s Gospel – Part One: “The King” (Mark 1-10); Part Two: “The Cross” (Mark 11-16).  The book is a combination of winsome apologetical summons and affectionate (in all senses of that word) appeal to everyday human experience.  Chapter titles such as “The Dance”, “The Waiting”, “The Stain”, “The Feast” etc are surprising and enticing titles for a series of Bible talks. He credits CS Lewis as his favourite author (p.6) and it is not hard to see why Tim is often labelled as “a C. S. Lewis for the 21st century, a high-profile Christian apologist who can make orthodox belief not just palatable but necessary.” (Newsweek article).  He tells the Gospel story in a way which resonates with the human quest for a meaningful narrative for life.

 There are other big themes which are part of Tim’s “Gospel-centred” approach to Christian ministry, such as, the chapter “The Rest”.  He shows that Jesus came to earth to bring about the end of Religion as we know it:

 “Righteous” people believe they can “heal themselves,” make themselves right with God by being good and moral.  They don’t feel the need for a soul-physician, someone who intervenes and does what they can’t do themselves…Because the Lord of the Sabbath said, “It is finished,” we can rest from religion – forever. (p47)

 He also interacts with William Vanstone’s interesting book The Phenomenology of Love indicating that we all seek true, unconditional love, but are incapable of giving it.  But, ironically, in meeting Jesus we are enabled to need less and give more.  Why is that?

 If your agenda is the end, then Jesus is just the means; you are using him.  But if Jesus is the King, you cannot make him a means to your end. (p106f.).

 The strong evangelistic/apologetic appeal is evident throughout the book.  Alongside Mere Christianity this is the kind of book which I would give to a thinking non-Christian today.  For example

 [Jesus] is both the rest and the storm, both the victim and the wielder of the flaming sword, and you must accept him or reject him on the basis of both.  Either you’ll have to kill him or you’ll have to crown him.  The one thing you can’t do is just say, “What an interesting guy.”  Those teachers of the law who began to plot to kill Jesus at the end of this episode in the temple – they may have been dead wrong about him, but their reaction makes perfect sense. (p162).

 His death on the cross is simply explained as Jesus drinking the cup of God’s wrath (the poisoned chalice) so that we don’t need to; and as going under the sword, bearing our punishment in our place.

 I join the Archbishop of Canterbury in highly recommending this book.  When Tim comes to Oxford to lead the OICCU mission next year I trust and hope he will do what he has said all preachers need to do, and that which this book exemplifies:

 To be a great preacher, one needs to be tri-perspectival in their exegesis. That is, they need to be committed to the exegesis of the Bible, the exegesis of our culture, and the exegesis of the human heart. Some preachers claim that if you exegete the Bible properly, you don’t need to bother yourself with the exegesis of our culture or the human heart. The problem with this view, however, is that the Bible itself exhorts us to apply Biblical norms to both our lives and to our world… But no preacher has consistently taught me how to do all three in the context of every sermon more so than Tim Keller. His balanced attention to all three forms of exegesis makes him very unique, in my opinion. (http://www.joshharris.com/2008/08/tim_keller.php)

 Note

More on Tim Keller’s preaching in my book Excellence in Preaching published by IVP UK, September 2011.