The Explicit Gospel

by Matt Chandler, Jared C. Wilson (Contributor)

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!

Genres: Christian, Theology, Nonfiction, Christian Living, Christianity, Faith, Religion

237 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2012

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Matt Chandler is the lead pastor of The Village Church, a multi-campus church in the Dallas metroplex of over 10,000 people. His sermons are among the topselling (free) podcasts on itunes and he speaks at conferences worldwide. Prior to accepting the pastorate at The Village, Matt had a vibrant itinerant ministry for over ten years where he spoke to hundreds of thousands of people in America and abroad about the glory of God and beauty of Jesus. He lives in Texas with his wife, Lauren, and their three children: Audrey, Reid and Norah.

Reviews

[Joshua Lake · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can read my full review at Quieted Waters.

Quite frankly, I expected to be bored by this book. It’s about the gospel, and I’ve been in church for decades. I’ve taught dozens of Bible studies and preached a few sermons, so the gospel is not unfamiliar to me. What surprised me was how much I personally benefited from reading this book.

This is not just a book for new believers. This is not a longer version of a gospel tract. It’s not something you hand off to someone while praying, “God, please help that sinner to know You.”

This is a book you should read. This is a book I needed to read. The chapters helped me to understand the full impact of the gospel, putting together God’s macro plan for eternity and His micro plan for my life.

[Daniel Threlfall · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, we have another book on the gospel. The Explicit Gospel is authored by Matt Chandler, pastor of the Village Church in Dallas, TX. The book is scheduled to be released on April 30, 2012. Is this just "another book on the gospel" — basic theology retweaked by a megachurch pastor — or is this something worth reading and pondering? 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 obliterates man-centered religion — the moralism, idolatry, and religiosity that corrupts true Christianity. Chandler describes this explicit gospel, generously sprinkling in plenty of pastoral application along the way. Merely assuming the gospel leads to dangers — big dangers. Chandler's cogent application of the explicit gospel strikes deep at the insipid idiosyncrasies of evangelicalism, delivering a message that is both solidly theological and lovingly confrontational.

Overview of The Explicit Gospel
Chandler organizes the book in three sections:  1) The Gospel on the Ground, 2) The Gospel in the Air, and 3) Implications and Applications. Even if you've been to seminary, you've probably never heard of a "ground gospel" or "air gospel," so lets explain what Chandler means. Ground and air, as he describes them, are vantage points for viewing the gospel. The gospel from the ground is the view of the gospel in our own lives. The chapters "God" (ch. 1), "Man" (ch. 2), "Christ" (ch.3), "Response" (ch.4), discuss the gospel from this perspective. Chandler describes the gospel in the air as "the big picture of God's plan of restoration from the beginning of time to the end of time and the redemption of his creation" (pg. 9). This section of the book deals with "Creation" (ch. 5), "Fall" (ch. 6), "Reconciliation" (ch. 7), and "Consummation" (ch. 8). Although the entire book contains plenty of implications and applications, Part Three of the book is completely devoted to application and implication. Chapters 9 and 10 deal with the dangers of getting too wrapped up in either a "gospel-on-the-ground" or a "gospel-in-the-air" approach. Finally, in chapter 11 he turns to  "moralism and the cross” to round out The Explicit Gospel’s most forceful application.

Is The Explicit Gospel Explicit?
Making a good book title is a bit like good marketing. It has to both describe the “product,” while grabbing people's attention. The word explicit grabs our attention like a Driscoll sermon series. Of course, The Explicit Gospel is about the gospel, so there's nothing alarmingly offensive about it. At the same time, does the word explicit accurately really describe the content of the book? Chandler is on the offensive against "Christian, moralistic, therapeutic Deism" (pg. 8), using the weapon of the gospel. The word "explicit" in relationship with the "gospel" appears just a few times within the book (12x). The book isn't as about the "explicit gospel" as much as it is an explicit (i.e. a clear) description of the gospel.

Is The Explicit Gospel Readable?
Some theology books, notably Reformed ones, are notorious for boredom. The Explicit Gospel is not boring. In fact, reading the book is like listening to Chandler preach. It's funny. It's engaging. It's winsome. It's even a bit harsh at times. I loved these phrases: "Trying to figure out God is like trying to catch fish in the Pacific Ocean with an inch of dental floss” (pg. 13). In describing the college basketball phenomenon of March Madness, he writes, with some histrionics:  "Kids are crying in fear, wives are running for more nachos — it's chaos. It's madness” (46). Chandler has a knack for punchy, forceful, and unforgettable way of expressing things. This book could be one of the easiest 245 pages you’ve read in a long time.

Is The Explicit Gospel Appropriate?
The word "explicit" isn't usually a word that you hear in conjunction with something as sacred as the gospel, so it might raise eyebrows beginning with the title. While the theme of the book is entirely appropriate, some may question at times Chandler's specific manner of expression. For example:

• "Paul doesn't usually roll that way….he's not really a sing-song kind of guy" (13).
• "God was angry and moved me to Abilene for seven years" (14).
• Chandler paraphrases the conclusion of the book of Job like this: "It's like God is saying, 'Oh, how adorable you are! Now put on a cup, dude, because it's about to be big boy time" (14).
• "In the Hebrew [Jeremiah 2:11-12] the essential idea is that they're literally terrified that God might snap and rip the universe to shreds" (33).
• "Here's the funny thing about the Old Testament:  85% of it is God saying, 'I'm going to have to kill all of you if you don't quit this.' Seriously, 85% of it is" (60).
• "I think he's [King David] schizophrenic" (118).

