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Title: Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon
ISBN: 0801027985
Author:
Bryan Chapell
Publicate Date: 2005-03-01
Publish: 2005-03-01
List Price: $29.99
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $12.54
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $15.00
Amazon Merchant Price: $19.79
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| Customer Review: |
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1: "How To's" of Biblical Exposition
This book is "one stop shopping" for all things biblical preaching. I enjoyed this book and will be referring to it often. It offers a clear, tried-and-true methodology for crafting expositions of the sacred text of scripture. Expositional preaching presents the Word, explains what it says, and exhorts based on what it means.
This book is really two books in one - one, homiletical; and the other, theological. One should not expect this book to be a full treatment of either. However, extensive footnotes allow the reader to explore other texts for more explanation.
From a homiletical point of view (with some exegetical recommendations), the books removes much of the mystery out of the process of developing a sermon. Chapell develops the layout of a typical sermon:
The Introduction > [leads to] The Fallen Condition Focus > Sermon Proposition > Main Points > Applicable Subpoints (with associated illustrations & applications) > [all building to the] Conclusion
In Chapell's own words, "The body of the sermon indicates how the scriptural balm should be applied to our lives and what regimens God requires for our spiritual health. Main points formulated to reflect and support the principles of the proposition provide the information that acts as biblical leverage for the preacher's exhortations. Explanation and illustration unfold and demonstrate meanings that supply the reasoning and reality that make the sermon's applications authoritative, accessible, and possible. The conclusion drives the matter home, marshaling the forces of heart and mind for a final exhortation that calls listeners to respond to their fallen condition with the biblical guidance that the sermon has disclosed."
From a theological point of view, it reminds us of the authority of scripture and Christ as its focus. A redemptive sermon, Chapell argues, is a grace-oriented message that "...will lead people to understand that Christ's work rather than their own supplies the only basis for God's acceptance and that Christ's strength rather than their own provides the only hope of Christian obedience."
The appendices in this book are also noteworthy:
- philosophy of dress and style
- divisions and proportions of sermons; including a "sermon preparation pyramid"
- example wedding, funeral, and evangelistic messages
- recommended study resources
- how to read scripture publically in front of the congregation
- sample sermon evaluation forms
- and a sample sermon with flags pointing out the concepts taught throughout the book.
Whether you are a preacher or teacher of God's word, you will find this book to be a helpful addition to your library.
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2: Simply the Best Book Available for Expositors
Christ Centered Preaching has had an enormous impact on my day to day life as a pastor, specifically with regard to the preparation and delivery of sermons. As a guy who has been trained in and through the local church, this shrink-wrapped seminary class on homiletics is much appreciated and highly esteemed.
I like what RC Sproul said in his endorsement of this book:
"This is an outstanding tool for students of homiletics. It is the best I have seen on this subject. The book crystallizes the essence of expository preaching and presents clear, transferable principles for preaching effectively. The book itself is structured in a lucid, readable format."
Author Bryan Chapell is the president of Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO. His style of writing is very much geared toward the seminary student but that does not negate the tremendously practical aspect of his instruction. This is definitely a book that will be revisited by pastors who aim to find by encouragement and instruction in the practice of expository preaching.
Chapell hits everything from prayer, to building an outline, to establishing a principle statement, to making application and appropriate illustrations. He also deals with such things as dress and hand jestures in a thoughtfully biblical manner.
I want to highlight just a few of the immediately helpful items that Chapell focuses on.
The 3am Test: Chapell asks the hypothetical question as to whether or not you would be able to concisely and clearly answer someone who wakes you up at 3 am on Sunday morning, questioning what you are going to preach on. Until you can do so, clearly and concisely, you are probably not that clear on your main point.
The Fallen Condition Focus (FCF): Before you are ready to preach, says Chapell, you must identify and understand: (1) What does the text say? (2) What spiritual concern(s) did the text address (in its context)? (3) What spiritual concerns do listeners share in common with those to (or about) whom the text was written? Chapell writes, "By identifying listeners' mutual condition with the biblical writer, subject and/or audience, we determine why the text was written, not just for biblical times but also for our time."
Principle Statements: Chapell emphasizes that statements of principle in the sermon must include both the truth of the passage as well as the call to action. To avoid one or the other is to not give a statement of principle.
I have heard some folks voice concern over his chapters on redemptive preaching. Personally I did not witness any fouls. I thought Chapell qualified his terms and did enough leg work in the book to make his goal clear of preaching the text within a context so as to not warrant raised eyebrows, even from premillennialists.
The book is flat out loaded. I have been shamelessly pushing it on other pastors and teachers throughout this year. If you want to encourage your pastor or Sunday school teacher, get him this book.
It is hard back so it costs a little more. Think seminary text book.
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3: Some good points for helping with a sermon
I bought this for a class and upon reading wanted to throw it across the room as the author does not believe women should be in the pulpit. I trudged through it, and it really did have some good points about preparation. It may not be for everyone, but when one is learning, one can glean from lots of places.
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4: AMAZING!
I love this book! It is by far the best book I have ever read on preaching, Chapell explains expository preaching in a light that few authors can. He puts all of the focus on Christ and how the audience needs to hear about Jesus. If you are looking for a book to revive your preaching look no further.
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5: The Foolishness Of Preaching
Bryan Chapell has provided an outstanding model for seminarians, and lay-people alike. This work is robust and qualifies for its faithfulness to the truth, and the preaching thereof.
Reformed and sound, it has emphasized the correct Godspell-motive: to preach Christ and Him crucified.
An wholesome portrayal and balanced representation, spiced with important and trustworthy 'preachers' as biblical examples to emulate.
'By stating what a text means, placing that truth where it originates in the text, and proving how the text establishes the truth, you fulfill the fundamental obligations of an expositor.' pg 126
*For an equally inspiring book on preaching, get:
Tongues Aflame by Roger Wagner
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