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

Prayer is Worth the Effort

Brandon Campbell — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 18:27:42 +0000

Prayer is Worth the Effort Brandon Campbell Fri, 03/13/2026 - 11:27

Proverbs 24:30–31 says,

“I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.”

Laziness leaves the vineyard filled with weeds, unprotected, and fruitless.

What would it look like if you could view your prayer life as a vineyard or garden? Would it be green and fruitful? Or would it be filled with weeds and thorns? Would the gates and fences be strong and standing or broken down and in disrepair?

Proverbs 20:4 says,

“The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.”

And Proverbs 22:13 tells us,

“The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.”

What “good” excuses do you have for not praying?

Our sinful, lazy flesh will always, in its “wisdom,” have a “good” excuse not to pray.

Proverbs 26:16 says,

“The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.”

Like anything worth doing, having a fruitful prayer life takes work.

Consider the following verses.

Matthew 6:6

“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Luke 18:1

“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint…”

It is work to maintain a prayer closet (Matthew 6:6) and pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It takes effort to follow the command of our Saviour to pray always and not faint (Luke 18:1).

Jesus’ lesson on prayer shows us that prayer requires work and is not for the lazy.

Luke 11:5–10

“And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

This friend Jesus speaks of came at midnight and received bread because he was persistent. The word importunityindicates that this man came with urgency and was not going to go away without bread. He put in the effort.

It takes work to ask, to seek, and to knock.

Jesus Christ put effort into His prayer during His earthly ministry.

Luke 5:16

“And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.”

Mark 1:35

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”

Luke 6:12

“And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus labored and agonized in prayer.

Luke 22:39–46

“And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.”

A fruitful prayer life is not the work of a lazy man. It takes diligence, effort, and hard work.

There are two keys to overcoming the laziness of our flesh so that we might have a fruitful prayer life.

The first is fervency.

The word fervent is defined as hot, boiling, vehement, ardent, very warm, earnest, excited, animated, glowing—as fervent zeal, fervent piety.

We need to become passionate about prayer and see it as an absolute necessity in our lives.

The last half of James 5:16 tells us,

“…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

In Genesis 32, Jacob wrestled with God all night in passionate, fervent prayer.

Genesis 32:24–28

“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”

Jacob was fervent. He knew he needed God’s blessing. He wrestled all night. He was not going to let go. He ignored the cry of his flesh to let go when his hip was put out of joint.

The need for God’s blessing was greater to Jacob than the excuses his flesh offered to stop.

When we become passionate about prayer and see that our need for God is greater than our excuses not to pray, we will overcome our laziness.

How often have we quit praying because we were tired or uncomfortable?

Our prayer life will be fruitful when we stop worrying about how tired or uncomfortable we are and focus on our need for God.

We see the need for fervency to overcome excuses again illustrated in Matthew 15.

Matthew 15:21–28

“Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”

This woman of Canaan received an answer to prayer because of her fervency.

She had every excuse to quit asking.

Jesus ignored her at first. The disciples wanted her sent away. Jesus told her that He was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel, and He referred to her as a dog.

Yet she humbled herself, worshiped, and asked for the crumbs that fell from the Master’s table.

She was fervent.

She had a need and understood that Jesus was the only one who could meet that need.

How often have we given up in prayer because God was silent or we didn’t immediately receive the answer we wanted?

Where is our fervency?

Another key to overcoming laziness in prayer is to be specific when asking.

Jacob prayed specifically for God's blessing upon his meeting with Esau, and the Canaanite woman prayed for her daughter to be healed of a devil. Both of these specific prayers were answered.

Generic prayers are lazy prayers.

They don’t build faith or fervency. They are thrown up casually, and no specific answer is ever seen.

Nothing will build your prayer life like a particular answer to prayer.

Seeing answered prayer builds faith, intensifies fervency, and encourages us to continue to pray.

Consider the very specific prayer of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1, and read 1 Samuel 2 to see how her faith and fervency grew.

1 Samuel 1:11

“And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.”

1 Samuel 2:1–2

“And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.”

To have a fruitful prayer life, one cannot be lazy. One must put the work in.

Get fervent and passionate about prayer. Your need for God is greater than any excuse not to pray.

Be specific in your prayers.

Answers to prayer build faith and intensify fervency.

Never forget that prayer is worth the effort.

Category

Christian Walk

Ministry Resources

Wisdom from the Word

Dr. Paul Chappell

Focus

Dr. Paul Chappell

Five Hundred Years Later: William Tyndale and the Power of God’s Word

Dr. Paul Chappell — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 20:38:43 +0000

Five Hundred Years Later: William Tyndale and the Power of God’s Word Dr. Paul Chappell Thu, 03/12/2026 - 13:38

Five hundred years ago this spring, printed copies of the first English New Testament translated from Greek reached English soil. Hidden in sacks of flour, bales of cloth, and barrels of oil, they passed quietly up the River Thames. Carried ashore by faithful merchants and Lollard believers, they soon flooded London.

It was 1526, and England would never be the same. What arrived on those ships was more than ink on paper. It was the powerful Word of God.

The story traces back to one man—courageous, brilliant, and unshakably convinced that the Bible should speak in the language of the people.

William Tyndale was born in Gloucestershire around 1494. Educated at Oxford and Cambridge, Tyndale mastered Greek and became fluent in eight languages—so fluent that John Foxe wrote, “Whichever he spake, you would suppose it his native language.”

Through reading the Greek New Testament, Tyndale discovered and believed the simple gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Christ. As he studied Scripture, he became convinced that the spiritual darkness of England could only be lifted by giving people the Bible in their own tongue.

In sixteenth-century England, ordinary people had almost no access to Scripture. The Catholic Church held copies of the Bible in Latin, but translating it into English was forbidden by law.

When a clergyman argued that it would be better to go without God’s Word than to oppose the Pope, Tyndale famously replied, “I defy the Pope and all his laws. If God spare my life, ere many years, I will cause a boy that driveth the plow to know more of the Scripture than thou dost.”

Refused permission to translate, Tyndale fled England in 1524 and began his work in exile. Two years later, his completed New Testament was printed in Worms, Germany, and secretly shipped to England.

Church authorities responded with fury, burning copies of the book and hunting its translator. But God’s Word is not easily silenced. As Isaiah 55:11 promises, “It shall not return unto me void.” The Bible spread quickly, fueling revival and reformation across England.

Tyndale was eventually captured through betrayal, imprisoned near Brussels, and executed in 1536—only ten years after his work first reached England. During that decade, he persevered in translation. He revised his New Testament twice, translated the Pentateuch and other portions of the Old Testament, and wrote significant works defending the authority of Scripture and salvation by grace. Even under threat of death, he would not cease his labor.

As Tyndale stood at the stake, he prayed aloud, “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes.” This prayer was soon answered. Within a year, an English Bible was authorized for public reading, drawn largely from his work.

Five centuries later, the Word Tyndale gave his life to translate is still at work.

Tyndale invested—and ultimately gave—his life for one of the greatest needs of humanity: access to the living, powerful Word of God. He understood what many in his day did not—that Scripture is essential to the Christian life and the local church. It is the very instrument through which God saves sinners, comforts sufferers, and equips His church.

Today, you and I have access to Scripture because of Tyndale’s sacrifice. But perhaps we forget just how powerful Scripture is. Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful….” Indeed, God’s Word is powerful. And when it was unleashed across Europe, it changed the course of history.

The Word of God Is Powerful to Save

A sometimes overlooked fact is that the spread of the gospel during the Protestant Reformation (1517–1648) advanced alongside the translation of Scripture. Consider the timing. Erasmus published the first printed Greek New Testament in 1516. Soon after, these translations followed:

1522 – German New Testament
1525 – Zurich (Swiss) New Testament
1526 – English New Testament
1526 – Dutch New Testament (translated largely from German)
1535 – French Bible (New Testament from Greek, Old Testament from Hebrew)

As the Bible became accessible in German, English, French, and other languages, the gospel became accessible as well.

