Christ-Centered Preaching by Chapell: A Book Review

Introduction and Overview of Christ-Centered Preaching

In the second edition of Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon, Bryan Chapell provides a guide to expository preaching grounded in the fundamental principle that the purpose of preaching is to promote union with Christ. According to Chapell, union with Christ carries personal, communal, and theological—or cosmological—implications. The second edition includes several amendments and additions significant enough to encourage libraries to stock both copies. The author outlines thematic changes to the second edition, including greater explication of what Chapell (2005) calls the Fallen Condition Focus, or FCF (p. 14). While it may seem obvious that the FCF is the central story of Christ, redemption and resurrection must remain the core focus of preaching.

Preaching is also need-based, according to Chapell (2005), offering specific solutions to individual dilemmas while also providing a spiritual solution to all human problems. All themes common in preaching—from gratitude to obedience—need to be framed in terms of the Fallen Condition. Even expository sermons, the focal point of Christ-Centered Preaching, must revolve around the central tenet of Christ's redemptive message. In other words, Chapell suggests that all expository sermons be distilled to offer the essence of the FCF. Chapell (2005) also argues for the reintroduction of authority into expository sermons—not merely to eliminate ambiguity or moral relativism, but also to avoid the pitfalls of subjectivity and outright incorrect interpretations of Biblical truths.

The second edition contains two prefaces. In the preface to the first edition, Chapell (2005) explains the two main themes of authority and redemption. Authority refers to the righteousness of scripture, and Chapell warns preachers against the secularization of Christian messages. Redemption refers to the FCF: sermons can provide guidelines for overcoming sin and receiving Christ's redemptive message. The preface to the second edition references the addendums and places greater stress on the importance of the Fallen Condition Focus. Supporting reference materials include tables covering terms from the Old and New Testaments, analyses of sermon introductions, original language grammars, lexical aids, study Bible lists, and Bible dictionaries.

Christ-Centered Preaching is divided into three main parts and also includes extensive appendices—comprising approximately fifty pages of text—featuring sample sermons and funeral messages for practical use. The text is thoroughly researched and closes with an index and full bibliographic material.

Part One: Principles for Expository Preaching

Part One is entitled "Principles for Expository Preaching." Its goal is to establish the scriptural foundations for the importance of preaching and the substantive content of sermons. Here, Chapell discusses the nobility of preaching and the power of the spoken word in communicating Christ's message—both of which have deep scriptural roots. Preaching is a noble calling and an exalted role, yet one that should not intimidate anyone called to communicate the word of God.

The author delves into the theological meaning of the Word of God, tracing it from the opening passages of Genesis through the New Testament. God uses the Greek term Logos to refer to His Son, thereby presenting Christ as the manifest Word of God. Words carry power—the power to communicate God's message in ways that no other medium can achieve. Words make God real, rendering preaching a divine and necessary act. Chapell (2005) differentiates between Logos, as the manifestation of God in Christ, and logos, which is the message or spoken word clothed in human languages (p. 28). In keeping with the FCF theme, the author also demonstrates how the word of God—as both logos and Logos—is redemptive in nature. Christ redeems, and the preacher uses the spoken word to communicate that message of redemption.

Chapell (2005) discusses the effectiveness of testimony, with scriptural support, while clarifying that an expository sermon is not merely a testimonial but a thorough explication of scripture. By focusing on a specific Biblical passage, an expository sermon reveals the word of God in explicit and implicit ways without straying from the core spiritual messages embedded in the text. In other words, expository preaching is inherently authoritative. Concluding sections of Part One address the function of ethos in the rhetorical strategies used in preaching. Ethos refers to the character of the preacher as well as the grace exuded in the sermon. A sermon should never be constructed around a personal message, but the preacher's personal ethos can nonetheless help deliver the meaning of the scriptural passage.

Because preaching is rhetorical in nature, Chapell (2005) outlines the three primary elements of classical rhetoric: pathos, ethos, and logos. Logos is the verbal content of the sermon, which is brought to life by pathos—the emotional power imparted by the speaker. Ethos is the character and credibility of the preacher, a critical component of every sermon. Good expository preaching aligns all three, as the preacher translates the Bible passage into language the audience understands, relates to, and acts upon in their lives. Integral to preaching with character and credibility is guarding against pride and other barriers to communication. Chapell (2005) also introduces the components of exposition, emphasizing the priority of the Bible: the most important aspect of expository preaching is faithfulness to scripture.

Part Two: Preparation of Expository Sermons

Part Two of Christ-Centered Preaching is entitled "Preparation of Expository Sermons." Divided into several subsections, this part covers the structure, outline, process, and patterns of sermon crafting. Chapell uses the metaphor of the labyrinth to illustrate how a sermon can provide a direct and clear pathway to truth, and that illuminating that path is one of the preacher's primary roles. Road maps are helpful during the preparatory stage of preaching. To create an effective road map that guides a congregation, a preacher can rely on six critical questions. These questions are not designed to restrict the content of the sermon but rather to keep it on course. All six help the preacher remain focused on the expository message within the FCF framework, prevent unnecessary distractions, and retain the authoritative message of the Bible.

The first three questions concern the meaning of the text. Answering them requires substantial research, including consulting lexical correspondences, dictionaries, and other reference materials. The three questions are: What does the text mean? How do I know what it means? And what caused the text to be written? (Chapell, 2005, p. 104). After answering these, the preacher has the preliminary information from which to build the sermon. A preacher should not take familiarity with a favorite Biblical passage for granted; an expository sermon demands more in-depth and objective research, analysis, and explication of the text.

The next three questions concern how the preacher will relate, translate, and deliver the message to the audience. Answering them bridges the gap between the Biblical world in which the text was written and the contemporary world in which the audience dwells. The sermon is not only about what the Bible says but also how it applies to audiences today. Whereas the first three questions yield concrete observations of the source text, the second three questions address meaning. The preacher might first explore why the passage was written in Biblical times, seeking universal clues about human behavior and society. Alternatively, the preacher might recognize that the passage carries different meaning in different contexts. Locating the meaning within the FCF framework is straightforward as long as the preacher maintains a spiritual and theological focus. When answering the second set of questions, the preacher also determines what language will best deliver the message and how to instruct the congregation about the truths embedded in the text. Since the language of the Bible may not be immediately meaningful to a modern congregation, the preacher serves as a translator of sorts. When the preacher discerns the kernels of truth within the selected passage, it becomes easier to deliver that message through modern metaphors—while being careful to avoid oversimplification, misinterpretation, or secularization.

Also in Part Two, Chapell (2005) outlines four necessary steps in sermon preparation. These steps need not be followed in strict order, but all four remain essential. The first step is observation: close readings and substantial investigation of linguistic and historical analyses. The second step is interrogation, the main component of exposition, in which the preacher engages the text to distill its essential meaning through exegesis. Exegesis entails consulting as many explications of the passage as possible, with the best performed by Biblical scholars familiar with source languages. Even when a preacher is unfamiliar with source languages, Biblical exegeses are available for every passage. Grammar, mechanics, and lexical correspondences further enhance the interrogation process. The third step is relating: after the hard work of exegesis, the preacher steps back to digest what has been learned and then determines how the passage relates to the congregation, to current events, or to any pertinent issue. Each sermon will carry a different function or message depending on both the source text and the context of delivery. The fourth step is organization. Organizing the material transforms a cacophony of information into a harmonious, coherent message. Sequence, order, and structural cohesion keep the sermon on course and help the audience maintain attention. Only a carefully prepared outline can help the preacher cover all essential thematic ground within a tight time frame.

References

Chapell, B. (2005). Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.