Between Two Worlds
About the author: John Stott (27th April 1921 – 27th July 2011) was born in London to Arnold and Emily Stott and converted under the preaching of Eric Nash. Stott studied modern languages at Trinity College, Cambridge, and graduated with a degree in French and theology. He was an English Christian leader and Anglican cleric, noted as a leader of the worldwide Evangelical movement. In 2005, Time Magazine ranked Stott among the 100 most influential people in the world.
About the book: This book addresses the challenge of preaching. It challenges pastors and laypersons to restore health and vitality to the church and encourages them to give themselves wholeheartedly to their calling.
Purpose of the book: The author desires to help preachers bridge the gap between the biblical and contemporary worlds, as both are necessary according to him. He develops the purpose of the book very well. It is clear, balanced, historically accurate, and biblically accurate. Hence, it’s challenging to find something on which you can disagree.
Title of the book: The title of this book is very well framed: Between Two Worlds (the two worlds of God’s word and human life). The preacher finds himself between these two worlds and must not forget one for the other.
Summary
The book is nicely divided into eight chapters dealing with different angles on the subject of preaching in the contemporary world. Stott begins with a historical sketch of the quality and importance of preaching, demonstrating the long and broad Christian tradition of preaching. The importance of preaching to Christianity is emphasized in the first chapter, revealing a consistent perspective shared by great Christian preachers throughout the ages, like Wesley and Whitefield. In the second chapter, three modern complications to the usefulness of preaching are presented, followed by wise responses to these challenges: the anti-authority mood, the addiction to television, and the modern atmosphere of doubt. After these, in the third chapter, Stott strengthens the reader with the theological foundations of preaching, which are conviction about God, Scripture, the Church, the Pastorate, and Preaching.
In the following chapter (4), preaching is shown as bridge-building, where the preacher must relate God’s word to human life. The preacher needs to be careful that whatever he says from the pulpit is relevant. He must know how to deal with ethical and political issues, including answering tough questions, which is also addressed in this chapter. The next chapter (5) reflects not only on the importance of biblical studies but also on the need to study the modern world, so it’s both Scriptural and cultural. The chapter is also supported with many helpful ideas for understanding the mindset of those in the world. Distractions to study are also highlighted with ways to avoid them. Certain study habits are also suggested, illustrating how one might organize their study life and how preachers must constantly repent and renew their discipline and schedules to get a fresh vision of Christ and His commission that can rescue them from idleness and help them keep their priorities properly adjusted. Further, Stott also mentions that there is also a need to make time to read and think, and as a result, preachers will be preaching faithful, with relevance, and simplicity that will eventually be helpful for the audience. The sixth chapter deals with the most important task: preparing the sermon. The process of selecting a text, isolating a theme, dividing the material, illustrating, and applying it is presented in this section.
One of the important qualities that a preacher must have is discussed in chapter (7): sincerity. Because young people, especially, can detect even the faintest hint of religious pretence. They are right to expect a high standard of integrity from the preacher. Sincerity has two aspects: the preacher must mean what he says from the pulpit, and he must practice what he preaches when he is out of it. In the final chapter (8), Stott addresses one more important quality: “earnestness,” which goes one step beyond sincerity. That leads to the excitement of seeing salvation for the lost, but is that excitement is missing in a preacher then Stott comments that it is a great tragedy.
Critical Evaluation
Stott has grounded this book both in biblical and historical truth. In every chapter, Stott's claims concerning preaching and those claims are backed up by biblical and historical information. Even the structure of the chapters presents a well-grounded approach, where the historical precedent of preaching is addressed before modern objections. The biblical texts span the entire Word of God, coming from both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Sott clearly states that preaching is crucial by looking at scripture, and history, and responding to contemporary objections. Stott also rightly spends a good deal of time ensuring that preachers understand both their contemporary cultures and their Bible.
Stott’s book can impress readers because of his clarity in writing and his use of reputable sources. One of the strengths we can extract from Stott’s book is that his work is not only well-prepared but also directed towards faith heroes. Names such as Whitefield, Spurgeon, Simeon, Luther, Calvin, and Chryso. Leading the readers to research more about these faith figures.
Stott’s book is also highly constructive, as he uses uncommon thoughts supported by many facts. Which are essential for studying and preparing to preach. However, the structure of the book could have been improved by placing the theological framework before the historical framework, as this would have established what scripture says first, followed by the strong tradition of preaching. However, there is not much to criticize in Stott’s commendable work, but we can still note a few critics. Like the contemporary objections to preaching that he raises are somewhat outdated and could be updated with more relevant ones.
