Making disciples is the heartbeat of the Great Commission.  When God instructed us to go into the world, He had multiplication, not addition in mind.  Addition occurs when we give the Gospel to someone, they in turn, trust Christ by faith, and we repeat the process.  If this is the pattern we use in our soul-winning endeavors, we have short-changed the program of God to reach the world.

Multiplication and the Gospel

Don’t get me wrong, any addition to the family of God merits praise and glory in the presence of angels.  But it is multiplication, not addition that …

Among the Millennials, the subjects of leadership and influence are at the forefront of ministerial advancements.  We buy leadership books, subscribe to leadership podcasts, attend leadership conferences, and study leadership gurus.  Even though I am not technically a Millennial (I was born before 1980), I am still a student of leadership.  I love to learn, I love to listen, I love to lead.  I personally believe every pastor should embrace his calling of leadership and constantly seek to improve His God-given abilities and skills. 

However, we must be aware of the kind of iron we use to sharpen our blade.  …

Bitterness is a plague to the soul.  John Courson has rightly said of the subject, “Bitterness is like taking a bottle of poison, swallowing it, and waiting for the other person to die.”  Bitterness may take root in just a moment’s time, but its fruit remains for years if left unattended.  It grows and grows eventually taking over the garden of the soul.  What are some root causes of bitterness, and more importantly, how do we cut it out of our lives?

Unforgiveness

All of us have been wronged at some point in our lives by a relative, co-worker, …

1 THESSALONIANS 5:1-11

Introduction:

The believer in this world should not be ignorant concerning the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We know the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, but it should not overtake the believer in that fashion.

I. THE BELIEVER AND HIS WISDOM (v1-3)

A. The Indwelling Discernment- “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.”

B. The Impending Destruction- “For when they …

“Circumstances are the rulers of the weak; but they are the instruments of the wise” –Samuel Lover

“Some treat adversity as a stepping stone, others a tombstone” –John Maxwell

“The only real misfortune, the only real tragedy, comes from when we suffer without learning the lesson” –Emmett Fox

“You and I obviously do not seek out adversity just so we can develop a deeper relationship with God. Rather God, through adversity, seeks us out. It is God who draws us more and more into a deeper relationship with Him. If we are seeking Him, it is because