Ministry127 - Encouraging, Equipping, and Engaging Ideas from Local Church Leaders

Emotionally Healthy Christianity

Dr. George Crabb — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:01:12 +0000

Emotionally Healthy Christianity Dr. George Crabb Thu, 08/27/2026 - 14:01

The Twelve Habits of Emotionally Healthy Christians

The Twelve Habits of Emotionally Healthy Christians:

#1 Seek to Serve

“There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” (Proverbs 11:24)

“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
(Matthew 20:28)

Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.

Our fleshly tendency is to take. There are three groups of people we can look at:

“Matchers” – I’ll give as much as you give.
“Shortchangers” – I’m going to give you less than you give me.
“Riskers” – I’m going to give to you whether you give to me or not.

#2 View Reality Accurately

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

“The Bible was not given for our information but for our transformation.” Dwight Moody

Indeed, one can be deceived in many ways; one can be deceived in believing what is untrue, but on the other hand, one is also deceived in not believing what is true. “Egocentrically” – take everything personally. This distorts reality. The numerous lies we believe and the depth in which we believe them are a huge part of what makes our lives emotionally unhealthy and our interpersonal relationships troubled.

How we distort reality:

Magnification – make something bigger than it is.
Minimization – make something smaller than it is.
Personalization – make things all about you.
Polarization – turn everything into a black or white situation.
Selective abstraction – you focus on a detail out of context so that you miss the larger message.
Overgeneralization – predict a negative future from a previous event.
Emotional reasoning – feelings get in the way of seeing the truth for what it is.

Jesus’ emotional health was that He always mentally “filtered” everything He experienced through the truth. Jesus viewed everything through the lens of truth. To become emotionally healthy Christians, we must dedicate ourselves to thinking the way Jesus thought.

#3 Take Appropriate Responsibility

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.” (Galatians 6:1-5)

“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12)

You are only young once, but you can live immature for a lifetime… Maturity doesn’t come with age but begins with the acceptance of responsibility. One mistake is to take too much responsibility (neurotic), and the other is to take too little (character disorder). If you want to be an emotionally healthy Christian, you need to agree to the following: I am 100% responsible for how I think, feel, and act, and others are 100% responsible for how they think, feel, and act. If we agree on that, we can do a much better job of resolving conflict when it takes place in our relationships. What others do or say triggers us to feel and act the way we do, but it doesn’t cause our feelings and actions. Jesus is the only person who took full responsibility for everything He felt and did.

Example:

“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Matthew 21:12-13)

Jesus was neither neurotic nor character-disordered in how He went about His life. He never blamed others for how He felt and acted, and He never accepted blame for how others felt and acted.

#4 Delay Gratification Properly

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)

“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;” (1 Peter 2:11)

The ability to discipline yourself to delay gratification in the short term in order to enjoy greater rewards in the long term is the indispensable prerequisite for success. One of the many challenges we face in life is learning to delay gratification rather than instantly indulging it. The Christian life is the longest delay-of-gratification project we will ever undertake given that we are to properly delay gratification here on earth to build up rewards in heaven that we will enjoy forever. A life of indulging every pleasure is the path to self-destruction and harm to those around you. (Solomon) The problem is not our desire for pleasure but rather our willingness to rein in those desires. We must let God meet our need for pleasure at the right time and in the right way and develop greater self-control over time.

#5 Listen Wholeheartedly

“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” (Proverbs 18:13)

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” (James 1:19)

Deep listening is miraculous for both listener and speaker. When someone receives us with open-hearted, non-judging, intensely interested, our spirits expand. Many people don’t really listen. Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. It takes effort and energy to truly listen. We want to hear what they aren’t saying. Listening to the meaning behind the words. This is another reason that people felt so loved by Jesus – they had never been listened to in such a deep and penetrating way before, and it shook them to the core.

#6 Forgive and Seek Forgiveness

“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” (Colossians 3:13)

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Not only do we struggle to seek forgiveness when we act badly; we also struggle to offer forgiveness when someone has acted badly toward us. First, when you are the one being hurtful, you have to own your actions, feel the pain the other person is in, ask for forgiveness, and make amends; and you must do all this with no strings attached. When you are the one who is hurt, you must be willing to forgive the person who mistreated you whether they are sorry or not. Forgiveness is at the very heart of Christianity. It is central to our relationship with Jesus.

#7 Face Problems Head – On

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:34)

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

The best way out is through. We become our own worst enemies when we run from our problems. Jesus never ran from a problem.

To be an emotionally healthy Christian, we must face the problems life throws our way rather than run from them, and we need to be willing to properly help others face their problems when called to do so. There is no non-suffering path in life when it comes to having problems. Be a problem-facer rather than a problem-avoider.

#8 Anchor Worth in God

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” (Psalm 139:14)

“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:31)

Christianity preaches the infinite worth of that which is seemingly worthless and the infinite worthlessness of that which is seemingly so valued. God’s love does not love that which is worthy of being loved, but it creates that which is worthy of being loved.

One of the biggest lies you will ever encounter is the idea that worth equals performance. Emotionally healthy Christians don’t tie their sense of worth to their performance. They are wise enough to anchor their worth in being fearfully and wonderfully made by God in His image.

When we find our worth in our God, it frees us to treat others in a loving, kind, and gracious way. The Pharisees saw the woman caught in adultery as worthless; Jesus saw her as priceless. The Pharisees saw her worthy of contempt and condemnation; Jesus saw her worthy of grace and kindness. How we treat others shows whether we see people as having worth or being worthless. When we understand that people have worth because God made them in His image, we will treat them well. When we see them as worthless, we are more likely to pick up stones and presume to punish them for their sins.

Your worth is being created in God’s image. I’m not a big fan of the notion of “self-worth.” Self-worth implies that worth comes from self, something that inevitably ties it to how smart, talented, moral, and socially adept you are. There is no such thing as self-worth, only God-worth. It is crucial that we anchor our worth to God and God only. Let God set you free from the bondage of performance-based worth so you can experience a fuller taste of the abundant life.

#9 Have Compassion

“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36)

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;” (Colossians 3:12)

It is important to remember that underneath every struggle to forgive is the struggle to have compassion for the person who hurt us. Forgiveness and compassion always go hand-in-hand. Cold-hearted, non-compassionate Christians are an oxymoron; they bring dishonor to God and turn people away from the cause of Christ. Warm-hearted, compassionate Christians emulate Jesus’ character. They bring honor to God and draw people to the cause of Christ.

Jesus felt deep compassion for the people He encountered. He never felt cold or indifferent. Compassion is good, but compassion in action is better. For an emotionally healthy Christian, compassion for the pain and suffering of others is the only proper way to live. The ability to have compassion for others means that you have learned how to set yourself aside, focus on the hurting human being in front of you, walk in their shoes about what they are going through, and communicate to them that you genuinely care.

#10 Grow in Self-Awareness

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

“Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.” (Luke 6:42)

Of all the people Jesus encountered, He seemed the most upset with the Pharisees. They were blind to their own defects. They had very little self-awareness. The Pharisees were the most toxic and unhealthy people Christ encountered in His day-to-day activities. They were judgmental, arrogant, and cold-hearted. They misunderstood God and how blind they were to their own flaws.

“Woe to You” sermon:

“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves,neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.” ((Matthew 23:13-17, 23-31)

These sayings expressed Jesus’ distaste for when anyone refused to admit they had anything wrong with them while seeing nothing but planks in everyone else’s eyes. The Pharisees were the poster children for those who saw themselves as flawless and everyone else as deeply flawed.

A key mark of an emotionally healthy follower of Christ is a high degree of self-awareness concerning “the good, the bad, and the ugly” inside them and a willingness to take the plank out of their own eye when it comes to owning their own stuff. A lack of self-awareness in relationships is toxic and damages both people involved. Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.

While Christ had perfect self-awareness, He shared a story about someone who seemed to have little, if any, self-awareness at all. Let’s zero in on this story of one man whose arrogant, un-self-aware words will echo throughout the ages.

