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G.O.S.P.E.L.
The gospel according to hip hop The fusion of the Christian community and hip-hop culture is very real, very significant, and—sadly—very incomplete. While Christian themes and concepts are prevalent among the listeners of Christian hip hop, it often comes with little theological depth beyond a 3-minute rhyme. The lyrics are meaningful, but that meaning escapes the majority of its audience. To fill this critical gap of understanding, Pastor D. A. Horton (aka hip-hop artist Azriel) has written G.O.S.P.E.L. In the language of hip hop and with the crystal-clear power of Scripture, it is a sound and compelling presentation of the life-changing truth many professing believers fail to fully grasp: the gospel. Undiluted. Unmistakable. Unstoppable.
- GenresTheology
77 pages, Paperback
First published November 29, 2011
2 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
D.A. Horton
12 books39 followersD.A. Horton, PhD serves as an Associate Professor and Program Director of the Intercultural Studies program at California Baptist University.
He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Theology with a North American Missions emphasis at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. His dissertation was titled, The Quantitative and Qualitative Measuring of Spiritual Capital Among Latinas/os in Higher Education. He earned his Masters Degree in Christian Studies and B.S. in Biblical Studies from Calvary University.
He has authored nine books, taught Bible studies virtually through Family Life, Lifeway, and RightNow Media, and is frequently invited to speak at various conferences.
He and his wife Elicia have been married for 22 years, and they have two daughters and one son.
He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Theology with a North American Missions emphasis at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. His dissertation was titled, The Quantitative and Qualitative Measuring of Spiritual Capital Among Latinas/os in Higher Education. He earned his Masters Degree in Christian Studies and B.S. in Biblical Studies from Calvary University.
He has authored nine books, taught Bible studies virtually through Family Life, Lifeway, and RightNow Media, and is frequently invited to speak at various conferences.
He and his wife Elicia have been married for 22 years, and they have two daughters and one son.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 20, 2019
This is a good, quick read, and a good summation of the gospel message, written in a style intended to appeal to people living in an urban environment. It's a great tool to summarize the elements of the gospel message, and the author breaks that message down as an acrostic: God's image; Open fellowship; Sin introduced; Penalty and price; Enter Jesus; Life everlasting. G O S P E L.
The writer is deeply familiar with his text, and while his language might be unfamiliar to some, the message is clear and easy to understand.
Where it breaks down for me is the insistence that the only "healthy" church is one where the men are in charge. This is perhaps a conceit of the 20th century American church, but it is not the only model for a church. I would find it boring to experience church in exactly the same way in every place I went--there is such diversity among people and within cultures that I'd expect churches to operate differently. In an age where men and women are equal partners in the gospel and the kingdom, I also find it jarring to see male headship be declared to be the only way to model a relationship.
But if you can work around some of these ideas, the essential message is clear and focused on the work of Jesus, and that's always good.
The writer is deeply familiar with his text, and while his language might be unfamiliar to some, the message is clear and easy to understand.
Where it breaks down for me is the insistence that the only "healthy" church is one where the men are in charge. This is perhaps a conceit of the 20th century American church, but it is not the only model for a church. I would find it boring to experience church in exactly the same way in every place I went--there is such diversity among people and within cultures that I'd expect churches to operate differently. In an age where men and women are equal partners in the gospel and the kingdom, I also find it jarring to see male headship be declared to be the only way to model a relationship.
But if you can work around some of these ideas, the essential message is clear and focused on the work of Jesus, and that's always good.
July 13, 2020
This little book was written with two people in mind: those from an urban background and those seeking to reach those in an urban community. Although I believe myself to be neither, I truly see the merit and purpose of this book. D.A. does a great job relating to his readers (because of his urban background) in a very down-to-earth manner. The best part about this book is that it goes beyond the Gospel, and then introduces next steps for a new believer (ie. finding a community with which to be involved); something many books like this always seem to forget.
February 20, 2018
A Good & Quick Read
This was a very easy book to read. D.A. Horton clearly explains the Gospel and does so in a manner and language any person should be able to relate to and understand.
This was a very easy book to read. D.A. Horton clearly explains the Gospel and does so in a manner and language any person should be able to relate to and understand.
February 17, 2014
n recent years there has been a renewed interest in reaching urban communities with the Gospel. There are several reasons why this has happened including but the two that stand out the most are: 1) a desire to see churches embrace sound biblical doctrine and 2) the rise of Christian hip-hop. Together these two things have tugged at the heart-strings of those who are missionally minded and want to reach an urban demographic. This is great, but there is a problem. There are lots of people who are not adequately equipped to either teach sound doctrine, or have the knowledge of how to reach urban people with the gospel.