In almost every testimony of the men who became Anabaptist leaders or Reformers, we find the same story: a priest or scholar, steeped in the traditions of the state church, came into contact with Scripture—whether in Greek or in his native language—read it carefully, and discovered the simple truth of salvation by grace through faith in Christ. Having trusted Christ as Savior, he began to teach and preach the Word. For this he was persecuted. Yet the gospel itself, carried on the powerful words of Scripture, continued to spread.

As we share the gospel today, we should remember that the Holy Spirit works through His Word to convict hearts and reveal the need for a Savior.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

The Word of God Is Powerful to Comfort

Who can measure what it has meant for suffering believers across the millennia to hold Scripture in their hands and read its promises?

We can picture Tyndale himself—cold, hungry, and always knowing he was one step away from arrest and death—translating the Bible by candlelight. Imagine what it meant to him to steep his mind in the words of these passages as he translated them:

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7).

The same Word that comforted persecuted saints then still steadies grieving, anxious, heavy hearts today.

The Word of God Is Powerful to Equip

When Scripture spreads, churches grow strong.

From the Waldensians to the Lollards to the Anabaptists, effective ministry followed the availability of God’s Word. The preaching of Scripture trained evangelists, formed disciples, and established churches.

Without the Word of God, we cannot equip believers or disciple the next generation.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God…that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16–17).

The Power of the Word Endures

Today, five hundred years later, we celebrate the courageous faith and dedicated labor of William Tyndale. But even more, we praise God for His amazing, powerful, and preserved Word that still saves, still comforts, and still equips His church.

“Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it….Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments” (Psalm 119:140, 164).

May we give ourselves to read it, study it, preach it, and share it—especially with those around the world who have not yet heard the gospel or who do not have Scripture in their language.

The same Word that changed Europe five centuries ago is still changing hearts today.

As part of this year’s Spiritual Leadership Conference September 27–30 and in partnership with Dave Smith and the Museum of the Book in London, we are honored to present a special historic Scripture display with dozens of incredible rare prints of Scripture. Included in this collection is an original 1526 Tyndale New Testament. For more information on this exhibit as well as the conference, visit slconference.com.

Category

Christian Walk

Ministry Resources

Focus

Dr. Paul Chappell

Wisdom from the Word

Dr. Paul Chappell

Secular Therapy Culture vs. Biblical Christianity

John Anderson — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 20:27:05 +0000

Secular Therapy Culture vs. Biblical Christianity John Anderson Thu, 03/05/2026 - 12:27

Reclaiming Dependency on Christ and His Word

The Rise of a New Religion

Therapy culture has quietly become a replacement religion within many churches; not by denying Christ outright, but by subtly redefining what salvation, healing, and transformation mean. In this new liturgy, the highest good is not holiness but emotional safety; the greatest sin is not rebellion against God but discomfort or offense; and the ultimate authority is not Scripture but personal experience.

In The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, Carl Trueman observes that modern Western culture has shifted from moral formation to psychological affirmation, where identity is grounded not in divine revelation but in inner feelings. As a result, sermons increasingly sound like therapy sessions, discipleship feels like group counseling, and repentance has been replaced by recovery language. The cross is still mentioned, but more as a symbol of empathy than an instrument of atonement. Like the medieval church selling indulgences, the modern church now offers coping mechanisms instead of calling people to die to self.

The evidence is not theoretical; it is visible every Sunday. Congregants speak fluently about “triggers,” “boundaries,” and “trauma responses,” yet struggle to articulate repentance, mortification of sin, or obedience. Churches now defer the slightest spiritual problems to licensed professionals while sidelining the sufficiency of Scripture, despite Paul’s declaration that Scripture equips the man of God “throughly…unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Philip Rieff warned decades ago, in The Triumph of the Therapeutic, that when therapeutic categories replace moral ones, religion becomes a servant of self rather than a call to surrender.

The illustration is striking: many believers will faithfully attend counseling for years but resist biblical confrontation for fear it might harm their mental health. In practice, secular therapy culture offers absolution without repentance, comfort without change, and healing without a Savior, proving that what we are witnessing is not merely a tool used by the church, but a rival faith reshaping it from within.

Let me be clear: this is not an attack on biblical counseling, Christian counseling, or discipleship that wisely helps people process pain, suffering, and trauma through the lens of Scripture. God has gifted the church with pastors, counselors, and mature believers who come alongside others with compassion and truth.

This is a warning, however, against a secular therapy culture that functions as a rival worldview. One that refuses to acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ, minimizes the reality of sin, and denies the sufficiency of God’s Word to transform lives. When any system explains the human condition without reference to Christ, or seeks healing apart from repentance and obedience, it does not supplement biblical faith; it competes with it.

Five Ways Secular Therapy Culture Is Replacing Biblical Christianity

I. Therapy Culture Has Replaced Sin with Suffering

Therapy culture identifies nearly all problems as trauma, wounds, or emotional injury, and moral rebellion has all but disappeared. Of course, trauma, wounds, and emotional injury are legitimate; however, so is sin. Therapy has replaced almost all sin with victimhood and “what has been done” to the victim. People don't sin; they suffer. They’re not sinners, they’re victims.

But Scripture views humanity differently, declaring “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Biblical Christianity acknowledges suffering but establishes sin as man’s greatest problem.

When sin is redefined as suffering, sinners become patients, not penitents, and the cross becomes unnecessary.

Leadership Application:

Preach sin clearly and compassionately
Call people to repentance, not merely resilience
Resist the temptation to "therapize" disobedience

II. Therapy Culture Has Replaced Responsibility with Diagnosis

Biblical anthropology says mankind is responsible before God.

Therapy culture says mankind is conditioned by environment and therefore not accountable. Anger is described as “a dysregulated nervous system,” lust as “attachment insecurity,” and laziness as “executive dysfunction.” But Scripture confronts personal responsibility head on and says, “Every man shall bear his own burden.” (Galatians 6:5)

Diagnosis may explain behavior, but it cannot excuse it. Christ heals people who take responsibility, not hide behind labels.

Leadership Application:

Help people acknowledge sin rather than rename it
Equip people to fight the flesh, not justify it
Teach that self-control is the fruit of the Spirit, not a coping strategy (Gal. 5:23)

III. Therapy Culture Has Replaced God’s Word with Personal Experience

In therapy culture, self is the ultimate truth and validation of all reality, and we hear phrases like “my truth,” “my story,” and “my journey.”

The therapist’s job is to help you discover and validate your inner narrative.

But Scripture teaches us to “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17) and that “The heart is deceitful above all things.” (Jeremiah 17:9)

When feelings become authoritative, truth becomes negotiable; and when truth becomes negotiable, holiness becomes impossible.

Leadership Application:

Teach believers to trust God’s Word over their wounds
Disciple people to submit feelings to Scripture, not Scripture to feelings
Normalize spiritual disciplines over emotional venting

IV. Therapy Culture Has Replaced Transformation with Coping

Therapy culture focuses on management, not transformation. Its goal is to manage anxiety, trauma, and triggers. But the gospel aims much higher. It says, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Coping may help you survive, but Christ came to make you new. Modern culture teaches that people are fragile. Christ teaches that His people are free!

Leadership Application:

Preach transformation, not tolerance of dysfunction
Call people to spiritual maturity, not perpetual fragility
Teach that victory comes from the Spirit, not techniques

V. Therapy Culture Has Replaced Christ with Self

Therapy culture places the entire burden of healing on you. It tells you that you must find wholeness, create meaning, rewrite your narrative, and heal your inner child.

But Scripture proclaims a different gospel and declares we must be “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)

Therapy culture tells people to save themselves; Christianity declares they can’t. The cross is a humiliating message: "You are not enough. But Christ is."

