STUDY GUIDE FOR JOHN STOTT: A SUMMARY OF HIS TEACHING

Having just completed facilitating a class on my book STOTT: A SUMMARY OF HIS TEACHING covering the basic beliefs and practices of the Christian faith and life, I compiled a list of questions for discussion and reflection which stimulated vigorous conversation. I want to share them with you to encourage your understanding and spiritual growth.

JOHN STOTT: A SUMMARY OF HIS TEACHING

STUDY GUIDE

 CHAPTER 1: GOD 

1. How does the Christian relate to atheists, agnostics and the secular world view which denies or is indifferent to the existence of God?
2. What is the view of those who deny the existence of God and yet regard themselves as spiritual?
3. What is your understanding of the universe as divinely created rather than random mutation?
4. How special is the nature of human beings as compared to animals?
5. What is the practical implication of God as Holy Trinity?
6. What comes into your mind when you think about God?
7. What is your understanding of “the fear of the Lord” or “God-fearing?”

CHAPTER 2: CHRIST

1. What is your definition of Christianity, a Christian?
2. How would you describe Jesus to a nonbeliever? Cf. Heb.1:1-4
3. What claims of Christ do you find most compelling?
4. How do you assess the moral character of Christ?
5. What makes Christ so unique?
6. How is Jesus relevant to today?
7. What is the most popular view of Jesus today?
8. How central to your daily life is your relationship with Christ?
9. What does it mean to practice the presence of Christ?

CHAPTER 3: HOLY SPIRIT

1. What is the place of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament?
2. What is the most important area of the ministry of the Holy Spirit to you? What is the most neglected?
3. What does the New Testament tell us of the baptism and fullness of the Holy Spirit?
4. How does the Spirit lead us into all truth?
5. How does the Spirit convict us of sin?
6. What is the evidence of the indwelling Holy Spirit in the believer?
7. What is the power of the Spirit? 

CHAPTER 4: HUMANITY

1. Why do paradoxes or antimonies in the Bible cause you problems, e.g. free will and the sovereignty of God?
2. As we age why is it difficult to feel valuable?
3. How can you hold the two views of humanity: dignity and depravity, together?
4. Why do people do evil things?
5. What is your understanding of sin?
6. What are the consequences of sin?
7. Why is sin so serious?
8. How does this understanding affect your self-image and self-esteem?
9. What is deadness of soul?
10. Why is it difficult for people to admit their failures, confront reality and to conduct self-examination?

CHAPTER 5: THE CROSS

1. Why is forgiveness so difficult when you have been hurt severely?
2. What do you think about Brunner’s assertion (written in World War II)?

“The law of his divine Being, on which all the law and order in the world is based….the logical and reliable character of all that happens, the validity of all standards, of all intellectual, legal and moral order, the Law itself, in its most profound meaning, demands the divine reaction, the divine concern about sin, the divine resistance to this rebellion and this breach of order…If this were not true, then there would be no seriousness in the world at all; there would be no meaning in anything, no order, no stability; the world order would fall into ruins, chaos and desolation would be supreme. All order in the world depends on the inviolability of his (sc. God’s) honor, upon the certitude that those who rebel against him will be punished.”

3. How does the Passover and the sacrificial system of the Temple help you to understand the significance of the Cross?
4. Why is God’s dual nature of holy love so important?
5. Who died for us on the Cross? Why is it important to understand that in order to avoid the criticism of the cross as child abuse?
6. How do the terms redemption, propitiation, justification and reconciliation apply to you?
7. How does the cross speak to us in our pain?
8. How does the cross help us to believe in God?

CHAPTER 6: HOLY SCRIPTURE

1. Why do people have a problem with the authority of the Scriptures?
2. What is your view of the Old Testament?
3. How is humility appropriate in meditating on the Scriptures?
4. How reliable are the writers’ testimonies?
5. How can you respond to the criticism that they are outdated?
6. How does literary genre, historical origin, and context determine its interpretation?
7. What does it mean that it is without error in all that it affirms?

I recommend for a Daily Bible reading guide: www.ScriptureUnion.org . Encounter with God quarterly notes. P.O.Box 215, Valley Forge, PA 19481, 1-800-621-LAMP. 

CHAPTER 7: SALVATION 

1. What is the problem of defining salvation as wholeness or healing? Why has health and longevity become a religion for many?
2. What is the problem of defining salvation with social and political ideology? Why have people become obsessed with political and social issues?
3. How does it help to define salvation in terms of personal freedom?
4. What is the value of understanding predestination? How do you reconcile the sovereignty of God with human free will?
5. How concerned today are people about being saved?
6. What is the biblical basis for assurance of salvation?
7. How would you answer if someone asked you: “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30) 

CHAPTER 8: THE CHURCH

1. What was your church of origin or influence?
2. How did the early Church begin? What is its relationship with historical Israel and modern Judaism?
3. What is the difference between secular history and sacred history?
4. What did you think of Dr Mower’s criticism of the church? Why is fellowship and community so important?
5. What stands out to you of the seven marks of the church? (Love, suffering, truth, holiness, inward reality, evangelism, service, wholeheartedness) Which do we need to recover today?
6. When is it necessary to leave a church? What would cause you to leave?
7. What vision do you have for your church?

