Six Elements to Effective Staff Transitions
As a pastor, when God begins to stir the heart of a staff member to another place of ministry, my heart is always to help them clearly discern God’s will, support them in following it, and guide our church family through any transition that may be involved....
The Gospel Commandments of Leadership
Fifty years ago, a man I’ve never met, Kent Keith, wrote a little booklet in which he included ten “Paradoxical Commandments.” They’ve made their way around the world and have often been separated from their author’s name. I can’t remember where I first read and...
10 Ways to Be More Effective as an Adult Bible Class Teacher
At the beginning of this week, I had the privilege of meeting with our Connection Group leaders here at Lancaster Baptist Church. Over the years, we’ve called our Connection Groups by various names—Sunday school and Adult Bible Fellowships are two—but whatever they...
Celebrating the 70th Birthday of the State of Israel
On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel, rode down Rothschild Boulevard, walked into the Tel Aviv Art Museum, and read the declaration that proclaimed Israel to be a state. Within minutes of Ben-Gurion’s declaration, United States...
Now in Print! Luke Expanded Outlines and Comments
For over three decades as the pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church, I have had the joy of preaching verse by verse through books of the Bible. Typically, these book studies have been our practice on Sunday evening, but a few years ago, I sensed the Holy Spirit leading...
Why California AB 2943 Is a Threat to Free Speech Everywhere
I hope that by now you have seen California’s AB 2943 on the news or in your social media streams. This broad-sweeping piece of legislation is a threat to religious liberty and freedom of speech across the state and, by setting a precedent, across the country....
Five Reasons Pastors Should Grow in Administrative Skills
When I first became a pastor, I faced fewer administrative responsibilities than I do today. It’s not that my schedule wasn’t full. (In those early days, I preached three times per week, taught Sunday school and soulwinning, and knocked on a minimum of...
Bear Ye One Another’s Burdens
Do you ever get discouraged? Do you ever get weighed down with the burdens of ministry? If you’re in ministry, the answers to both of those questions are identical and obvious. Why, then, do we find it so easy to criticize others who become discouraged in the...
The Validation Trap
When I was a younger pastor, I loved serving the Lord. I lived full out for Christ and for the church the Lord allowed me to shepherd. Although I knew I was serving as unto the Lord, there were darker motives too—ones that I didn’t recognize, let alone...
The Resilient Life
Overcome the Crises and Anxieties of Life through Christ
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Pastor Paul Chappell
Dr. Paul Chappell is the senior pastor of the Lancaster Baptist Church and president of West Coast Baptist College in Lancaster, California. His biblical vision has led the church to become one of the most dynamic independent Baptist churches in the nation. He has been married to his wife, Terrie, for over forty years and is the father of four married children all serving in Christian ministry.