Perhaps Chandler's writing is lot like his preaching. Maybe he can get a bit carried away at times, turning a phrase that might confuse the unsuspecting reader. Some may wonder if such phrases, though intended to be humorous, may not quite match the majesty of the very God whom the author is trying to describe.

The Explicit Gospel Applied
Even though the book is about the gospel, Chandler finds a way to weave in application that applies to every evangelical hot-button issue known to the Gospel Coalition. Chandler discusses the social gospel (84, 160), the prosperity gospel (23, 232), women in ministry (213-14), to invitations (59), church growth tactics (34), the reality of an eternal place of torment (217), Rob Bell (216), mainline decline, and just about everything in between. He predictably sides with the conservatives on every issue (something which non-party-liners may take issue with). Chandler's conservatism is not the problem. The question lingering has to do with how all of these issues (plus more I didn’t bother to mention) found their way into a book on the gospel. Yes, the gospel applies to every area of life, but does it follow that we can indiscriminately make everything "a gospel issue," even on things over which Christians can legitimately disagree? Turning the gospel into a trump card is to make the gospel less explicit than it is. If you write book on the gospel, and then import each and every contemporary polarizing topic into the book as an application point of the gospel, you haven’t necessarily solved all the problems. Instead, you might have lowered the glory and grandeur of the gospel to the level of your pet position on the polarizing topics. We must undoubtedly apply the gospel to our lives, but it minimizes the gospel when we spread it too thin. Chandler is free to make his Bible-derived observations on contemporary issues. That's what Bible teachers should do. But it is also important that he define which issues tie directly into gospel truth, and which  matters are less…shall we say?…“explicit.”

The Explicit Gospel Smoothed Out
Somehow, the metaphor of "gospel on the ground" and "gospel in the air" didn't stick that well. I understand the distinction he is trying to make, but perhaps he pushes it too far, making it the basis for the book’s entire organization as well as some hefty application (chs. 9-10). Throughout the book, a tension develops between the two ways of viewing the gospel that could lead to a breakdown in the marvelous complex continuity of Scripture's redemption narrative (Heilsgeschichte). Perhaps we could chalk this one up to an issue of emphasis, and a pursuit of readability over depth.

Is The Explicit Gospel Worth Reading?
Every book has its shortcomings, so lest we focus on the possible downers, it is also important to point out some of the glittering jewels that lie on the surface of this book. Should you read this book? Rick Warren certainly thinks so: “If you only read one book this year, make it this one. It’s that important.” The Explicit Gospel certainly has some commending qualities. Here are three reasons why you should read it:

•It's Insightful. One thing is clear. Chandler has a pulse on the state of evangelicalism. As he explicates the gospel, he is not try to disprove ancient heresies. Instead, Chandler aims at the contemporary corruptions within modern evangelicalism. There are plenty of such corruptions. The author identifies them and addresses them with a rush of relevance.

•It's Applicational. Chandler packs in plenty of important application. Perhaps the most obvious application is to guard against “Christian, moralistic, therapeutic, Deism” (pg. 8), by knowing and heeding explicit assertion of the gospel. Not only does pastor Chandler identify the problems, but he takes aim at them, too. Rarely does he miss. You will find that the application-saturated pages hit close to home, alerting you to areas you need to change.

•It's Understandable. Chandler is a good communicator. He has a knack for explaining big truths in unambiguous ways. You'll find that reading The Explicit Gospel will help you to better understand the glorious truths of the gospel.

The theological discussions in the book may beg for a bit more exposition here and there. The applications may rub a bit harder than necessary. But overall, Chandler provides the contemporary American evangelical churchgoer something to chew on. The gospel, in all its explicit glory, needs to be heard and heeded. The reductionism in our theology has led to a decline in our lifestyle. We need the explicit gospel to bring us back.

So, in conclusion, do we need another book on the gospel? The gospel never gets old. Reading about the gospel is always important. Living out the gospel is essential. So, if you're ready to be challenged, instructed, and informed, do yourself a favor and read The Explicit Gospel. 

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matt Chandler is a gift to the church. Not only is he a wonderful communicator, but he is also astute theologically and in some ways is a "voice of a generation" to younger evangelicals.

His first book "The Explicit Gospel" expounds on the primary message he has been lauding from the pulpit and the iTunes library for years. The unadultered, explicit gospel. He shows this by two different scopes: the "systematic" approach (God, Man, Christ, Response) and the "biblical theological" approach (Creation, Fall, Redemption, Consummation). By showing the gospel from "the ground" and "the air" he paints a holistic picture at how the gospel ultimately transforms all relationships, not just with God, but with man as well. I would posit that that is its central strength.

However, when reading, I was made aware of the reality that being a good communicator does not necessarily mean being a good writer.

