I Have A Dream of A Living Church

I finished this book from John Stott titled "The Living Church" - Convictions of a lifelong pastor.

The following is extracted from the book's Historical Appendix II which is a dream preached on 24th November 1974 by John Stott, a dream I share in:

I have a dream of a church which is a biblical church-
which is loyal in every particular to the revelation of
God in Scripture,
whose pastors expound Scripture with integrity and
relevance, and so seek to present every member mature in Christ,
whose people love the word of God, and adorn it
with an obedient and Christ-like life,
which is preserved from all unbiblical emphases,
whose whole life manifests the health and beauty
of biblical balance.
I have a dream of a biblical church.

I have a deam of a church which is a worshipping church-
whose people come together to meet God and
worship Him,
who know God is always in their midst and who
bow down before Him in great humility,
who regularly frequent the table of the Lord Jesus
to celebrate his mighty act of redemption on the
cross,
who enrich the worship with their musical skills,
who believe in prayer and lay hold of God in
prayer,
whose worship is expressed not in Sunday services
and prayer gatherings only but also in their
homes, their weekday work and the common
things of life.
I have a dream of a worshipping church.

I have a dream of a church which is a caring church-
whose congregation is drawn from many races,
nations, ages and social backgrounds, and exhibits
the unity and diversity of the family of God,
whose fellowship is warm and welcoming, and never
marred by anger, selfishness, jealousy or pride,
whose members love one another with a pure heart
fervently, forbearing one another, forgiving one
another, and bearing one another's burdens,
which offers friendship to the lonely, support to the
weak, and acceptance to those who are despised
and rejected by society,
whose love spills over to the world outside, attractive,
infectious, irresistable, the love of God himself.
I have a dream of a caring church.

I have a dream of a church which is a serving church-
which has seen Christ as the Servant and has heard
his call to be a servant too,
which is delivered from self-interest, turned inside
out, and giving itself selflessly to the service of
others,
whose members obey Christ's command to live in the
world, to permeate secular society, to be the salt of
the earth and the light of the world,
whose people share the good news of Jesus simply,
naturally and enthusiastically with their friends,
which diligently serves its own parish, residents and
workers, families and single people, nationals and
immigrants, old folks and little children,
which is alert to the changing needs of society,
sensitive and flexible enough to keep adapting its
programme to serve more usefully,
whch has a global vision and is constantly
challenging its young people to give their lives in
service, and constantly sending its people out to
serve.
I have a dream of a serving church.

I have a dream of a church which is an expectant church-
whose members can never settle down in material
affluence or comfort, because they remember that
they are strangers and pilgrims on earth,
which is all the more faithful and active because it is
waiting and looking for its Lord to return,
which keeps the flame of the Christian hope burning
brightly in a dark, despairing world,
which on the day of Christ will not shrink from him
in shame, but rise up joyfully to greet him.
I have a dream of an expectant church.

Such is my dream of a living church. May all of us share this dream,
and under God may the dream come true!