In Thy Light

I believe that preaching the Word of God is to be highly valued. Thus Bryan Chapell’s Christ-Centered Preaching (ISBN: 0801027985) delights and challenges my heart to faithfully proclaim the Gospel of grace from the whole of Scripture.

Overview

Chapell’s work is an entry-level introduction to preaching aimed at faithfully unfolding and applying the Gospel of Jesus Christ from the whole Bible. This book focuses on the expository method, but not in a rigid, lifeless manner. Chapel explains the basic mechanics of expository preaching, demonstrates a basic framework for how to create and evaluate an expository sermon, and presents arguments that reveal why Christ-centered preaching is biblical and vital for the church. The book’s scope is limited to preaching, but much of the content can be helpful for the purpose of introducing someone to biblical theology (how to read the Bible the way it is written: Christ-centered).

Critique

Coming from a non-Reformed background, I deeply appreciated this refreshing and insightful book. Much of the theological content may be novice level for more mature Reformed believers. However, for me the simple concept that the central message of both the OT and NT Scriptures is the Gospel of Jesus Christ opens my eyes in a radical way to how important the whole Bible is, not just the NT. In my former tradition, the”Gospel” is simply that 3 minute tack-it-on-at-the-end altar call for all of those pagans out there. Thus, to hear from Chapel (and Keller, and the others we’ve looked at in this course) that proclaiming the Gospel from the whole Bible is the central role of the preacher is a revolution to me.

I also appreciated Chapell’s balanced approach to “Christo-centrism.” I have heard others say things about this issue that makes it appear that Jesus is hiding behind every bush in the OT. This is simply not true, and I think Keller does well at explaining what biblical Christo-centrism entails.

Application

I had never dreamed of going to seminary, and I have no idea if I’ll ever be a preacher. But the message in this book is still apropos. First, if God does call me to preach, I have a resource to turn to in order to start building my message on a time-tested foundation. I especially desire to develop the skill of making Christ-centered applications to Scriptural truths, whether I am a preacher, a Sunday school teacher, an elder, a father, or a husband. Second, I hope to begin to read the Bible in a new way, looking especially to how the OT relates to the NT, and how the grand narrative of Scripture relates to the specific passage that I am reading. It is no small thing that every passage has something to do with the Gospel (i.e. preparation, explanation, prophesying, etc.). Third, this book gives me categories by which to evaluate the preaching I hear. I am more equipped to discern between mere moralism and true Gospel. This is especially helpful to me since I come from a legalistic, fundamentalist background.

Best Quote

“You must know grace to preach it. No matter how great your skill or accolades, you are unlikely to lead others closer to God if your heart does not reflect the continuing work of the Savior in your life. A testimony that reinforces the message of the gospel is not merely a matter of public conduct. It is a product of consistent private meditation on the gospel that character daily requires” (39).