To Live Is Christ, To Die Is Gain

by Jared C. Wilson; Matt Chandler

Publisher:

David C. Cook

, 2013

Overview

Using Paul’s radical letter to the Philippians as his road map, Matt Chandler forsakes the trendy to invite readers into authentic Christian maturity.

The short book of Philippians is one of the most quoted in the Bible, yet Paul wrote it not for the popular sound bites, but to paint a picture of a mature Christian faith. While many give their lives to Jesus, few then go on to live a life of truly vibrant faith.

In this disruptively inspiring book, Chandler offers tangible ways to develop a faith of pursuing, chasing, knowing, and loving Jesus. Because if we clean up our lives but don’t get Jesus, we’ve lost! So let the goal be him. To live is Christ, to die is gain—this is the message of the letter. Therefore, our lives should be lived to him, through him, for him, with him, about him—everything should be about Jesus.

In the Logos edition of To Live Is Christ, To Die Is Gain, you get easy access to Scripture texts and to a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Hovering over Scripture references links you instantly to the verse you’re looking for, and with a wealth of tools from Logos, you can delve into your study of Philippians like never before.

Key Features

• Examines Paul’s letter to the Philippians
• Offers insights on how to pursue maturity in Christ

Contents

• Odd Beginnings
• The Worthy Life
• The One God Exalts
• What the Humble Seek
• The Passionate Pursuit
• Owned
• Never Satisfied
• Centering on the Gospel
• Rejoice?
• No Worries
• Christ Is All
• True Contentment

Top Highlights

“Philippians is the only letter that we have in the Scriptures in which Paul is not trying to correct bad teaching or rebuke bad behavior. Instead, the letter highlights Paul’s personal affection for the Philippian church and his commendation of (and exhortation toward) their Christian maturity. We see in this little letter what it looks like to be a mature man or woman in Jesus Christ.” (Page 14)

“Living a life worthy of the gospel does not mean pretending to be perfect. Instead, it means having the humility to think of others as better than ourselves (Phil. 2:3). It means putting self-concern aside to work together, realizing that we are all still in process. Let us have the grace of God for each other that He gave us in the overlooking of sins and the outpouring of unmerited love. And together we can strive in the holiness imputed to us in Christ and promised to us in the age to come.” (Pages 41–42)

“The Christian living a life worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ is fearless, regardless of the situation.” (Page 42)

“Fearless faith results from holding on to Christ as our treasure. Gospel courage comes from gospel preciousness. If we truly believed that our reward in heaven far surpasses all the comfort and convenience and collections of the world, we, too, would be willing to consider them all as loss.” (Page 45)

“So what does it look like to live a life worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ? It looks like walking with, loving with, and doing life with those who are different from you. What binds you together is Christ. It looks like striving together to make Christ known. What motivates you is Christ. And it looks like standing with courage against all oppressors, natural or supernatural. What secures you is Christ.” (Page 46)

Praise for the Print Edition

Matt’s words will kick you in the tail in the best way. We don’t want to live numb, and we often need a kick to remember life isn’t a game and God is no myth. You will find yourself craving God again and craving everything else a little less.

—Jennie Allen, author, Anything

To know Jesus is the essence of life, and I love how Matt Chandler stirs up our affections for him in his book To Live Is Christ, to Die Is Gain. Matt’s beautiful, practical, and straightforward unpacking of Philippians will nudge you toward maturity . . . and a more robust walk with the Savior. Get it, and dive in today.

—Louie Giglio, pastor, Passion City Church

Matt has written an excellent book reminding us that one of our primary callings as followers of Christ is to die to ourselves and that only through that death can we truly live.

—Matt Carter, pastor of preaching and vision, Austin Stone Community Church

The church has been blessed by the book of Philippians ever since Paul wrote it, and this presentation of it is fresh and powerful. Matt mines the riches of this great Bible book to teach us to never be content with stagnant Christianity.

—Kyle Idleman, teaching pastor, Southeast Christian Church

I trust Matt Chandler to speak on any biblical issue, but especially on discipleship. This book will help you live as Jesus would if he were in your place.

—Darrin Patrick, founding pastor, The Journey

Matt Chandler has offered readers rich biblical wisdom in his writings thus far, and To Live Is Christ, to Die Is Gain is no exception. This book calls us to follow Jesus with everything we’ve got. It’s as simple and as profound as that. This powerful new work cuts through all the trappings and goes to the heart of the gospel: Jesus. Highly recommended!

—Mark Batterson, lead pastor, National Community Church

Matt Chandler is a man captivated by Jesus, the gospel, and grace. In this, his latest book, he takes us on a journey into the depths of Paul’s famous letter to the Philippians and reveals the full beauty of a life so centered on Jesus that all else pales in comparison.

—Larry Osborne, pastor, North Coast Church

Product Details

• Title: To Live Is Christ, To Die Is Gain
• Authors: Matt Chandler and Jared C. Wilson
• Publisher: David C. Cook
• Publication Date: 2013
• Pages: 224

About the Authors

Matt Chandler serves as lead pastor of The Village Church in Highland Village, Texas, a multicampus church attended by more than ten thousand people. His sermons are regularly one of the top five podcasts on iTunes and his first book, The Explicit Gospel, is a bestseller.

Jared C. Wilson is the pastor of Middletown Springs Community Church in Middletown Springs, Vermont. His articles and short stories have appeared in a number of periodicals, and he has written the popular books Your Jesus Is Too Safe, Gospel Wakefulness, and Gospel Deeps, as well as the curriculum Abide.