West Park Baptist Church

Loving God, Loving People, Impacting the World

Joe Kappel

Generosity for Generations: Day 10

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“Encouragement for those in debt”

When my family and I moved back to the USA in 2013 we arrived with all our possessions in 8 suitcases and a couple of boxes. While we were excited to begin our new journey in Knoxville after several years in China, we weren’t quite sure how things worked in the US economy. We were Americans, but we didn’t know the rhythms of American life. So, instead of asking for help, we tended to spend money and generally hope things would balance out. 

Let me stop here and take appropriate responsibility for that approach! As I sought to get what my family needed, I got into the habit of using credit cards too quickly and not thinking through what we had in the bank. Most times we’d have enough, but without any rainy day or emergency fund, the unexpected costs of daily life quickly translated into credit bills that carried from one month to the next. Insert some car trouble, unexpected medical bills, and having another child join our growing family, and soon we were about $3,000 in debt. 

I confess to being really discouraged, and responded with either restricting purchases of all things other than the necessary to live, or swinging the other way in discouragement and spending even more money! While Lauren and I were not at risk of separating during this time, we still felt a tension between us. Financial problems were a threat to our union and are often the reason many couples divorce. 

That’s about the time that Jack Bullington entered the story. Jack was a member of our church, and he led the Financial Peace class hosted by West Park. I worked with Jack, helping him set up the class, even talking with him about helping others with their finances and getting out of debt. As I talked with Jack I had an internal dialogue running through my mind that went something like this:

“You should tell Jack about the financial trouble you’re in.”

“Come on, things aren’t that bad for us, are they?”

“Please. You know they are.”

“Ok, but what will Jack think about a PASTOR being in debt?! Pastors aren’t supposed to be in debt. He’ll look down on me for sure. It’s better to keep my head down on this one.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea…” 

Sure enough, it wasn’t a good idea. And eventually the Holy Spirit won out over my conflicted conscience and helped me talk to my wife, then talk to Jack about our need for financial counsel and practical help. 

Jack asked us to write down all our current sources of income, all our current expenses, and the total debt we had. Then Jack came to our house and looked over everything. It was the moment of truth – would Jack judge us even as he sought to help? Praise God, no! He was gracious, smiled a lot, talked of the hope of God in hard times, assured us that there was a way out of debt and a way to be generous as an expression of faith in God. And with Jack’s encouragement and coaching, we started attacking our debt, and God proved abundantly over the next several years how richly He provides for us, even when I felt we didn’t deserve it. 

What can you take away from this story?

• It’s really easy to go into debt. I think many of you are likely discouraged when you think about your current debt. I get it, I’ve been there. 

• Humbly admit your financial difficulties to a trusted counselor in the church. That’s an important first step. Be ready to get real about your current money problems for the purpose of growing in Christ and seeing a way out of debt. We really don’t have to live with it.

• Check out the Financial Freedom ministry at West Park. What Jack was to me and Lauren back in 2015, Jess Holloway and his team will be to you today. There really is practical freedom from debt that you can start to experience right now!

• Above all, remember that our Jehovah Jireh is truly our Provider. There’s no limit to His care, for He sees your needs and is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think.

Generosity of Generations: Day 4

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Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Psalm 34:8-10

David rejoices in and magnifies the LORD in Psalm 34, for he has been delivered out of a very dangerous situation during his wilderness years of running from King Saul. David learned by experience that God is good and does good, so he teaches Israel to “taste and see” God, a personal experience that David say is necessary to truly know something. In this case, they are commanded to experience the LORD like this and find Him absolutely good.

It’s so easy to not see the goodness of the Lord when life gets tough, isn’t it? Over the past year it seems that people either prophesy doom about the economy or pretend that everything’s ok when things don’t seem ok. People are having a difficult time, and you may be too.

Take comfort in that word “refuge” in verse 8. I can imagine David running from Saul and hiding in the refuge of a cave until the danger passed by. With even greater certainty of protection, we can run to the Lord whenever difficulties come. Honestly, that’s the step of faith, that even when times are tough, we cling to the Lord and “fear” or worship Him with reverence and awe.

When the Apostle Peter quoted this Psalm in 1 Peter 2:3, he taught us that Jesus is the Lord we must taste and see. As we “taste and see” Jesus day by day, we experience His goodness more and more. He is our Refuge, our Provider, our Lord, and the Giver of every good thing.

Those who fear the LORD lack no good thing.

In what areas are you tempted to fear something or someone other than the Lord?

What are some of the good things the Lord Jesus has lovingly given to you?

How are you investing and using those things to show the goodness of your Lord?

Bible Reading Plan for 2021

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2021 is now here! What better time than the start of a new year to refresh your time spent reading God’s Word? 

This year I am planning to follow the 5 Day Bible Reading Plan, and I encourage you to consider it for your daily Bible reading. 

Here are a few reasons why I choose this plan year after year:

  • As the name of the plan communicates, the weekly Bible readings are divided over 5 days. This is helpful for people like me who either camp out in a passage (or verse) longer than expected and need to catch up, or for those days when I miss a Bible reading and need the extra time built into the schedule. With 5 readings per week you can stretch the readings out, or take advantage of the extra 2 days to reflect on key passages from the week. 
  • The schedule takes you through a mostly-chronological approach to the Bible, reading the passages in order as the events happened. I say “mostly” because the plan saves Job for last even though his life story happened sometime between Genesis 11 and 12. 
  • For those who want to focus on reading through the New Testament only, you can use the same plan to achieve that goal too. 

Recently one of our daughters asked my wife and I how we can be sure the Bible is really from God, and how we can know for sure that all the people who wrote it told the truth. That’s an important question indeed! And truthfully, the best way to comprehend the truth of God’s Word is to let it speak! 

The plan I’m recommending today has been a blessing to both me and my wife over 2020, and we’re looking to give it another try this year. You can download it right here. Will you join us in making 2021 a year together in God’s Word?

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P.S. If you have kids, what reading plan should you consider to encourage their growth and faith? Here are a couple of articles that may help:

Tim Challies: The Best Daily Bible Reading Plan for Kids

Peter Krol on Knowable Word: Teaching Bible Study to Children

Advent 2020 – Luke 2:1-21 (Dec. 25)

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On this Christmas morning, wherever you are, remember the simplicity yet splendor of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Read the ancient text with wonder anew. Meditate on the old story and pause to worship the King of all kings. 

Luke 2:1–21

[1] In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. [2] This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. [3] And all went to be registered, each to his own town. [4] And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, [5] to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. [6] And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. [7] And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

[8] And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. [10] And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. [12] And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

[14] “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”


[15] When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” [16] And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. [17] And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. [18] And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. [19] But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. [20] And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

[21] And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (ESV)

Advent 2020 – 1 John 4:10 (Dec. 24)

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In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10, ESV)

“God loved us and sent His Son.” From their earliest weeks in Awana, each of our kids has memorized that sentence. I can still hear their little voices repeating back those words as we helped them learn them. I’m so grateful for the Awana ministry at our church, and I’m grateful even more that they are learning that wonderful truth at such an early age. 

It’s a sentence that all of us would benefit from memorizing, no matter how old we get! The Apostle John, well in his 80s by this point, had obviously never gotten over the amazing love of God. 

But there’s a big word that often gets left out of the sentence for young and old. And that word is propitiation. It’s admittedly a bit hard to say, and it’s not used in everyday speech. So what is propitiation? The basic definition is this: turning away all of God’s wrath for sin and turning all God’s attention to us as favor. In other words, Jesus our Savior took on Himself all of God’s anger toward us due to our sin until all of God’s wrath was completely satisfied and poured out. It’s like imagining a cup that’s full and turned over until every last drop is poured out. That’s what happened to God’s wrath. Jesus the Lord drank every last drop for all who call on Him by faith for salvation. What an amazing gift! 

But please don’t miss this crucial thing: God the Father was not distant, angry, and unwilling to forgive sinners until Jesus satisfied Him. No, for our text tells us that even when we were the rightful recipients of all God’s wrath, even when He had all those charges against us, God loved us! This is the mystery of the heart of our God: that although He was full of justified anger toward sinners, He loved them and gave them His greatest gift, His own Son. 

Oh, remember this Christmas Eve that the Father loved you and sent His Son. Remember that all God’s wrath towards you, if you have believed on Jesus Christ for salvation, has been completely satisfied. Now God looks on you with favor, motivated to withhold no good thing from you. And if you have a Christmas tree or any gifts nearby, may they remind you of one of the greatest gifts of God to you: propitiation for your sins. 

Advent 2020 – Luke 2:8-20 (Dec. 23)

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“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14, ESV)

The night sky must have exploded with light as countless angels sang that song. It’s a chorus that has sounded down through the millennia, and no doubt you have read it, heard it or even seen it on a few Christmas cards many times already this season. 

But do we truly take the time to take in the actual words the angels sang? It’s worth doing that phrase by phrase. 

“Glory to God in the highest” – The angels worship God through their song, addressing Him first in His dwelling place, the “highest.” Where is this place? It’s not on any maps. It’s not on any star charts. This is the realm of God’s dwelling, where everything is perfect and glory (the majesty and weightiness of God) fills every place and everything. Yet on this night of the Savior’s birth, more glory goes to God in the realm from which His Son has come. 

“And on earth peace” – We measure peace mostly by the absence of any conflict. No wars or fighting. Yet the biblical word includes so much more: Wholeness, complete harmony in your life, and even prosperity. It’s life working as it should with nothing out of joint. When the angels declare peace on earth, they mean on one hand that the war is over between God and humans. God made the way for rebel humans to be made right again with Him through the Son that He gave. And the angels mean that peace is now delivered to man with man and woman with man. The conflicts that divide us no longer need divide us because God’s Son has arrived, declaring peace with us. 