As a pastor & hip-hop artist, Damon Horton (aka Azriel) has seen this firsthand and is seeking to counteract this with his book titled G.O.S.P.E.L. Quite simply what this book does is answer the question of “what is the gospel?” and does so by putting it in a context that an unchurched person from the streets could understand. In doing so, not only does this book equip someone to dive into urban missions with the gospel in the language of the people, but it also serves as an introductory read for someone from the streets who may have come to faith & needs to know how to share the gospel with others. In writing this book, Horton wants the reader to focus on four things: 1) focus on the gospel which transcends cultures, 2) learn the culture of the city you’re trying to reach, 3) demonstrate authenticity, and 4) learn the language (particularly by using his “thebonic” glossary, which puts biblical principles in urban vernacular.
The layout of this book is very simple. After a brief introduction outlining the book’s intent, you dive right into the first chapter which talks about why we even need the gospel. This chapter is key because without laying the foundation for why there is a need of a savior, then you’re going to continually fight an uphill battle. In subsequent chapters Horton lays out the gospel very plainly using the acronym G.O.S.P.E.L. to make sharing the gospel easy to remember. The outline for the acronym is as follows:
G – God’s Image
O – Open Fellowship
S – Sin Introduced
P – Penalty and Price
E – Enter Jesus
L – Life Everlasting
Each of these elements very clearly walks the reader through the key elements of the gospel that an unbeliever needs to understand so that they can place their faith in Jesus Christ as savior. The illustrations used throughout this work are vivid and are ones that relate to quite well to the context of this work, while also sharing many of his own experiences. To be such a short read, this book is packed full of truth. Taken together, G.O.S.P.E.L. is an invaluable resource for those involved in urban ministry or just curious about how to share the gospel with someone in a culture they’re unfamiliar with. I highly recommend adding this book to your library.
As a pastor & hip-hop artist, Damon Horton (aka Azriel) has seen this firsthand and is seeking to counteract this with his book titled G.O.S.P.E.L. Quite simply what this book does is answer the question of “what is the gospel?” and does so by putting it in a context that an unchurched person from the streets could understand. In doing so, not only does this book equip someone to dive into urban missions with the gospel in the language of the people, but it also serves as an introductory read for someone from the streets who may have come to faith & needs to know how to share the gospel with others. In writing this book, Horton wants the reader to focus on four things: 1) focus on the gospel which transcends cultures, 2) learn the culture of the city you’re trying to reach, 3) demonstrate authenticity, and 4) learn the language (particularly by using his “thebonic” glossary, which puts biblical principles in urban vernacular.
The layout of this book is very simple. After a brief introduction outlining the book’s intent, you dive right into the first chapter which talks about why we even need the gospel. This chapter is key because without laying the foundation for why there is a need of a savior, then you’re going to continually fight an uphill battle. In subsequent chapters Horton lays out the gospel very plainly using the acronym G.O.S.P.E.L. to make sharing the gospel easy to remember. The outline for the acronym is as follows:
G – God’s Image
O – Open Fellowship
S – Sin Introduced
P – Penalty and Price
E – Enter Jesus
L – Life Everlasting
Each of these elements very clearly walks the reader through the key elements of the gospel that an unbeliever needs to understand so that they can place their faith in Jesus Christ as savior. The illustrations used throughout this work are vivid and are ones that relate to quite well to the context of this work, while also sharing many of his own experiences. To be such a short read, this book is packed full of truth. Taken together, G.O.S.P.E.L. is an invaluable resource for those involved in urban ministry or just curious about how to share the gospel with someone in a culture they’re unfamiliar with. I highly recommend adding this book to your library.
February 24, 2012
What is the Gospel? D.A. Horton "chops it up" (to converse with someone in-depth on a particular subject) in seven chapters:
G - God's Image
O - Open Fellowship
S - Sin Introduced
P - Penalty and Price
E - Enter Jesus
L - Life Everlasting
This book explains the gospel in an urban context. In the introduction, D.A. Horton gives a brief history of the Hip Hop culture. He also explains the study of Thebonics and includes a Thebonical glossary in the back of the book to refer to (which is where I got "chop it up" from).
D.A. Horton goes on to explain that "Ebonics derives from ebony and phonics (street slang). Thebonics is the merging of theological truths rendered in Scripture and broken down into bite size pieces to be exposited to the urban context in its own unique language of Ebonics."
After each chapter, he includes one of his gospel rap songs, which summarizes each theme of that particular chapter. This particular lyric stood out for me from his gospel rap song, "God's Image":
"We ain't God, even tho we made in God's image. He's infinite, we finite, meaning that we got limits."
I enjoyed reading the Gospel explained in a raw, uncut and urban way. I gleaned from the Thebonic terms, especially living in New York City and hearing it all around me. I knew some of the sayings, because my husband is familiar with street slang. He grew up in the Hood (the city neighborhood), surrounded by the hip hop culture.
In the last chapter entitled "What Now?", D.A. Horton gives his testimony and explains step by step how to get saved. What I thought interesting is that he advises how to look for a healthy church; by examining the three Ps: the preaching, the people and the process. I really liked how included this important and helpful information.
Overall, this book is Bangin'! (something that is appealing or pleasing). I appreciate it was written and would really love to see this book to get into the hands of the youth and youth leaders alike.
