John Stott's death yesterday ends a wonderful life in this world that made the Bible live for generations of us. As a young professional in London I can remember hearing him expounding the Word of God, in those days as Rector Emeritus of All Souls Church, Langham Place.
Expounding the Bible is not the Baptists' strongest point. A testimony here, a thought there, a cup of coffee, a prayer meeting for revival . . . I think I would have never understood the richness of Bible exposition were it not for those days in All Souls. My Council Estate ears struggled with his Queen's Chaplain voice but that was a small discomfort in return for understanding that the Bible speaks when the preacher allows it to do so.
Thank God that today there are others of influence, not least in North America, who are dedicated to letting Scripture speak. Blessed indeed is the Church that, although it has different expositors, only ever has one speaker - the Word of God. And in John Stott's ministry All Soul's was extraordinarily blessed over a generation, and so were countless others throughout the world. I thank God for him.
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