Leadership Application:

Point people away from self-focus to Christ-focus
Teach dependency, not self-discovery
Replace self-esteem with gospel identity

Leadership Considerations for the Church

Leadership considerations for the church begin with this truth. Therapy and psychology are not the enemy. Worldview is! Helpful tools can be valuable, but they must never become a replacement theology.

The church must resist outsourcing discipleship to therapists, because the body of Christ is commanded to counsel one another according to Romans 15:14. Leaders must preach a gospel that is big enough to confront both sin and sorrow, neither minimizing suffering nor excusing sin. They must form people who are resilient, holy, and hopeful, not fragile, excused, and self absorbed.

Therapy culture has replaced repentance with recovery and holiness with healing. The gospel does not coddle self. It crucifies it! Jesus does not help you cope with the old life. He gives you a brand new one. Therapy culture promises healing without holiness, peace without repentance, identity without surrender, and freedom without obedience.

But Scripture offers this. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

The church must not trade the transforming power of Christ for the therapeutic gospel of self-care. Christ is not a coping mechanism; He is King.

Leadership Challenge

As leaders, we must boldly and graciously call people to repent rather than rebrand sin, to believe rather than self validate, to submit rather than self create, and to trust Christ rather than treat self. This is the path of true discipleship and the only way hearts are transformed by the power of the gospel.

The church must decide where authority truly resides. Not in cultural trends, not in therapeutic language, not in personal narratives, and not in professional credentials alone, but in the unchanging Word of the living God.

When Scripture is sidelined, Christ is softened; when Christ is softened, sin is excused; and when sin is excused, transformation is replaced with management.

The church was never commissioned to help people cope with life apart from Christ, but to proclaim a gospel that crucifies the flesh and raises new life through the power of the Spirit. Any system, no matter how compassionate it sounds, that refuses the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the sufficiency of His Word must be lovingly but firmly resisted.

This call must echo from the pulpit, where preaching is once again marked by biblical authority rather than emotional affirmation; from the home, where parents disciple children with Scripture instead of outsourcing formation to culture; and from the counselor’s office, where proper care points people not merely inward but upward, toward repentance, faith, obedience, and hope in Christ alone.

The Bible does not merely inform us; it transforms us. It does not simply soothe wounds; it sanctifies hearts. As long as the church believes that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable” (2 Timothy 3:16), it will never need to bow to a rival gospel of self-healing.

The answer to a wounded world is not less truth delivered gently; it is unchanging truth delivered lovingly, with Christ as Lord, Scripture as final authority, and the Holy Spirit as the true Counselor.

This article originally appeared on Pastor John Anderson’s blog, HelpingYourJoy.com.

Category

Christian Life

Ministry Resources

The Christian Counselor's Guidebook

Dr. Paul Chappell

Wisdom from the Word

Dr. Paul Chappell

God Is Able

Dr. Paul Chappell — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:23:59 +0000

God Is Able Dr. Paul Chappell Fri, 02/27/2026 - 16:23

When Terrie and I first drove through the Antelope Valley in early 1986, we were on vacation. A friend asked if I would preach a Sunday evening service while our family passed through, and I gladly agreed. After the service, he asked us to step outside for a moment while the church conducted a brief business meeting. When he joined us a few minutes later, he told me he had resigned and the congregation had just voted for me to be their pastor.

I was twenty-four. Twelve people had cast the vote. And I hadn’t even known I was candidating.

Initially, Terrie and I said we couldn’t come. We were happily serving on a church staff in Northern California. But God changed our hearts, and before we had even left town, He gave us a burden for this desert community and the small church who had asked for a shepherd.

In those early days, Terrie and I poured our hearts, energy, and meager savings into a struggling flock. But it was God who did the miraculous. We watched as He brought people to Himself, restored families, and transformed lives by His grace.

Looking back now, I can only marvel. The same God who called us then has proven Himself faithful at every turn. He has done far more than we ever dreamed.

There is only one explanation for what God has done here: God is able. He is able to take twelve people and a failing property and build a thriving church. He is able to bring fruit from desert places and strength from weakness. He is able to take small offerings, humble service, and persistent prayer and make them abound to His glory.

Through every need and every new beginning, God has proved what His Word declares: “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” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

God is able to work in your life too. He is able to renew what has grown weary, to enlarge what is limited, to strengthen what is fragile, to multiply what is small, and to sustain what we entrust to Him. The work of God has never depended on the ability of man; it has always depended on the sufficiency of His grace.

God Is Able to Renew Your Spirit

Every Christian who has served the Lord for any length of time knows what it feels like to grow weary in well-doing. Fatigue settles in quietly—spiritual fatigue, emotional fatigue, sometimes even physical fatigue. The heart that once burned bright for God can cool under the winds of opposition or the weight of routine.

But God specializes in renewal. The same power that raised Christ from the grave is able to breathe new strength into tired servants. Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers to know “the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead” (Ephesians 1:19–20).

Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “God is able to make all grace abound toward you.” That word abound means “to overflow.” His grace doesn’t trickle; it pours. When our strength is spent, His supply is full.

For an example of God’s ability to renew your spirit, consider the prophet Daniel. Daniel’s life in Babylon was marked by loss, hardship, and personal attacks. Yet Scripture says he had “an excellent spirit” (Daniel 5:12). His circumstances didn’t define his attitude; his God did.

The same renewing grace that sustained Daniel works today. God is able to renew your spirit with faith when you’re surrounded by fear, with humility when pride creeps in, and with joy when duty begins to feel heavy.

History is full of examples of believers whose renewed spirits changed everything around them. One of the early Anabaptist pastors, Michael Sattler, knew his ministry would likely end in martyrdom. When arrested for his faith, he prayed for his persecutors and reminded his congregation that God’s grace would be enough, even in death. As the flames rose, he lifted two fingers—the sign he had promised his church to show that God’s grace was sustaining him. What courage. What grace. What renewal.

That same renewing grace is available to every believer who feels pressed, forgotten, or discouraged. You may not face what Sattler faced, but you may face your own fires of disappointment or fatigue. God has not changed. His mercies “are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23). His Spirit still whispers hope where the world speaks despair.

When God’s grace renews your spirit, Christ will be magnified in and through your life.

God Is Able to Enlarge Your Vision

When God renews your spirit, He doesn’t do it merely to comfort you; He does it to expand your faith. Renewal always precedes vision. A refreshed heart begins to see possibilities that a weary heart could never imagine.

Biblical vision is not human ambition; it is spiritual sight. It’s the ability to see what God can do when His grace goes to work in impossible places. Proverbs 29:18 tells us, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” The opposite is also true: where there is vision—rooted in God’s Word and led by His Spirit—people flourish.

Spiritual vision is viewing my life and ministry through the lens of God’s Word. It comes from reading in His Word what He has commanded us to do, seeing in His Word what He is able to do, and believing by faith what He desires to do through me. Thus, the implementation of vision is primarily an act of obedience to the Word of God.

For instance, as a pastor, I have shared with our church family a vision for our fortieth year of ministry. That vision includes audacious goals related to outreach, discipleship, missions, and more. Yet each of these goals is rooted in Christ’s Great Commission and fueled by His promises and power.

Indeed, God delights in giving His servants a fresh view of His power. Sometimes vision begins with a burden, a prayer, or a dream that seems far beyond reach. David looked across the valley and saw a giant. While others saw a fearful threat, David saw an opportunity for God’s glory. Nehemiah looked at the crumbled walls of Jerusalem and saw what could be rebuilt. Every great work of God begins with someone who dares to believe that God is able.

Vision, however, does not come without challenge. The moment you begin to see what God could do, the critics begin to speak. Eliab mocked David’s motives. Sanballat and Tobiah ridiculed Nehemiah’s efforts. Yet those who fix their eyes on God’s promises instead of man’s opposition find the courage to keep trusting that God is able.