“And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)

Jesus aimed this parable squarely at the self-righteousness of the Pharisees. The Pharisee had little, if any, self-awareness. The tax collector, on the other hand, was self-aware. When I think about this issue of self-awareness, I’m always drawn back to this verse:

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)

We need to stop kidding ourselves. We all have numerous blind spots when it comes to the truth about how we really are, especially the dark side of who we are. When it comes to self-awareness, we are all “looking through a glass, darkly”
(1 Corinthians 13:12). If you want to be an emotionally healthy Christian, you must allow God to hold up whatever mirrors He wants when it comes to your flaws and defects. Strangely enough, sometimes we’re also blind to our good qualities, and our gracious and kind God wants to show us those as well.

#11 Handle Anger Well

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26-27)

“Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.” (Ecclesiastes 7:9)

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20)

Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured. Some of us have anger problems because we get angry too frequently. Some have an anger problem because our anger is too intense. Some of us have anger problems because of the duration of our anger.

There are numerous ways to mishandle anger:

“Stuffing it”
“Spewing it”
“Passive-aggressive”
“Self-medicate”
“Perfection”

We are to be angry about the right things in the right way at the right time. Christ’s anger was always perfectly righteous, but far too often, our anger is imperfect and unrighteous.

“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” (Colossians 3:8-10)

I want to encourage you to keep following in the psychological footsteps of Jesus by practicing these biblical commands: Speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15), tell people face to face when you have a problem with how they are mistreating you, others, and God (Mat 18:15), and use great boldness in your speech (2 Cor 3:12). Bear with others in love (Eph 4:2), be angry but don’t express it sinfully (Eph 4:26), and don’t think more highly of yourself than you ought (Rom 12:3).

#12 Agape-Love Neighbors

“And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31)

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34-35)

Not everyone is your brother or sister in the faith, but everyone is your neighbor, and you must love your neighbor.

Agape love – unconditional, sacrificial love. Agape love promotes a person’s growth and meets their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.Jesus founded His ministry on agape love. Jesus met people’s needs and enabled their growth.

There are two primary ways we can love God and two primary ways we can love our neighbor. First, loving God means obeying His commandments.

“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21)

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” (1John 5:3)

Second, loving God means meeting the needs of others.

“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and tookthee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:35-40)

We can agape-love our neighbors in two primary ways – meeting their needs and fostering their growth.

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Keep The Faith

Dr. Paul Chappell

Just Say Know

Dr. George Crabb

Five People God Warns You Not To Help

John Anderson — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 02:23:02 +0000

Five People God Warns You Not To Help John Anderson Fri, 08/21/2026 - 19:23

One of the hardest lessons leaders learn is this: helping everyone is not always helpful.

Good leaders have compassionate hearts. Pastors, parents, mentors, and ministry leaders naturally want to step in, rescue, fix, and carry burdens. But Scripture teaches something both sobering and freeing. Not every person who asks for help should receive it in the same way. Sometimes helping becomes enabling. Sometimes rescuing becomes reinforcing destructive behavior. Sometimes compassion without discernment actually harms both the helper and the one being helped.

Biblical leadership requires both love and wisdom. Jesus healed many, but He did not entrust Himself to everyone.

“But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men.” - John 2:24

There are patterns of character Scripture repeatedly warns leaders about. These are not people we refuse to love. These are people we must learn to help wisely, cautiously, or sometimes not at all until repentance and humility appear.

Here are five people God consistently warns leaders about.

1. The Contentious Person (The Angry Reckless Person)

“Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.” - Proverbs 22:24–25

Anger spreads. It is contagious. A reckless, hot-tempered person does not simply struggle privately. They damage relationships, fracture unity, and create unnecessary conflict wherever they go.

Leaders often think, “If I just help them enough, they’ll calm down.” Scripture says the opposite. Prolonged exposure to uncontrolled anger reshapes the helper, not the angry person.

An angry person is not dangerous because they feel anger. Everyone feels anger. They are dangerous because they refuse to govern it.

Helping an angry person without requiring accountability teaches them that rage works. It rewards emotional immaturity. Wisdom says step back until self-control steps forward.

A leader must remember: you cannot build peace by partnering with chaos.

2. The Chattering Person (The Gossip)

“A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.” - Proverbs 11:13

Gossipers do not need information. They need attention. And they often disguise their sin in spiritual language. “I just want you to pray about this.” Or, “I’m only concerned.”

But gossip is relational arson. It burns trust, divides teams, and poisons environments quietly.

Leaders who repeatedly help gossipers by listening without correction unintentionally validate the behavior. Silence becomes permission.

Scripture is clear. In Proverbs 26:20 it says, “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out.”

Sometimes the most spiritual help you can give a gossip is refusal to participate.

Healthy leaders protect unity more than they protect feelings. Truth spoken directly heals. Words spoken indirectly destroy.

3. The Careless Person (The Lazy Person)

“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” - 2 Thessalonians 3:10

There is a difference between someone who cannot work and someone who will not work. Scripture shows compassion toward weakness but confrontation toward laziness.

The lazy person often survives by attaching themselves to productive people. They rely on the generosity of others instead of developing discipline themselves.

Helping without expectation removes the very pressure that could lead to growth.

The book of Proverbs repeatedly warns that laziness leads to poverty, frustration, and wasted potential. “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing.” - Proverbs 13:4

Leaders must remember this principle: rescue without responsibility produces dependency, not maturity.

Sometimes the most loving thing you can do is allow consequences to teach what comfort never will.

4. The Contemptuous Person (The Mocking, Unteachable Person)

“He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame… Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee.” - Proverbs 9:7–8

The mocker is not merely ignorant. He is resistant.

Correction becomes confrontation.

Wisdom becomes offense.

Instruction becomes insult.

An unteachable spirit cannot be helped because it refuses help.

Leaders waste enormous emotional energy trying to convince people who have already decided not to listen. Scripture warns against pouring wisdom into a heart that only intends to ridicule it.

Jesus Himself warned, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine” (Matthew 7:6).

This is not harshness. It is stewardship. Time, energy, and truth are sacred resources.

Teach the hungry. Invest in the willing. Correct the humble. But do not exhaust yourself chasing someone committed to resisting growth.

5. The Critical Person (The Chronic Complainer)

“Do all things without murmurings and disputings.” - Philippians 2:14

Complaining drains vision. It magnifies problems and minimizes blessings. A chronic complainer is rarely looking for solutions. They are looking for validation of their dissatisfaction.

Leaders often feel pressure to keep trying to make complainers happy. The problem is that happiness is not their goal. Expression of discontent is.

Israel complained in the wilderness even while eating manna from heaven. Complaining is not circumstantial. It is spiritual.

“Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.” - 1 Corinthians 10:10

Helping a chronic complainer by continually accommodating them teaches them that negativity controls outcomes.

Leadership requires protecting the spirit of the group. Gratitude fuels momentum. Complaining kills it.

Final Leadership Thought

This is not a call to hardness. It is a call to wisdom.

Jesus loved sinners, but He did not enable sin. Paul helped the weak, but confronted the disorderly. Scripture calls leaders to discernment, not exhaustion.

Not everyone needs more help.

Some people need repentance.

Some need correction.

Some need consequences.

Some need time.

And some need to see that change will not happen until they take responsibility before God.

Wise leaders remember this truth: You are not called to fix everyone. You are called to faithfully steward your influence where it produces fruit.

Help the humble.

Invest in the teachable.

Strengthen the willing.

And trust God to do the work in hearts you cannot change.

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Christian Walk

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Wisdom from the Word

Dr. Paul Chappell

Focus

Dr. Paul Chappell

When the Work Is Greater Than You Are, God Is Able

Dr. Paul Chappell — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 01:57:31 +0000

When the Work Is Greater Than You Are, God Is Able Dr. Paul Chappell Wed, 07/29/2026 - 18:57

There are few things that expose human insufficiency like the work of the ministry.

Whether you are a pastor, children’s Sunday school helper, Christian school teacher, or parent, you know that we can pray, plan, work, and give our best, yet still frequently come face-to-face with the reality that our best is not enough.

A pastor cannot personally meet every need in his church. A parent cannot control every choice a child will make. A teacher cannot force truth into a student’s heart. A soulwinner cannot produce conviction or save a soul. We can faithfully plant and water, but only God can give the increase.

The good news is that God does not call us to accomplish His work through our own strength. He calls us to depend on His.

This is where 2 Corinthians 9:8 comes in: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”

God’s Grace Supplies Every Need

Second Corinthians 9:8 does not say that God is able to make our natural ability abound. It says that He is able to make grace abound toward us.

Grace is God’s provision for what we cannot supply ourselves. When we lack wisdom, He gives wisdom. When we are weary or opposed, He renews our strength and courage. When resources are limited or the way forward is unclear, He provides and directs.

We often approach a ministry challenge by first calculating what we have: How much time is available? How many workers can help? What experience and resources do we possess?

Good stewardship requires that we honestly assess these things. But faith refuses to stop there. The most important resource in any work for God is the grace God promises to supply.

The most important resource in any work for God is the grace He promises to supply. SHARE ON X

God’s Sufficiency Meets Every Challenge

Paul’s language in this verse is wonderfully comprehensive: “Always having all sufficiency in all things.”

There is no season in which God and His supply of grace ceases to be sufficient. He is sufficient when a ministry is growing and opportunities are opening. He is sufficient when progress seems slow, discouragement sets in, and we do not know where the provision will come from.

There is no season in which God and His supply of grace ceases to be sufficient. SHARE ON X

Forty years ago this month, I arrived in Lancaster, and the following Sunday I preached my first message as pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church to thirteen people. In the weeks that followed, I learned that the building was in foreclosure and that the church owed thousands of dollars in unpaid bills. Our new sign was vandalized, the building was broken into, and the sound system was stolen.

Yet through every challenge, God faithfully supplied the grace, strength, and provision we needed. Looking back over four decades, the story of Lancaster Baptist Church is not what we were able to accomplish, but what our able God has done. His grace was sufficient then, and His grace remains sufficient today.

God’s Power Enables Every Good Work

God does not merely promise enough grace to help us survive. He supplies grace so that we may “abound to every good work.”

When ministry is difficult, our goal can quietly shrink to endurance. We simply want to make it through the next problem, the next week, or the next demanding season.

There are certainly times when faithful endurance is itself a significant victory. But God’s purpose is greater than helping us barely hold on. He desires to work through us so that we continue moving forward in obedience and fruitfulness.

The word abound speaks of overflow. God gives strength not merely for the burden we are carrying, but for the good work He still has before us.

God gives strength not merely for the burden we are carrying, but for the good work He still has before us. SHARE ON X

When the responsibility is greater than our wisdom, God is able.
When the burden is greater than our strength, God is able.
When the opportunity is greater than our resources, God is able.
When the opposition is greater than our resolve, God is able.
When the work is greater than we are, God is still able.

Renewed and Equipped for the Work

This truth that “God Is Able” is the theme around which we are preparing to gather at Spiritual Leadership Conference 2026 this September.

The preaching of God’s Word will refocus our attention on the God who is able. In the pressures and routines of ministry, our attention can settle on immediate problems, limited resources, and personal inadequacies. Biblical preaching lifts our eyes to the Lord, strengthens our faith in His promises, and renews our passion to see His power at work.

The practical workshops and discussion panels will help equip us for the work God has given us. Depending on God does not make preparation unnecessary; it gives preparation its proper foundation. Biblical instruction and useful tools will help pastors, staff members, teachers, ministry leaders, and volunteers serve with greater wisdom and effectiveness.

The fellowship will remind us that we are not laboring alone. Shared conversations, united prayer, and time with servants who understand the joys and challenges of ministry can renew our perspective and give us fresh courage for the work awaiting us at home.

The music, testimonies, and seasons of prayer will help turn our hearts from self-reliance to worshipful dependence.

This year’s conference will be especially meaningful as we celebrate the fortieth anniversary of Lancaster Baptist Church and give God glory for four decades of His faithfulness. As we reflect on what God has done, our prayer is that these testimonies will strengthen your faith to trust Him for what He still desires to do in your life and ministry.

I am also looking forward to teaching two daytime general sessions that address essential needs in spiritual leadership. In “Grace and Truth Leadership,” we will consider how Christlike leaders hold biblical conviction and genuine compassion simultaneously. In “The Eternal Word in a Decaying Culture,” we will examine how God’s unchanging Word gives clarity, courage, and stability as we minister in a rapidly shifting culture. My prayer is that these sessions will help leaders stand firmly on truth while serving people with the grace of Christ.

Our desire is not merely that delegates leave with more information, but that they return to their churches with renewed faith, practical help, strengthened relationships, and a fresh desire to abound in the work of the Lord.

Perhaps you are carrying a burden that feels heavier than you can bear or facing a ministry need for which you see no answer. Perhaps the responsibility God has given you is greater than your strength or experience.

You do not need to pretend that you are sufficient. You need to remember that God is.

I hope you will join us in Lancaster, September 27–30, for Spiritual Leadership Conference 2026. Come ready to open God’s Word, strengthen your ministry, fellowship with other servants, and renew your confidence in the sufficiency of God. Visit slconference.com for more information and to register.

Whatever your burden, whatever the need, and however great the work before you—God is able.

Category

Pastoral Leadership

Ministry Resources

Wisdom from the Word

Dr. Paul Chappell

Founded On Faith

Dr. Paul Chappell

Rules for Reliability

Parry Dalzell — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 17:12:09 +0000

Rules for Reliability Parry Dalzell Tue, 06/30/2026 - 10:12

5 Ways Church Staff Can Build Trust

In June of 1815, Napoleon faced the Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo. Napoleon had a plan, an army, and a real opportunity for victory. But the night before the battle, a terrible storm rolled through. The field became soaked with rain, and the ground turned to mud.

That may seem like a small thing compared to the size of an army, but it mattered. Artillery could not be positioned as quickly. Cavalry could not move as freely. The whole advance was slowed because the ground could not be trusted to carry the weight of the battle.

By the time the French attack fully developed, the delay had mattered. Wellington held his position, and later in the day, Prussian reinforcements arrived. Napoleon was not defeated by mud alone, but the condition of the ground became one more reason the battle did not unfold as he had planned.

In a battle, confidence matters.

A leader needs to know what he can trust, who he can lean on, and what will hold when pressure comes.

That is also a powerful picture of staff ministry.

The Book of Proverbs says, “Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.”

A broken tooth and a foot out of joint have one thing in common: you cannot put weight on them. They fail you at the moment you need them most.

A good staff member should be someone a pastor can lean on, not someone who adds pressure, confusion, or unnecessary concern. Yet it is possible to be sincere, hardworking, and well intentioned, while still failing to truly lighten the load.

Most church staff members genuinely want to be a blessing. They want to support their pastor, help the church move forward, and serve faithfully. And honestly, most of us probably assume we are doing that better than we actually are.

So I wrote five rules for myself. These are principles that have helped me think through what it means to become the kind of staff member who is dependable, helpful, reliable, and able to carry weight.

I hope they help you too.

1. Emotional Consistency

“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” (Proverbs 25:28)

Pastors should not have to emotionally regulate their staff members.

They already spend their days carrying burdens: counseling people, navigating conflict, making decisions, dealing with emergencies, praying through heavy situations, and leading spiritually while trying to remain steady at home.

When a staff member becomes emotionally unpredictable, the pastor does not just notice. He becomes unsure about your stability, loyalty, and ability to carry responsibility. That slows him down. He starts spending energy on things that should not require that kind of energy.

A pastor needs men and women around him who can regulate themselves with the Lord’s help. He needs people who do not spiral when something goes wrong. People who do not turn every correction into a crisis. People who do not require constant reassurance to stay engaged.

If you cannot rule your own spirit, you open the door for instability, resentment, and unnecessary tension to affect your ministry, your pastor, and the team around you.

This does not mean you never struggle. It means when you do struggle, you handle it with maturity. Take it to the Lord first. Talk to a trusted friend with discretion. Go golfing. Go fishing. Take a walk. Do what you need to do, but learn to regulate your own emotions in a healthy and spiritual way.

2. Encourage Consistently

“As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” (Proverbs 25:25)

A timely word of encouragement can refresh a weary leader the way cold water refreshes a thirsty soul.

One of the simplest ways to lighten your pastor’s load is to become a steady source of encouragement. It is sobering to realize that almost every week, your pastor is dealing with some kind of discouraging situation. The list never ends: people issues, spiritual burdens, financial pressures, facility problems, criticism, difficult decisions, and the emotional needs of others.

Encouraging your pastor is not just about saying nice words. Often, one of the most encouraging things you can do is regularly communicate that you are doing well, you are happy, and you are with him in the battle.

Promote what he is promoting. Think about what he is thinking about. Do not allow him to be the only voice carrying the burden. Take what is on his heart and run with it.

When your pastor forgets to say good job, it is usually not because he does not value you. It is often because he is carrying weightier things than you can see that day. A staff member who can assume the best and stay supportive is a rare gift.

Encouragement can be simple: a quick text, a handwritten note, a word after service, or a comment that says, Pastor, thank you. That helped me. I’m praying for you. In addition to all of these, do not underestimate the power of your family being a blessing too. When your home speaks well of your pastor and your kids respect him, that strengthens the relationship more than you may realize.

3. Engage Consistently

“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:” (Colossians 3:22)

This reminds us that ministry is not about appearances. It is about faithfulness before God, even when no one is watching.

A lot of ministry does not happen on the platform or during the service. It happens in the in between moments: before church, after church, in the lobby, in the parking lot, and in the moments when a visitor is trying to figure out where to go and whether anyone notices them.

If you are serving on staff and you are sliding in late and leaving immediately, you may still be busy, but you are missing one of the most important aspects of ministry.

This is a big one: Are you engaged before and after church?

There is a window about 45 minutes before and after church that is vital to the ministry. That is when guests arrive unsure where to go. That is when members show up carrying burdens. That is when problems surface. That is when visitors decide if they will ever come back.

Engage consistently. Be around. Walk the property. Greet people. Make eye contact. Help volunteers. Notice the obvious things: bathrooms, signage, clutter, and little distractions that can become big impressions. Be a problem solver.

Your pastor should be focused on preaching and shepherding, not fixing small issues because nobody else was paying attention.

4. Evangelize Consistently

“For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.” (Philippians 2:20)

Pastors need staff who genuinely care about people, not just programs. They need people who are personally involved in reaching others.

We live in a day where being on staff can easily turn into platform and program work: singing, preaching, content, graphics, events, and administration. All of that can be valuable, but the church does not move forward just because the stage looks good.

A staff member should be actively involved in reaching people, following up with people, and helping them take their next spiritual step.

If you want a gut check, ask yourself: Do I have prospects right now? Am I following up? When is the last time I personally brought someone with me? When is the last time I helped someone take a real next step, such as salvation, baptism, discipleship, or faithful church involvement?

When staff members are bringing people, following up, discipling, and seeing fruit, it gives the whole ministry momentum. It also gives your pastor great encouragement.

5. Execute Consistently

“Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?” (Proverbs 20:6)

Faithfulness is rare, and talk is easy. That is why the staff member who consistently follows through becomes invaluable.

This one is simple, and it may sound harsh: get things done.

In a busy and distracted world, it is vital that we as staff members lock in and do our job.

Inconsistency drains leadership. It creates extra meetings, extra reminders, and extra stress. A staff member can be talented and still be a burden if he does not follow through.

Most of the time, execution issues are not a lack of ability. They are usually the result of distraction, disengagement, or discouragement.

This is why it is so important to guard your spirit against the validation trap: pulling back because you do not feel valued, appreciated, included, or in charge.

Beware of thoughts like, “I am just a cog in the system here. My voice does not matter. I do not have any say.”

More than likely, that is not true.

You can take your ideas to your leader. You can learn to communicate better. You can improve, adjust, and have vision within your lane. Take what you have been given and build it.

Guard against discouragement and disengagement. Take ownership of what has been entrusted to you. Deliver week after week.

A faithful staff member becomes someone a pastor can put weight on.

Closing Thought

Proverbs 25:19 paints the picture plainly: nobody wants to be the broken tooth or the foot out of joint.

No pastor wants to go into the battle unsure of whether the people around him can carry weight. He needs staff members who are steady, supportive, engaged, soul conscious, and faithful to execute.

By God’s grace, we can become staff members our pastor can trust when we:

Show emotional consistency.

Encourage consistently.

Engage consistently.

Evangelize consistently.

Execute consistently.

Category

Ministry Leadership

Ministry Resources

Founded On Faith

Dr. Paul Chappell

Wisdom from the Word

Dr. Paul Chappell

Sacrifice Deserves Stewardship

Dr. Paul Chappell — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:27:51 +0000

Sacrifice Deserves Stewardship Dr. Paul Chappell Fri, 06/26/2026 - 09:27

In September of 1776, a young schoolteacher named Nathan Hale stood on the edge of eternity. Captured by the British as a spy during the early days of the Revolutionary War, he knew his fate was sealed. At just twenty-one years old, he was about to give his life for a country that was even younger than he was.

His final words have echoed through American history: “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

Those words reflect a kind of patriotism that is both rare and noble. Nathan Hale believed preserving liberty for others was worth his own life.

And Hale was not alone. America has a long heritage of men and women who have been willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice for our country and to preserve the freedoms we hold dear.

From the earliest days of our nation, liberty has been purchased at great cost. There were those who left everything behind in search of religious liberty. There were those who pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to establish a new nation. And there have been countless men and women since who have given what Lincoln called “the last full measure of devotion” to preserve our freedom.

These were real people with real families, real hopes, and real futures. They did not sacrifice in the abstract. They laid down their lives so others might live in freedom.

That sacrifice demands our gratitude. And it demands our stewardship.

We have inherited freedoms that were purchased at great cost. But freedom is not sustained by indifference, nor is it preserved by convenience. The liberties we enjoy today were entrusted to us by those who valued them enough to suffer and sacrifice for them.

As Christians, we should recognize that the freedoms we enjoy are trusts to steward for the glory of God.

We steward our freedom when we remember its cost.

Memorial Day is more than a holiday weekend. It is a summons to gratitude. We should teach our children that freedom was not created in comfort and is not preserved by ease. A people who forget sacrifice will eventually take liberty for granted.

A people who forget sacrifice will eventually take liberty for granted. SHARE ON X

We steward our freedom when we pray for our nation.

America’s deepest needs are not merely political or economic; they are spiritual. We should pray for revival, for wisdom for our leaders, for courage among believers, and for a renewed national turning to God. God promises, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

We steward our freedom when we proclaim the gospel.

The freedom to preach Christ is one of the greatest liberties we possess. We should not waste it.

Jesus came to give a freedom greater than political liberty—freedom from sin, guilt, and eternal separation from God. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). The best use of our national freedom is to proclaim eternal freedom in Christ.

The best use of our national freedom is to proclaim eternal freedom in Christ. SHARE ON X

We steward our freedom when we live as faithful witnesses.

Christians should be known for integrity, compassion, moral courage, strong families, faithful churches, and love for their neighbors. Our lives should demonstrate that the gospel we proclaim is true and transforming. We should live as people who are “without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15).

We steward our freedom when we train the next generation.

Ronald Reagan famously warned, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”

Nothing precious is automatic. Truth is not passed on by accident. Neither is gratitude. If we do not teach our children the cost of liberty, the historical foundations of our nation, and the truth of God’s Word, someone else will teach them a different story. We must intentionally pass on both biblical conviction and a grateful understanding of the heritage we have received.

If we do not teach our children the cost of liberty, the historical foundations of our nation, and the truth of God’s Word, someone else will teach them a different story. SHARE ON X

We steward our freedom when we stand without compromise.

