God’s Got This: The Nation of Israel, the Life of Esther, God’s Sovereignty, and You
Our news feeds this week are dominated by dark events—particularly of the nation of Israel where Islamic terrorists coordinated a brutal attack and are continuing to commit atrocities. From a biblical standpoint, we know that ever since God’s original promise to...
40 Insights from 40 Years
Forty years ago today, I was ordained into the gospel ministry. As I look back over the past four decades, I say with the apostle Paul, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” (1 Timothy...
Still a Baptist
This month I will celebrate my fortieth year being ordained as a Baptist pastor. No one could have prepared me for the changes that were ahead in the church and ministerial landscape over this forty-year period. I was raised as a Baptist and trained to be a Baptist...
What Are Core Values and Why Do They Matter for a Church?
Every church has core values, but not every church has written them down. And actually, it wasn’t until several years ago that I and some of the other leaders in our church worked on writing our core values. Both the process and the product proved to be a helpful...
Michael Michael: Saying Goodbye to a Faithful Man
Two weeks ago, I spent time at the home bedside of Michael Michael—a dear friend and one of our longtime church members and deacons. Michael talked with great warmth and joy about the faithful love of God in his life, his love for his family and church family, people...
3 Truths Every Child Needs to Know
One of the blessings I look forward to every summer is extra time with our eleven grandchildren. Summer is a good time for grandparents to create special memories! Being with our grandchildren always reminds me of the innocence and impressionability of young hearts....
Setting the Course with Fresh Vision: Spiritual Leadership Podcast
In the process of leading a church family and building a congregation, there are times when you need a restart. The apostle Paul wrote to the Galiatians, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you” (Galatians 4:19)....
6 More Characteristics of an Effective Ministry Team
In the previous post, we looked at five characteristics of an effective ministry team: Calling: We must be confident in the calling and equipping of God. Attitude of Faith: We can approach our area of service with pessimistic discouragement or with an attitude of...
5 Characteristics of an Effective Ministry Team
Being on a sports team is awesome when everyone on the team is team-spirted and individually skilled. Cohesive teams with motivated individuals win championships. But when any single player loses either the drive to personally excel or the humility to further the...
The Resilient Life
Overcome the Crises and Anxieties of Life through Christ
Order Now
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.