Every generation needs fresh faith. Every local church needs renewed vision. Every Christian needs to look beyond what is and believe again in what God could do. We must have faith to believe, make time to pray, exercise courage to do, and anchor our hope in God to endure.

God Is Able to Strengthen Your Hands

When God enlarges your vision, He also equips your hands. His calling never comes without His enabling. Yes, every new opportunity brings its own set of challenges, but every challenge becomes an invitation to experience God’s strength in fresh ways.

In Scripture, we see this pattern often. When Nehemiah saw the broken walls of Jerusalem, he didn’t stop at vision; he picked up a trowel and invited others to join him. The people responded, “Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work” (Nehemiah 2:18). Their renewed vision gave way to renewed effort, and their effort was sustained by grace.

Serving God is not for the faint of heart. It takes endurance to build, courage to adjust, and faith to keep rowing together when the winds of adversity blow.

Forty years ago, on my first Sunday night as pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church, I stood before fewer than twenty people and preached a message titled “Striving Together” from Philippians 1:27: “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”

As a young pastor, I longed for a church that would strive together to reach our community for Christ—to see people saved, added to the church, and growing as spiritual Christians who would love and labor alongside one another. At the time, I could never have imagined the incredible ways God would work through a church who did just that.

The Greek word translated “striving together” comes from the athletic term synathleō. It refers to rowing or contending side by side toward a shared goal.

There’s something powerful about believers pulling in rhythm. When one side rows ahead in pride or lags behind in discouragement, the whole boat veers off course. But when every heart beats to the rhythm of grace—when we serve humbly, give faithfully, and pray fervently—God strengthens the entire team.

Sometimes His strengthening grace takes the form of growth. He gives grace to grow spiritually when you feel stagnant, to grow relationally when unity is strained, and to grow in stewardship when faith is tested.

Other times His grace helps you adjust. When, like the early church in Acts 6, we find ourselves at capacity, we need to adjust our methods without compromising principle. You may be in a season that requires new rhythms, new partnerships, or new perseverance. Don’t retreat from the work. When your hands tremble, His hands hold you. When your strength fades, His grace abounds.

As we labor together in God’s vineyard, the goal is not comfort but faithfulness. We are not here to maintain; we are here to build. God is able to strengthen your hands to do what He has called you to do.

God Is Able to Multiply His Grace

The grace of God is never stagnant. It doesn’t stop with one generation, one ministry, or one life. When God strengthens your hands, it’s not only so you can build; it’s so you can invest in others. The same grace that renews and sustains us is meant to multiply through us.

Paul wrote to Timothy, “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 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 2:1–2). That’s the divine pattern of multiplication: grace received becomes grace extended.

Every Christian is both a recipient and a steward of grace. We’re not meant to hoard it; we’re meant to pass it on.

In ministry, this happens when we invest intentionally in people. Training others is not just about transferring knowledge; it’s about transferring a heart. It’s teaching truth and modeling faith. It’s helping others see the sufficiency of Christ in both victory and hardship.

Sometimes that work feels slow. But there is no success without succession. The healthiest ministries are not those that depend on one person’s strength but those that rest on God’s grace multiplied through many hands and hearts.

If God has placed someone in your life to mentor, encourage, or equip, remember that you are part of His multiplying work. You’re investing in what will outlast you.

God Is Able to Sustain Your Faith

The longer you serve the Lord, the more you realize that strength for the journey doesn’t come from within; it comes from above. The same God who renews, enlarges, strengthens, and multiplies His grace also sustains His people when the winds of adversity blow hardest.

Paul urged the Thessalonian believers, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught” (2 Thessalonians 2:15). In every generation, the call remains the same: stand fast in truth and steadfast in grace.

To stand for truth in an unstable world takes courage, but to do it with grace takes maturity. It’s easy to grow sharp in conviction but cold in spirit. Yet the grace that strengthens our stand also softens our hearts.

Standing in truth has always required grace. The balance of conviction and compassion marks true spiritual stability. Jude 3 calls us to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints,” and Romans 14 reminds us to walk in love toward one another. We must hold our doctrine tightly while relating to our co-laborers in the gospel graciously.

True faith doesn’t waver with every cultural trend or theological debate. It endures because it rests on the unchanging character of God. He alone is faithful through every season of ministry, every moment of uncertainty, and every transition still to come.

Maybe you’re walking through a trial that has tested your endurance. Maybe you’re facing a future that feels uncertain. Remember, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). Faith doesn’t survive because we hold tightly to God—it survives because He holds tightly to us.

God Is Still Able

Forty years ago, a handful of believers gathered in a desert town with little more than faith in their hearts and God’s Word in their hands. They didn’t see what was coming—the lives that would be changed, the families that would be restored, the students who would be trained, the missionaries who would be sent. But God saw it all.

Every answered prayer, every changed life, every milestone of ministry is living proof of one truth: God is able.

He has been able to renew our spirits when we were weary, to enlarge our vision when our sight was small, to strengthen our hands when the work was great, to multiply His grace through generations of faithful people, and to sustain our faith through every trial.

The same grace that carried us yesterday is the grace that will carry us tomorrow.

And He is able still.

There are more souls to reach, more children to teach, more cities and nations to touch with the gospel. There are new battles to fight and new leaders to train. There is another generation rising who must see in us the same confidence we found in Him—that God is able.

If these years have taught me anything, it is that God’s ability never diminishes with time. His grace is as boundless today as it was when we first believed.

Whatever season you’re walking through—whether you’re planting a new work, enduring a desert season, or simply trusting God to meet a personal need—His promise to you is the same: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you.”

Look back with gratitude. Look around with grace. Look ahead with faith.

Our sufficiency is not in our wisdom, planning, or strength. It is in our God. The God who began the work is able to finish it. The God who met every need in the past will meet every need in the future.

So keep believing. Keep building. Keep standing. Because whatever comes next, God is able.

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

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Five Biblical Steps to Navigating Marital Conflict

Dr. Paul Chappell — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 00:36:30 +0000

Five Biblical Steps to Navigating Marital Conflict Dr. Paul Chappell Fri, 02/20/2026 - 16:36

Terrie and I celebrated forty-five years of marriage this past December. For those who are married, it will not come as a surprise to learn that over four and a half decades, we have experienced our share of conflicts and disagreements.

Conflict is an inevitable part of any relationship of real depth, including marriage. Some couples assume that conflict should be avoided at all costs. The real issue, however, is not whether disagreements will arise, but how we respond when they do. The greatest danger comes when conflict is ignored, denied, or left unresolved.

Thankfully, God’s Word provides clear and practical instruction for handling conflict in a way that protects unity, strengthens trust, and honors Christ. When approached God’s way, conflict can become an opportunity for growth rather than a source of division.

When approached God’s way, conflict can become an opportunity for growth rather than a source of division. SHARE ON X

Here are five biblical steps to navigating marital conflict.

Step 1: Acknowledge the Conflict

One of the most common and destructive responses to conflict is denial—pretending that everything is fine when it is not. Ignoring conflict does not make it disappear. Rather, unresolved issues often resurface later in more harmful ways.

Scripture encourages us to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). This means addressing disagreements honestly, but with grace and humility. Avoiding difficult conversations may feel easier in the moment, but over time it often leads to bitterness and emotional distance.

Acknowledging conflict does not mean escalating it. Rather, it means being willing to admit that something is wrong and committing to address it instead of avoiding it. When both spouses are willing to face an issue with a loving spirit, space is created for understanding, repentance, reconciliation, and growth in the relationship.

Step 2: Seek God’s Wisdom

Before engaging in a difficult conversation, pause and seek the Lord. James 1:5 promises wisdom to those who ask God sincerely and humbly: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

When conflict arises, emotions can easily take control, and reacting too quickly often leads to words we later regret. Prayer slows us down. It allows God to search our hearts, expose pride, and align our responses with His will.