In conclusion, I want to personally thank Janis Backing of Moody Publishers for sending me this book for free to review.
G - God's Image
O - Open Fellowship
S - Sin Introduced
P - Penalty and Price
E - Enter Jesus
L - Life Everlasting
This book explains the gospel in an urban context. In the introduction, D.A. Horton gives a brief history of the Hip Hop culture. He also explains the study of Thebonics and includes a Thebonical glossary in the back of the book to refer to (which is where I got "chop it up" from).
D.A. Horton goes on to explain that "Ebonics derives from ebony and phonics (street slang). Thebonics is the merging of theological truths rendered in Scripture and broken down into bite size pieces to be exposited to the urban context in its own unique language of Ebonics."
After each chapter, he includes one of his gospel rap songs, which summarizes each theme of that particular chapter. This particular lyric stood out for me from his gospel rap song, "God's Image":
"We ain't God, even tho we made in God's image. He's infinite, we finite, meaning that we got limits."
I enjoyed reading the Gospel explained in a raw, uncut and urban way. I gleaned from the Thebonic terms, especially living in New York City and hearing it all around me. I knew some of the sayings, because my husband is familiar with street slang. He grew up in the Hood (the city neighborhood), surrounded by the hip hop culture.
In the last chapter entitled "What Now?", D.A. Horton gives his testimony and explains step by step how to get saved. What I thought interesting is that he advises how to look for a healthy church; by examining the three Ps: the preaching, the people and the process. I really liked how included this important and helpful information.
Overall, this book is Bangin'! (something that is appealing or pleasing). I appreciate it was written and would really love to see this book to get into the hands of the youth and youth leaders alike.
In conclusion, I want to personally thank Janis Backing of Moody Publishers for sending me this book for free to review.
September 13, 2012
G.O.S.P.E.L. is written by D.A. Horton, also known as the hip-hop artist Azriel.
Horton does an incredible job in this book explaining what it means to be a gospel-centered missionary. You do not have to leave the United States and fly to some third world country to be a missionary. Jesus said you are a missionary. You walk in the authority of Christ to share the gospel wherever you go. In other words, until you die, or Jesus comes back, you are a missionary.
Horton writes G.O.S.P.E.L. in a way that is understandable for someone that lives in the urban community. What is applicable here, is the fact that we as missionaries have to take into context who it is that we are trying to reach with the gospel message.
As Horton points out, you must know the language (slang, street talk, ebonics) of the culture you are trying to reach without changing yourself. You stay you and you communicate the gospel in a way that is easy for the people you are trying to reach. Don’t over complicate the gospel. However, you have to know what the gospel is before you can share it with somebody else.
Horton breaks the gospel up into an acronym:
God’s Image
Open Fellowship
Sin Introduced
Penalty and Price
Enter Jesus
Life Everlasting
G.O.S.P.E.L. is real, uncut, heartfelt, and thought provoking. You cannot read this book and not understand the mission to which you as a Christian have been called to by Christ.
At the end of the book, Horton provides what he calls a Thebonical Glossary. If you are unfamiliar with some of the language used in the urban community, this will be of some help to you.
G.O.S.P.E.L. is one of the best evangelistic books I have read. Horton takes the message of the gospel and makes it both clear and easy to understand no matter what your culture background is.
Horton does an incredible job in this book explaining what it means to be a gospel-centered missionary. You do not have to leave the United States and fly to some third world country to be a missionary. Jesus said you are a missionary. You walk in the authority of Christ to share the gospel wherever you go. In other words, until you die, or Jesus comes back, you are a missionary.
Horton writes G.O.S.P.E.L. in a way that is understandable for someone that lives in the urban community. What is applicable here, is the fact that we as missionaries have to take into context who it is that we are trying to reach with the gospel message.
As Horton points out, you must know the language (slang, street talk, ebonics) of the culture you are trying to reach without changing yourself. You stay you and you communicate the gospel in a way that is easy for the people you are trying to reach. Don’t over complicate the gospel. However, you have to know what the gospel is before you can share it with somebody else.
Horton breaks the gospel up into an acronym:
God’s Image
Open Fellowship
Sin Introduced
Penalty and Price
Enter Jesus
Life Everlasting
G.O.S.P.E.L. is real, uncut, heartfelt, and thought provoking. You cannot read this book and not understand the mission to which you as a Christian have been called to by Christ.
At the end of the book, Horton provides what he calls a Thebonical Glossary. If you are unfamiliar with some of the language used in the urban community, this will be of some help to you.
G.O.S.P.E.L. is one of the best evangelistic books I have read. Horton takes the message of the gospel and makes it both clear and easy to understand no matter what your culture background is.
March 15, 2013
Really interesting book. Author DA Horton is a professor of Systematic Theology at Calvary Bible College. He's also hip-hop artist Azriel, born and raised in the inner city of Kansas City. GOSPEL presents the gospel in an urban context, complete with Thebonics and a rap at the end of every chapter. If you or your church are in an urban center, this is a must read for how to reach the residents of the inner city. I loved it!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews