Chapin Christian Community Church

We're all leaders, and who we follow matters.
In this episode of Leading by Following, Pastor Jody sits down with three people who do a tremendous amount of ministry behind the scenes at Chapin Christian: Courtney Dox, Mark Slice, and Bobby Scott.
Their work in media, photography, communications, and production helps people connect with Jesus in ways we don't always see. But their stories reveal something much bigger than the work itself.
We talk about how they found their way into ministry, what it was like helping our church navigate COVID, and how the skills and resources God gave us became opportunities to help other churches. We also reflect on how the front door of the church has changed, why excellence matters, and what it means to use our gifts for something bigger than ourselves.
One of the things I'm reminded of through this conversation is that ministry isn't limited to a pulpit, a title, or a platform.
Sometimes it looks like running a camera. Sometimes it means telling a story through a photograph. Sometimes it means helping another church solve a problem. And sometimes it simply means being faithful with the opportunity God has placed right in front of you.
In Romans 10:14–15, Paul reminds us of the importance of carrying the good news of Jesus to others. As I think about Bobby, Courtney, Mark, and the teams they serve alongside, I'm reminded that it takes many different gifts and many faithful people to help that happen.
So wherever God has placed you, don't underestimate the difference you can make.
Use your gifts. Serve faithfully. Help others. And keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
We're all part of the mission.
For more from Pastor Jody: https://jodyflowers843.org/

For thousands of years, humanity has longed to truly know God, not just know about Him. The answer to that longing is Jesus. Paul writes in Colossians 1:15 that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, meaning He does not simply reflect God but perfectly reveals Him. Every act of compassion, every moment of grace, every tear Jesus shed shows us exactly who God is. Jesus is also the Creator and Sustainer of all things, holding everything together at this very moment. He is not a supporting character in our story. We exist in His. The most breathtaking truth of all is that this same Jesus, through whom everything was made, came down to reconcile broken people to God through His own blood. Infinite majesty and unimaginable mercy met in one person.
Resources:
Small Group Discussion Guide: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Wonder-Awe_-Week-5_-Jesus_-Image-of-the-Invisible-Discussion-Guide.pdf 
5-Day Devotional: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Wonder-Awe_-Week-5_-Jesus_-Image-of-the-Invisible-5-Day-devo.pdf 

God's holiness is not about a distant, judgmental deity waiting for us to fail. Holiness means God is completely set apart from everything else in existence and perfectly pure in every way, with no darkness in Him at all. Isaiah 6 captures a breathtaking moment where the prophet sees God on His throne and the heavenly beings cry out, Holy, holy, holy, without ever growing tired of it. When Isaiah saw God clearly, he immediately saw his own sin clearly, not because someone pointed it out, but because the light of God's presence made it impossible to ignore. Rather than destruction, God responded with cleansing, providing a way for Isaiah to draw near rather than lowering His standard. This same pattern is the heart of the gospel: the holy God does not wait for us to find our way to Him. He comes to find us. What we need most is not a better strategy for living right, but eyes opened again to who God truly is.
Resources:
Discussion Guide: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Wonder-and-Awe_-Week-4_-Holy-Disscussion-Guide.pdf 
5-Day Devotional: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Wonder-and-Awe-Week-4-5-Day-Devotional.pdf 

Many Christians affirm that God is almighty in their theology but quietly live as though everything depends on them. Drawing from Genesis 17, the story of Abraham and Sarah reveals how easily we drift from trusting God's power into trying to manufacture what only He can provide. The question God asked in Genesis 18, whether anything is impossible for Him, echoes throughout Scripture in the lives of Jeremiah, Mary, and ultimately in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Believing God is almighty is not about expecting Him to do whatever we want, but about trusting that He is able and faithful no matter the circumstances. This truth frees us from the impossible burden of trying to be in control of everything. Because God is almighty, we are invited to pray boldly, obey without needing to see the outcome, and release what we cannot control.
Resources:
Discussion Guide: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Wonder-Awe-Week-3-Almighty-Discussion-Guide.pdf 
5-Day Devotional: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Wonder-Awe-Week-3-Almighty-5-Day-Devotional.pdf 

There are seasons when our problems feel enormous and God feels distant. But the issue is rarely His absence. More often, we have shrunk Him in our minds until our circumstances tower over us. Isaiah 40 calls us to look up and rediscover the transcendence of God. He is enthroned above the earth, He dismantles the powers of this world with a single breath, and He calls every star by name. If He knows the name of every star in the universe, He knows yours. The God who towers over everything is not distant. He is the same God who came down to us in Jesus Christ, out of nothing but love.
Resources:
Discussion Guide: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Wonder-Awe_-Week-2_-Unmatched-Majesty-_-Transcendant-Discussion-Guide.pdf 
5-Day Devotional: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Wonder-Awe_-Week-2_-Unmatched-Majesty-_-Transcendant-5-day-devotional.pdf 