Seeking God’s wisdom reminds us that the goal is not to win an argument, but to glorify God through how we treat our spouse.

Step 3: Communicate with Grace

The way we speak during conflict has a significant impact on the outcome. Proverbs 15:1 teaches, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” Harsh or accusatory words tend to inflame tension, while gentle and thoughtful responses can help de-escalate a situation.

A helpful guideline is to focus on the problem rather than attacking the person. Using “I” statements instead of placing blame can keep communication constructive. For example, saying, “I felt hurt when…” is often more effective than, “You always…,” because it expresses concern without putting your spouse on the defensive.

Effective communication also involves listening. Scripture reminds us, “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19). True communication requires a willingness to hear your spouse’s heart without interrupting or becoming defensive. When both spouses are committed to listening and responding with grace, they create space for resolving conflict rather than escalating it.

Step 4: Choose Forgiveness

Unforgiveness is one of the greatest threats to marital unity. Ephesians 4:32 calls us to “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” When forgiveness is withheld, bitterness takes root and intimacy suffers.

Forgiveness does not mean minimizing the hurt or pretending the offense never occurred. It is a deliberate decision to release the debt and refuse to hold it against your spouse. In doing so, you free both yourself and your marriage from the weight of resentment.

Forgiveness is not a feeling that comes naturally; it is a choice of obedience. Often, we must choose to forgive before our emotions have caught up. As forgiveness replaces bitterness, healing is allowed to begin.

God calls us to forgive because we ourselves have been forgiven. When we rely on His grace, forgiveness becomes a pathway to restoration rather than a barrier to closeness.

Step 5: Work toward Unity, Not Victory

In moments of conflict, it is tempting to focus on being right or proving a point. But marriage is not about winning arguments; it is about building unity. Genesis 2:24 describes God’s design for marriage: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” When spouses view each other as opponents, both lose.

Unity does not happen automatically. It requires humility and a willingness to prioritize the relationship over personal pride. Instead of seeing your spouse as the opposition, remind yourself that you are on the same team.

When husbands and wives remember that they are striving together—not against one another—conflict can become an opportunity for deeper understanding and stronger unity. Rather than asking, “How can I win this argument?” a better question is, “How can we move forward together in a way that honors the Lord and reflects His grace?”

From Conflict to Growth

Conflict is a normal part of married life, but it does not have to damage your relationship. When conflict is acknowledged, brought before the Lord, addressed with gracious communication, met with forgiveness, and guided toward unity, God can use it to strengthen your marriage.

The next time you face a disagreement, remember these five steps. By choosing to honor God in how you respond, you’ll strengthen your marriage and build a lasting foundation of love and trust.

This article was originally published on PaulChappell.com, where you can also access podcasts, subscribe to daily devotionals, and discover additional ministry resources.

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God Is Able to Use You

Dr. Nick Piervicenti — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 18:43:29 +0000

God Is Able to Use You Dr. Nick Piervicenti Thu, 02/12/2026 - 10:43

How a Year of Bible College Can Strengthen Your Faith

When Jesus called His first disciples, He used just two simple words: “Follow Me.” Those words changed everything for Peter, James, John, and others who left behind their plans to follow the Savior who would change their lives.

Today, that call still echoes. And all over the world, young people who want their lives to count for God are hearing the invitation.

Think about it. Everyone follows someone—athletes, influencers, friends, trends, personal goals—but Jesus invites you to follow Him.

If you’re a high school student or young adult considering your future, one of the best choices you can make is to give God one focused year at Bible college to grow your faith. A year at Bible college isn’t just about preparing for ministry; it’s about building your walk with God, strengthening your convictions, and discovering His direction for your life.

1. A Year of Bible College Can Deepen Your Walk with God

Before Jesus ever sent His disciples out to preach or serve, He first called them to be with Him. Mark 3:14 says, “And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him.”

Every great step of faith begins by spending time with Jesus. And Bible college gives you the opportunity to do just that. For one year, your schedule, your friends, and your focus revolve around growing in your relationship with God.

Through daily classes, chapel messages, ministry opportunities, and quiet moments in God’s Word, you’ll learn what it means to walk with God personally—not just know about Him, but truly know Him.

Psalm 1 says that those who delight in God’s Word are “like a tree planted by the rivers of water.” When you give God a year to grow your roots deep in His Word, you’ll find strength and stability for every part of your future.

2. A Year of Bible College Can Strengthen Your Convictions

We live in a world of shifting opinions, loud voices, and constant pressure to blend in.

If you want to stand strong for Christ, you need solid convictions from God’s Word that you know, believe, and live by.

That’s what a year at Bible college helps build. You’ll study Scripture deeply, learn how to apply it personally, and grow confident in what you believe and why. The Bible says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed” (2 Timothy 2:15).

In class discussions, chapel messages, and conversations with teachers and mentors, you’ll learn to think biblically about real-life issues. You’ll see how God’s truth speaks into every decision—from your relationships to your future career.

When your convictions are grounded in God’s Word, you don’t have to fear the world’s opinions. You can walk with confidence, knowing that your life is built on unchanging truth.

3. A Year at Bible College Can Clarify Your Direction

When I was seventeen and got my driver’s license, I looked for any excuse to drive. If my mom needed milk, I volunteered. If my brother needed a ride, I was ready. But one day on a family trip, we drove straight into a downpour so heavy I could barely see the road. I slowed down and focused on the one thing I could see—the taillights of the car ahead of me. As long as I followed those lights, I stayed on the road.

Sometimes life feels like that. You’re not sure what’s ahead or what God wants for your future. That’s why it’s so important to fix your eyes on Jesus.

A year at Bible college helps clear the fog. It’s a time to seek God, grow in His Word, and let Him direct your next steps. Proverbs 3:6 promises, “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

When you give God time and space to speak, He makes His direction clear—whether He leads you into full-time ministry or strengthens your faith for any path He calls you to take.

Answer the Call

God is still calling young people to follow Him. He doesn’t just call the most talented or confident; He calls those who are willing. If you’ll give God one year of focused time to grow in His Word, strengthen your convictions, and clarify your direction, He can use it to shape the rest of your life.

You don’t have to have everything figured out to take the next step. Just start by saying, “Lord, I’m willing to follow You.”

God is able to use your life, and one year of Bible college may be exactly what He uses to prepare you for all He has planned.

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

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The Untapped Power of Prayer

Tyler Gillit — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 20:35:51 +0000

The Untapped Power of Prayer Tyler Gillit Fri, 02/06/2026 - 12:35

Do you remember the first time you heard James 5:16? “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Chances are, this promise brought great relief as you learned that God’s great power is available through the simple exercise of prayer.

Now think for a moment about the first people who ever heard these words. The scattered believers who initially received James’ letter were living in difficult times. Persecution forced them to flee from their homes. They found refuge in foreign lands that eventually became as hostile to their faith as the place they left. The letter indicates that rich and powerful men oppressed them, even putting some to death. In addition to all the trouble they faced from the culture, there were wars and fights within the congregation. No wonder as James writes to these discouraged and defeated saints, he reminds them of the power of prayer.

History knows James as the pastor and leader of the church in Jerusalem. His peers nicknamed him “James the Just.” According to the historian Eusebius, the church members at Jerusalem had a different nickname for him. They called him “Old camel knees.” James spent so much time kneeling in prayer that his knees developed calluses and resembled the knobby knees of a camel. So, when James wrote on prayer, he wrote as someone who practiced what he preached.

James reveals that prayer has two kinds of power. The word availeth refers to “inherent strength.” It is the power that makes something sufficient for its task. It is latent power waiting to be unleashed. (Think of gasoline stored in a tank.) The word effectual gives us the English word “energy.” It refers to power of something in use—its effect. (Think of gasoline burning in an engine.) James wants us to know that prayer has enormous power, but it must be activated and unleashed.