There will always be pressure to soften truth, remain silent, or conform to the spirit of the age. But freedom must be used with courage. When culture or government conflicts with God’s Word, our answer must be the answer of the apostles: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

Freedom Isn’t Free

We may never be called to give our lives as Nathan Hale did. But we are called to recognize the cost of what we have received and to live in a way that honors it.

As American citizens, we are called to value freedom, protect it, and use it for what is right.

And above all, we are called to steward the freedoms God has allowed us to enjoy for the advancement of the gospel.

Additional Note: The story of Nathan Hale is included in my new book, Founded on Faith. In a time when many are rewriting the past and questioning the principles that made our nation strong, this short, inspiring read tells the true story of America’s founding, highlights the biblical foundations that shaped this country, and encourages us to stand for freedom in our day. I hope you’ll read it and share it throughout this summer, as we celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

Category

Current Events

Ministry Resources

Founded On Faith

Dr. Paul Chappell

Wisdom from the Word

Dr. Paul Chappell

Ten Steps for Preparing Christ-Centered, Text-Driven Sermons

Dr. Paul Chappell — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 23:52:50 +0000

Ten Steps for Preparing Christ-Centered, Text-Driven Sermons Dr. Paul Chappell Thu, 06/11/2026 - 16:52

After forty years of pastoral ministry, I remain convinced that the greatest need in any local church is biblical, Christ-exalting preaching. Programs matter, planning matters, and leadership matters; but nothing shapes a congregation more deeply than what happens when the Word of God is opened and Christ is proclaimed.

Paul’s charge to Timothy makes this plain: “Preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2). He didn’t instruct Timothy to offer opinions or cultural analysis. He instructed him to preach Scripture.

Biblical, expository preaching simply means allowing the message of the text to set the message of the sermon. The church does not thrive on the creativity of the pastor but on the clarity of the Scriptures. God blesses His Word—not our cleverness.

As Dr. John Goetsch wrote in his tremendous book, Homiletics from the Heart, “God may bless our homiletical outline, our illustrations and stories, but He does not promise to do so. He only promises to bless His Word.”

Biblical preaching begins by standing under the authority of Scripture and letting the passage itself determine both the substance and the structure of the sermon.

But biblical preaching does more than explain the text. It points us to Christ, because Scripture itself is Christ-centered. Jesus said of the Scriptures, “They are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). And on the road to Emmaus, “beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27).

When we faithfully preach the Bible, we inevitably preach Christ. “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord” (2 Corinthians 4:5).

As I have taught on preaching over the years, including to students at West Coast Baptist College, I have worked to summarize the process of developing sermons that are faithful to the text and focused on Christ. The steps below are not a formula but a roadmap. I pray they encourage and strengthen your ministry of the Word.

1. Prayerfully Select the Text

The most important aspect of any sermon is the text of Scripture. Beyond anything we say, God’s Word alone has power to change lives. So begin by prayerfully asking the Lord to direct you to the passage His flock needs.

A few times a year, I set aside time to seek the Lord about upcoming sermons. Typically, I preach a themed series on Sunday mornings and a verse-by-verse study on Sunday nights. Midweek studies vary. Expository book studies make weekly text selection simple, while themed series allow me to plan several messages at once.

Planning never replaces sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Even with a schedule in place, I remain open to the Lord leading me to adjust a text according to the needs of our church family.

Above all, treat the text with reverence. G. Campbell Morgan said he read his text at least fifty times before preaching it.

2. Schedule Sufficient Time for Study

Nothing meaningful in preaching happens accidentally. Study takes protected, prioritized time. Spurgeon wrote, “Your pulpit preparations are your first business.”

Give your best hours to your study. Dr. W. A. Criswell called his early hours “mornings to God.” Whether your strongest hours are early mornings, late evenings, or uninterrupted afternoons, devote them to hearing from the Lord through His Word.

Interruptions will come. rises will arise. But a pastor who routinely prepares sermons at the last minute cheats his congregation of a well-studied message—and forfeits the clarity that comes through lingering in the Scriptures.

3. Study the Context and Historical Setting

A text cannot mean something today that it did not mean when it was first inspired. Before outlining or applying, understand the book, paragraph, genre, and historical moment surrounding the passage.

Helpful questions include:

Who is speaking, and to whom?
What issues frame this passage?
When was it written, and who was the dominant governmental leader?
What historical or cultural details matter?
How does this text fit within the message of the book?

Good expository preaching begins by entering the world of the text.

4. Discern the Theme of the Passage

After understanding the context, determine the passage’s central message. This is not something we impose on the text, but something we discover in the text.

Look for:

Repeated words or ideas
Commands, promises, contrasts, transitions
Grammar and structure (subject, verb, modifiers)
Tone: warning, prophetic, comforting, edifying

The clearer the central idea becomes, the clearer the sermon will be.

5. Develop Main Thoughts from the Passage

Every passage has a central idea, but most also contain several supporting truths. These natural divisions form the main points of your sermon. J. C. Ryle observed, “If you study the sermons of men who have been and are successful preachers, you will always find order, and often divisions, in their sermons.”

Once these divisions become clear, shape your outline around them. Alliteration or parallel phrasing can make a sermon more memorable, but they should never be forced onto a text.

A good outline is not decorative; it is functional. It helps the preacher and the listener follow the flow of God’s Word with clarity and conviction.

6. Show How the Passage Exalts Christ

All Scripture points to Christ—not by artificial insertion, but by divine design. Whether through prophecy, typology, doctrine, or application, the entire Bible presents Christ as the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan and the center of the Christian life.

As mentioned earlier, expository preaching is Christ-exalting preaching because the Bible itself is Christ-centered revelation.

This means that to interpret a text accurately, you must consider how this passage points to Christ.

In an Old Testament narrative, Christ may be seen in God’s covenant faithfulness, redemptive foreshadowing, or human need for a Savior.
In a Psalm, Christ may appear in fulfilled prophecy, the expression of His attributes, or in how He leads His people through suffering.
In a doctrinal section of an epistle, Christ is explicit—His work on the cross, His resurrection, His lordship, and His grace that empowers obedience.
In passages addressing Christian living, Christ is our example, our power, and our motivation for holy living.

The goal is not to “force” Jesus into the sermon but to show how the truth of the text finds its ultimate meaning in Him. “…that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18).

7. Find the Application

Once the central idea is clear, ask:

What truth is God impressing on His people?
What response does this text call for—repentance, faith, obedience, worship?
How should this reshape our thinking, affections, or actions?

Biblical application is specific truth producing specific action. A clear sermon purpose answers this question: What should God’s people do in response to what God has said?

8. Add Helpful Illustrations

Illustrations let light into the sermon, helping listeners see truth clearly. Without them, even strong exposition can become dense and out of reach.

Purposeful illustrations—stories, testimonies, historical examples, personal experiences—give the mind space and the heart clarity. They don’t replace truth; they serve it.

Maintaining a simple filing system of illustrations can provide rich material when crafting a message. Their value lies not in entertainment but in how effectively they illuminate the text.

9. Develop an Introduction and Conclusion

A strong introduction arouses interest and directs attention toward the text. This opening “hook” might be a compelling historical story, a thought-provoking question, or a concise statement that highlights why the passage matters. Whatever form it takes, the introduction should prepare the listener to engage with Scripture.

The conclusion is equally vital. Many good sermons lose their force because of an unfocused ending. The conclusion brings the message back to its central idea and calls the listener to respond. You might briefly recap the main points or focus on one key application. Preach toward a response. Call God’s people to action, faith, obedience, or worship.

10. Edit and Refine the Message

Finishing the conclusion isn’t the end. Careful review and editing bring the message to final clarity. Tighten transitions, eliminate rabbit trails, and ensure that every part of the sermon supports the central truth of the passage and points to Christ.