For example, many things that are ultimately strengths from the pulpit (stories, rabbit trails, side comments, etc.) are potent weaknesses in print. Throughout, Chandler would toss a sporadic comment that would have little to do with the point being made and prove to only be a distraction. I can see how these comments help to retain the personality that many readers would know the author by, but overall I found it distracting.

Also, I don't know who Chandler is writing this book to. Is it to non-believers? Churched people? Church leaders? Throughout I found myself asking that question. On the one hand he is presenting very foundational Christian truths that could be beneficial for those wondering what the gospel is, but on the other hand uses high Christian terminology (e.g. vivification) without an explanation. Again, because of these things, I found parts of the book to be distracting.

Overall, The Explicit Gospel was an enjoyable read and good refresher on the centrality of the Christian faith.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've felt for a long time that the Gospel message has been watered down by our culture. This book makes the same claim, and has evidence to back it up. Every Christian should read this.

[Joel Cheatham-Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

In The Explicit Gospel, Matt Chandler takes on the religious ideology that he calls "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism", which characterizes much of the cultural landscape that Chandler pastors in Texas. Chandler's work seeks to rebut this cultural Christianity with the authentic gospel of Jesus Christ, which Chandler subdivides into "the gospel on the ground" and "the gospel in the air".

The "gospel in the ground" is the typical gospel message of evangelical protestants: that Christ died as our substitute and faced God's punitive wrath to atone for the sins on individuals. Chandler is remarkably uncharitable in this section, belligerently dismissing atonement theories other than Penal Substitutionary Atonement and communicating Calvinism heavy-handedly. Chandler erroneously conflates PSA and Calvinism with "the gospel", foolishly dismissing the views of countless other Protestants and potentially alienating or misleading his audience.

The "gospel in the air" is where Chandler slightly redeems himself. He focuses on a macroscopic view of the gospel, as Christ redeeming the brokenness of Creation. It is notable that Chandler acknowledge this theme that so heavily permeates Scripture, in contrast to many other evangelical leaders who would fail to do so. However, Chandler's presentation of Christ's cosmic atonement still appears to be secondary to the personal, individual salvation narrative that is clearly dominant in his view. The "gospel in the air" section would have been presented more faithfully to the biblical narrative if it were presented first chronologically in the book. Chandler also perpetuates the theology of "going to heaven when you die", a concept that is only minimally discussed in Scripture (this error is ironic considering Chandler's massive quotation of N.T. Wright's Surprised by Hope a few chapters later, which was primarily written to correct this misconception).

Chandler's third section tackles his perceived errors of too much emphasis on either formulation of the gospel. The critique of overemphasis on the gospel on the ground is accurate and necessary - Chandler rightly acknowledges the piousness, conservatism, legalism, and hyper-individualism that can occur with this overemphasis. Ironically, Chandler's book still remains in this camp, as the gospel on the ground is subversively presented as the "primary view" throughout the book. Chandler's assessment of overemphasis on the gospel in the air is remarkly flawed and factually inaccurate (although there is a grain of truth to be found within). Chandler appears to consider the gospel in the air as potential fodder for what he considers theological liberalism, and is overly dismissive of the Kingdom work that rightly occurs as a function of one's internalization of the gospel in the air. Chandler views Christ's redemption of society and the earth as secondary to personal atonement of sin, and minimizes the call of the Christ-follower to participate in a holistic Kingdom vision. For example, Chandler erroneously labels movements to uplift women as leaders in ministry as a capitulation to liberal culture, when the reality is that Jesus and Paul commended women in ministry, and women's roles in the church have dwindled over time until the 20th Century.

Chandler's conclusion rightly refocuses the reader's attention to the threat of losing focus on the gospel by getting distracted with moralism. This moralism can manifest as either personal piety or social justice (i.e. overemphasis on the gospel in the ground and the gospel in the air).

Aside from Chandler's massive theological errors, the book is further tarnished by Chandler's deplorable writing style. He writes with the conversational style of a teenager, employing informal slang and anti-intellectual language. This is further complicated by Chandler's use of Koine Greek words and theological terms, often without enough explanation. This chaotic rhetoric highlights Chandler's expertise as a verbal communicator to a specific people group, rather than a written communicator. This book was genuinely one of the worst-written books I have ever read, and even though I agreed with roughly half of the concepts presented, getting through the book was a chore that truly tested my patience.

[Will Waller · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's amazing, when you look back on the story of your life and examine the people you admired and how short a season that can be. For a long time, I ate up anything that came from Matt Chandler. He was edgy, he utilized questioning voices of the Bible. He was on the cutting edge of doubting evangelicals. And something has shifted in Chandler to make him colder, sharper in a unsettling way. Comments about the poor, women, homosexuals all share a tint of wealth promotion, misogyny, and homophobia. His circle seems to be narrowing to select few who believe as he does. He's swallowed the pill of many conservative evangelicals, that they've got it, you need it and if you ain't, heaven help you.

That's my main complaint of this book, that's its far-reaching in its criticism of others while not giving due conversation to his promotion of the Bible. He complains about evagnelicals and their lack of concern for the poor. He complains about mainline denominations and their lack of concern for penal substitutionary atonement. He talks about social gospel as if it’s the plague. He talks about all these other topics yet only until you reach the end of his book do you find his conversation about what got me to pick up the book in the first place: how grace-centered efforts counter those of the moral theists he despises. This book is dripping with vitriol and that’s a shame because Chandler, in his early sermons, allows for more discourse at the table…a table he’s now banging his fists on, declaring himself and his close posse the winner.


