Chapin Christian Community Church

Through the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31, Jesus reveals three biblical certainties about life after death. First, we are spirit beings temporarily housed in physical bodies, and death is simply when our spirit leaves this earthly tent. Second, we will immediately know our eternal destiny upon death with no waiting period or second chances. Third, our eternal destination is...

Check out Episode one of Leading by Following, a new podcast hosted by Pastor Jody Flowers. This podcast is for leaders, and we all are leaders. For episode one, Pastor Jody sits down with Pastor John Dukes for a conversation about transitioning to Lead Pastor at Chapin Christian, discussing John's vision, and a bit of his personal testimony. Give it a listen! This podcast will be available on all...

Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount with a parable about two builders who both heard His words but made different choices about their foundations. The wise builder constructed his house on rock through obedience, while the foolish builder chose sand by hearing without acting. When storms inevitably came, only the house built on rock remained standing. The difference wasn't in the storm's inten...

Jesus began His ministry with a powerful announcement: the kingdom of God has come near. This wasn't just another religious message, but a declaration that God's reign was breaking into our broken world through Jesus. The kingdom represents God's reality intersecting with ours, offering hope in the midst of our deepest longings. While we live in the tension between Christ's decisive victory and th...

Marriage is one of life's greatest treasures, yet only 6% of American marriages reach 50 years. The difference between thriving and surviving relationships lies in biblical love that combines agape (selfless concern), eros (romantic love), and philia (friendship). We naturally drift away from intimacy, turning covenant love into contractual arrangements. However, marriages can move from intense co...

In a world demanding our allegiance, we face constant pressure to compromise our faith for acceptance and comfort. The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego reveals that faithfulness isn't about doing something loud—it's about refusing to move when everyone else bows. Their devotion was settled long before the crisis arrived. Most compromise happens in small moments, not during major crises. Tr...

We all long for deep connection where we can be known without performing and loved without fear. Biblical submission, as described in Ephesians 5:21, means voluntarily ordering ourselves out of reverence for Christ, not fear of people. The difference between contracts and covenants is crucial - contracts say 'I'll give as long as you give,' while covenants say 'I give because I have already been g...

Fear often disguises itself as wisdom, convincing us we're being realistic when we're actually holding back from God's calling. Through the parable of the minas, we see how fear creates a distorted view of God as harsh and demanding, leading us to bury our gifts instead of multiplying them. The fearful servant preserved his mina but produced nothing, while the faithful servants took risks and saw...

Life is filled with unknowns that create fear, and this fear often whispers for us to pull back and isolate ourselves from others. Rather than facing uncertainty alone, God designed us to find strength and formation through community. Hebrews 10:19-25 reveals that when the future feels unclear, we need each other to draw near to God, hold fast to hope, and consider one another. Spiritual formation...

Fear of being canceled has become one of the most powerful forces preventing Christians from boldly sharing their faith. This fear stems from the conflict between worldly values that promote self-centeredness and God's message of sacrificial love. When we prioritize human approval over God's approval, we risk staying silent when we should speak and compromising biblical truth. The Bible reminds us...

The Great Commission represents the greatest handoff in history, where Jesus transferred the mission of making disciples to His followers. This wasn't a sentimental goodbye but a launching of the greatest movement ever. The commission contains five key elements: gathering despite doubts, Jesus' complete authority, being sent with purpose, formation through teaching and baptism, and empowerment thr...

Discussion Guide: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Discussion-Guide-Legacy-and-Launch-Week-3-Fulfill-Your-Ministry-.pdf 5-Day Devotional: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Legacy-and-Launch-Week-3-Fulfill-Your-Ministry-5-Day-Devotional.pdf   Paul's final letter to Timothy from prison reveals urgent last words focused on continuing the gospel beyond his death. Living...

The story of Elijah and Elisha in 2 Kings 2 reveals powerful truths about stepping into God's calling during times of transition. When Elijah is taken to heaven, his mantle falls to the ground and Elisha must pick it up himself, teaching us that no one can hand us our calling - we must take action to claim it. Elisha's spiritual hunger wasn't for fame or position, but for Elijah's heart and charac...

Transitions in life can feel overwhelming, but they represent crucial moments where legacy becomes responsibility. The biblical story of Moses passing leadership to Joshua reveals that while leaders change and seasons shift, God remains constant. Success isn't about running fast but about handing off well. Joshua learned that his role wasn't to fill Moses' shoes but to follow God's footsteps. Four...

The story of Samuel's Ebenezer stone teaches us the importance of remembering God's faithfulness in our lives. Ebenezer means 'stone of help' and served as a memorial to remind future generations of God's provision and protection. We're prone to forget God's goodness when facing current challenges, but taking time to remember His past faithfulness builds our trust for the future. Churches must als...