What to Do with a Gift Like Christmas
A few years ago, I wrote a little book titled Christmas Is a Gift. In it, I pointed out that Christmas itself is the gift of Christ’s presence: Emmanuel—God with us! But if Christmas is a gift, how do we unwrap it? How do we celebrate the gift, not just enjoy the...
A Word of Caution for Your New Year’s Planning
As we’re just weeks away now from the start of a new year, most of us are thinking toward what changes we’d like to make or goals we’d like to pursue in the coming twelve months. As a pastor, I’m already weeks into preparing ministry goals for our church, and I’m...
5 Practical Ways to Diligently Invest in Your Children
Parenting is not for the faint of heart. And I’m not just referring to the hazards of stepping on legos in the middle of the night. (Although legos do qualify as a parenting hazard.) But primarily I’m referring to the responsibility parents have to shepherd their...
5 Ways to Lift Up Jesus during the Christmas Season
We know that Jesus is the reason for the season. But how much of our season actually is centered around celebrating Christ? It’s so easy in the rush of responsibilities to see December as more of a to-do list than as a month of special opportunity to lift up Christ....
Six Ways to Maintain Personal Equilibrium during Busy Ministry Seasons
Christmas might very well be the most wonderful time of the year…but it is also the busiest! I know for our ministry, the next three weeks are packed with activity—extra Christmas outreach, special Christmas services, and unique opportunities for ministry. On top of...
3 Aspects of Healthy Church Rhythm
This past Sunday evening, we had a service specially themed around worship and the importance of the home in setting the direction of a child’s worship. In the early part of the service, families played and sang, and two of our staff men gave tips on involving...
An Opportunity to Impact the 10/40 Window with the Gospel
Just ten degrees north of the equator to forty degrees north, on the Eastern Hemisphere, lies a relatively narrow section of the world—the 10/40 window—that holds over half of the world’s population. Of these almost five billion people, close to 90 percent are...
Giving Thanks: Pancakes in Bed and Presents in the Hospital
Last week our grandson, Chandler, went to the doctor for a follow up appointment on his lungs. (He had severe necrotizing pneumonia and lung surgery last year.) As he sat on the little table in the checkup room, the nurse began taking his vitals. As she prepared to...
5 Keys to Productive Pastoral Administration
Without question, the greatest responsibilities a pastor carries are prayer and preaching. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.—Acts 6:4 Even so, administration is part of the leadership package as well. In fact, this...
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.