Another chief complaint of this book comes in its index. You’ll find the most of Chandler’s references in the Epistles. His references from Romans equals more than those of Jesus in the Gospels of Mark, Luke, and John. This is a travesty, and a sign that he’s more concerned with being right than following Christ’s words in the Gospels. I’m reminded of Paul, Chandler’s buddy, who was concerned about those people in Corinth who claim to be Apollo’s people or Cephas’s people, or PAUL’S PEOPLE, rather than being Christ’s people. Another concern comes in his limited number of references at all. He’s a sola scriptura guy to the nth degree and it’s a shame. Our Christian tradition is rich and yet he chooses to draw only limited amounts from it. The Puritan theologians make a quick appearance, as do other neo-Calvinists like Chandler…and that’s about it. It’s really deficient.

Another complaint is how much he has plagiarized from his previous work on Ecclesiastes. His work on Ecclesiastes is what drew me to him in the first place. Now, if you read one of the chapters in here, he cuts and pastes from his sermons for this work. That’s pathetic. Write new material.

Finally, his work on sanctification (or lack thereof) is infuriating. That we have sanctification upon justification does not follow in the lives of those who sin away their baptism. Instead, he claims in 209-210 that we are sanctified at justification – and continues to talk about why we must grow in the Christian life. That’s doesn’t follow Chandler. And where is baptism in your book? Where is the Eucharist?

Avoid this book, unless you want to hear about cosmic, impersonal God, the lack of a Spirit’s power, and a Christ absent from his location in the Gospel. Read this book if you want to hear about Paul and put your faith in Paul alone. Read this book if you believe pushing dissenting voices from the theological conversation is helpful and beneficial.

[J.L. Neyhart · Rating 1 out of 5]

As to be expected, Chandler is coming from the hardcore neo-calvinist/young-restless-reformed theological perspective. In fact, I find it ironic that in a book that is supposed to be about the explicit Gospel, he doesn't see or acknowledge that his interpretation via Calvinism is an additional layer that he is putting on top of the Gospel, which can surely obscure it for many people. If you are already in that "camp" then I'm sure you'll enjoy this book. But if you're not, go read some books by Scot McKnight or N.T. Wright instead.

[E.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been reading this book for a LONG time. This is not to say it was bad - in fact, the opposite. It is a excellent look at the gospel and how it applies to everyone and why it’s so important to have it central in your life at all times.

It took so long for me to read because it is a thick book in the sense of ideas. Not necessarily in pages. I digested it and believe that I always came back to it at the right times.

I’d highly recommend it and the only thing I would say is that at times it was better to take it in smaller chunks to truly grasp the principles mentioned.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matt Chandler’s The Explicit Gospel is a sweet look at the good news of Jesus Christ from more than one angle. Chandler challenges his readers to look at the gospel from both an individual (what he calls on the ground) and global (what he calls in the air) perspective.
Positives
The strength of this book is in the gospel content. Chandler uses both a “God, Man, Christ, Response” model of explaining the gospel as well as a “Creation, Fall, Reconciliation, Consummation” model. It is a good thing for believers to see the gospel from these two angles, the former pointing to the theology of individual redemption and the latter pointing to the ultimate story of God’s plan for the world. In both explanations, Chandler communicates the truth of scripture with clarity and refreshing sweetness.
Chandler also wisely points out many common weaknesses in our gospel understanding. He shows us how, if we focus too strongly on the individual or global perspectives, we will pervert our understanding of the gospel. He also challenges his readers not to give into our common temptation to believe a grace-based gospel but to live as though our salvation were works-based.
Negatives
I found two areas that made this book less than perfect in my view. First and foremost is Chandler’s dealing with the issue of creation at the beginning of part 2 of this work. Chandler claims to hold to “historic creationism,” a position which allows for a great passage of time in the opening phrase of Genesis 1:1. This position is Chandler’s way of believing in a literal 6-day creation, while allowing room for an old-earth view. I believe the author’s position here to be incorrect and to open the door to theological errors that are more significant. I might not give this problem a full paragraph did Chandler not spend so much time in his book defending his view.
Another much smaller problem that I had with the book was an occasional earthiness to Chandler’s language that seems out-of-place. The example that comes to my mind is in the look at the life of Job. Chandler uses a line I have heard other preachers use to describe God’s confrontation of Job, telling Job that he needs to “put on a cup” to face what is coming. This is not by any means a wrong thing to say, but it does take the conversation to a slightly more crass level than some might appreciate.
Conclusion
Much is very right with The Explicit Gospel. For a more mature Christian who is willing to think critically about the arguments raised in this book, especially that regarding creation, the book is a solid reminder of important truth. The challenge to see the gospel from a ground-level and an aerial view is quite valuable. However, even though I was blessed and encouraged by Chandler’s writing, I would only recommend this book with reservations, as the issue with the creation argument is, in my view, significant.
Audio
I received an audio copy of this book to review as part of the reviewers program at ChristianAudio.com. The book is very well-read and pleasant to hear.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

A well written and persuasive book about the need to make sure the Gospel preached is the actual Gospel contained in the Bible.

