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The Explicit Gospel

Matt Chandler,

Jared C. Wilson (Goodreads Author)

4.23 · Rating details · 9,138 ratings · 488 reviews

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 commo

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Hardcover, 237 pages

Published April 28th 2012 by Crossway (first published April 1st 2012)

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Apr 09, 2012 Josh L rated it it was amazing

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

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Feb 07, 2012 Daniel Threlfall rated it liked it

Shelves: 2012

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 ...more

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Jul 04, 2012 Scott rated it liked it

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 (Creat ...more

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Dec 04, 2012 Will Waller rated it did not like it

Shelves: religious, motivational, non-fiction

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. 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.
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Mar 06, 2012 Dave Jenkins rated it it was amazing

The past few years have seen an influx of books from writers thinking through what the Gospel is and what it demands. Some of these books significantly advance the conversation on the Gospel, while others do not. The Explicit Gospel by Pastor Matt Chandler with Pastor Jared Wilson significantly advances and re-orients the current Gospel conversation by focusing on the Gospel in the air and on the ground.

Pastor Chandler ministers in an area of the country where many people understand Christianity The past few years have seen an influx of books from writers thinking through what the Gospel is and what it demands. Some of these books significantly advance the conversation on the Gospel, while others do not. The Explicit Gospel by Pastor Matt Chandler with Pastor Jared Wilson significantly advances and re-orients the current Gospel conversation by focusing on the Gospel in the air and on the ground.

Pastor Chandler ministers in an area of the country where many people understand Christianity as a cultural identity but do not know the Gospel explicitly. He writes that in ministering to twentysomethings and thirtysomethings, “the gospel had been merely assumed, not taught or proclaimed as central, and hadn’t been explicit” (13). The gospel on the ground, helps one see “clearly the work of the cross in our lives and the lives of those around us, capturing and resurrecting of dead hearts; we see the gospel extended in this way when Jesus and his prophets call individuals to repent and believe” (16). The gospel on the ground is at the micro level while the gospel in the air is the story. In the gospel in the air we “find a tour de force story of creation, fall, reconciliation, consummation—a grand display in his overarching purpose of subjecting all things to the supremacy of Christ” (16).

Chandler like any good Pastor in The Explicit Gospel warns his readers of becoming to individualistic and syncretic by calling Christians to know the Gospel explicitly and to unite the church on the amazing grounds of the good news of Jesus Christ. This book is one of the finest and fullest treatments on the Gospel that I’ve ever read. While dozens of books make the New York Times best-sellers list every year, I sincerely pray that this book will make that list, because it will shock and offend people with the Truth, but always lead them back to the fount of all blessing in Jesus Christ by revealing to its readers the glory of God and the beauty of Jesus.

The Explicit Gospel is a well-written, biblically faithful and robust explanation on not only what the Gospel is but how the Gospel should inform and transform Christian’s lives. In a style that pulls no punches, Pastor Chandler accomplishes his goal in this book in making much of “our great God and King Jesus” (222). The Explicit Gospel is a great book for those who have no idea what the Gospel is and should be required reading for every Christian. Pastors or ministry leaders ministering in contexts that are plagued by moralism should read this book to learn how to combat moral therapeutic deism. Regardless of whether you’re a new or mature Christian, you need to read The Explicit Gospel to be reminded afresh of the beauty and glory of all Christ has done on your behalf. I recommend The Explicit Gospel wholeheartedly and sincerely pray that many readers will discover afresh the beauty of Jesus as they read it.

Title: The Explicit Gospel

Authors: Matt Chandler with Jared Wilson

Publisher: Crossway (2012)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Crossway Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Dec 22, 2018 Emilie Haney rated it it was amazing

Shelves: faith-theology

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 ...more

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May 01, 2012 Travis rated it liked it

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 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.
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Mar 05, 2018 Rosalyne Arceneaux rated it it was amazing

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 ...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Jennifer rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: theology, read-in-2013

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 ...more

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Jul 02, 2019 Eric rated it really liked it

Shelves: christian

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 ...more

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Dec 01, 2011 J.S. Park rated it liked it

Shelves: christian

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 g ...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Joseph McBee rated it really liked it

Matt Chandler's first book makes much of Jesus and the holiness and love of God the Father. That is what I like about it most. Jared Wilson, who helped author the book, does a great job in retaining Chandler's preaching style in writing. It is a style marked with boldness and passion.

