Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon

Bryan Chapell, who is the president and professor of practical theology at Covenant Theological Seminary, has endeavored to provide a book to redeem the expository sermon (19). Based on a high view of Scripture, Chapell wants to offer practical instructions that bind the expository sermon to Scripture’s truths while effectively communicating the gospel (19). It is a tall task for his book titled, Christ-Centered Preaching, but Chapell nevertheless provides a sound argument in his three-part book.Chapell begins his book by providing the reader with the basic understanding of the importance of the Word in preaching. Also in this first part of the book, he works to define his terms (i.e. expository preaching, FCF, ect.), and establish components of exposition as well. The Fallen Condition Focus (FCF) is an important aspect for the reader, for the author continually refers to it in subsequent chapters. Chapell defines it as, “the mutual human condition that contemporary believers share with those to or about whom the text was written that requires the grace of the passage for God’s people to glorify and enjoy him (50).” The author concludes that the preacher must know the FCF in order to really know what the passage is about, even if facts of the passage are known (51). These facets make-up the first part of his book titled, “Principles for Expository Preaching.”Part two, which is titled, “Preparation of Expository sermons” delineate the process of putting a sermon together. These chapters could be characterized as the “nuts and bolts” chapters. The author answers many of the ‘how?’ and ‘why?’ questions concerning the process of how to put an expository sermon together. Chapell begins by walking the preacher through the six questions he should pose in preparing a message on a passage (104). Next, Chapell writes about the different types of outlining and structuring of sermons. Additionally, there are chapters on the different components of the sermon like, illustration and application. He provides helpful dos and don’ts for each part of the sermon. Finally, Chapell ends this section teaching his readers how to give a proper introduction and conclusion to a sermon. In this section, the author argues the preacher should explain in the introduction why hearers need to listen, which then indicates the need of the FCF in the intro (241).The third part of Chapell’s book focuses on the theology of a Christ-centered message. In this short section, the author makes an argument for a redemptive approach to preaching. Based upon the FCF, this principle allows the preacher to direct every sermon to the redemption elements of Scripture because all Scripture can apply to our fallenness (273). Wrapping up the main body of the book, the author walks the reader through the development of a redemptive sermon by showing the dos and don’ts of this approach. Chapell ends the book with twelve helpful appendixes which cover topics such as, the philosophy of delivery and dress, a philosophy of style, methods of presentation and preparation, special occasion messages and a sample sermon of his.In a positive light, the title and drive of his book (i.e. expository sermons should be “Christ-centered”) is supported biblically by Jesus’ words in Lk. 24:27. Chapell’s thesis is also supported within the wider biblical meta-narrative. Beginning with the protoevangelium of Gen. 3:15, the Old Testament seems to have messianic threads throughout the Scriptures, which points to God’s salvific plan in history.There are several other components of Christ-Centered Preaching that the author provides biblical support for. For example, Chapell finds biblical support for his famous FCF in 2 Tim. 3:16-17 (52). Additionally, in the section regarding application, the author provides 1 Cor. 10:6-13 and Rom. 4:23-25 to persuade the reader that his method is derived from the Scriptures (214, 271). With regards to the importance of application, Chapell says, “[t]he sermon itself is a ‘redemptive event,’ a present tool of the Spirit to transform listeners’ minds, hears, and wills (139).” This idea not only supports the importance of application, but seems to mimic the New Testament author’s perspective of living the Christian life. In other words, Chapell mirrors the notion the apostles had in the 1st century and that 21st century preachers should have, which is, we are living out the metanarrative of God’s redemptive plan. This, added to the broad biblical support for Chapell’s ideas, indicates that he is simply following the biblical authors in his desire to feed God’s sheep.Secondly, his definition of expository preaching is desirable compared to others that have been presented in the past. Chapell gives a technical definition by saying an expository sermon, “requires that it expound Scripture by deriving from a specific text main points and subpoints that disclose the thought of the author, cover the scope of the passage, and are applied to the lives of the listeners (129).” The author does not limit expository preaching to a specific hermeneutical type, but simply states the expounding of the Scripture must be in accord with authorial intent, which would include typological