The Explicit Gospel Author: | Language: English | ISBN:
B007YBGCOQ | Format: EPUB
The Explicit Gospel Description
Too few people attending church today, even those in evangelical churches, are exposed to the gospel explicitly. Sure, many will hear about Jesus, and about being good and avoiding bad, but the gospel message simply isn't there--at least not in its specificity and its fullness. Inspired by the needs of both the overchurched and the unchurched, and bolstered by the common neglect of the explicit gospel within Christianity, Matt Chandler has written this punchy treatise. He begins with the specifics of the gospel--outlining what it is and what it is not--and then switches gears to focus on the fullness of the gospel and its massive implications on both personal and cosmic levels. Recognizing our tendency to fixate on either the micro or macro aspects of the gospel, Chandler also warns us of the dangers on either side--of becoming overly individualistic or syncretistic. Here is a call to true Christianity, to know the gospel explicitly, and to unite the church on the amazing grounds of the good news of Jesus!
- Audible Audio Edition
- Listening Length: 7 hours and 20 minutes
- Program Type: Audiobook
- Version: Unabridged
- Publisher: christianaudio.com
- Audible.com Release Date: April 25, 2012
- Whispersync for Voice: Ready
- Language: English
- ASIN: B007YBGCOQ
So, we have another book on the gospel. The Explicit Gospel is authored by Matt Chan?dler, pas?tor of the Vil?lage Church in Dal?las, TX. The book is sched?uled to be released on April 30, 2012. Is this just "another book on the gospel" -- basic the?ol?ogy retweaked by a megachurch pas?tor -- or is this some?thing worth read?ing and pon?der?ing? Let's take a look.
The Big Idea of The Explicit Gospel
The book claims that too often, the gospel is assumed, not explicit. The explicit gospel oblit?er?ates man-centered reli?gion -- the moral?ism, idol?a?try, and reli?gios?ity that cor?rupts true Chris?tian?ity. Chan?dler describes this explicit gospel, gen?er?ously sprin?kling in plenty of pas?toral appli?ca?tion along the way. Merely assum?ing the gospel leads to dan?gers -- big dan?gers. Chandler's cogent appli?ca?tion of the explicit gospel strikes deep at the insipid idio?syn?crasies of evan?gel?i?cal?ism, deliv?er?ing a mes?sage that is both solidly the?o?log?i?cal and lov?ingly confrontational.
Overview of The Explicit Gospel
Chan?dler orga?nizes the book in three sec?tions: 1) The Gospel on the Ground, 2) The Gospel in the Air, and 3) Impli?ca?tions and Appli?ca?tions. Even if you've been to sem?i?nary, you've prob?a?bly never heard of a "ground gospel" or "air gospel," so lets explain what Chan?dler means. Ground and air, as he describes them, are van?tage points for view?ing the gospel. The gospel from the ground is the view of the gospel in our own lives. The chap?ters "God" (ch. 1), "Man" (ch. 2), "Christ" (ch.3), "Response" (ch.4), dis?cuss the gospel from this per?spec?tive. Chan?dler describes the gospel in the air as "the big pic?ture of God's plan of restora?tion from the begin?ning of time to the end of time and the redemp?tion of his cre?ation" (pg. 9).
(Originally posted on my blog, The Way Everlasting. The following is an excerpt.)
Summary:
Matt Chandler writes a hit-and-miss work on the Gospel, full of sharped barbs that are occasionally convicting but are mostly mean-spirited and glitzy.
Strengths:
I really, really, really wanted to like this book. And indeed, I found parts of it absolutely brilliant. But we get a version of Matt Chandler here that hardly sounds like himself.
So the good: The best parts of the book are Chapter 6, Fall, and Chapter 7, Reconciliation. You get an epic scope of the human condition plus a God-scaled view of God's work through us on earth. Pastor Matt's unique voice, even when he's on rabbit trails, will you keep you engaged. The rundown on Solomon is a tour de force of wit, vivid imagery, and a piercing look into the wrongness of our souls. And our mission through the cross is clearly outlined while avoiding a legalistic prison.
Certainly Chandler can write. He's not exactly quotable but his style is clever, captivating, at times brutal. He is theologically sound in every which way, and despite some critics bashing his Reformed angle, he backs it up with Scripture. Just as in his preaching, he is one of the most biblical pastors out there.
I loved the last couple stories of Matt Chandler overcoming the guilt of his former life and the heartbreaking account of his friend Kim. He has preached these before, but to see it in written form with extra details was stirring. He really brought home how the Gospel works here.
Weaknesses:
However, there are three main problems with the book that injure it beyond recovery.
1) The most glaring problem is its arrogant tone. Matt Chandler in preaching is bold, daring, and convicting.
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