J. Wilbur Chapman Quotes on Prayer, Surrender and Soul-Winning
EvangelismPrayerHoly SpiritSermons
J. Wilbur Chapman preached to great crowds in America, Britain, Australia and Asia, but he never lost the plain, personal way of speaking he learned as a pastor. His sentences are short and direct. Many of them sound like something said across a kitchen table, and many end with a question meant for you.
Every quotation below is copied exactly from his books in TheWay Library, with the book and chapter it comes from, so you can read each one in its setting. For his life story, see who was J. Wilbur Chapman. For a guide to all his books, see J. Wilbur Chapman books.
On Christ and the gospel
Chapman preached Christ as Savior and called people to decide.
No man can be an intelligent and honest sceptic until he has fairly considered Jesus Christ.
Revival Sermons, chapter 1, What Is a Christian?
When the Governor pardons, he only pardons; but when God pardons, He justifies.
Revival Sermons, chapter 11, How Shall We Escape?
Jesus was God's gift to the world, and the Holy Ghost is his gift to the church.
And Judas Iscariot, A Changed Life
The Old Testament becomes not only plain but convincing when you make it point to Christ.
The Ivory Palaces of the King, chapter 1
It is a great thing to be a Christian, not simply to sing psalms and pray prayers, but to live Christ.
Another Mile and Other Addresses, chapter 5, His Love
On sin and repentance
He was plain about sin, because he wanted people to come to Christ.
You never took a step in the wrong direction but it was a stone cast at Christ.
"And Peter" and Other Sermons, chapter 4, Stoning Jesus
All sin is dearly bought, for it has hell back of it.
"And Peter" and Other Sermons, chapter 2, No Difference
There must be true repentance; repentance is a change of mind, it is having a new mind for God.
And Judas Iscariot, The Grace of God
Repentance is being so sorry for sin that with God's help you will give it up.
Revival Sermons, chapter 9, Repentance
On assurance and God's mercy
Chapman struggled with assurance as a student until Moody pointed him to the plain word of Scripture. He never stopped passing that lesson on.
My strongest reason for believing that I am saved, is not that I feel happy; nor that my life maybe better than in the days gone by, but rather, that He has said it.
The Ivory Palaces of the King, chapter 2
We do not in this world speak of what we have forgotten, nor will God speak of our sins.
Fishing for Men, chapter 10
If you look the Bible through, you will not find a harsh word for the backslider.
"And Peter" and Other Sermons, chapter 3, And Peter
We know ourselves better when we know Peter thoroughly well.
"And Peter" and Other Sermons, chapter 3, And Peter
On surrender
A question from F. B. Meyer led Chapman to a new surrender to Christ. Surrender became one of his great themes.
God asks only for our will, and he is a happy man who reaches the place where he holds back nothing from God.
The Surrendered Life, chapter 1, The Double Portion
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
No man really ever can begin to understand the Bible until he begins to live the life of God.
The Surrendered Life, chapter 3, The Breaking of the Day
You will never have a cross in this world so long as your will is parallel with the will of God.
The Life of Blessing, Address II, To Live Is Christ
On the Holy Spirit
He taught that every believer has the Spirit, but that His fullness belongs to the surrendered heart.
We have, however, the privilege of believing that when the heart is right we have the very fullness of God himself.
Received Ye the Holy Ghost?, chapter 2
It is not enough for us to be right with God to-day, that we may have a manifestation of his power — we must KEEP RIGHT.
Received Ye the Holy Ghost?, chapter 2
It always means power; but power in the estimation of God may mean defeat in the thought of men.
Received Ye the Holy Ghost?, chapter 3
If you have the Spirit of God, you must glorify Christ; and if you fail here, then you will seek to be filled again.
The Life of Blessing, Address VI, Baptism, Filling, Anointing
On prayer
Generally, if not uniformly, prayer is both starting-point and goal to every movement in which are the elements of permanent progress.
Present-day Evangelism, chapter 2, The Need of an Awakening
There never has been an evangelistic Church since the Church was dedicated that was not nurtured by prayer.
Present-day Evangelism, chapter 10, The Evangelistic Church
But God is never in a hurry — you must wait.
Present-day Evangelism, chapter 3, Alone with God
It may be only ten minutes, but do you go alone with God every day?
The Life of Blessing, Address IV, The Crisis
No man can bear the burdens of life or meet its responsibilities properly if he is a stranger to prayer.
And Judas Iscariot, An Old-Fashioned Home
On winning others to Christ
Chapman believed soul-winning was every Christian's work, and he knew from his own boyhood what one person's touch can do.
It was her personal touch that gave me courage to rise before the school and confess my Saviour.
The Personal Touch, chapter 1, A Testimony
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, Starting Right
To be saved one's self, and to be satisfied with that, is unworthy the name of Christ and discredits the spirit of Christ.
Another Mile and Other Addresses, chapter 8, A Chosen Few
If we could only learn to talk about Christ as we talk about our earthly friends, what satisfaction there would be in speaking to those who are lost about him.
Present-day Evangelism, chapter 13, Personal Evangelism
One ought to work for Christ as he plays golf, that is, with perfect freedom.
Fishing for Men, chapter 6
You know nothing of real joy without you have been the instrument in God's hands of leading a soul to Christ.
The Ivory Palaces of the King, chapter 4, The Full Reward
On daily life with God
Last, a few lines on God's plan and presence in ordinary days.
God has a plan for every life, and all your sickness, your disappointment, your discipline, is for something.
And Judas Iscariot, A Great Victory
Cultivate the habit of thinking of him as at your side.
The Secret of a Happy Day, Second Day
Where to read more Chapman
These lines come from twelve of his books. If you want to read one first, try The Personal Touch, the short book where he tells how a teacher's hand and Moody's question changed his life. For his preaching, read Revival Sermons. All his books are listed on the J. Wilbur Chapman author page, and our reading guide explains what each one covers.