The book does not attempt to say anything new really, which, when it comes the gospel, is exactly as it should be. Instead, the book takes another look at the truths that have been proclaimed by the Church for over ...more

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Nov 16, 2020 B Hatfield rated it it was amazing

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 ...more

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Apr 13, 2020 Christian Barrett rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Matt Chandler is a fantastic story teller, and in The Explicit Gospel he walks readers through God’s story of redemption. Chandler focuses on what the gospel of Jesus Christ is and is not. He begins in the beginning in and highlights how important is for Christians to not forget a single part of the gospel. This book is a little longer than some gospel presentation books, but I would still recommend it as a resource to a nonbeliever wanting to know more about the gospel. However, I think this bo ...more

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Jul 31, 2020 Danette rated it it was amazing

“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 ...more

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Apr 02, 2019 Dalton Scott rated it really liked it

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

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Jun 11, 2013 Phillip rated it really liked it

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 ...more

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Jan 08, 2017 Nathan Farley rated it it was amazing

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. ...more

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Feb 28, 2019 Chase Ward rated it it was amazing

Wow. Just read it!

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May 24, 2012 John Gardner rated it it was amazing

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 ...more

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Dec 16, 2017 Logan rated it really liked it

Chandler is more "hip" than I typically prefer but there is no denying that he is a good communicator and gets his point across, and his points are usually good ones. Definitely a challenge to be explicit in our faith and not to simply think that we can "be the gospel" without preaching it. ...more

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Jun 26, 2018 Ashley rated it it was amazing

For some reason I had a hard time getting into the first couple chapters. But once I got to chapter 4 it was a really good read. The way that chandler describes two different but necessary aspects of the gospel is really clarifying & pushes the believer to live the gospel explicitly rather than assumed. Loved it!

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Feb 05, 2019 Chris Collier rated it it was amazing

A very good, fast read. I spent a good amount of time finishing it, but didn’t spend a lot of time reading it. I would recommend this to all Christians, it gives a fully orbed view of the Gospel. One of the best I’ve read in a while.

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Feb 11, 2018 Owen Hughes rated it it was amazing

So so so good. Lays out the importance of the gospel and understanding the truth behind it, not what we want it to mean. Great read that makes you think after each chapter.

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Dec 31, 2017 Steven Miller rated it really liked it

Loved it! Great book! Chandler really gives a clear understanding of the importance and power of the gospel.

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May 31, 2013 Christopher Rush rated it it was ok

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 Warre 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. ...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Matt Pitts rated it really liked it

I was really looking forward to reading this book and was really grateful to receive it as one of the giveaways at T4G this year. I have benefited tremendously from Matt Chandler's ministry and honestly love him. He is a wonderful preacher.

Though Matt has a wide preaching ministry this I believe is his first book. For some reason I was under the impression at some point that it would focus on telling readers how to be explicit about the gospel in their various ministries. Instead it is just what I was really looking forward to reading this book and was really grateful to receive it as one of the giveaways at T4G this year. I have benefited tremendously from Matt Chandler's ministry and honestly love him. He is a wonderful preacher.

Though Matt has a wide preaching ministry this I believe is his first book. For some reason I was under the impression at some point that it would focus on telling readers how to be explicit about the gospel in their various ministries. Instead it is just what the title indicates, and exposition of what the gospel is.

The book is broken up into three parts:
1. The Gospel on the Ground
2. The Gospel in the Air
3. Implications and Applications

Part one didn't really grab me, probably because I was already pretty familiar with the ground he was covering. The gospel in the ground for Matt is the gospel at the personal/individual level which he breaks down into 'God, Man, Christ, Response.' My guess is that most readers who read books like this will be pretty familiar with the gospel explained this way.

Where it really picked up for me was in part two with the gospel in the air. This follows the 'creation, fall, reconciliation, consummation' scheme and focuses on the gospel at the cosmic level. This is where most of his readers will likely be on less familiar ground (I know I was, and that is what made it more interesting).