I grew up in the oil patches of West Texas. The land is rough and rugged. Vegetation won’t grow, and animals can’t survive. For thousands of years, it was considered some of the most useless land in the world. That all changed in 1920 when a leasing agent for the Texas and Pacific Land Trust discovered petroleum in the Permian Basin. Since then, West Texas oil has fueled our nation for over one hundred years. There was an ocean of power beneath the surface, waiting for someone to tap into it.

There is an ocean of power in prayer, but someone has to tap into it. When we pray, the untapped power of God becomes the unleashed power of God. How powerful is prayer? It is just as powerful as God. When a righteous person prays fervently in God’s will, latent power becomes effective.

When we pray, the untapped power of God becomes the unleashed power of God

Prayer fuels Bible study and preaching. Prayer fuels soul-winning and discipleship. Prayer fuels the mighty engine of the local church. If there is a power shortage in our lives or churches, we can trace it to a failure to pray.

Hannah prayed and got a baby. Joshua prayed, and the sun stood still. Abraham’s servant prayed, and Isaac got a wife. Jonah prayed, and a whale got indigestion. Daniel prayed, and lions got lockjaw. Esther prayed and saved a nation. Elijah prayed, and it didn’t rain. Three years later, he prayed again, and it rained. Paul and Silas prayed, escaped jail, and led the jailer to Christ the same night.

If prayer could do all that for them, what could it do for you? What marriage could it restore? What prodigal could it bring home? What family member could it save? What city could it shake? What nation could it revive? Prayer can do anything God can do, but we have to pray.

I once heard a story of a father and son riding bikes together. They came to a place in the trail where a large tree trunk was impeding their path. Instead of going around it, the father used it as a teachable moment. They got off their bikes, and the father said, “I want you to move that tree trunk.” The boy pushed and gave it all he had, but he couldn’t move it. The father said, “I want you to try again.” So the boy did it again. The father asked, “Son, try again. Be sure to use all your strength.” The boy tried for the third time. By this time, tears were pouring down his face. “I’m sorry, Dad. I just can’t do it.” The father asked, “Son, did you use all your strength?” He said, “Yes.” The father responded, “No, you didn’t. Because you didn’t ask me for help.”

Many believers are frustrated and discouraged because they are trying to move an obstacle that will not move. They are trying hard and giving their best effort, but it’s not moving. Remember that your greatest strength is not your intelligence, finances, or problem-solving ability. Your greatest strength is not even your faith. Your greatest strength is your heavenly Father, and in many cases, He’s just waiting for you to ask.

What obstacle in your life needs the power of prayer? Start tapping into God’s power today.

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

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When New Year's Resolutions are Forgotten or Broken...What Do I Do?

Scott Wendal — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 19:46:49 +0000

When New Year's Resolutions are Forgotten or Broken...What Do I Do? Scott Wendal Wed, 01/28/2026 - 11:46

Every January millions of people make goals and resolutions… near the end of the first month many of those resolutions have fizzled. Those idealist goals include things like healthier eating, regular exercise, quality time with family, more time with God in His Word and prayer, and some even make goals regarding spending less to being more kind or diligent at work. When asked in a survey how long their resolutions last, over half of Americans responded with three months or less.

When asked in a survey how long their resolutions last, over half of Americans responded with three months or less.

Experts acknowledge that the excitement of a new year often results in people setting impractical goals. Literally thousands of helpful books (like Atomic Habits) encourage people to set reasonable small goals. The premise is that “implementing the right habits will drastically improve your life. It is true that small adjustments lead to massive transformations. Even with this understanding there needs to be three keys to be successful in personal growth and transformation: 1) The Right Desires; and 2) the Right Priorities; and 3) the Right Power.

The Right Desires

Being made in the image of God, every human being has mind, emotion, and will. As our Heavenly Father, the Lord desires us to love Him in response to His great love for us. The apostle John understood this when he said, “We love Him [God], because He first loved us” I John 4:19. Once a person has given their heart and life to Christ, they have a new spiritual nature. It is our responsibility to fan the flames of our new spiritual desires.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness….” Matthew 5:6

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Mattew 6:33

“Thou shalt love the Lord that God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Matthew 22:37

Once I have the right desires (seeking God) and I have them for the right reasons (the glory of God), I am now prepared to determine the right priorities of my life.

The Right Priorities

The basic principle of life and stewardship is this - God owns everything. God owns everything, including ME! He also owns my time and He owns your time.

The Basic Principle of Life and Stewardship is this - God owns everything, including ME!

As Christians, we are all living with the understanding from the same book – the Bible! As you mature in your faith and grow in Biblical knowledge you will most likely come to the same conclusion of believers down through the centuries that life is about relationships – first with God, family, then others. I have had the opportunity to invest and train hundreds of missionary couples by sharing my list of priorities – beginning with the most important:

1. Faith

2. Family

3. Friends

4. Fitness

5. Finances

6. Fun

You may choose different words or phrases to delineate your priorities of life, but we all begin with “GOD FIRST” and certainly would place our family relationships right after the Lord.

You may generally agree with this list “right priorities” but the question is – “Am I spending my time, money, and energy in alignment with what I believe is important?” A sad but true commentary of 21st century Christianity is that “we worship our work, work at our play, and play at our worship.”

Rather than feel defeated or discouraged over “broken or forgotten” New Year’s’\ Resolutions, why not determine today to “re-align” your day, week, and month with godly priorities? This kind of attitude is not defeated by your past (Philippians 3:12-14), but is energized because God has given us a brand new day and we can “make a difference” with His power working in us.

The Right Power

With the right desires guided by the right priorities, we now turn to the Lord to experience the right power. For Christians, spiritual transformation begins in the heart. Once we have the epiphany that “we were made by God and made for God” we then can begin to discover how to spend our life – beginning with the next hour, day, week, and month. Yes, this takes a little bit of planning and a whole lot of humility. The apostle Paul acknowledged this, even when he was in prison, God could work in and through him when he wrote…

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13.

How do we access the power of God in our lives on a daily basis?

1. Renew your mind daily in the Word of God.

Begin everyday with the prayer of the Psalmist, “Open though mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” Psalm 119:18

2. Seek to be like Christ in your thoughts, words, attitudes, and actions.

Invite the Holy Spirit to transform you – little by little – to be more like Jesus.

3. Take responsibility for your words and actions.

Jesus calls us to “deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him” Luke 9:23.

4. Ask the Lord to guide and empower you by His Holy Spirit.

The Lord delights in “showing up” in the lives of His children. Never cease to be amazed that even though “our sins they are many, His mercy is more.” “Walking by faith” means that we are choosing to follow the Lord and His Word, even when we don’t understand it or feel like it. God’s love and truth shines brightest when we are broken and weak. Paul encourages us by his power personal testimony… “when I am weak, then am I strong.” In my greatest weakness, “the power of Christ rests on me.”
Don’t let your life be defined by broken or forgotten New Year’s Resolutions, rather choose the right desires which leads to the right priorities that will be fulfilled with the right power - God’s Power!

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Depravity and Free Will

Dr. Tobi England — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 22:47:17 +0000

Depravity and Free Will Dr. Tobi England Thu, 01/15/2026 - 14:47

A Response to Calvinism

This year at Spiritual Leadership Conference, Dr. Tobi England addressed one of the most important theological discussions of our day: free will and Calvinism. His session blended both truth and grace, tackling difficult questions with biblical clarity. This article is a condensed version of that session, you can listen to the full session here or access any session from SLC 2025. We're already looking forward to this year's conference, September 27-30th—register here.

If you've ever tried to sort through Calvinism, depravity, and the "regeneration before faith" debate, and you want a biblical way to think about it, this article will be a great help to you.

Three Starting Points

Before diving in, let me establish three things that matter for this conversation.