“Among those with whom he is pleased” – There is one qualification, for peace does not happen to you just because you live on this earth. God is pleased by faith, and as Hebrews reminds us, 

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6, ESV)

God receives glory when we believe His word and receive His Son as our only Savior and Lord. You don’t have to accomplish great things to earn your peace. You don’t have to be rich, smart or popular. But you must exercise faith in God and in His Son. These are God’s terms of peace. Believe on His Son and you will be saved! 

Glory, peace and the pleasure of God. These are the theme of the angels’ song. Don’t rush over those words but pause to worship and talk to God today, thanking Him for those terms of peace, and giving glory to him by faith. 

Advent 2020 – Isaiah 7:10-14 (Dec. 22)

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[10] Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz: [11] “Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” [12] But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.” [13] And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? [14] Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:10–14, ESV).

Recently my son showed me the book on the 9/11 tragedy that he borrowed from the library. That watershed day stands out in vivid detail in my memory, but he wasn’t alive then, and the culture after that day in America is all he’s known. We talked about surprise attacks from enemies; why people planned to cause so many deaths, and whether that could happen again. It was a day of great fear, and it still tempts us to fear.

Has anything caused you fear this year? Fear is a crucial tool God uses to reveal in us where we place our confidence: in God or in our own resources.

King Ahaz faced the threat of two kingdoms uniting against Judah and camping outside the city of Jerusalem waiting to attack. Ahaz’s solution was to send a bunch of gold to the king of Assyria in a cry for help. Ahaz trusted in his own resources during a time of great fear. 

God’s mercy is so vast. Even after Ahaz had betrayed the Lord that way, God still gave him a chance to repent and believe! That’s why God offered Ahaz a sign. But, since Ahaz had already declared his god to be gold, he refused to ask God for a sign. That’s when God introduced the biggest sign of all: Immanuel. 

It’s a name, and it means “God with us.” But it’s so much more than a name: it’s a Person. Specifically it’s a prophecy that was ultimately and fully accomplished in and by Jesus Christ. The foundation of our hope is the God Man Jesus Christ. Our hope is not that something bad won’t happen. It’s not that something good will come. Our hope is God with us, Jesus Christ. 

My son spoke such an encouraging truth about 9/11 and the threat of war. After we talked he concluded with this: “Buildings will fall down, but heaven is forever.” Amen. That’s true. Fear reveals where we place our confidence. It can’t be in things of this world, but in the One who entered this world.

The Lord gave Immanuel, God with us, as the sure and final word of promise. Lean into Jesus, fully trusting Him to keep you through whatever comes. As the prophet Isaiah said about the Lord, 

[3] You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3, ESV)

Advent 2020 – Psalm 24:1-10 (Dec. 21)

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Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? 

Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. (Psalm 24:3, 7, ESV)

When you read the Psalm for today, it’s helpful to picture King David leading the Ark of God back into Jerusalem and into the Temple. The streets are full of people following David, worshipping the Lord who created and owns all the world yet wills to dwell among His chosen people.

 Yet, David muses, who can enter the Lord’s most holy place? It can’t be just anyone casually trying to get close to God. Only those with pure hearts and hands can enter God’s presence. In other words, such a person not only has to get the actions of worship right but the motives and heart to do them for the right reasons. 

I talked about this passage with my wife, for I didn’t know just how to think of this passage in relation to Advent. I don’t want to write anything contrived, but then she mentioned a great illustration. Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, had a unique opportunity to enter the holy place of God, and his heart was judged as impure. When the angel Gabriel told him that he and his wife Elizabeth would bear a son in their old age, Zechariah scoffed and doubted. God shut Zechariah’s mouth to discipline him for his unbelief. Deceit and impure obedience won’t be tolerated. 

Wow! So, what can any of us do? If Zechariah, who was called blameless before the Lord, could be struck mute for his unbelief, what can we expect when we ourselves go before the Lord? 

After Zechariah’s son John was born, he worshipped God for fulfilling His word. Zechariah had gone through his time of discipline and responded with humility toward the Lord. He prophesied in Luke 1, speaking to his son:

[76] And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
[77] to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
[78] because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
[79] to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:76–79, ESV)

Zechariah learned by experience that God is faithful to the covenant promises He makes. God sent the Lord of glory (Psalm 24:7) into the world, His own Son, to open the way to God. As Zechariah prophesied, the Lord Jesus entered the world like a sunrise on people trapped in darkness. He brought salvation, light, and even peace. 

The greatest of all blessings is having God in your life, present with you, to guide you, save you and give you peace. David recognized this as he sang Psalm 24. Do you recognize this? Jesus came to bring you back to God. Like those outside the gates cried out, I’ll echo in close today, “Let the King of Glory in!”