In this episode of Leading by Following, Pastor Jody sits down with Curt Mitchell for a conversation about leadership, calling, service, and what it means to make ourselves available to God.
Curt serves as our Director of Facilities at Chapin Christian, but as you'll hear in our conversation, his ministry is about so much more than taking care of buildings.
It's about people.
It's about removing barriers so people can encounter Jesus. It's about leading a team that serves faithfully behind the scenes. It's about learning to distinguish between what's urgent and what's important. And it's about recognizing the moments when God may be opening a door for a conversation, a prayer, or an opportunity to love someone well.
One of the things that stood out to me most from our conversation is this:Your greatest gift may not be your ability. It may be your availability.You don't have to stand on a stage to be a leader.You don't have to have all the answers.You don't have to feel perfectly qualified.You can simply follow Jesus, love people well, listen, and make yourself available to whatever God wants to do through you.
In Ephesians 5:1–2, Paul says:“Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love.”
That's the kind of leadership I want for myself, and it's the kind of leadership I hope we're all learning to live out.Follow Jesus. Walk in love. Make yourself available.
In this episode:• Leadership beyond a title or platform• Finding God's purpose in ordinary work• The difference between what's urgent and what's important• Learning to say no with grace• Serving as part of a bigger mission• Being available when God opens a door• Loving people well in everyday encounters• Leading by following Jesus
Learn more at: https://jodyflowers843.org/ 

Somewhere along the way, many of us stopped expecting God to actually move. We still believe, we still pray, and we still show up, but familiarity has quietly replaced wonder. The story of Moses and the burning bush reminds us that God did not speak until Moses turned aside to look. Maybe God has not grown silent. Maybe we have simply stopped paying attention. The answer to every fear and every feeling of inadequacy is not found in our own strength or track record. It is found in the promise that God will be with us. Wonder leads to worship, worship leads to surrender, and surrender is where God does His greatest work.
Resources: 
Discussion Guide: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Wonder-Awe_-Week-1_-When-Did-My-Faith-Grow-Up-Discussion-Guide.pdf 
5-Day Devotional: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Wonder-Awe_-Week-1_-When-Did-My-Faith-Grow-Up-5-day-devo.pdf 

Most of us find it easy to pray for blessings but much harder to pray for God Himself. King Josiah's story in 2 Kings shows what happens when one person makes a wholehearted decision to turn toward God, obey His Word, and remove everything that stands in the way of His presence. Like the father in the parable of the prodigal son, God is not waiting reluctantly. He is already running toward us. The only question worth sitting with is whether we are truly turning toward Him.
Resources:
Discussion Guide: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ALTARS_-Week-7_-God-Comes-Where-Hes-Wanted-Discusion-guide.pdf 
5-Day Devotional: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ALTARS_-Week-7_-God-Comes-Where-Hes-Wanted-5-Day-Devotional.pdf 

The kingdom of God is not just a future destination. It is a present reality breaking into the world through the lives of surrendered followers of Jesus. When Jesus taught us to pray 'Your kingdom come, Your will be done,' He was inviting us into something active and transforming. Wherever Jesus reigns, things change. The sick are healed, the forgotten are seen, and the broken find grace. We live in the tension of a kingdom that has already begun but is not yet complete, which means our lives are meant to be signposts pointing the world toward something greater. The question is not whether the kingdom is coming. The question is whether your life is making it visible right where you already are.
Resources:
Discussion Guide: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ALTARS_-Week-6_-In-Chapin-As-Is-In-Heaven-Discussion-Guide.pdf 
5-Day Devotional: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ALTARS_-Week-6_-In-Chapin-As-Is-In-Heaven-5-day-devotional.pdf 

Mission is not reserved for overseas workers or unusually devoted Christians. It begins with God Himself, who has always been moving toward a broken world with love and purpose. From His call to Abraham in Genesis 12 to the sending of His Son in John 3, God's heart has always been missionary. We are not launching something new when we engage in mission. We are joining something God already has underway. Your neighborhood, workplace, school, and daily routines are all places where Jesus is already working. The invitation is simple: pay attention, make yourself available, and take one small step toward the people already in your life.
Resources: 
Discussion Guide: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/ALTARS_-Week-5_-Region-Discussion-Guide.pdf  
5-Day Devotional: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/ALTARS_-Week-5_-Region-5-Day-Devotional.pdf