On 24th November, 1974, John Stott preached at All Souls Church, London on the 150th anniversary of the dedication of the church.

He concluded his sermon with a ‘dream’ (with apologies to Martin Luther King and his famous’ “I have a dream” message delivered a few years earlier).

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 dream 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, irresistible, 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 folk 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,
• which 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.

(The Living Church, appendix II)