by Dr. Paul Chappell | Aug 11, 2017 | Ministry Leadership
I snapped the picture above as we were recently driving into Los Angeles. And my heart was gripped by the numbers on it. Four million people in this one city—just seventy miles from where I pastor. And the population listed on the sign is just Los Angeles proper. If...
by Dr. Paul Chappell | Aug 7, 2017 | Christian Life, Family
The summer has flown by, and the beginning of a new school year is just around the corner. Although kids are still enjoying the summer moments, wise parents will make a few basic preparations that will ready their children for a profitable school year. Below are ten...
by Dr. Paul Chappell | Aug 3, 2017 | Christian Life, Family
Terrie and I had been married about a year and a half when we were offered a free trip to Hawaii. I was still in Bible college, with Terrie expecting our first baby. We had no money, so a free trip to Hawaii was like a dream come true. This was a timeshare promotional...
by Dr. Paul Chappell | Jul 31, 2017 | Ministry Leadership
Most Baptist churches have adult Sunday school classes. But sometimes churches think of them only as a teaching ministry of the church. They are that. But they can be so much more. We’ve called our classes by different titles over the years—Sunday school, Adult Bible...
by Dr. Paul Chappell | Jul 28, 2017 | Christian Life
We could list many reasons we don’t share the gospel as we should. Fear of rejection Misplaced priorities Lack of training Lack of leadership Bloated church calendars But I believe most of the time it goes deeper than all of these. We don’t share the gospel because we...
by Dr. Paul Chappell | Jul 24, 2017 | Ministry Leadership
It’s common to human nature—we want surface fixes. Pastors know this from counseling. You meet with someone who has major needs in his life, but all he really wants is a quick fix to the immediate crisis—not the help to deal with the root causes. Pastors are guilty of...
by Dr. Paul Chappell | Jul 17, 2017 | Christian Life
In our heads, we know there is a ripple effect to our influence. But in reality, we tend to forget it. Terrie and I have been especially reminded this year of the incredible power of influence as we have said goodbye to two godly ladies who have gone to...
by Dr. Paul Chappell | Jul 15, 2017 | Media/Resources, Ministry Leadership
One of the results of church growth is problems. I don’t mean that negatively, just factually. Think of the first-century church in Jerusalem. In a time of great growth and great grace, they encountered a significant problem (Acts 6). In fact, their problem was...
by Dr. Paul Chappell | Jul 10, 2017 | Ministry Leadership
Listening and assessing are two characteristics found in wise spiritual leaders. Even as you seek to move forward by faith, you must have an awareness of the current needs surrounding you and in the lives of those you lead. Be thou diligent to know the state of thy...
by Dr. Paul Chappell | Jul 7, 2017 | Media/Resources, Ministry Leadership
None of us preach in a vacuum. We live “in this present world” and have been commissioned by God to declare His gospel in it. It seems to me that, when it comes to the present-day culture, there are two extremes preachers tend toward: embracing the culture to the...