interpretation. Chapell develops a concept from his definition by saying, “As expository preachers, our ultimate goal is not to communicate the value of our opinions, others’ philosophies, or speculative meditations but rather to show how God’s Word discloses his will for those united to him through his Son (31).” This noble aspiration of Chapell does not presuppose a hermeneutical method before the text is even considered nor does it limit, hermeneutically, who fits into the camp of expositors.Along similar lines, Chapell presents many of his ideas in a non-dogmatic fashion. Several times the author reminds the reader that much of what he is teaching can be done differently. For example, concerning how one should divide the components of his sermon, the author writes, “Differences among congregations…require pastors to vary the proportions of the expositional components (91).” Also, when it comes to outlining, Chapell is simply suggesting methods and wants preachers and students to consider the composition of a sermon as a symphony that “cannot be confined to one form (161).” With so much dogmatism with regards to method and structure, it is refreshing to read that Chapell designates his views as “tools of the trade (161)."A part of the author’s theology behind his preaching leads him to warn against “the deadly be’s.” This is a unique aspect of the book, which he warns by saying, “[t]hey exhort believers to strive to ‘be’ something in order to be loved by God (289). This concept should be seriously considered before a sermon is preached. The consequences of such sermons is laid out by Chapell (294), but the thought that gets to the heart of what he is saying is found when he writes, “[h]owever well intended, these sermons present a faith indistinguishable from that of morally conscientious Muslims, Unitarians, Buddhists, or Hindus. The distinction of the Christian faith is that God provides the way to himself because we cannot make our way to him (294).” The distinguishing aspect of the Christian minister is Christ-centered preaching.Lastly, the content of the appendixes was an excellent touch at the end. These snippets of insight are great reference points for beginning preachers and can serve to help form the opinion of those looking to pursue preaching as a vocation. Graphs, illustrations and tables add significantly to the presentation of the book and provide visual aids to the content the author is trying to communicate.There are a couple of critiques that could be offered of the book. Organizationally, it seems that part three, “A Theology of Christ-Centered Message” would better serve the reader if it was part one of the book and subsequently the “Principles for Expository Preaching.” Many ideas he presents in the first part of the book connected more after I read part three of the book. For example, the FCF is presented mainly in part one of the book, but is fleshed-out pragmatically in part three (272). The author merely describes the FCF in part one, which leaves the reader questioning if they should accept this theory before seeing how it is worked out in practice. It is not until part three that the author shows biblically an example of a NT writer using the FCF concept (271). Furthermore, it seems more appropriate theology should always ground methodology. With the way Chapell presents his material, the reader may think that preaching methodology comes before theology.One aspect of the book which troubled me was the pejorative way the author used the concept of an “academic” sermon (178). He writes, “yet many preachers consider the stories they tell to be a necessary evil that undermines the seriousness, scholarship and spiritual integrity of their messages. Such equivocation cannot be tolerated where souls are at stake (178).” This idea is tied to Chapell’s continual notion that sermons should be heavy on application and emphasis the FCF (48-49).Chapell’s animosity towards sermons that emphasize teaching is seen clearly when he commits a non sequitur. He presents information from surveys saying “born-again” Christians have high rates of divorce, pornography addition and other moral failures. From there he makes the leap to say it has something to do with a lack of application in preaching (209-210). It simply does not follow that this is the case. Even if it was the reality, how are we to determine that Christian pornography addiction is due to lack of application? Could it not simply be said that the reason for the addiction is due to a lack of deep doctrinal understanding of idolatry or any other laxity of doctrine? Chapell’s motivation for providing application in sermons is a good one, but it would be most helpful to demonstrate this using biblical example rather than using “academic” in a pejorative way or worse falling prey to logical fallacies.Even with those few criticisms, it must be said that the book should be on every preacher’s shelf. They should have a copy for themselves and also have copies available to give away to men in the congregation who feel called to ministry. It works as a good companion to similar works by Robinson and Stott. Chapell has aided ministers of the Gospel in significant ways by providing a helpful introduction to expository preaching.

