The Radical Disciple

What is a life of radical discipleship? At the root, it means we let Jesus set the agenda of our lives. We aren't selective. We don't pick and choose what is congenial and stay away from what is costly. No. He is Lord of all of life. In the last book by the leading evangelical churchman of the twentieth century, John Stott opens up what it means to truly be a follower of Jesus. In a refreshing and accesible style, he explores eight aspects of Christian discipleship which are too often neglected and yet deserve to be taken seriously: non-conformity, Christ-likeness, maturity, creation-care, simplicity, balance, dependence and death. Here, including the last public sermon he ever preached, Stott offers wisdom gained from a lifetime of consistent Christian commitment. In addition, he poignantly reflects on his last years of life and ministry. The message is simple, classic and personal: Jesus is Lord. He calls. We follow.

In the last book by the leading evangelical churchman of the 20th century, John Stott opens up what it means at root to be a follower of Jesus. He explores eight aspects of Christian discipleship which are too often neglected and yet deserve to be taken seriously: nonconformity, Christlikeness, maturity, creation care, simplicity, balance, dependence and death.The message is simple, classic and personal: Jesus is Lord. He calls. We follow.

The Radical Disciple invites the followers of Christ to take seriously the scriptural mandate to love God and neighbor. The cost of contemporary discipleship is just as high now as it was in the early days of the Christian church. But the sharp edge of the gospel mandate has been watered down. The hard passages of the Bible have been ignored by a church that has become too comfortable with the economic and political status quo. But when a disciple sidesteps the call of God to radically embrace the poor of the world, then that disciple also sidesteps the comfort and the inheritance that God holds for God's faithful people. We Christians represent a radical alternative to the greed, complacency, and violence of our age. The promise for us is the promise of community and celebration, joy and peace. But we must follow the way of the cross,which is just as relevant and compelling for us as it was for Jesus two thousand years ago. So we have set before us in these pages a prescription for the servanthood that is required of us. By assuming the yoke of a servant, we claim joy and purpose for our lives. Read this book and gain insight into the meaning of these words for Christians and the church today.

During the past twenty-six years, Reverend Michael Pfleger, a white Catholic priest who pastors a black Chicago parish, has never been far from the spotlight. His aggressive, innovative leadership has empowered thousands, making St. Sabina church one of the largest and most active black Catholic congregations in the country. At the same time, Pfleger has been continually criticized as a trouble-making maverick, a renegade cleric, and a publicity hound. This biography concentrates on Father Pfleger's work at St. Sabina from his earliest days there and covers his efforts to build up the parish, his activism, his work to rejuvenate the community, his battles with church leaders, and his strong relationship with his parishioners. It provides a fascinating look at the inner workings of the Catholic Church, the traditions of the black pulpit, and what it takes to change the laws in a major American city. Radical Disciple will be essential reading for anyone interested in social change and how a dynamic preacher and an involved church community can transform a city.

John Stott has been a giant on the landscape of the worldwide church for more than half a century. Here, however, are almost three dozen brief, very human-sized portraits of a man who has been a radical disciple of Jesus all those years. One of the outstanding gifts that God gave to John Stott was an incredible capacity for friendship. Never did the word single seem less appropriate than for this lifelong bachelor. So in these sketches by his friends, relatives, coworkers and worldwide partners in the gospel, we see portions of his life and personality that many have not. We see the small acts of kindness and service he performed such as regularly emptying wastebaskets and taking hours to find the old, toothless mother of a priest in India. We see the range of his interests, from Woody Allen movies to chocolate. And we see a poignant portrait of Stott as he continues to follow Christ in the midst of age and physical decline. This volume, edited by Christopher Wright, includes contributions from many international leaders such as Michael Green, Keith and Gladys Hunt, Samuel Escobar, René Padilla, Ajith Fernando, Peter Kuzmic and Mark Labberton. We also find insight from others less well-known to the world but very well-known to one of the great international Christian leaders of our day.

A highly challenging call to respond with our whole hearts to Christ. To follow our Saviour is not about being nice. It's about taking risks. Simon writes: 'There's a battle going on for our hearts. What I watch, what I listen to, what I spend my time and money on - all these erode my true sense of identify and worth as a child of God. Where is the vigilance, the discernment, the scrutiny? Our hearts are far too precious to treat with such lax indifference ... I want to play my part in turning the world upside down; I want to be fearless, bold, uncompromising and passionate in reaching out to the lost on behalf of the King of Kings; I never want to get over the grace of God.'

John Stott’s legacy of faithful Christian discipleship continues to impact Christians on every continent and in every sphere of life. This book pays homage to that legacy and to Stott’s unwavering commitment to Christ’s transformative Lordship over all facets of existence, especially those we may find particularly convenient to ignore. In this collection of essays, integral mission scholars and practitioners from around the world – many of whom knew John Stott personally and worked with him extensively – reflect on several of the concerns that developed and deepened over the course of Stott’s life, reminding us that Christian obedience must include caring for God’s creation, engaging in social action and advocacy, and supporting church leadership of the Majority World. Living Radical Discipleship calls us to repentance, to recommitment, and to wholehearted discipleship.