A Great Discussion on Prayer

Bryan Chapell and Jerram Barrs discuss this topic here.  A great discussion.

(HT:  Dane Ortlund)

The Hardest Sermons You'll Ever Have To Preach

This looks to be a tough but very needed book. I assume this will be helpful for more than just pastors. Here is the description:

Cancer. Suicide. The death of a child. As much as we wish we could avoid tragedies like these, eventually they will strike your church community. When they do, pastors must be ready to offer help by communicating the life-changing message of the gospel in a way that offers hope, truth, and encouragement during these difficult circumstances. Those asked to preach in the midst of tragedy know the anxiety of trying to say appropriate things from God's Word that will comfort and strengthen God's people when emotions and faith are stretched thin. This indispensable resource helps pastors prepare sermons in the face of tragedies by providing suggestions for how to approach different kinds of tragedy, as well as insight into how to handle the theological challenges of human suffering. Each topic provides a specific description of the context of the tragedy, the key concerns that need to be addressed in the message, and an outline of the approach taken in the sample sermon that follows. Topics addressed include: abortion; abuse; responding to national and community tragedies; the death of a child; death due to cancer and prolonged sickness; death due to drunk driving; drug abuse; and suicide. 

Bryan Chapell, author of Christ-Centered Preaching, has gathered together messages from some of today's most trusted Christian leaders including: John Piper, Tim Keller, Michael Horton, Jack Collins, Dan Doriani, Jerram Barrs, Mike Khandjian, Robert Rayburn, Wilson Benton, Bob Flayhart, and George Robertson. Each chapter provides you with the resources you need to communicate the life-giving hope of the gospel in the midst of tragedy. In addition, the appendices provide further suggestions of biblical texts for addressing various subjects as well as guidance for conducting funerals.

Interview with Bryan Chapell

How can a young pastor begin to preach the gospel every week?


What can a pastor do to begin to preach the gospel? from Journey-Creative on Vimeo.


How do we see the gospel in the law?


How can I see the gospel through the law? from Journey-Creative on Vimeo.


How do we motivate people with the gospel to obey?


Motivation: How grace leads to obedience. from Journey-Creative on Vimeo.

(HT:  Dane Ortlund)

God Worked To Secure What They Could Not

Why some people and not others receive this sovereign grace in election is a question not answered in Scripture; the Bible is a book designed to address God's people, not to answer all the questions of the world.  But it is this totally unmerited chooseing and enabling that further underscore the message of mercy that the Bible makes its main point.  The point made clear is this passage (Eph. 2:1-10) and many others is that we can never stand before God and say, "The reason that I am yours is what I did or chose through my good actions, good sense, or good heart."  Our salvation is entirely a gift of God - of his grace.  The point of Scripture is not to explain why some and not others, but rather to comfort those who face the impossibility of being saved by their own works that God has sovereignly worked in their behalf to secure what they could not.  There can be no boasting or pride in this, but only a growing appreciation for grace that is made more precious the more we understand the nature of our heavenly Father.  This is why our focus must be more upon the person of God, rather than upon the nature of predestination.

- Bryan Chapell, Ephesians (Reformed Expository Commentary), 89

Review of Christ-Centered Worship

Bob Kauflin reviews Bryan Chapell's new book, Christ-Centered Worship. Here is his short and sweet conclusion:

Bottom line — if you’re responsible for leading, overseeing, or planning corporate worship in your church, you should read this book.

Read the rest of his review.

I would whole-heartedly agree with Bob's sentiment and would say that his book, Worship Matters should also be seen in the same category as a "must read" for church leaders and music leaders.

Bryan Chapell - An Interview About Church Services and Singing

A great interview here with Bryan Chapell concerning his new book, Christ-Centered Worship.