I’d listened to a couple of sermon’s by Matt Chandler and other pastors at his church, but this was the first book of his that I’ve read. And it was a good one, I’ll likely take a look at some of his other books now.

The premise of the book is pretty simple. The Christian Gospel, presented in its full form, is a radical message that generates a strong response in the people it is presented to, whether that be positive or negative. Unfortunately, many Christian churches are presenting either a watered down version of the Gospel or a partial version, sometimes through human error and sometimes through an effort to make it more palatable. Because the truth is that being confronted with our own sin and the sacrifice Christ bore on the cross is difficult, and it will drive some people away. However, a partial Gospel is no Gospel at all, and Chandler uses some simple and accessible writing to make it clear. He breaks it down into two main sections, the personal plan of the Gospel for each one of us and the cosmic plan of the Gospel, that is God’s plan to restore and redeem all creation.

I don’t know that there were any earthshattering revelations, but it was a well written and timely reminder about the paramount importance of the full Gospel, not just the parts that are easy or more palatable.

[Bright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most challenging & beautiful books I have ever read. Matt Chandler really nails it on the head with this one — gospel centrality is the root of our faith & encompasses more than just ourselves, but all of creation. God’s restorative plan was enacted through the gospel and is continuing to be enacted through believers lives today, until one day His Son returns and calls us home to a renewed heaven & earth. This book is great for any believer — a solid and sound reminder of the essentiality of the gospel within our daily lives.

[J.S. Park · Rating 3 out of 5]

Original review here. 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.


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. Matt Chandler in writing can be brash, jarring, and condescending.

I wanted to pretend this wasn’t true. I wanted to think I was being unfair, over-sensitive, or reading with a preconceived filter. But alas, Chandler never gets over sounding like a pompous, perfect know-it-all.

He continually categorizes people in such a way that, whether it’s his intent or not, he creates two groups: Those who get it and those who are morons. He steps on all his grace-cards. This is the first Christian book I’ve read that uses the word “dummies.” There is hardly any grace for those over-churched, non-gospel-preaching, Scripture-twisting sons of hell. No attempt at trying to be understanding, not even a weak disclaimer to sympathize with the ignorant. Such demonizing will quickly make you arrogant because you begin to think, “Well thank God I’m not like those idiots. I actually get the gospel.”

This is such an intellectual-ego-boost that for this reason alone, I cannot give my wholehearted recommendation for the book.

On that note: I believe Pastor Matt is a gracious man. At the Resurgence Conference in Orlando of 2011, during the Q&A, an anonymous question came in and the group of pastors onstage ridiculed the question. Matt stepped in and actually answered it, and later that night my friend and I spoke about how gracious Matt was to redeem that moment. The next day, Pastor Matt addressed the very incident, saying that we really have lost our compassion for our neighbor. It only confirmed he was the real deal.

Which is only more confusing because the entire book felt like those pastors who ridiculed that poor guy.


2) Like most of the new Reformed works about the Gospel, there is a key piece missing: the life and death of Jesus Christ.

The Good News should result in an intimacy with Jesus and not be used as an instant jump-off point to grab the Gospel implications. Chandler, like many Reformed guys, quickly skips over who Jesus is, thereby making an unbalanced work about what Jesus does. Both sides need details, but every work on the Gospel (except for Tim Keller’s King’s Cross) is in a hurry to get to the theological results.


3) Lastly, the book has a confused audience. At times he says something akin to “We should be preaching this,” while other times he says, “If you’ve been to church all your life,” and such confusion is like hopping back and forth across a border, a la Homer Simpson.

When I attended the Explicit Gospel tour, Matt Chandler mainly seemed to be talking to disenfranchised churchgoers. He had a warmness for them that I could understand as a pastor, so I was heartily convicted. But the book doesn’t have that same kind of sensitivity, and readers will experience whiplash.

Bottom Line:
I absolutely love Matt Chandler. Much of his preaching in my early days of being a pastor rescued me from some serious error. I’d be the first to defend him if someone called him ungracious. But his book, while great in so many parts, is dragged down by so much snobbery. I know this couldn’t be Pastor Matt’s intentions, and if you can excuse his tone, there is still much to learn from him here.

[Rosalyne Arceneaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands-down the best book I’ve read about God. So thankful for the way this book has challenged me, convicted me, & inspired me to stop making the gospel about ME. Sooo many in the church today focus on how self-centered following jesus is (aka he loves you, has a perfect plan for you, saved you, enjoy him, he blesses you, etc with of course the knowledge that there will be trials and it involves sacrifice which is all true BUT not the entire story!!). God was complete. Is complete. Didn't neeeed us, but of course loves us and wants us. But we were created to give glory to Him and praise Him forever & ever. It's all about Him! But somehow we are so caught up in becoming more spiritual with gifts, church growth, strategy, messages geared toward us being free, feel good, & powerful, and so many decisions being made off of what we FEEL like God is saying, when more times that not, the Bible is CLEAR and is our guide. Not taking away the direction of the Holy Spirit (of course) BUT am emphasizing how much we go off of what we think God is specifically saying to us individually, when He has been so clear in the Bible for mankind to follow His purposes and ways. Encouraged to make the focus about Jesus & God getting the glory He deserves. Period. This has ignited my desire to know more about God, doctrine, theology and stop seeking a life that was rooted in the thought that everything God did revolves around me & mankind. So hard to put into words, but just eyes opened to a life that is solely revolving around God’s initial intent for creation— to glorify Him with the enjoyment of His presence!! Fired up to see the church shift from self-help feel good messages & over-emphasizing man's role & significance, to preaching the entirety of God’s heart & characteristics that is FOCUSED on Him, making Him the center of our conversations & sermons, with Him as the ONLY significant one being glorified, not us. Highly recommend!!

