The December edition of the Spiritual Leadership Podcast is now live. It’s a little late, but you were probably too busy before Christmas to listen to it any way, right? The lesson is entitled “10 Characteristics of a Healthy Church” and it focuses on the health of a church as opposed to the growth. So [...]
Perhaps you’ve come across this blog in the past 12 months. If so, this post is for you. Over the past few years, I’ve written a number of articles about creating an annual planner for life and ministry and about personal productivity. I thought it might be helpful to re-post these with titles, summaries, and [...]
Lately, especially while battling cancer, I’ve been greatly encouraged by devotionals from Oswald Chambers “My Utmost for His Highest.” Nearly every day the Lord has blessed my life by something profound from this man’s heart. So in this post, I’m shot-gunning a collection of quotes that have been significant to me and why. I hope [...]
Correction on the November Spiritual Leadership Podcast—the one I previously wrote about was actually October’s lesson. November’s lesson is about Balancing Pastoral Priorities and was taught originally at Spiritual Leadership Conference 2010. This lesson investigates the roles and responsibilities of the Pastor and breaks down some practical and biblical input on how to balance those [...]
One of the reasons I began this blog is to share helpful resources, book reviews, and ministry ideas. Many people are presently using Striving Together Publications, but not everybody is aware of what Striving Together and our ministry is offering at no cost. Our goal is to charge only for the things we must. Anything [...]
God gave us a GREAT weekend—one of the greatest of my life! Here’s the story. A few months ago, the Lord intersected Pastor Chappell’s path with NBA basketball player Michael Redd (shooting guard for Milwaukee Bucks, NBA Allstar, and Olympic gold medalist.) It was a “chance” meeting at an airport. Michael was sitting reading his [...]
The September Spiritual Leadership Podcast has posted—a lesson from Dr. Chappell entitled “The Disciple-Making Church.” This lesson will challenge you to focus on the heart of New Testament ministry—developing disciples. How easy it is to get distracted into well-meaning but diversionary ministry efforts. Lessons like this remind us what we’re really supposed to be doing [...]
The final message of Spiritual Leadership Conference 2010 was brought by Dr. Don Sisk and entitled “He Must Increase, I Must Decrease.” It was awesome! It profoundly impacted me, and I wanted to share a synopsis of it here. Perhaps it will encourage you. Taken from the statement of John the Baptist in John 3:30, [...]
It’s no secret that in the past few years, George Barna and people like him have given up on the local church (the flawed model they invented) and have documented a revolution of people leaving the organized church to simply go and be the church. While there are a lot of biblical problems with this [...]
Spiritual Leadership Conference 2010 wrapped up last night. God gave us a fantastic week. Today, in the midst of decompressing, I couldn’t help but sit down and journal some of the highlights of the week for me. Here’s what God used to impact me the most: 1. The Preaching. Every single message was a grand-slam [...]
Communication is about sharing information with those who need it. But often communication is what is lacking the most on ministry teams. When we don’t communicate, we aren’t working together, and that causes things to break down. Here are seven quick principles that the Lord has challenged me to work at. I pray they will [...]
Sometimes we get mixed up in ministry. We forget that our responsibility is not control it is influence. God never gave us control of people, their lifestyles, or their choices. He created free will, and gives each individual responsibility for their choices. I fear, out of good intentions, some spiritual leaders cross the line and [...]
The June Spiritual Leadership Podcast from Pastor Paul Chappell The June edition of the Spiritual Leadership Podcast has posted from Dr. Paul Chappell. This lesson is entitled “The Costs of Pastoring a Growing Church” and it challenges spiritual leaders to embrace the cost that comes along with ministry fruit. So often we want “success” but [...]
In John 11, the amazing story of the raising of Lazarus unfolds. Not long ago, I was studying this passage and it occurred to me that there were three distinct groups of people at this resurrection, and those groups are still pretty much “alive and kicking” in today’s local churches. Picture the scene—Jesus has waited [...]
Two months ago, we launched a new website—Ministry127.com. It has had a wonderful start. Friends and co-laborers from all over the world have written and expressed appreciation for the site and the resources it contains. Contributors have continually sent in submissions that are practical and helpful. The site has been overwhelmingly received and used in [...]
