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dullshimmer's review against another edition
3.0
With a book title like Christ-Centered Preaching I expected to enjoy this book a lot, but was sadly rather frustrated by my experience reading this book. It's not that this is a bad book, it's a capable book, but I also feel like it has a lot of flaws that really reduced its usefulness and enjoyment.
Let's start with the good. The truth is if you use this book as a resource you'll get a lot of useful information on organizing and structuring your sermons. You'll even get a good amount of advice on common pits to avoid along the way. Also the general idea of being Christ-Centered is a good one and while I maybe don't agree with all of the things he says about doing that, the concept overall is one I heartily agree with.
There were a number of things I found frustrating about this book though. For a book that is about clear communication in sermons, the book doesn't always do a good job in this department. Some sections are just too long and muddled. His constant use of the Fallen Condition Focus is not really helpful in this area. Creating a jargon word for a concept is not very good unless it makes the concept easier to understand, and I'm not sure it does in this case. While I understand what he's getting at, I'm not sure his way of presenting it is really the best.
There is also just an awkwardness that I felt when reading some of his thoughts. For example, he talks early on in the book encouraging pastors about the power of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit as we preach. Yet later on when we get to sections on introductions, conclusions and transitions that reliance on that power seems diminished, it's more on our ability to introduce and conclude a matter. Which just seems a little off to me. What about the power of the Word and Holy Spirit? I understand that this is tricky. When preparing a Sermon actual preparation is needed, it isn't something to be done lightly just relying that God is going to work everything out. I just felt he didn't do a good job meshing these ideas.
He also seems to present the congregation in a rather negative light as well. I get that it can be hard to have people listen to you and remember what you say in a sermon. I do, but I do also believe the the Holy Spirit is active in them too and not just in the one giving the sermon. He doesn't really give much thought in that direction at all.
Overall, Christ-Centered Preaching will help you with some introductory methods to building a sermon. However, the way he presents the material is bloated and more confusing than it needs to be and kind of brings the whole things down. While not a bad book to help you wrestle with preaching, I know there are better ones out there.
Let's start with the good. The truth is if you use this book as a resource you'll get a lot of useful information on organizing and structuring your sermons. You'll even get a good amount of advice on common pits to avoid along the way. Also the general idea of being Christ-Centered is a good one and while I maybe don't agree with all of the things he says about doing that, the concept overall is one I heartily agree with.
There were a number of things I found frustrating about this book though. For a book that is about clear communication in sermons, the book doesn't always do a good job in this department. Some sections are just too long and muddled. His constant use of the Fallen Condition Focus is not really helpful in this area. Creating a jargon word for a concept is not very good unless it makes the concept easier to understand, and I'm not sure it does in this case. While I understand what he's getting at, I'm not sure his way of presenting it is really the best.
There is also just an awkwardness that I felt when reading some of his thoughts. For example, he talks early on in the book encouraging pastors about the power of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit as we preach. Yet later on when we get to sections on introductions, conclusions and transitions that reliance on that power seems diminished, it's more on our ability to introduce and conclude a matter. Which just seems a little off to me. What about the power of the Word and Holy Spirit? I understand that this is tricky. When preparing a Sermon actual preparation is needed, it isn't something to be done lightly just relying that God is going to work everything out. I just felt he didn't do a good job meshing these ideas.
He also seems to present the congregation in a rather negative light as well. I get that it can be hard to have people listen to you and remember what you say in a sermon. I do, but I do also believe the the Holy Spirit is active in them too and not just in the one giving the sermon. He doesn't really give much thought in that direction at all.
Overall, Christ-Centered Preaching will help you with some introductory methods to building a sermon. However, the way he presents the material is bloated and more confusing than it needs to be and kind of brings the whole things down. While not a bad book to help you wrestle with preaching, I know there are better ones out there.
jrbennett's review against another edition
5.0
Highly profitable if you are also preparing sermons while reading. The book summarizes previous ideas and concepts throughout so you can pick it up and put it down week by week.
samluce's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent book! Best book I’ve read on expository preaching theologically sound and practically sound.
shortthoughts's review against another edition
3.0
This is a good book on preaching. The explanation of exposition was good and there are great nuggets scattered throughout. I think the chapter on illustrations was really good. I also liked the explanation of what Christ-centered exposition is. I did not buy in on his fallen condition focus approach to a text. I also would poke at some the stuff on application. The appendices provide brief, practical advice. Overall it a good book on preaching expository sermons.
scottacorbin's review against another edition
4.0
A very excellent resource for preachers. Very detailed. I also liked the Appendices a lot. I imagine I'll pull it off the shelf before the next time I preach.
waveycowpar's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fantastic look at how to preach a sermon with Christ as the focus.
It develops on introductions, conclusions, links, the main body, different points in the main body, illustrations of the main points and applications of the main points.
Worth the read for anyone involved in preaching, or anyone studying to be involved in preaching.
I found it very helpful in thinking about what elements might be present in a sermon I conducted last Sunday (I completed the book the following Wednesday).
One could get bogged down in planning one's hand gestures, stance and dress, and other little details of the sermon preparation and presentation event. However, if general principles are taken and applied, without allowing oneself to be overwhelmed by the different points Chapell brings up, then this book would be extremely beneficial to the Christian preacher or communicator.
It develops on introductions, conclusions, links, the main body, different points in the main body, illustrations of the main points and applications of the main points.
Worth the read for anyone involved in preaching, or anyone studying to be involved in preaching.
I found it very helpful in thinking about what elements might be present in a sermon I conducted last Sunday (I completed the book the following Wednesday).
One could get bogged down in planning one's hand gestures, stance and dress, and other little details of the sermon preparation and presentation event. However, if general principles are taken and applied, without allowing oneself to be overwhelmed by the different points Chapell brings up, then this book would be extremely beneficial to the Christian preacher or communicator.
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