Authority and redemption—these two concepts are at the center of Bryan Chapell’s book, Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon. Chapell says as much in the opening line of the preface to the first edition. While the work is currently in its second edition, Chapell has not deviated from this original goal: to help the church reclaim a Christ-centered, authoritative theology of preaching. In this way, Chapell hopes to re-instill the expository sermon as the primary channel for communicating God’s authority to His people, while also addressing the reasons why this often fails to be the norm for churches in 21st century Evangelicalism. With many years of experience as an expositor and with a PhD in communication theory, Chapell is uniquely qualified to speak to both the practical and theoretical levels of preaching. His work is at once theoretical and practical, providing the reader with philosophical justification and tangible steps and observations for effective implementation. In all of this, Chapell stays rooted in Scripture, especially the revelation of God’s work in Christ. In this way, Chapell has not only written a book on Christ-centered preaching, but has written in a way that is itself Christ-centered.SummaryWithout question, Chapell is “standing on the shoulders of giants” throughout his work. With various quotations from preaching giants like John Calvin, Charles Spurgeon, John Broadus, Haddon Robinson, and others, much of the insights Chapell brings to the table are elaborations of what other great men have previously said. Especially helpful are the insights Chapell brings into this framework from modern communication theory—a relevant discipline that doesn’t always make its way into preaching texts, at least not to the degree Chapell discusses.While there is much that Chapell has to say from many different angles, he has attempted to organize his thoughts into a systematic treatment of preaching that consists in three main sections:1. Principles for Expository Preaching2. Preparation of Expository Sermons3. A Theology of Christ-Centered MessagesThese main sections provide the scope and sequence of the task Chapell is seeking to accomplish, giving the reader more than just a theology of preaching and more than just practical insights for how to prepare a sermon. Instead, Chapell’s treatment is more comprehensive, providing historical, theoretical, and practical insights throughout each section and chapter. Sadly, much of these insights are overly redundant as they overlap with each other, giving the work less retention value for the reader. Nevertheless, the content is rich and insightful for the one willing to work for it.The central theme of the book is the title of the book: Christ-centered preaching. Chapell demonstrates throughout the book that from the preparation to the pulpit, the greatest need of the preacher is to point his people to Christ. Quoting Thomas Jones, Chapell wants us to know that “True Christian preaching must center on the cross of Jesus Christ. The cross is the central doctrine of holy Scripture … The one who is called to preach, therefore, must preach Christ because there is no other message from God” (277).It almost goes without saying that Chapell is drawing upon the principles established (better: recaptured) in the Reformation which emphasized the centrality of Scripture for Christian life and ministry. This is clear from the beginning when Chapell locates the authority for preaching in the Bible itself, rather than in an ecclesiastical system. He notes, “The expository preacher opens the Bible before God’s people and dares to say, ‘I will explain to you what this passage means.” The words are not meant to convey one’s own authority but rather humbly to confess that the preacher has no better word than God’s Word” (30).From beginning to end, Chapell’s goal is to encourage the preacher to use whatever means at his disposal to effectively communicate Christ. In this regard, the Christ-centered preacher realizes that he shares something in common with John the Baptist, “There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light.” (John 1:6–8, emphasis mine).Chapell’s point throughout the work is that we are not the light. As such, we do not use our preaching to serve ourselves or our agenda. Instead, we come “as a witness to testify about the light.”Critical EvaluationIn true Reformation style, Chapell’s work aims to ground the preacher in the authority of God’s word and encourage him to communicate that authority to his people. Consistent with the book’s title, Chapell doesn’t allow for the preacher to confuse communicate God’s authority with moralism. On the contrary, Chapell shows how the Bible’s authority and the gospel are intricately linked together, proclaiming the authoritative work of Christ on behalf of sinners and calling for a response. How critical this is! In step with the apostle Paul, Chapell exhorts us to hold up the truth of Christ say that people are changed into His image (cf. 2 Cor. 3:18).In many places, Chapell excels in this regard. At the beginning, he provides principles for Christ-centered preaching that speak directly to the overarching rules a preacher should abide by—both as a person and as a preacher. Most memorable in the