[Silvia Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

This rating is reflective of the writing style / tone of the book NOT the content itself!

I have a really hard time appreciating sarcastic writing styles especially in this genre :/

[Gage Hallbauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. This book made me laugh and cry. Matt does a great job of pointing out to biblical perspectives of the gospel (“in the air” and “on the ground”) and the problems associated with only thinking about one of the two. He also gives great reminders that Christians work FROM the love of God and not FOR the love of God. I feel so refreshed by this book, and I’m recommending it to friends. It’s a good book to help return to the basics and essentials.

“When discipleship is no longer about a way of living but about information to be learned, a compartmentalization takes place in our spiritual thinking that results in hypocrisy. We can end up with a church that does not see confession and repentance as ongoing ethics but rather simply as truths that need to be defended. So instead of being missional in our understanding of the world, we become defensive in posture. Instead of following Jesus, we circle the wagons.”

[Scott Coulter]

For the 2023 #vtReadingChallenge, this is book #16, for the category "A Book with the Word 'Gospel' in the Title". By happy coincidence, this book had been on my shelf, unread, for a while now, having been a hand-me-up from one of my kids (I think, actually "re-gifted" would be the correct term).
I didn't really know much about the author before starting this book (still don't), but my suspicion is that he probably writes a popular blog, and people who like his blog probably told him what a great writer he is, and that he should write a book. I say that because I had a bit of a hard time figuring out what this book was mainly about, and who the intended audience mainly was. The basic structure as laid out by the chapter headings was pretty sensible, but the actual chapters tended to wander in ways that seemed like "here's something interesting I thought of today".
Having said that, I don't think I particularly disagreed with any of the points he was trying to get across, some of which he articulated pretty well, and some of which were a bit on the muddled side.
So, I wouldn't call it "bad" but I also probably wouldn't recommend it.

[David Clouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was well written and would probably be very helpful to many people who want a clear picture of what he Gospel is. I think that I might have read too many academic Christian books that this one just felt a little underwhelming, but that’s not to say it wasn’t good. There were a couple of chapters or ideas I really liked in the book and I have huge respect for Matt Chandler. His sermon on the explicit Gospel really helped shape my faith when I first came to be a believer. All that to say, in my mind the book was okay, but I still think many people would benefit from reading it.

[Emily Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had been on my shelf for years, it was a gift shortly after becoming a believer. As year 10 of following the Lord approaches, I could not have imagined the impacts this book would have on my spiritual health. This is a must read for anyone who needs a jolt of encouragement, especially in the today’s world.

[Danette · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Church of Jesus, let us please be men and women who understand the difference between moralism and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let’s be careful to preach the dos and don’ts of Scripture in the shadow of the cross’s ‘Done!’”

"Oftentimes where the gospel is assumed it is quickly lost."

Fantastic
Listened to the audio

2020 A book by or about a pastor

[Madysen Kumpula · Rating 5 out of 5]

This took me a while but man was it worth it! Equal parts convicting and encouraging, this book walked through the different ways in which we view the gospel. highly recommend.

[Ally :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was insanely informative. It also had bits of humor and was written in a way that made it enjoyable.

[Christopher Rush · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah, this is one of those books. One of those "I'm a pastor of the best church on earth, so I'm qualified to write a book on how everyone should do Christianity my way" sorts of books. I knew I would be in trouble when the friend who loaned it to me said I wouldn't like it - and she was right. I also knew I would be in trouble when I opened the cover and the first three recommendation names jumped out at me (in an aggressive, virulent way): the Mark Driscoll, the David Platt, and the Rick Warren. Ouch. I guess Johnny P was busy that day. To be fair, Chandler's book is better than Warren's book and Platt's book, and better than the two Piper books I've read in my life, but that's certainly not saying all that much. Chandler does say some things that are true, no one is denying that. I do applaud the few sentences here and there that are true: it's just not that good of a book. The same ideas he touches on briefly that are accurate and worth pondering are presented far better in countless other books (like anything by Chesterton, for example, or Father Schall for another example), making this book not really necessary. Or useful. Or important. Chandler might even appreciate this comments, since he's one of those "let's bash the church instead of teaching what appropriate behavior and then wonder why the American church is a morass" sort of fellows - this is taken from my reading of the book and comments from the friend who loaned me the book, who says the same thing (well, the "he likes to bash the church" part) and really enjoys listening to Chandler on the Interwebs.

