In the fall of 1994, John Stott delivered a series of sermons at the Three Village Church on Long Island. When I came to pastor that church in 2001, I found the dusty cassette tapes of Stott's messages. Now, nearly twenty years later, PreachingToday.com has been granted permission to offer these two previously unpublished messages to our subscribers and friends. (Next week we'll release Part 2—"The Four Marks of a Renewed Church.)

Friends, these messages left me speechless. In one sense, the content is typical of Stott—biblically-sound, culturally-aware, practically-oriented. You can also find much of this content in his books. But listening to "Uncle John" speak like Abel ("he being dead yet speaketh"—Heb. 11:4) into our contemporary world nearly moved me to tears. As you listen to or read these messages, allow John Stott to stir your heart with his wise and prophetic words to the church in 2013.

This week we also feature:

• Editor's Choice Illustration: NPR Show Explores 'The Voice' In Our Heads
• Video: Missions: Love in Motion

In Christ,

Matt Woodley
Managing Editor, PreachingToday.com
mwoodley@christianitytoday.com

P.S. Next week we'll feature the second part of our John Stott series—"The Four Marks of a Renewed Church."

Matt Woodley is the pastor of compassion ministries at Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, Illinois.