Overcoming the Joy Killers
In the midst of one of the greatest works for God in the Old Testament, Nehemiah reminded God’s people, “…the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Why the reminder? Because God’s people need joy, and one of Satan’s first line of attacks to weaken our...
3 Ways to Determine if You are a Giver or a Taker in Ministry
You’ve heard it said: In life there are two groups of people—givers and takers. The titles are self explanatory: givers invest, and takers seek to be invested in. Every Christian should be a giver, but those in the ministry should especially be givers. We should be...
Book Review: Contentment by Richard Swenson
Richard Swenson is becoming one of my favorite authors. Earlier I read his books Margin and Balance and was anticipating his new book, released just this year, Contentment: The Secret to a Lasting Calm. I read it this summer and was not disappointed. As a medical...
If I Don’t Pray for You…
I was in Korea on a missions trip last year and was driving between churches with my dear friend Dr. Daniel Kim, pastor of the Bible Baptist Church in Seoul. Dr. Kim is a gracious man, and he expressed (as he often does) his joy in seeing what the Lord is doing...
Discretionary Priorities
One of the first budget categories financial counselors tell their clients to identify is “discretionary spending.” Whether you are overseeing personal, business, corporate, or ministry expenses, you need to know what is discretionary and what is essential. (The...
5 Ways to Become a Missions-Minded Family
Two of the greatest things parents can do for their children are to instill in their hearts eternal priorities—specifically the priority to reach the world with the gospel—and help them understand the world-wide focus of our mission as Christians. We are to witness to...
Contend for the Faith
For years I have written and spoken against being contentious. Yes, I’ve contended against contentiousness! A contentious, always-in-a-fight spirit will damage whoever it touches. A wrong spirit will kill any marriage, church, or movement. But make no mistake. The...
Ministry Joy Killers, part 2
It’s not usually the great burdens of life that kill our joy. In fact, our joy often flourishes during these times because we are more likely to draw close to the Lord and experience His presence at a new level. What kills our joy are the subtle temptations that draw...
Ministry Joy Killers
If there is one thing we should model as Christians, and particularly as Christian leaders, it is the joy of the Lord. God designed the Christian life to be an abundant life. The fruit of the Spirit is joy. Although joy should be the norm for Christian ministry, we...
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.