CHAPTER 9: PREACHING

1. What do you look for in a sermon?
2. What turns you off in a sermon?
3. Which of the descriptions of the preacher appeals most to you: steward, herald, witness, father, servant? Why?
4. Why should preaching be an exposition of a Bible passage rather than autobiographical stories?
5. Why should a sermon seek a response from the listener?
6. What is the difference between a sermon and a lecture?
7. Why should a sermon deal with specifics rather than generalities?
8. What makes a sermon powerful?
9. What major themes of human life should be addressed in the pulpit?
10. How should controversial topics of social injustice be handled in the pulpit?

CHAPTER 10: THE SACRAMENTS

1. What does the definition of the Sacraments as ‘means of grace’ mean?
2. What does ‘union with Christ’ in baptism signify?
3. What is the difference between John’s baptism and Christian baptism?
4. Why is baptism necessary for membership in the Church? What is the difference between the visible and the invisible Church?
5. What is the relationship between baptism and regeneration? Why is faith so important?
6. What is the difference between commemoration and communion in the Lord’s Supper.
7. What does the body and blood of Christ mean in Holy Communion?
8. How does Holy Communion stimulate our faith, our fellowship and our thanksgiving? 

CHAPTER 11: MISSION

1. How would you explain the mission/purpose of the Church?
2. Why is the call to Abraham and God promises to him and his descendants so important?
3. What is the essence of the call to Abraham and his heirs?
4. What makes the ministry of Jesus so compassionate?
5. How can we follow the example of Christ in meeting the needs of others?
6. How can we develop compassion and want to respond to human need?
7. Why is the Holy Spirit essential to fulling our mission?
8. How does the church as a new community embody mission?
9. How are evangelism and social action complementary in Christian mission?
10. What is the difference between Christian mission and the social gospel?
11. How can you avoid equating the gospel with your cultural background? How can you relate to someone different to yourself and still bear witness to Christ?

CHAPTER 12: DISCIPLESHIP

1. What is the essence of being a disciple of Christ?
2. What do you think of Stott’s description of the cost of following Christ?

There must be a renunciation of self. In order to follow Christ we must not only forsake isolated sins, but renounce the very principle of self-will which lies at the root of all acts of sin. To follow Christ is to surrender to him the rights over our own lives….It is to deny ourselves and to take up the cross (Matt.8:34-38). It is to lose our life…The man who commits himself to Christ, therefore, loses himself, not by the absorption of his personality in Christ’s personality but by the submission of his will to Christ’s will…. The astonishing idea is current in some circles today that we can enjoy the benefits of Christ’s salvation without accepting the challenge of his sovereign lordship. Such an unbalanced notion is not to be found in the New Testament…To make Christ Lord is to bring every department of our public and private lives under his control: career, marriage, home, money, time.

3. How would you describe holiness or sanctification?
4. How can we die to sin with Christ? (Rom.6:6ff.)
5. What about prayer do you find most difficult?
6. What do you think of Muggeridge’s comment on suffering?

“Supposing you eliminated suffering, what a dreadful place the world would be! I would almost rather eliminate happiness. The world would be the most ghastly place because everything that corrects the tendency of this unspeakable little creature, man, to feel over-important and over-pleased with himself will disappear. He’s bad enough now but he would be absolutely intolerable if he never suffered.”

7. What does it mean to sow to the Spirit not the flesh?
8. How do you understand being the salt of the earth and the light of the world?
9. How do you develop a simple lifestyle if you are affluent?

Chapter 13: The Kingdom of God is covered in Chapter 11: Mission. 

CHAPTER 14: ETHICS 

1. What do you say to Christians who do not want to discuss the controversial issues of our day for fear of divisiveness?
2. What happens when Christians and the Church fail to address cultural and political issues?
3. How can we educate the public conscience on important issues?
4. What are the most important issues for you today?
5. How do you respond to people on the issues of extra-marital sex, abortion, same sex attraction and transgender choices? How do you advise them?
6. Why have racial and climate issues become such an obsession in our day?
7. What is driving the political divisions in our nation?
8. How do you handle differences with your friends and family?

CHAPTER 15: THE LAST THINGS

1. How does the Gospel take away from us the fear of death?
2. What is the central message of the book of Revelation?
3. How shall we be judged?
4. What is your conception of hell?
5. What happens to those who have never heard the Gospel?
6. Who shall be saved?
7. What is the nature of heaven?