"So the book is a expository treat. It is really a pastoral essay, a sermon on paper aimed at changing people rather than the advancement of learning as such. Bible based and well researched, intimate and magisterial in style. passionately calm and generous to a fault, this is a finely arranged and beautifully written contribution to what Stott calls 'BBC': balanced biblical " J. I Packer, in 'Christianity Today'

"The whole book is designed to stir up Christians to action. In the final chapter he contrasts the Christians who are sunny optimists and who see no work to be done in the world with those who are gloomy pessimists and who feel it is pointless trying to improve the world. The realists are those who want to give equal weight to what Christ has already done and what He is going to do .. (Stott) makes a strong plea for Christian involvement in the world." Donald C. Macaskill

"The book is a collection of 22 papers grouped under the themes of gospel, disciple, Bible, Church and world. The essays here are lucid evangelical statements about issues as inclusive as human nature and the Cross, evangelism, renewal and social action, ecumenism and purity, spirituality and the now and not yet, hermeneutics and preaching. (The book) is a model of balanced evangelicalism and a humble yet confident exposition of that position within the wider church. It should be compulsory reading for all theologians so that they can learn to write without obscurity." Derek Tidball, in 'Baptist Times'