Perhaps it was his tone throughout that irked me. Chandler uses a "look how funny I am while I make humorous references to pop culture to show not only how funny I am but also how relevant the gospel is" tone, which immediately refutes both of his postulates, or at least casts quizzical looks upon the second while thoroughly refuting the first. Considering he is so passionate about how important his subject it, the necessity of the gospel being "explicit" and not "implicit," why he chooses to damage his own authority with inane attempts at badinage is inscrutable - but, then again, so is his overall presentation. While reading the book, I kept hoping he would actually enumerate and support his point ... but he never does. One gets to the end of this book and asks "just what [i]is[/i] the "explicit" gospel? Chandler never gets to the point. He is one of that coterie of American pastors (the term is rather loose these days) who thinks the twofold purpose of the church is 1) to preach nothing but the gospel each week, and 2) do missions trips. *Sigh.* This utter confusion does indeed augment the opacity of the book.

Indeed, Chandler does say it's bad to spend too much time conceptualizing the gospel in an off-balanced way. Apparently that is news to some people. One of the true things he says is the gospel is not just about the salvation of individual souls. Perhaps people didn't know that ... no doubt because their churches only talk about 1) the basic gospel every week (what Paul and Hebrews refer to as the "milk" Christians need to mature beyond) and 2) doing short-term missions trips (primarily to make oneself feel better about one's self-assessment of one's Christianity). All of this "what is he really wingeing on about, anyway?" culminates in the supremely ironical conclusion section: "Implications and Applications." No, you read that right. "Implications." According to Mr. Chandler, the "explicit" gospel leads to implications. I do think his infacility with the English language blazes new trails by the end of his book (perhaps he would say it plummets new heights). One might suppose an "explicit" gospel would yield a rich harvest of explications ... but no.

Ah, well. As with so many of his friends' books, had he actually made it clear what the gospel is, what the actual situation is in which the gospel needs to be his version of explicit (if not the actual ontological explicitness), and how one actually is to balance the gospel in the air and the gospel on the ground in some meaningful, intelligible way, this would be a much better book. Perhaps the 2nd anniversary reprint with gilt-leaf edging, study guide, teen study guide, coffee mug, and mouse pad will do all that. If I had a phone, I'd wait by it. Honestly. In the meantime, skip this ... well, I'll call it a "book" because it has hard covers and pages of paper between the covers, and read Chesterton, or Schall, or something else that has a good grasp on what Christianity is about and what the gospel actually is. Or go watch Bananas in Pyjamas. It may be a better use of your time.

[Dalton Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible book, occasionally had me wondering how we got here, but the content was so good I didn’t mind.

[B Hatfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good read. Really felt like I was challenged to look at the Gospel differently and see that it is not just something you learn and hear once– but you should be living it. The Gospel is personal to each of us but its purpose also spans over all creation and all people. God is immense and the Gospel is all for HIS glory. We are to worship him through everything we do and everything he has graciously given us. IT IS ALL A GIFT. It is all by His grace. I once pondered why we have Earthly joys and even felt guilty for enjoying them; what this book taught me was that "He gave it so that we might be overwhelmed by the goodness of God to give is such a great gift." Love love love these AHA moments. The Gospel comes with the bad news of how horrific and disobedient our sin is, sending our Savior to the cross. But the Gospel also comes with the good news of how Jesus bore our sins and "remembers them no more" (Heb. 8:12). This is news that we need to explicitly share. It is time to stop assuming the Gospel in our own lives and conversations with others.
-
Some of my fav quotes:
"He refuses to give us what we deserve." (We do not deserve grace)
"Their motto is 'do, do, do!' But the Cross screams out 'Done!'"
"Sometimes ministry is fruitless, but it doesn't mean that is faithless. Faithfulness is success; obedience is success."
"Creation is groaning and yearns for restoration. Creation reacts to sin entering in the world."
"He created the colors." He created my favorite color orange! What?! Thanks, God.
"In the present brokenness, we can see shadows of the past peace."
"Sin is personal and cosmic."
Page 137- last paragraph "The Gospel is epic..."
"God has intrinsically wired and gifted you as an individual" --> Use those gifts for others!
"Earth will not be replaced, it will be renewed!!! Heaven and Earth united."
Page 208- last paragraph
"The celebration is in the steps, even if there are still falls."

[Phillip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Book. For those that are trying to find their way through the many misconceptions modern Christians have, this helps clear up a lot. Chandler has a great sense of humor and wonderful wisdom to share in this book. Even if your a non-believer, or a person who just doesn't get or agree with the church anymore, check this book out. You may be surprised by what you learn. And finish it, you may think from the beginning "Oh here we go. C'mon." But stick with it, it explains as it progresses. And I laughed out loud so many times while reading this. Loved it.

[Nathan Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was in high school, and it opened my eyes to who Jesus was and what he demanded of my life. I'm not sure that I would be as passionate or committed to following Jesus if it were not for this man and this book. If you're unsure about who Jesus is and what we demands, pick this up.

[Chase Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just read it!

[John Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at Honey and Locusts.

The last few years have seen a great many books (explicitly) about the gospel written by guys from the "young, restless, Reformed" movement, including noteworthy examples by Greg Gilbert, J.D. Greear, Jared Wilson, and Trevin Wax (all of which are in my personal library). So this begs the questions: Do we really need another book about the gospel? And if so, what does THIS book bring to the table that makes it special?

With regard to the first question, of course the answer is yes. There is nothing in life more important than the Gospel of Christ, and we can never hear it and be reminded of its truths too often. The reason for all the great gospel-centered books lately is the fact that, for far too long, the gospel has NOT been faithfully and clearly proclaimed. Instead, it has been merely assumed by much of American evangelicalism. The problem? Much of what has been assumed is not actually the gospel.

Enter The Explicit Gospel, which encourages readers to make the gospel explicit rather than revert to the "moralistic, therapeutic deism" that most professing believers falsely assume is real Christianity.

Having recently finished this book — Chandler's first — I can easily say it deserves a place on my bookshelf (and yours!) next to all the others. When it comes to books on the gospel, novelty is not exactly a desirable characteristic. So the fact that Chandler says nothing new is a good thing! What makes a book about the gospel "good" is its ability to speak timeless and unchanging truths in a fresh way, to help modern readers grasp and love God's Word. Chandler accomplishes this in two ways: his approach to the gospel and his expression of the gospel.

Approach

The book is organized around two common summaries of the gospel, which Chandler refers to as the "gospel on the ground" and the "gospel in the air". The gospel on the ground focuses on God's redemption of sinners, summed up in the narrative of God-Man-Christ-Response. The gospel in the air "zooms out" to see God's restoration of the cosmos as its focus, summarized by the narrative of Creation-Fall-Reconciliation (or Redemption)-Consummation.

I have read and enjoyed books focusing on each of those two narratives, but this is the first in which both have been addressed together. Chandler's dual-approach is very helpful! He encourages readers to be able to see that the glorious gospel of Christ includes BOTH the salvation of sinners and the restoration of all things. We don't have to choose between doing evangelism or doing other types of "kingdom work". The Church is called to preach the Good News (including the unsavory bits such as penal substitutionary atonement), but she is also called to love and serve the community in a variety of ways. We are to be both message-minded AND mission-minded.

Chandler devotes a chapter to each point of both narratives. While all were beneficial, my personal favorite was his chapter on "Consummation". Here he enters the turbulent waters of eschatology, and manages to emerge unscathed, having provided some much-needed clarity in the process. I appreciated his focus on the "big picture" aspects of eschatology — Christ will return, sin will be destroyed once and for all, and believers will be raised with glorified bodies to live with God in Heaven for eternity — without stooping to the conjecture and guess-work of most popular End Times writing.

The final chapters warn of the dangers of a gospel that stays on the ground or in the air too long; in other words, the errors that we are likely to encounter if we over-emphasize one narrative or dismiss the other. Chandler is right to advise caution here. Every one of us is sinful, and any doctrine wrongly understood can lead to heresy. He closes with a plea that making the gospel explicit is the only way to put sin to death in our own lives, and the only defense against reducing the gospel to mere moralism.

Expression

No matter how strong the content of a book is, it can't help those who won't read it. This is the problem facing most books of a theological-nature: it's really hard to write a theologically-weighty book that won't intimidate most readers! This is another strength of The Explicit Gospel. Matt Chandler's writing will reach an audience that isn't going to pick up a book by John Murray or Martyn Lloyd-Jones... though hopefully they will after reading this book and learning that theology isn't boring!

More than anyone else I've read recently, Chandler writes like he preaches. This has the potential to be both good and bad. As someone who has heard him preach on a number of occasions, I felt I knew exactly how he would have said the things he wrote. I wondered, though, how well some of his sarcasm and humor might translate to those less familiar with his preaching style.

Regardless, the conversational style makes this book's 240 pages quite easily digestible, and the knack for delivering punchy, memorable one-liners that has made Chandler such a popular speaker is just as evident in the book. There is no shortage of quotable material here, including several interesting analogies and paraphrases of Scripture designed to write Truth on the hearts of those who are immune to the standard clichés of evangelical culture.

Whether you've read dozens of books on the gospel or none at all, I hope you'll take the time to read this one! Buy it here.

[Norman Falk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Por fin encuentro un reformado más „Wrightiano“. Por fin un reformado que afirma categóricamente la sustitución penal (el evangelio en el suelo, como él lo llama), pero que no se queda ahí. El evangelio es mucho más. Trata de la restauración de todas las cosas, no solamente de relaciones humanas con Dios (el evangelio en el aire). Necesitamos tener una equilibrada comprensión y práctica de ambos aspectos del evangelio.

Sin embargo hay mucha repetición. Cuando una idea te es tan novedosa lo dices y lo repites 1000 veces, aunque de otros ángulos. Es un poco lo que percibí de Chandler también. Pero no me molestó demasiado, solo confirmaba que estaba siguiendo correctamente su argumento.

Excelente libro, muy centrado. Altamente recomendado.

[Matthew Toigo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this one. You might think "just another book about the Gospels..." However, Chandler goes much deeper than I was expecting. I personally benefited from this book. I almost want to say there is a decent amount of theology in this book. Chandler goes into topics that really lean you in and makes you question and want to learn more and go into scripture also to find it. Read this with a group and it was helpful to talk through some of the points he made. I would recommend to anyone, but more to those seeking a deeper knowledge, deeper understanding, of what the Gospel is, what it means for us and why we need to constantly seek the face of Jesus!