Why I Preach about Finances
As a new pastor, I had one very good reason to preach about finances—the church had no money! But I had an even more compelling reason not to preach about finances: I didn’t want to offend our few members! Pastors probably know the jokes and one-liners about preachers...
20 Lessons from Megachurch Life
This year marks my twentieth year to pastor what researchers call a megachurch—a church averaging over two thousand people in weekly attendance. Statistics on pastoral tenure in churches suggest that for a pastor to remain twenty-eight years in the ministry, let alone...
4 Earmarks of Selfish Financial Planning
Many Christian financial consultants wisely counsel people to budget and save for predictable large purchases rather than be caught unprepared and go into debt. Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,...
Why Pastors Need Renewal
The statistics for pastors aren’t good: Fifty percent of pastors starting out will not last five years. One out of every ten pastors will actually retire as a pastor in some form. Over 1,700 pastors left the ministry every month last year. Over 1,300 pastors were...
3 Reasons We Can’t Afford Not to Give
Giving is not a minor topic in Scripture. In fact, the word give in its various forms is used 2,162 times throughout the Bible—that is more than believe (271 times), prayer (268 times), and love (714 times) all combined! Of the twenty-nine parables Jesus told, sixteen...Growth Points 48: The Saviour Sensitive Church
In a day when churches are bowing to the culture and the whims of this generation, we find—much like the “church of the Laodiceans” in Revelation 3—that Christ is outside the church rather than inside. Some years ago, an idea was pushed on pastors across America that...
The Nuts and Bolts of a Prospect List
Our job as soulwinners is to sow the gospel seed—faithfully and regularly. Psalm 126:6 promises, “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” But not everyone is saved the first...
7 Statements Your Giving Makes
This past Sunday I preached from 1 Chronicles 28 and 29 on having a renewed vision for the work of God. Amazingly, after forty years of leading God’s people, David’s heart for God was still passionate, and his vision for God’s work was still fresh. As I studied for...
Four Men at a Table
Earlier this week I had the joy of sitting with my brother and my two sons over a breakfast table for fellowship. We try to get together once or twice a year to talk about the state of our lives spiritually and the state of the work of God in America. Specifically,...
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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.
Four practical ways to follow the Holy Spirit's leading in your life: