Christ Centered Preaching by Bryan Chapell

Chapell, Bryan. Christ-Centered Preaching. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2005. 400 pp. $19.79.

Author Information

Dr. Bryan Chapell is president and professor of practical theology at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He can be heard daily through the Internet on Living Christ 360. Raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. Chapell was a pastor for approximately ten years before joining the faculty of Covenant Seminary, the seminary of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), in 1985. He served the Seminary for six years as vice president for academics and dean of faculty before becoming president in 1994. He has been active in a variety of leadership roles in the PCA and in cooperative ministries with numerous other national and international Christian ministries.

Dr. Chapell is a celebrated preacher, teacher, and speaker who is sought after by churches, colleges, seminaries, and conferences throughout the United States and abroad. He is the author of many articles and numerous books, including Praying Backwards: Transform Your Prayer Life by Beginning in Jesus' Name,Why Do We Baptize Infants?, Holiness by Grace, I'll Love You Anyway & Always, Each for the Other, and The Wonder of It All. Dr. Chapell and his wife Kathy have four children.

Summary

In this book Bryan Chapell seeks to redeem the expository sermon from the church's and society's departure from the Bible as authority and the church's emphasis upon moralism instead of the gospel (11-12). In order to accomplish this goal, Chapell details principles for expository preaching (ch.1-4), the preparation of expository sermons (ch.5-9), and a theology of Christ-centered messages (ch.10-11). He also includes several appendixes to help his readers practically apply what his book argues (ap. 1-10).

Communicating his principles of expository preaching, Chapell begins by emphasizing the power of God's Word. Though the authority is in the Scriptures, he encourages his readers to accept the responsibility to present this authority in an excellent manner (25). Building on this foundation, he encourages his readers to handle the Scriptures in context with proper application, preaching with purpose. He includes practical steps mixed with warnings, cautions, consequences of improper preaching, etc.

Chapell then moves to preparing expository sermons. He begins this section by briefly detailing proper hermeneutics. Once proper hermeneutics are carried out, he shows his readers how to properly outline their intended preaching text. This then leads to properly illustrating and applying the text. Chapell concludes this section by showing his readers how to introduce, transition their points, and conclude their sermons.

He then moves to his third section, which deals with a theology of Christ-centered messages. His arguments here detail that the Bible is a book about Jesus instead of random moralistic principles people can pragmatically apply to their lives to make themselves better. He believes the Bible is about grace through faith in Christ alone instead of about self-help.

Chapell concludes this book with various appendixes to help his readers apply the truths he previously purports. These appendixes deal with style, homiletics, methods, Scripture reading, specific types of messages, and study resources. His final appendix is a sermon evaluation form. Preachers can thus examine if they are really applying his principles for God's glory alone.

Critical Evaluation

Chapell's desire to redeem the expository sermon is clear throughout this well-argued, yet brief work. This writer believes he achieved his goal, at least from a high view of Scripture and covenantal perspective. Chapell presents his arguments based on a high view of the Scriptures and a respectful view of the Evangelical heritage as well.

Because of his emphasis upon the Scriptures those who do not view the Scriptures highly will receive the least value from this work, for they can simply argue that Chapell presupposes the authority of the Scriptures. Chapell does deal with those who object with his presupposition, though it is probably not enough to sway them to adopt his view; but in his defense, this is not the purpose of his book. Those who agree with Chapell on the authority of the Scriptures will receive the greatest benefit from this work. The authority of the Scriptures holds up Chapell's entire book. Though this is rare, this writer finds nothing negative to say about Chapell's work.

Chapell begins by arguing that the Scriptures are authoritative and in no need of hindrances. Thus, expositors simply long to unfold what the text says, since the texts rules (23). Chapell further encourages his readers to be great preachers. God's work and man's responsibility are both clearly present in his arguments.

Furthermore, his arguments are presented clearly and biblically. For example, His emphasis upon the fallen condition of man that he calls the fallen condition focus (FCF) is extremely accurate (40). Throughout the Scriptures, from Genesis 3:15 onward, man is pictured as falling short of God's glory. If one was to read Genesis without reading the rest of the Scriptures first, he or she would think that Noah was the "Seed of the Woman", then maybe Abraham, Moses, etc. These men are shown to be imperfect though as their sins are presented with their victories, as well as their deaths without physical resurrections, revealing their identity as other than the Christ. Thus, Chapell's argument that the fallen condition of man must be understood in order to understand the Scriptures is thoroughly biblical. Every person is presented as fallen, save Christ, in the Scriptures.

Another biblical example Chapell argues is that pastors should preach the point of the passage, verse, or text (39). He suggests that if pastors are awakened at 3 a.m. and they cannot tell the point of their Sunday sermon to the person who awoke them, then the people who hear them preach at 11 a.m. probably won't understand their point either. This is an extremely practical and helpful test for all preachers to quiz themselves over before each sermon. It is also biblical, for the fact that the author presented the point originally proves that he wanted the point emphasized.

Continuing his emphasis upon the Scriptures, Chapell seeks to answer the church's emphasis upon moralism. In answering this problem, which is ultimately anti-Bible and anti-historical orthodoxy, Chapell argues that the Scriptures used improperly actually do their hearers little good. Based on 2 Timothy 3:16-17, he purports that if the Scriptures are God-breathed and thoroughly equip man for every good work, then this necessarily means that man needs redemption for his salvation and sanctification as well (263-264). Christians thus need God's Word continually to complete what God started in them. Redemption must be the focus of preaching, not moralism. This is thoroughly biblical; and Chapell must be applauded for his biblical consistency.

Not only are Chapell's arguments biblical, but they also line up with Evangelical orthodoxy. Though his emphasis may be new to much of Evangelical preaching, this is not because he leaves orthodox tradition, for he actually hopes to return to it. The reformers, along with much of Evangelical church history have argued for the Word of God being central, rightly understood and rightly preached, with God the Holy Spirit accompanying the message to change lives (23-24). Moralism is new, and actually outside of Evangelicalism's theological tradition. So, not only is Chapell biblically correct, he is historically correct as well.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Chapell succeeds in his purported goal. He has arguably written the best one volume homiletic work in existence. This is a work that will affect this writer's ministry, his children, wife, parishioners, etc. In affecting this writer, and also affecting his hearers, Chapell's work may be effectual for many generations to come. Furthermore, he has encouraged this writer to be balanced between pursuing excellent preaching and ultimately depending upon God the Holy Spirit for the salvation and sanctification of souls. Moralism and the neglect of the Bible as authority must be answered, and Chapell has the answer. His answer is to redeem the expository sermon for God's glory alone.