First, this is a Christians-with-Christians discussion. The conversation about Calvinism distinguishes Christians from other Christians, not believers from non-believers. Not everybody who disagrees with you is a heretic. There is such a thing as heresy, for instance if you deny the resurrection of Jesus, you need to get saved, but the Calvinism debate lives in the category of in-house theological disagreements. That being said, I do believe there are some errors in theology we can and need to correct, and I hope to address some of those today.

Second, theological errors often begin as imbalances. Many don't start by teaching something obviously false. They start by over-emphasizing one particular point in theology until it crushes the others. While we don't have unlimited space here, I want to be clear: we must affirm the sovereignty of God without reservation, without caveat, and with great clarity. God is sovereign, absolutely. God is fully unlimited in His power and complete in His authority. Yes, the sovereignty of God is relevant when we're discussing free will.

Third, we should judge positions by their best arguments, not their worst. Very few things can hurt a good position more than bad arguments for it. There are bad arguments against Calvinism, just as there are bad arguments for it. We're much more critical of somebody's reasons when their conclusions don't align with ours. I hope you'll join me in being thorough and thoughtful, because what we're addressing here is one of the central issues.

Where Scripture Starts: God Desires Salvation for All

First Timothy 2:4 says God "will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." Scripture is clear, and repeats, that God desires the salvation of all men. A ministry focused on evangelism and soul-winning recognizes this instinctively: God's heart is for people to be saved. Jesus died for everyone. He died for the sins of the whole world. We're commanded to spread the gospel, and God's desire is for the salvation of the lost. It's not God's fault if the lost remain lost.

A Biblical Understanding of Free Will

What do we mean by free will? In general, it's the human capacity to choose a course of action from among various alternatives. Scripture teaches that free will is part of God's creation.

But we need to define our terms carefully, because people use "free will" to mean very different things. Some define freedom like this: you're free to act according to your desires, but you're not free to choose your desires. That's not genuine free choice. If you could not have chosen otherwise because those desires were caused outside of yourself, then you have free will in label only.

What I'm arguing for (what I believe Scripture teaches) is that we genuinely have the ability to choose, and we are responsible for those choices. This is what theologians call a libertarian view of free will.

Where We See This in Scripture

Adam had a choice in the garden. Genesis 2:17 warns him not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam wasn't destined or determined to sin, he deliberately chose to rebel against God. That's an important point, because if he didn't choose to disobey, then where's the fall? We find that Adam is blameworthy because of the choice he made.

We see it with Joshua, telling the people to "choose you this day whom ye will serve" (Joshua 24:15). We see it when Jesus looks over Jerusalem and says, "how often would I have gathered thy children together... and ye would not" (Matthew 23:37). We see it when Stephen says, "ye do always resist the Holy Ghost" (Acts 7:51).

Here's the principle underneath it all: culpability requires capability. If I'm culpable for something, that means I'm blameworthy. But I can't be blamed for something I had no capacity to do otherwise. You wouldn't blame me if you tripped over your own untied shoelace while I was unknowingly standing on it. Why? Because it wasn't intentional. It wasn't a choice I made.

Throughout Scripture, God holds us blameworthy for the choices He gives us. And culpability demands capability.

Romans 1:20 makes this explicit: "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." Notice that—the invisible things are not only seen, but understood. And it's that understanding that leads to accountability.

The Drawing of God Is Universal

Now, it's absolutely true that we need God active in our lives to be saved. God is the prime mover in salvation. That's not a Calvinist teaching, that's a biblical teaching. I'm not saved because I sought after God. I'm saved because God sought after me.

But here's where many jump the tracks theologically: the drawing of God, the moving of the Holy Spirit, that's a universal experience for all humans, not a selective one reserved for the elect.

John 12:32 says, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." Romans 1 speaks of general revelation - creation itself reveals God's eternal power and divine nature. Some people argue that dead men can't respond to truth, that there's no point in apologetics with unbelievers because they're spiritually dead. But Paul says even general revelation is understood by the unsaved world. That's why they are "without excuse."

We are hopeless without divine revelation and the moving of the Holy Spirit. But Scripture also teaches that all humans have access to both.

A Biblical Understanding of Depravity

Let's be equally clear: we believe the Bible teaches depravity. Romans 3: "There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God." We're not only sinners because we sin and we sin because we're sinners. We have a sinful nature. Original sin is real. Read Romans 5.

But depravity is not the same as total inability. This is where so many philosophies (Calvinism and others) go off the rail.

Edwin Palmer, a Calvinist theologian, says this plainly: "Another way of describing total depravity is to call it total inability." I'm working hard not to create a straw man here, as you're going to hear from Spurgeon, Piper, Frame, Sproul, and others. But what we find is that total inability is not a scriptural teaching.

Depravity means I have a sin nature. Depravity means I'm guilty before God. Depravity means Adam's sin passed to all of us. But the Bible does not teach total inability.

The Jack-in-the-Box Illustration

Look again at Romans 1. Verse 18 says men "hold the truth in unrighteousness." What does it mean to "hold" the truth? It doesn't mean holding it like you hold a remote. The idea is to suppress or withhold it.

When my kids were little, we had one of those jack-in-the-box toys. You turn the crank, it plays the music, and then—pop!—the clown jumps out. My kids figured out they could put their hand on the lid and hold it down while they turned the crank. They liked the music, but they didn't want the jump. So they suppressed it. They kept it in.

That's what Paul is teaching. We withhold the truth. We suppress it. We reject it. But Scripture says God has made Himself so clear through creation that the invisible things are "clearly seen and understood, so that they are without excuse."

General revelation is sufficient to condemn, not to redeem. But it is enough to make man accountable.

Why Total Inability Leads to Determinism

Here's the pivot: total inability leads to determinism.

Determinism says it's already planned out. You can't change it. You're not really in charge of your own decisions. It's all scripted. You're just playing the part.

And determinism isn't an uncommon worldview. Multiple worldviews deny libertarian free will. I read a whole book by an atheist materialist who argued that every atheist ought to be a genuine determinist. Why? Because if everything is caused by what came before, and what came before goes outside your lifetime, you're not responsible for the chain of events that leads to your decisions. They're determined.

So determinism has more in common with Islam or atheistic materialism than it does with a biblical view of moral responsibility.

The Problem of Adam's Sin

Look at where the determinist system breaks down: Adam.

R.C. Sproul wrestles with this in his writing. He acknowledges that before someone can commit an act of sin, they must first have the desire to perform that act. Evil actions flow from evil desires. But Adam and Eve were not created fallen. They had no sin nature. They were good creatures with free will and yet they chose to sin.

Sproul's response? "Why? I don't know."

But I think we can know. We can know because the choice to sin is always something we're responsible for, because God holds us responsible, because we have moral free will. Why did Adam and Eve sin? Because they chose to. It's as simple as that. God didn't cause them to sin. God didn't force them. God didn't put them on a track where they could do nothing but sin.

When I was a kid, we had a slot-car race track. You'd squeeze the trigger to control the speed, but there was a pin on the bottom of the car that tracked a groove in the track. The kid driving the car wasn't choosing direction, only speed. The path was determined.

That's unlike a radio-controlled car today, where you can make it go right, left, forward, or back. The path isn't predetermined.

God hasn't predetermined everything that's going to happen. He's given us genuine free will.

Foreknowledge Isn't Causation

Now, some people get hung up here. Does God know all things future? Yes, He does. Every characteristic God has, He has to its fullest extent. God's knowledge is absolutely complete. God knows the future.

So here's the question: if God knows what you're going to choose for breakfast tomorrow, could you choose something different?

The honest answer is no, you couldn't choose differently than what God knows you're going to do.

But that doesn't undermine free will. God's foreknowledge doesn't cause us to lose our freedom.

Here's an example: if I offered my wife a choice between sushi and Mexican food, I'd bet my entire net worth on what she'd choose. She doesn't like raw fish. I know she'd pick Mexican. Does that mean she's not making the choice? Does my knowing ahead of time mean I forced her to choose Mexican food? Of course not. It's her choice, and my knowledge of what she would choose doesn't determine it.

