Choice Sayings ~ Free eBook

Robert C. Chapman was known in his day as the apostle of love. He was a Danish pastor, preacher, and evangelist who Spurgeon referred to as “the saintliest man I ever knew.” Choice Sayings is a collection of Chapman’s addresses.

The sayings were originally compiled without his knowledge. Eventually, Chapman acknowledged the work as his own and made revisions.

Chapman intended not to simply preach Christ, but to live Christ. And like Christ, he had a special heart for children.

Chapman had time for the children. It is a poor shepherd who has no interest in the lambs. W. H. Bennet relates that once, when Chapman was staying with him in Cardiff, a party of Sunday School teachers came to tea to meet him. Speaking to them of the importance of their work, Chapman said: “Remember that these little children in your classes will be the fathers and mothers of the next generation, each the centre of ever-increasing circles of influence, whereby the Gospel may be spread abroad and souls blessed.” He then spoke of a lady whom he had recently met in London who had told him that she remembered meeting him at a friend’s house when quite a little girl, and that he had given her two passages of Scripture, which were the means of winning her for Christ in early years. At this, one of the ladies who had come to tea said that her conversion was under somewhat similar circumstances. She was passing along the street one day as a child when Mr. Chapman stopped her and asked what seemed an odd question: “Can you tell me, dear, why Jesus was led as a sheep to the slaughter?” She was too confused to answer, and Chapman was too wise to press her further. But she thought about the strange question, and asked her mother about it. She was advised to read Isaiah 53. Here she found the answer, learning that Jesus was wounded for her transgressions. This spoke immediately to her soul, and she was saved.

Brother Indeed

Choice Sayings includes 73 sayings or expositions of Scripture. A few examples of topics covered include:

The Gospel.
The law.
Sin.
Conscience.
Human nature.
Faith.
Communing with God.
Prayer.
Conflict.
Gratitude.
Praise.
And so much more.

These concepts are understandable and presented in small doses. For example, on the topic of service:

God, in fitting any servant for special service, often subjects him to painful discipline of soul: the end of this training is the breaking down self-confidence, so that when at last the servant goes forth to his work he says, “Who am I?” The flesh will not say, “Who am I?” But to this we must be brought ere God can put us to honourable use.

We are not the most useful when most wordy, but when most prayerful.

Though God marks that which is wrong in His servants, notwithstanding all their faithfulness, He never forgets that which is right in them, notwithstanding all their imperfections.

If we do not live beyond time, we are not fit to live in time.

We cannot bestow kindnesses upon the unconverted for Christ’s sake without obtaining peculiar fellowship with God.

Chapman is not widely known. But he was a wonderful example of love in action, one that we all can emulate.

The children of his great friend, Henry W. Soltau, loved to talk to Chapman, and they told him that they had trusted the Lord Jesus for salvation. “Children,” said he, gathering them close around him, “some day—it may be years ahead—the great enemy Satan will certainly try and make you doubt the love of Christ. But remember: ‘No man shall pluck you out of His hand.’”

Brother Indeed

Free eBook

Suggestions

There are 73 topics. If you cover two each week, you will have a full school year of morning-time devotionals.
If you prefer a slower pace, simply work through the book one saying at a time.
Ask for a simple narration of the concepts after reading each section aloud.
Have younger students copy one or more sayings into a copybook.