One of the goals in editing is to purge the message of self and ensure that it is centered on Christ. Galatians 6:14 guides my heart in this phase: “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…”

A Final Exhortation

Preaching is hard work, but it is holy work. God has entrusted us with the stewardship of His Word, and faithfulness demands diligence.

Scripture repeatedly urges ministers not only to preach but to cultivate their calling: “Neglect not the gift that is in thee” (1 Timothy 4:14). “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them” (1 Timothy 4:15). In other words: develop the call God has given you. Strengthen it. Practice it. Grow in it.

When preaching is driven by the text and centered on Christ, the church is fed, hearts are changed, and Christ is exalted.

Category

Pastoral Leadership

Ministry Resources

Wisdom from the Word

Dr. Paul Chappell

Focus

Dr. Paul Chappell

Made for the Moment: A Challenge to Fathers

Larry Chappell — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 02:34:22 +0000

Made for the Moment: A Challenge to Fathers Larry Chappell Mon, 06/01/2026 - 19:34

There's a story that made the rounds a couple of years ago about a PGA Tour caddy who collapsed mid-round during the Canadian Open, leaving his golfer, C.T. Pan, without anyone on the bag. A spectator named Paul Emerson was standing just beyond the ropes, a regular guy, a dad enjoying a Saturday afternoon round of golf. When the caddy went down, Pan needed someone. Emerson stepped up, crossed the rope, and finished the round with him. He dropped things. He wasn't smooth about it. But he was there, and he was willing, and C.T. Pan actually golfed better with Paul Emerson on the bag than he had with the professional caddy.

What struck me about that story wasn't that Emerson was exceptional. It was that he was close enough to act when the moment came.

That's the kind of readiness God calls fathers to. And it's exactly what we see playing out in I Kings 18.

The Context of I Kings 18

Israel was in a dark season. King Ahab, described in Scripture as the most wickedly corrupt king Israel had ever seen, worse than every king before him, ruled alongside his wife Jezebel. Even to this day, that name carries weight. They were a power couple, just in entirely the wrong direction. Together they had led the nation into Baal worship. You can actually see Baal idols in the Louvre in Paris that date back to this era, small statues, some originally holding a thunderbolt in one hand. Small idols with a massive grip on the hearts of people. And because of it, God's judgment was unmistakable: three and a half years of drought and famine. No rain. Dwindling resources. A nation at a breaking point.

Into this moment, God moves. Not through a committee. Not through a program. He moves through two ordinary men, Elijah and Obadiah, each shaped and ready for the moment they were given.

Neither man chose his circumstances. But both were prepared for them.

Dads, that's the thread worth pulling. In a day like today, our families need us to be at the ready. Here are five challenges from 1 Kings 18.

First: Show Up

God tells Elijah in verse one to "go, show thyself." Verse two: Elijah went. It wasn't a warm welcome waiting for him. Ahab had been hunting him for three years. But Elijah showed up anyway because God said go.

The number one law of leadership is simply to be there. And dads, don't underestimate what that means for your family. Your presence matters more than you know, and your absence leaves a gap nothing else fills.

Some dads won't miss a ball game, and that's great, but they miss the small, weightier moments in a child's life. Showing up to coach a little league team is one thing. Showing up to actually be a dad is another. Show up to give guidance. Show up to be an influence. Show up even when there's no crowd watching.

And if your kids are grown, keep showing up. There are younger fathers sitting near you right now who need your example. They're putting in job applications, figuring out how to lead a young family, and quietly hoping someone who's been through it will invest in them. Don't retire from that.

John Maxwell said, "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." For a Christian dad, that means your life and your presence say, without you having to announce it, "Follow me as I follow Christ."

Second: Be a Shield

Then there's Obadiah. His name literally means "servant of Yahweh." And against the backdrop of one of the most wicked administrations in Israel's history, here's what Scripture says about this man: he feared the Lord greatly. That's his summary verse. Spurgeon put it well, as horrible as it is to find a Judas among the apostles, it is grand to discover an Obadiah among Ahab's court.

While Jezebel was running a campaign to eliminate the prophets of God, Obadiah was quietly working inside the palace, taking a hundred of God's men and hiding them by fifties in caves, feeding them bread and water at the risk of his own life. There are thousands of caves in that region. You can picture it. This man, surrounded by wickedness every day, doing what he could in the space he had.

He protected what mattered. That's what shields do.

Dads, the world is not neutral toward your children. The voices that want to silence the truth about God, about family, about what's right are not being subtle about it anymore. They've said the quiet part out loud. Your kids need you to be a shield. Not a perfect man, but a present one. Not a man who hangs a picture of spiritual warfare on the hallway wall, but a man who actually fights it in his home every day.

That means making real decisions about what comes through your door. What you watch. What you talk about at the table. What philosophies and worldviews you let speak into your kids' lives without a word of correction.

A word on the culture while we're here. Sports leagues and entertainment companies are not your friends, dads. There are real role models within them, and sports can teach kids genuinely important life lessons. But the organizations themselves? Be aware of where they stand and what they're promoting. You're the filter in your home. Act like it.

Frederick Douglass said it well: "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." The window you have with your kids is shorter than it feels. Use it.

Third: Settle Your Priorities

The contrast in this passage is almost quiet, but it lands hard. While Obadiah is spending his energy feeding and protecting God's prophets, Ahab is worried about his horses. He sends Obadiah across a drought-ravaged land to find grass for the livestock. That's what's on Ahab's mind. That's what keeps him up at night.

Two men. Two completely different sets of priorities. The text doesn't editorialize, it just shows you what each man does with his time and energy. The contrast speaks for itself.

Jesus said it plainly: where your treasure is, your heart follows. Your schedule, your budget, and your attention tell a true story about what you actually value, regardless of what you say you value.

Dads, what does your calendar say about your priorities? What does your Friday night say? What does your Sunday morning say? Don't let convenience or comfort or even a construction project at the church building be the reason you're not where God's people are gathering. Make the house of God a consistent priority, and your kids will grow up knowing, without being told, that it matters.

Fourth: Be Strategic

Obadiah wasn't just courageous. He was a thinker. When Elijah tells him to go announce his arrival to Ahab, Obadiah pushes back, and it's worth reading slowly. He walks Elijah through the risk: "I've already gone all over this kingdom telling Ahab you're nowhere to be found. If I go back now and say you're here, and then the Spirit of God moves you before Ahab arrives, I'm a dead man. I've already put my life on the line. I just need to know this is going somewhere."

He's counting the cost, like Jesus describes in Luke 14. He's willing to go. He just wants assurance that the risk means something. I think what Obadiah is really saying is: "I'll die for this. I'm just not willing to die for nothing."

Then he says something we should all stop and notice: "Thy servant feared the Lord from my youth."

We don't know who Obadiah's father was. But that one line tells you everything. Obadiah could stand for God in Ahab's palace because someone, somewhere, in some home, taught him how to fear God before the world got to him. He was influential because someone else was intentional. He was ready for a hard moment because someone prepared him before the moment arrived.

Dads, we don't know where our kids will end up. What city. What workplace. What pressures. What moments God is going to place them in. We've got a short window. Let's give them big truths they can grow up into, not small ones they'll grow out of.

Fifth: Amplify the Truth

When Ahab finally faces Elijah after three years, his opening line is: "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" It's a classic move, take the truth-teller and label him the problem. Reframe the whole thing.

Elijah doesn't absorb it. He corrects it immediately: "I have not troubled Israel, but thou and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord."

Isaiah 5 says, "Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil." What Ahab is doing here is ancient, but it's also very current. Lies get repeated until they feel like consensus. Truth gets labeled as intolerance. Courage gets called cruelty.

There's a recent example worth mentioning. A pitcher named Landon Rapp was told that if he was going to take the mound, he had to wear a hat with a pride flag on it. He took a Sharpie and wrote Genesis 9:12-19 on the cap, the passage about the rainbow as God's covenant promise. He wasn't hateful about it. He just corrected the narrative. He said afterward, "The rainbow was a Christian symbol and the message was meant to point people to God, God's covenant, and the promise he'll make to all of us. There's no hate at all. I just believe what I stand for." He's being investigated by the MLB for it. That's where we are.