Then part three considers some dangers of hanging our hat on the ground approach or the air approach without maintaining the biblical balance of the two and also has a chapter on distinguishing between a life oreinted around moralism or gospel.

One thing I wish had been more clear about this book is that role that Jared Wilson played in it. His name is mentioned on the cover, but nowhere in the book did I see any mention whatsoever of what role he played in producing the book. Did he edit it? Did he help write it? His picture and bio are on the dust jacket...but I can't tell why.

This is a good book about the good news of the gospel. I'm not aware of any other place where I have seen these two perspectives of the gospel narrative (personal and cosmic, or 'ground' and 'air') brought together so clearly. A worthy read. ...more

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Apr 21, 2012 Jared Totten rated it liked it

The Explicit Gospel is vintage Matt Chandler all the way. I really wanted to love this book. It had everything going for it: a dynamic pastor in his debut print offering, a trusted publisher, and the hottest topic in Christian literature right now. Alas, the book I hold in my hands is not the book I had dreamed up in my head, and thus I had to settle for merely liking the book.

Don't get me wrong, this is a good book and worth the price of admission. However (as a subscriber to Matt's sermon podc The Explicit Gospel is vintage Matt Chandler all the way. I really wanted to love this book. It had everything going for it: a dynamic pastor in his debut print offering, a trusted publisher, and the hottest topic in Christian literature right now. Alas, the book I hold in my hands is not the book I had dreamed up in my head, and thus I had to settle for merely liking the book.

Don't get me wrong, this is a good book and worth the price of admission. However (as a subscriber to Matt's sermon podcast for years now) I was hoping that sitting down and writing out his content would force Chandler to reign in some of his rabbit-trails and awkward trains of thought. Unfortunately, this was not the case. And only adding to the confusion, Jared Wilson's name also appears on the cover, but I finished the book still at a loss as to what exactly his contribution was (even after a prolonged search).

But—and this is a huge "but"—if Matt Chandler's clarity in his train of thought suffers at times, his clarity about the gospel stands out all the more starkly. Matt Chandler bleeds the gospel. When he gets excited, he gets excited about the gospel. When Matt Chandler goes off on a rabbit-trail, he rabbit-trails to the gospel. If we must choose to sacrifice clarity regarding something, it is better by far to sacrifice clarity on a train of thought rather than clarity on the gospel. Only one thing is needed. Matt has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from him.

In the end, I am happy to recommend The Explicit Gospel because it has a burning center of gospel heat. While it didn't always suit the tastes of my logical, linear, Enlightenment-addled mind, my heart was inflamed at the beauty and the sufficiency of the gospel. I'm sure Matt would be the first to say along with Paul, "For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." If that's not the explicit gospel, I don't know what is. ...more

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Feb 11, 2014 Michael Krauszer rated it it was ok

Worth the read. Definitely some interesting and some great points. However, I'm not too sure how I feel about the second part of the book, and this might just be that he wasn't as clear as he could have been (or maybe I just didn't understand it fully?). Also, I feel as though he diverted his attention away from his "thesis" and often started about unnecessary things. One chapter he starts talking about science, then goes on to talk about Young Earth Creationism and Old Earth Creationism. It was ...more

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Apr 04, 2012 Ryan rated it really liked it

Shelves: soteriology, christian-living, spiritual-growth, biblical-studies, theology

I just finished reading this book, though I started it back in April when it first came out. It was very good indeed.

I really loved how Chandler broke up the book: part one had to do with the gospel on the ground—how it affects the individual—while part two had to do with a cosmic overview of the gospel in the air—how it affects the world. The first part dealt with God, Man, Christ, and our Response to the gospel message. The second part had to do with the overarching story of Creation, Fall, R ...more

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About Matt Chandler

Matt Chandler

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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 ministr ...more

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Take Heart: Christian Courage in the Age of Unbelief

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Quotes from The Explicit Gospel

“Without a heart transformed by the grace of Christ, we just continue to manage external and internal darkness.” — 56 likes

“The marker of those who understand the gospel of Jesus Christ is that, when they stumble and fall, when they screw up, they run to God and not from him, because they clearly understand that their acceptance before God is not predicated upon their behavior but on the righteous life of Jesus Christ and his sacrificial death.” — 48 likes

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