mind of this writer is the imperative a preacher should place on himself to know the grace of God he claims to preach to others. In Chapell’s words, “You must know grace to preach it” (30). In the same vein that Paul David Tripp has written about in his very important book, Dangerous Calling, Chapell rightfully locates the starting point of Christ-centered preaching: a Christ-centered heart within the preacher himself.From this initial launch point, Chapell provides an overview of how preachers should think about preaching in terms of the importance of identifying a unifying theme and Fallen-Condition Focus or FCF (chapter 2), the priority of the text in the sermon (chapter 3) and the need to emphasize application and not merely provide a running commentary (chapter 4). In these opening chapters, the preacher finds a wealth of valuable insights that provide both the theoretical and practical help needed for effectively preaching Christ and His finished work.However, Chapell’s work is not perfect and in fact, could have been much clearer and more succinct at times. While these opening chapters are filled with insightful comments and quotations from other preachers, they could have been much shorter, given that Chapell repeats much of the same insight throughout the rest of the book. Or, to give another option, it may have been more helpful if Chapell grouped his insights together, rather than stringing them out across multiple chapters.To be specific, part two of the work is labeled: “Preparation of Expository Sermons.” Who would deny the relevance of this topic? On page 124, Chapell speaks about the process of exegesis and how a preacher should “explain exegetical insights in such a way that they make the meaning of a text more obvious, not more remote.” Yes, and Amen, but why did Chapell not mention this earlier when he was speaking about “Principles for Interpreting a Passage” in chapter three of part one? In chapter seven, Chapell speaks about “The Pattern of Illustration,” where he rightfully observes, “the mind yearns for and needs the concrete in order to anchor the abstract” (184). The rest of this chapter is filled with valuable insights like these, but yet again I was left wondering why this section wasn’t somehow joined together with the other sections that speak to the importance of application (i.e. chapter four).As Chapell concludes the book, one wonders why Chapell did not include the content of “Part 3: A Theology of Christ-Centered Sermons” toward the beginning of the book as well instead of the end. By the time we read page 277 and are told, “The Bible is not a self-help book ... It tells us how we must seek Christ, who alone is our Savior and source of strength…”, one would think that this point has—or should have—already been made by now. None of this is to suggest that all the content could have been placed at the beginning, but that the way Chapell has arranged the book leaves him with clear limitations that required him to spread out the content and thus, repeat himself rather too much.To make things more difficult, Chapell’s work is not only unhelpfully grouped, but it is incredibly tedious as well. While there are many valuable insights and helpful sections in the book, the book as a whole feels like a long walk through thick sand on the beach with the occasional sea-shell rising to the surface.None of this is to suggest that brevity is the ultimate goal or standard by which we judge communication, but there is also something to say about being precise and succinct. Unfortunately, the reader spends a lot of time reading what has already been said or quoted before. It seems Chapell could have avoided this by grouping many of his insights together, filtered them more, and communicated them more concisely.

I have come to appreciate the biblical, grace centred ministry of Byran Chapell- This work is a must have for all those serious about preaching into peoples lifes, serious about turning the world upside down for Christ and saving souls. Some say its much of the same reformed stuff of old, maybe but its still excellent stuff, buy it and see for yourself I will be surprised if you are disappointed.

Christ-Centered Preaching is a book that all preachers, and arguably all Christians simply must read. The book deals with a vast array of topics that are all well worth reading; yet, if one gets this book to read about the Fallen Condition Focus alone, this book will still be of benefit. Overall, this book will help shape one to be a better homiletician, and will encourage one to be ever so careful in expositing biblical texts in away that is God glorifying, Christ-centered and clearly application driven.

This is an absolutely excellent resource for Biblical preaching. I bought it as a Sunday School teacher wanting to improve my lessons. I would highly recommend this to preachers and teachers within the church!

Nice book, given as a gift Arrived, in time and excellent condition. can't go wrong, Just what the doctor ordered. Would recommend it!

As a young man just beginning to have opportunities to preach/teach, I have found this book incredibly helpful. Chapell does a magnificent job of showing how to take any text and use it to point to Christ and His redemption. Practical, wise, and useful.