Dads, don't let lies stand unchallenged in your home. When a false narrative comes through the television, the phone, the culture, name it. Correct it. You don't have to be harsh. You don't have to be angry. But Paul wrote to the Galatians, "Am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?" Don't let that fear of being labeled stop you from telling your kids what's actually true.

The Preparation Happens Before the Moment

After the Miracle on the Hudson, Captain Sully Sullenberger reflected on how it was possible. He said: "For 42 years, I had been making small, regular deposits into a bank of education, training, and experience. On January 15, 2009, the balance was sufficient to make a sudden, large withdrawal."

God doesn't prepare us for the moment in the moment. He prepares us for the moment long before it arrives. Elijah's boldness on Carmel didn't come out of thin air. Obadiah's courage in the palace was built over a lifetime of choosing to fear God more than man, over and over again, in small moments no one saw. Neither man knew what was coming. They were just faithful in the season before it arrived.

Dads, we don't know what our kids will face. We don't know what our families will be called to navigate, what the culture will look like in ten years, what tests are ahead. But the preparation is available right now, in the word of God, in faithfulness in small things, in showing up day after day in the unglamorous work of raising a family and leading a home.

A Final Word

Whatever moment God has placed you in right now, whatever your home looks like, whatever your kids are facing, whatever your workplace is asking of you, the call is the same.

Show up. Be a shield. Settle your priorities. Be strategic. Amplify the truth.

You were made for this moment, Dad. Don't waste it.

Category

Christian Walk

Ministry Resources

Wisdom from the Word

Dr. Paul Chappell

Founded On Faith

Dr. Paul Chappell

Equipping the Next Generation to Change the World

Dr. Jim Schettler — Mon, 18 May 2026 17:38:53 +0000

Equipping the Next Generation to Change the World Dr. Jim Schettler Mon, 05/18/2026 - 10:38

I have never been more encouraged about young people than I am of this generation in youth groups today. As I preach in summer camps, teen retreats, Christian school chapels, and evangelistic youth events, I’m moved at the enormous potential this generation possesses to change the world.

It’s always easy to look at young people and see their inadequacies. But the truth is, God can use this next generation in spite of their youth, inexperience, or lack of ability. They don’t know everything, but neither did David, Daniel, or Josiah. Age has never limited God’s power to work through a yielded heart.

But I believe God is going to use today’s young people because of what this generation uniquely possesses—their faith, their humility, and their honesty. They believe God can do great things. They respond tenderly to His Word. They’re searching for what’s real and genuine, not another performance or program. Like Josiah, they have a heart that is sensitive to truth and ready to obey it.

That’s why I believe God can do something special through this generation. The question for youth leaders is: How do we help them?

1. Provide Encouragement

Young people need leaders who believe in them. When God called Gideon a “mighty man of valour” (Judges 6:12), Gideon certainly didn’t feel like one. But God saw what Gideon could become. That’s the kind of vision youth leaders must have.

Your encouragement gives teens confidence that God can use them. Speak faith into their lives. Remind them that the same God who used Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon can use them today. See something in them that they don’t yet see in themselves.

Faith-filled encouragement can turn insecurity into confidence and doubt into direction.

2. Provide Instruction

Encouragement is vital, but it’s not enough. If we want this generation to change the world, we must equip them with God’s Word.

Paul told Timothy that Scripture is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). That phrase “instruction in righteousness” is key for youth ministry. Young people need spelled out instruction on what it means to live a godly life in the many challenges of this culture. They don’t just need you to tell them what to do; they need you to show them, from Scripture, how to live it out.

True equipping means giving young people more than general truth; it means giving them specific truth for the specific battles they face.

We can’t just tell a teen, “Stop being depressed.” We must show them from Scripture how to think biblically about hope and joy. We can’t simply say, “Stand for truth.” We must give them verses, principles, and steps that show them how to do it.

For example, a question I’m often asked by teens is “What do I say to friends who claim to be Christian but claim to be trans?” I usually begin by showing them Psalm 100:3: “It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves.” I’ll tell them that they can tell their friend, “You’ll make thousands of choices in your life, but one choice you’ll never make is your gender. God has already determined that.”

Equipping means showing them what the tool is (the Word of God) and how to use it. It’s training them through discussion, role-play, and application so they know how to handle real-world questions and struggles with biblical confidence.

When teens leave your youth Bible study or weekly meeting, they should walk away holding something solid—specific truths that address the real issues they face and a clear plan of action for how to use those truths in daily life.

3. Provide an Example

The most lasting lesson you’ll ever teach your youth group is the life you live before them.

Be an example in your home. Love your wife. Cherish your kids. Let your students see a joyful, godly marriage and a home filled with grace and truth. When they watch you, they should think, That’s the kind of family I want someday.

Be an example in your attitude. Psalm 100:2 says, “Serve the Lord with gladness.” If you don’t serve with joy, you’re not helping the cause of Christ—you’re hindering it. Your spirit will either draw young people closer to Christ or drive them away. They’ll follow someone who serves with gladness long before they’ll follow someone who serves out of obligation.

And be an example in your walk with God. Every teen in your group should know that the most important thing in your life is your personal walk with the Lord. And they should see a consistent Christian testimony that flows from that walk.

God Is Able

If you believe God is able, lead like it. Encourage your teens by believing in them. Equip them with truth that meets their real struggles. And live as the example they need to see.

God is raising up a generation that can change the world. Let’s make sure we’re the kind of leaders who help them do it.

Dr. Jim Schettler serves as an instructor at West Coast Baptist College, teaching classes in Bible, Youth Ministry, and Counseling.

This article originally appeared in Issue 39 of the Baptist Voice. To read the full digital edition, click here.

Category

Student Ministry

Ministry Resources

Focus

Dr. Paul Chappell

Wisdom from the Word

Dr. Paul Chappell

Relationships That Grow a Healthy Small Group

Gabriel Ruhl — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 21:09:42 +0000

Relationships That Grow a Healthy Small Group Gabriel Ruhl Thu, 04/30/2026 - 14:09

Every healthy church has systems and structures, but what is sometimes overlooked by leaders is the necessity of nurtured relationships. Simply put, churches grow stronger when relationships grow deeper.

The early believers “continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship” (Acts 2:42). That word fellowship—koinonia in Greek—means sharing life together: participating, praying, serving, and encouraging one another in faith. True koinonia doesn’t happen by accident; it requires time, trust, and intentional love.

And one of the best places for those relationships to flourish is within the small groups of a local church. Whether you are a small group leader or a group member, you can invest in the relationships that help people grow.

Friendship: Be Present and Genuine

No matter the size of your church or small group, I believe that all people in it long to have a consistent friend who loves them, believes in them, and is continually there for them no matter the circumstances. Smaller groups naturally produce a less formal atmosphere, making them a tremendous place to foster friendships.

Often, the moments when a friend is most valued are the same moments that it is most inconvenient to be a present friend. Ask the Lord to guide you as you show up for others in ways that reflect Christ’s love.

Simple actions like remembering a prayer request and reaching out to follow up during the week or acknowledging birthdays can go a long way toward showing genuine care. A quick text to say, “I prayed for you today,” or a handwritten note after someone shares a burden, often means more than you know. Take time to sit with someone new at a church fellowship, send an encouraging verse before Sunday, or invite another family to join yours for lunch after church. When someone misses a group meeting, check in to let them know they’re missed. Even small gestures—dropping off a meal or celebrating answered prayer—build trust and communicate that relationships in your group are more than surface-level. Little acts of thoughtfulness grow lasting friendships.

Mentoring: Invite and Include Others

Every Christian can mentor. Mentoring happens when you simply invite others to join you in what you are already doing for the Lord. As you serve, go soulwinning, or participate in outreach, invite others along. People grow when they are included. You’ll be amazed at how relationships deepen when you make room for others to walk beside you in ministry.