The foreknowledge of God isn't something that removes our free will or our culpability.

Four Errors We Must Avoid

Let me wrap up by identifying four specific errors we need to avoid.

Error #1: Teaching That Salvation Precedes Faith

Some argue that first you get saved, and then you have faith. Faith isn't how you receive the gospel, it's evidence that God flipped the light switch at some point.

Boettner argues, "A man is not saved because he believes in Christ. He believes in Christ because he is saved." John Piper echoes this: "We do not think that faith precedes and causes new birth. Faith is evidence that God has begot us anew." R.C. Sproul goes even further: "The cardinal point of reformed theology is this maxim: regeneration precedes faith."

But we contrast that with what we see in Scripture. We're saved by grace through faith. John 11 says, "He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." John 3:16: "Whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life." Galatians 3:26: "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."

Our faith is the response we're required to give to the gospel in salvation. Even Charles Spurgeon said plainly, "We are all ready to set our seal to the clearest possible statement that men are saved by faith in Jesus Christ and saved the moment they believe."

Error #2: Treating Foreknowledge as Deterministic

We absolutely believe the full sovereignty and omniscience of God. But if you turn God's knowledge into God's causation, the implications are terrible. How do you counsel someone who's been abused or raped and say, "Well, God is the primary direct cause of that suffering in your life"?

A better biblical explanation is this: we live in a fallen world, and God overcomes evil through the cross. God didn't eliminate the possibility of sin by removing free will. God conquered the reality of suffering and evil through Christ.

Norman Geisler states it well: "If God is the cause of all human action, then humans are not really morally responsible."

Error #3: Denying the Universal Offer of Salvation

Second Peter 3:9 says God is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." Acts 17:30 says God "commandeth all men every where to repent."

God died for and desires the salvation of all. Not everybody will be saved—but that's because of our free will, our depravity, our rebellion against God. Just like Adam and Eve chose to go against God's will, so those who reject the gospel choose to go against God's desire.

Error #4: Making God the Cause of Sin

Kenneth Keathley puts it bluntly: "If determinism is true, then God is the first cause of sin."

That's a terrible problem. And it's one we must avoid.

The Bottom Line

I want to close with a quote from Charles Spurgeon that I can fully agree with:

"If a man be saved, all honor is to be given to Christ. If a man be lost, all the blame is to be laid upon himself. You will find all true theology summed up in these two short sentences. Salvation is all of the grace of God. Damnation is all of the will of man."

Second Peter 3:9 remains clear: God is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

The idea that you have to embrace determinism to affirm God's sovereignty simply isn't biblical. We can (and must) affirm both the absolute sovereignty of God and the genuine moral responsibility of man. Scripture holds both in perfect balance, and so should we.

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Christian Walk

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Dr. Paul Chappell

The Resilient Life

Keep The Faith

Dr. Paul Chappell

Running a Church Is Harder Than Running a Business

Dave Delaney — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 18:18:29 +0000

Running a Church Is Harder Than Running a Business Dave Delaney Wed, 01/14/2026 - 10:18

Business analyst Peter Drucker once observed that the three most difficult leadership roles he could imagine were hospital administrator, university president, and church minister. His reasoning was simple: each role requires leaders to wear multiple hats while meeting wildly different, and often competing, expectations.

Church leadership, however, presents challenges that exceed even these fields. It operates in the realm of spiritual conviction, emotional attachment, volunteer dependency, and eternal stakes, a combination that makes ministry uniquely demanding.

Spiritual Issues Intensify Emotional Reactions

Unlike business decisions, church decisions are rarely neutral.

Pastors who faithfully teach what the Bible says about sensitive issues, such as divorce, sexuality, sin, repentance, or discipline, quickly discover that otherwise reasonable people can become emotionally charged and deeply personal when conviction sets in. Conviction touches identity.

And sometimes the conflict isn’t even theological. It can erupt over something as small as:

forgetting to mention memorial flowers,
changing the order of service,
or moving the American flag on the platform.

In ministry, minor decisions often carry symbolic weight, and that weight amplifies emotion.

Authority Structures Are Often Unclear

In most businesses, lines of authority are well defined. Employees know who makes decisions and who is accountable.

Churches, however, often operate within dual leadership structures. Staff and deacons may share overlapping responsibilities while holding different leadership philosophies. When clarity is lacking, tension grows. Instead of collaboration, leaders can begin competing for influence, which eventually erodes trust.

Relationships Complicate Every Decision

Healthy church ministry is relational by design. When done well, the church functions as a family.

But that strength also creates complexity when:

people leave the church,
conflicts arise,
or staff members need to be corrected or replaced.

Unlike business, decisions are never merely professional; they are personal. Because churches value love and unity, leaders are often reluctant to confront issues directly. Over time, unresolved problems fester, making future decisions even more difficult.

Success Is Defined Differently By Everyone

In business, success is measurable: profit, growth, customer satisfaction, and sustainability.

In church life, the question “What does a win look like?” produces vastly different answers. Some emphasize attendance, others discipleship, others outreach, care, or doctrinal precision. Each of these is good, biblical, and necessary, but none of them stands alone.

With so many expectations, pastors are often criticized not only for neglect, but for failing to emphasize someone else’s preferred metric. A growing church may be accused of being shallow. A doctrinally careful church may be labeled cold. A caring church may be seen as inward-focused. No matter the emphasis, something else will appear underdeveloped to someone.

A pastor’s success is also judged by what he doesn’t do. If he spends time shepherding the hurting, someone wonders why evangelism feels neglected. If he guards doctrine carefully, someone questions his warmth. If he leads change, someone accuses him of abandoning tradition.

In ministry, faithfulness is rarely evaluated holistically. It is often measured selectively, through the lens of personal preference rather than the full counsel of Scripture.

Experience Is Often Mistaken for Expertise

In business, few customers presume they understand the internal mechanics of an organization. In church life, longevity often breeds confidence.

In church, longevity often breeds confidence. Long-term members may believe they are experts on how the church should be run, much like sports fans who sit in the stands yet believe they know better than the coach. Familiarity can produce wisdom, but it can also produce entitlement.

The Church Welcomes the Broken, and That’s Hard

The business world filters applicants. The church opens its doors to everyone and rightly so.

But welcoming the broken, wounded, and disenfranchised means church leaders often shepherd people carrying unresolved pain, emotional fragility, and deep mistrust. This is central to the church’s mission, but it is also emotionally exhausting.

Every person added to the church adds both joy and need. Like a child adopted into a family from a traumatic background, the church inherits past wounds along with new life. While sanctification brings healing, there is no realistic expectation of rest from problems and needs. Over time, emotional burnout can result.

The Mission Depends Almost Entirely on Volunteers

Businesses rely on employees. Churches rely on volunteers.

When volunteers disengage, fail to show up, or burn out, there is little leverage—only patience and persuasion. The weight often falls on a small group of faithful servants who quietly carry the load week after week.

There Are Few Safe Outlets for Frustration

A business executive can vent, show frustration, or raise their voice without career-ending consequences.

A pastor cannot.

Ministry leaders are expected to model Christlikeness at all times, and one emotional misstep, public or private, can end a calling overnight. There are few appropriate places to process anger, disappointment, or fatigue, which makes ministry deeply isolating.

A Final Word

This is not written to complain, excuse failure, or ask for sympathy. It is written to create understanding.

Pastors are not asking for lowered expectations, only for grace, prayer, and partnership. Church leadership is heavy not because pastors are weak, but because the work matters deeply and the people matter eternally.

Running a church is harder than running a business, not because pastors are less capable, but because the work is heavier, the stakes are eternal, and the calling is sacred.

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Ministry Leadership

Ministry Resources

Focus

Dr. Paul Chappell

The Spiritual Leader

Dr. Paul Chappell