"Lecturing as Bridge-Building" is a section that serves as the focal point of Stott's book or the framework of his work, as noted in the introduction. This part urges that our sermons cross into culture and address the general population with the specific message of Christ. Stott offers scriptural insights and emphasizes the centrality of individual Christian ethics, as well as the broader social and political issues. This part serves anyone who takes their responsibility to the scriptures seriously. Stott also emphasizes with many illustrations, that preachers must fear God rather than men. Preachers must speak the truth in love and humility and avoid arrogance. In preaching, they must also be passionate and earnest about proclaiming the Good News. With that, Stott offers admirable insights for preachers, developing healthy thoughts that help readers to be cautious in their preaching. It serves as a reminder to preachers, especially as some have lost the earnestness and passion for the Good News combined with a humble spirit.
The author emphasizes prayer more than many other writers to fuel the topic of preaching. He would mention the pulpit prayer before the sermon. Which is not an empty formality but an important task for the preacher and congregation to pray for each other. Committing themselves to God. Humbling themselves and asking in prayer for His voice to be heard and His glory revealed. So, Stott encourages preachers to pray until the text comes freshly alive to themselves. Until the glory shines forth from it or the fire burns in their hearts, and they begin to experience the power of God’s Word within themselves.
Regarding humour, Stott does not clarify how it should connect with the sermon, which makes it difficult to agree with his position. He quotes T.R. Glover, stating that Jesus demonstrated humour in His teachings. But it would have been more effective if he had backed this up with the text and its exposition. While scripture does not mention humour as a preacher’s task, it can still be accepted and beneficial, provided the preacher has the right motivation and uses discernment to know when and how to use it. However, humour at the pulpit can be problematic too if preachers intend only to entertain the congregation. Humour should always connect to the message and must not distract or overpower it, as it could derail the entire sermon. And during a sermon, the preacher’s spirit should not be overly engaged with humour. After brief humour, the preacher must keep his focus on God’s Word.
When Stott discusses humour, he could have added this clarification to ensure humour is used appropriately at the pulpit. Sometimes humor can also affect the seriousness of the message. Still, it can be a good way to start a sermon if the preacher’s intentions are holistic. However, the danger is that some preachers rely heavily on humour because the congregation is entertained by it. In contrast, other preachers begin their sermons with prayer and can deliver a powerful and engaging message.
The greatest weakness of this book is that Stott places less emphasis on the theological side of the preaching event and does not address the development and delivery of expository messages in depth. He does not emphasize the challenge of preaching enough because leans more toward a pastoral perspective than a scholarly or highly technical approach, as compared to Haddon W. Robinson's "Biblical Preaching." However, Stott does a great job of discussing systematic and adequate doctrine and choosing the text by pointing out six helpful and instructive principles for sermon preparation.
1. Liturgical, external (some events in the life of our nation), and lastly the pastoral factor.
2. Meditating on the text (sucking it as a child sucks an orange).
3. Isolating the dominant thought from it.
4. Arranging the material to serve that dominant thought.
5. Adding the introduction and conclusion (after the sermon is prepared).
6. Writing it down and then praying over it.
On topical preaching, we can note that it poses the danger of creating "pegs" on which the preachers attempt to hang thoughts that are not necessarily biblical. On the other hand, Stott could have explained how expository preaching draws its symmetry and structure from the biblical text, taking it in context, opening it up, and seeing the structure of the text to understand the full meaning of the passage as the Holy Spirit reveals it.
Flow of the Book: The book flows like a story, enabling readers to develop their interest. It leads readers toward biblical study and emphasizes the importance of glorifying God through preaching. The book’s recognition of the need to understand the human heart and cultural trends is worthwhile and strong. Serving as a class model of how to address any issue.
Style of Writing: Stott’s writing style strengthens the book; it is easily understandable.
Main Focal Strength: The book’s main strength is its focus on pastors and even new pastors, as Stott demonstrates a pastoral heart throughout his book.
Conclusion
This book is a profitable venture for those who would want to understand how to minister through preaching effectively. It encourages the existing and new preachers to prepare their lives and messages by highlighting the right values for the preacher with depths of guidance. It will also encourage the readers to explore contemporary issues and preach on them through the biblical text. Certainly, there is no strong objection that this book is profitable in a pastoral preaching ministry context. It profoundly equips the preaching minister to understand how they can prepare and attempt preaching ministry faithfully and effectively.
