J. Wilbur Chapman Books: A Guide to All 13 and Where to Start

Evangelism Sermons Holy Spirit Christian Life

J. Wilbur Chapman (1859–1918) was a Presbyterian pastor and evangelist, a friend of D. L. Moody and the preacher in the famous Chapman-Alexander campaigns. His books grew out of that work: sermons from his meetings, handbooks on winning others to Christ, short books on surrender and the Holy Spirit, a month of readings on the Twenty-Third Psalm, and a biography of Moody. TheWay Library has thirteen of them, all free to read. For his life story, see who was J. Wilbur Chapman.

This guide sorts them so you can find what you need.

Where to start

If you're new to Chapman, start with The Personal Touch. It's short, it opens with the story of his own conversion and his talk with Moody, and it shows what drove his whole ministry.

After that, choose by what you want:

To hear him preach: Revival Sermons, then "And Peter" and Other Sermons.
For the deeper Christian life: The Surrendered Life, then The Life of Blessing.
For a month of short devotions: The Secret of a Happy Day.
For pastors and church leaders: Present-Day Evangelism.
For Moody's story: The Life and Work of Dwight Lyman Moody.

Every quotation below is checked against the book it comes from. For many more, see our collection of J. Wilbur Chapman quotes.

Books on winning others to Christ

The Personal Touch

Chapman's handbook on personal soul-winning. It begins with his testimony: a Sunday school teacher's hand under his elbow, and Moody's question, "Whom are you doubting?" From there he shows how often God's servants were won by one friend, and gives practical counsel on the worker's preparation, beginning at home, reaching children and young people, and keeping converts. He ends by insisting that conversion is a miracle of God. Read The Personal Touch.

If we are to be successful soul winners it is essential not only that we should get right with God but that we should keep right with Him.
The Personal Touch, chapter 4

Present-Day Evangelism (1903)

A handbook for pastors and churches, written the year he took up the Presbyterian Church's evangelistic work. The first chapters are spiritual: the need of an awakening, being alone with God, getting right with God, and depending on the Holy Spirit. The rest is practical counsel from his campaigns, on the evangelistic sermon and church, after-meetings, personal workers, children, gospel singing, tent meetings and caring for converts. Read Present-Day Evangelism.

Fishing for Men (1904)

A book on reaching men with the gospel. Chapman argues that grown men, even hardened ones, are the easiest people to reach, and he gives methods and stories from work among men, with a chapter for fathers as heads of the home. The second half collects evangelistic sermons for men, some his own and some by other preachers such as L. W. Munhall and Fred B. Smith. Read Fishing for Men.

Books of sermons

Revival Sermons (1911)

Eighteen sermons from his revival campaigns, and the best place to hear him preach. He opens with three linked sermons, on what a Christian is, how you may know you are one, and how others may know it. Then come the gospel, regeneration and repentance, preached through stories like the borrowed axe-head and the Shunammite woman, and closing appeals to accept Christ now. Read Revival Sermons.

No man can be an intelligent and honest sceptic until he has fairly considered Jesus Christ.
Revival Sermons, chapter 1, What Is a Christian?

"And Peter" and Other Sermons (1896)

Eight sermons from his early years. The title sermon takes the angel's words at the empty tomb, "tell his disciples and Peter," and finds in them Christ's tender care for a disciple who failed. Others preach the prodigal's father running to meet his son, the open gates of heaven, and living in the sunshine of God's love. Read "And Peter" and Other Sermons.

And Judas Iscariot (1906)

Twenty-one sermons, printed because his hearers asked for them. Some are warnings to the unsaved, on Judas, the lost opportunity and the call to judgment. Others build up believers, on prayer, sanctification, the grace of God and the Christian home. Read And Judas Iscariot.

Another Mile, and Other Addresses (1908)

Ten evangelistic addresses from his campaigns, including "The Sting of Sin," "Three Reasons for Being a Christian," "Christ, the Only Hope" and the title address on Jesus' call to go the second mile, which Chapman calls the spirit of love. Read Another Mile.

Books on surrender and the Holy Spirit

The Surrendered Life (1899)

A short book written for young people in the Christian Endeavor Society. Through Elisha's request for a double portion and Jacob's night of wrestling at Peniel, Chapman leads the reader from conscious failure to full surrender, the filling of the Spirit and the conscious presence of Christ. Read The Surrendered Life.

There must be something between you and God if you are not at rest and filled with peace.
The Surrendered Life, chapter 2, A Midnight Struggle

Received Ye the Holy Ghost? (1894)

Named for Paul's question to the disciples at Ephesus. It gathers what Scripture says about the Spirit, teaches that He is a Person and not a vague influence, distinguishes the baptism every believer has received from the filling believers must seek, and ends with Ezekiel's river flowing out to bring life. Read Received Ye the Holy Ghost?.

The Life of Blessing (1899)

Thirteen addresses taken down by a stenographer at a deeper-life conference Chapman led in Dayton, Ohio. He speaks on prayer, "to me to live is Christ," the crisis of surrender, the difference between baptism, filling and anointing with the Spirit, grieving the Spirit, and the love of Christ. You can hear his voice in it. Read The Life of Blessing.

The Ivory Palaces of the King (1893)

A short devotional book built on Psalm 45:8. In four chapters Chapman describes the glory Christ left to save us, the new birth, the enlarging blessing of the Spirit's fullness, and the rewards awaiting faithful believers. The chapter on the new birth grounds assurance in Christ's word, not in feelings. Read The Ivory Palaces of the King.

Daily readings

The Secret of a Happy Day (1899)

A month of short readings on the Twenty-Third Psalm, one phrase at a time, from "The Lord is my Shepherd" to "the house of the Lord for ever." Each is under a page. This edition comes from an uncorrected scan and has stray marks in places, but it reads well enough. Read The Secret of a Happy Day.

Biography

The Life and Work of Dwight Lyman Moody (1900)

Chapman's memorial biography of his friend and mentor, published soon after Moody's death. It follows Moody from boyhood in Northfield and conversion as a shoe clerk in Boston through Chicago, the campaigns with Sankey in Britain and America, the Northfield schools and the Bible Institute, and adds sermons, favorite illustrations, his funeral and tributes. For a shorter overview, see our article who was D. L. Moody. Read The Life and Work of Dwight Lyman Moody.

Why read Chapman today

Chapman is plain, warm and urgent. He believed that Christ saves, that the Spirit fills surrendered people, and that every Christian can lead someone else to the Savior. Begin with The Personal Touch, then Revival Sermons. All thirteen books are on the J. Wilbur Chapman author page.