The Explicit Gospel (Matt Chandler)

The Gospel is the heart of the Bible.  Everything in Scripture is either preparation for the Gospel, presentation of the Gospel, or participation in the Gospel.- Dave Harvey

Tragically, it's easy to spend your life in the Church- and call yourself a Christian- and never hear or understand the Gospel (the good news).  Too often, Christianity is twisted (even by Christians) into what one author* calls "Christian Moralistic Therapeutic Deism;" namely, that we should be good people and avoid (or stop) doing bad things, and in so doing we'll earn favor with/leverage over God.  But this is far from the truth. In The Explicit Gospel, Matt Chandler presents the core gospel message from two vantage points:
1) 'from the ground'- looking at God, man, Jesus, and our response to what Jesus has done
2) 'from the air'- looking at God's cosmic plan in creation, fall, reconciliation (or redemption), and consummation (or restoration)
He argues that both perspectives are necessary "help us comprehend the breadth, height, and depth of God's love.  Neither perspective dilutes the other but rather shapes our vision of God's saving purposes to the epic scope of biblical revelation. We are after a gospel that is resolutely centered on the atoning work of Christ and scaled to the glory of God. Let the explicit gospel drive us to worship with all "the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:19) and in awe of both God's immense, universe-subsuming glory and his deep, personal love for sinners."

The content was solid.  The structure was pleasing.  The delivery was . . . okay.  It was more 'casual' in tone than I'd prefer, and I couldn't determine the intended audience. It's certainly basic (which isn't a bad thing- we all need the basics).  But is this for non-Christians or Christians?  I felt it didn't give enough backstory for the former, and may have been too 'casual' in tone for the latter (casual meaning not elegant or polished enough).  Don't get me wrong- there's a lot of good things in here- but the presentation just felt a touch off.  That said, it is good to hear the basics over and over- we need it.

Rating: A-

*confusingly named Christian Smith