A great rule for every small group leader or Christian who wants to invest in others to live by is this: “Don’t do something alone that you could be doing with someone from your group.” Look for ways to invest in others.

Are you wondering who to invite? Look around the next time your group meets and ask, “Who isn’t yet involved?” Who hasn’t joined weekly outreach, ministry, or group activities? Then walk over and personally invite that person to serve or come alongside you.

Edifying: Build Up, Don’t Tear Down

Choose to believe the best about people. Try to see them as they could be, not as they are. People are more apt to change when someone believes in them than when they are constantly corrected. I’ve often heard it said, “Acceptance is the optimum environment for growth.”

It’s true that there are difficult people. Perhaps you have heard of people who are EGRs—Extra Grace Required! But the truth is, God will give that extra grace. And if we’re honest, we all need extra grace from others at times too.

If you are a group leader, there will be times when valuing a relationship requires difficult conversations. When a problem or sin issue arises, you must confront it with wisdom. But you must also keep the relationship in mind with a goal of restoration. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness” (Galatians 6:1).

You can’t secretly look down on someone and build them up at the same time. Work to unconditionally love people. Of course, this is only possible through the strength of the Holy Spirit as we strive to be Christlike in our relationships.

Accountability: Encourage Growth with Grace

Friendship and encouragement are vital, but spiritual relationships also require accountability. Be aware of others’ attendance and consistency. Are you a friend who encourages spiritual growth in others? A faithful friend notices when someone is struggling and lovingly reaches out.

This is primarily a small-group leader’s responsibility, but anyone can encourage others to take their next step for Christ. Whether it’s baptism, joining the church, or serving in ministry, we can all lovingly challenge one another to grow in grace. “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you” (Galatians 4:19).

Relationships that combine warmth with accountability help others take the next step in their walk with God.

Relationships That Reflect Christ

Healthy small groups need more than great programs and well-developed lessons; they need strong relationships. Friendship, mentoring, edifying, and accountability all reflect the koinonia of the early church. As you intentionally invest in these kinds of relationships, your small group will not only grow stronger but will also reflect the love and grace of Christ.

This article originally appeared in Issue 39 of the Baptist Voice. To read the full digital edition, click here.

Category

Ministry Leadership

Ministry Resources

Focus

Dr. Paul Chappell

Wisdom from the Word

Dr. Paul Chappell

Stewarding Ministry for the Future

Dr. Paul Chappell — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:06:02 +0000

Stewarding Ministry for the Future Dr. Paul Chappell Wed, 04/29/2026 - 10:06

For forty years, the Lord has allowed me the privilege of serving as pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church. Through every season, my desire has been simple—to faithfully preach the gospel, strengthen the local church, and help shine the light of Christ from this place to our community and around the world.

As I have entered my mid-sixties, the Lord has burdened my heart with the stewardship of ministry and the future of this work. Ministry is never something we own; it is something we are entrusted to steward. We are undershepherds serving under the Chief Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ. The church belongs to Him. As a pastor, my role is to oversee and feed His flock, “which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).

Ministry is never something we own; it is something we are entrusted to steward. SHARE ON X

Because of that, local church leadership must always be approached with a stewardship mentality. A pastor must not only ask, “How do I serve faithfully today?” but also, “How do I ensure this work remains strong for the next generation?”

With stewardship as a mindset, I have, over the past months, been working together with our deacons and church family to establish a co-pastor role at Lancaster Baptist Church. Having a co-pastor will allow me to intentionally share responsibilities and train another for the future leadership here at Lancaster Baptist. This, of course, will take time, but will ultimately lead to pastoral succession, at which time I will continue to lead West Coast Baptist College as president.

This past Sunday evening, after the unanimous recommendation of our deacons, our church family voted overwhelmingly to call our Executive Pastor, Larry Chappell, to serve as co-pastor of this church. I appreciate Larry’s convictions for truth, his love for our church, and his compassion for souls. I will continue serving as Senior Pastor, while this new role allows us to strengthen leadership and prepare wisely for the future of this ministry. (To learn more about this process and see some of the candid conversations leading up to it, visit lancasterbaptist.org/co-pastor-process.)

Throughout Scripture, we see a pattern of stewarding leaders preparing for the future by training others and sharing ministry. Moses invested in Joshua. Paul invested in Timothy.

Leadership is always a stewardship, and Christian leaders in any context—especially in the local church—should look beyond their immediate responsibilities to invest in the next generation.

So how do godly leaders steward their responsibility to train others well? What does stewardship-minded leadership look like?

I believe stewarding leaders serve in five important ways:

Stewarding Leaders Serve with Humility

Humility is an essential trait for Christian growth. But it’s especially vital for leaders to cultivate. Leadership is not about position, control, or personal ambition. It is about faithfully serving under Christ’s authority.

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:2–3)

Seasons of leadership development or transition should be marked by humility, prayer, and dependence on the Lord. We are not building our own kingdom; we are serving His.

Stewarding Leaders Invest in the Next Generation

There is no success without a successor. Biblical leadership always looks beyond itself.

There is no success without a successor. SHARE ON X

Moses prepared Joshua. Elijah prepared Elisha. Paul prepared Timothy. A faithful leader does not simply carry the work; he helps prepare others to carry it forward.

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:2)

One of the blessings of ministry is the opportunity to invest in younger leaders and to help them grow in conviction, wisdom, and practical ministry leadership. Stewarding leaders think in terms of creating opportunities for intentional mentoring, shared leadership, and hands-on preparation for the future.

Stewarding Leaders Plan Before Crisis Comes

Wise leaders do not wait for uncertainty to force decisions. They prepare prayerfully, deliberately, and transparently.

Too many churches wait until a moment of crisis to think about leadership transition. By then, uncertainty can create confusion and instability. Faithful stewardship involves planning ahead—not because change is immediate, but because preparation is wise.

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. (Proverbs 22:3)

In our case, this co-pastor process has developed over years through prayer, counsel, and conversations with our deacons and church family. It is not a reaction to pressure; it is an effort to strengthen the church for the years ahead.

The goal is not speed. The goal is clarity, unity, and readiness.

Stewarding Leaders Protect the Mission

Leadership planning is never about organizational preservation alone. It is about gospel continuation.

Leadership planning is never about organizational preservation alone. It is about gospel continuation. SHARE ON X

The mission of Lancaster Baptist Church remains unchanged: preach the gospel, disciple believers, support missionaries, and fulfill the Great Commission. Everything else serves that purpose.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19–20)

In every season of ministry, the main work remains the same. Souls still need Christ. Believers still need discipleship. Missionaries still need support. The church must continue moving forward.

Stewarding Leaders Strengthen Commitment

Moments of leadership development should not loosen our stakes; they should deepen them.

Thirty-five years ago, in 1991, our church’s annual theme was “Stake Your Claim.” We challenged our people to lengthen the cords and strengthen the stakes—to put their roots deeply into the work God had called us to do together.

Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; (Isaiah 54:2)

All of us have a natural tendency to drift in our devotion to the Lord and in our commitment to His work. Stewardship-minded leaders recognize that tendency and encourage God’s people to remain steadfast—not in loyalty to a single leader, but in faithfulness to Christ through every season, including seasons of transition. In our case, that faithfulness also includes a renewed commitment to our local church, Lancaster Baptist Church.

The Heart of Stewardship

Faithful, stewarding leaders serve with humility, invest in others, plan wisely, protect the mission, and strengthen commitment. They understand that ministry is not measured only by what is built in one season, but by what is strengthened for the next.

Ministry is not measured only by what is built in one season, but by what is strengthened for the next. SHARE ON X

I thank the Lord for what He has done at Lancaster Baptist Church over these forty years, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving in this season of ministry. My prayer is that the gospel would continue to go forward, that strong leaders would be raised up for the next generation, and that the work of Christ would remain strong for generations to come, or until Christ returns. Please pray for Pastor Larry Chappell and our entire leadership team as we reach forward in this season.

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Pastoral Leadership

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Dr. Paul Chappell

Wisdom from the Word

Dr. Paul Chappell