The Increase
Episodes
251 episodes
Who Do You Say That I Am?
Jesus asked more than 300 questions in the gospels. While all of them were relevant, some of them cut to the very core of the human condition and Jesus’ call to follow Him. In Matthew 16, Jesus asks His disciples arguably the most important que...
What Is Church Membership Really About?
Many Christians today have decided that church membership is just a "man-made invention" meant to boost offering numbers or control groups of believers. Others say it's a cultural relic from the by-gone era of the 1950s and 60's. ...
In Remembrance of Me
Whenever Christians come together to celebrate “The Lord’s Supper”— it is certainly not a boring ceremony or a lifeless ritual. It is a public declaration and open celebration of Jesus Christ and what He achieved for us. As we study the Scriptu...
Bible Verses That Built America
As we celebrate America 250, there are millions of Americans who don’t realize that just below the surface of everyday American life stands a Bible that this great Nation was built upon. What are some of the Bible verses that built America? Wha...
No Greater Shepherd
Did you hear the true story of the 2-year-old Arizona boy who was rescued to safety earlier this year by a shepherd-dog? Make no mistake, those shepherding instincts didn’t come through evolution— they came from a Creator God who is Himself the...
The Cost of Following Jesus
When America’s “Founding Fathers” signed the Declaration of Independence, they knew there was going to be a great cost in breaking from Great Britain, but they didn’t shrink back from embracing that cost. In Luke 9, Jesus talks with three diffe...
Resisting Assimilation
Today’s Christians need a reminder that America’s culture is not morally neutral. It’s working against God and His truth. And nowhere is that influence more evident than with our children and young people. Today’s culture wants to strip away th...
A Marriage That Made History
Many people know that Martin Luther impacted Christian doctrine when he broke from the Roman Catholic Church. But did you know that Martin Luther also impacted Christian marriage? Have you heard the story of how Luther helped 12 nuns esca...
A Daring Act of Faith
Did you hear about the man who walked across Niagara Falls back in 2012? It was a daring, dramatic, and dangerous walk that was watched live by more than 500 million people. In Ruth chapter three, the widow Ruth makes her own daring walk,...
A Chance Encounter That Wasn't Chance
American television changed forever when a Cuban man and a red-haired woman met and then merged their professional careers in 1940. Their sitcom, “I Love Lucy” is still considered one of the greatest of all time. In Ruth ch...
Moms Who Change The World
Did you know that nearly 70% of people who are succeeding with their personal goals, careers, and families— attribute that success to their upbringing in a positive family environment? That statistic certainly underlines the tremendous impact o...
A Heartbreaking Homecoming
How do you typically respond when life comes crashing down? Do you complain and sink into a season of despair, or do you turn to the LORD in confidence and trust? In Ruth chapter one, Naomi returns to her home country after a decade of he...
Broken Pieces Made Beautiful
On Sunday morning, we launched into a brand-new study of the Book of Ruth called “Broken Pieces Made Beautiful.” Even though the story of Ruth is marked by famine, death, and heartbreak, God takes the broken pieces and writes a b...
Perils of Pride
On Sunday, April 19th, our church participated in an extra-special “Pulpit Swap Sunday”, where I exchanged pulpits for the day with Dr. Terry Felton from Mason Dixon Baptist Church in New Freedom, Pennsylvania. That morning, Past...
More Than Forgiveness
When Jesus redeems us, He gives us so much more than just the forgiveness of our sins. Of course, His death removes the negative penalties that we deserve—like God’s wrath and eternal punishment. But the Bible also teaches that through...
The Power That Raised Jesus
Even though the opponents of Jesus were happy to see His execution, Jesus worked His greatest miracle on that first Resurrection Sunday, when He triumphed victoriously over death and the grave. As we study this world-shaking event, what power d...
The King They Didn't Understand
There’s no doubt that Jesus was one of the most misunderstood people in history, and nowhere was that more evident than the Sunday He entered Jerusalem on a donkey. This was a day filled with misplaced expectations and serious misunderstandings...
The Plan to Stop Jesus
After the resurrection of Lazarus, the religious leaders reach a breaking point and hold a meeting to decide what to do about Jesus. What do these leaders discuss? What is their plan to stop Jesus? What vital lessons can you learn about the evi...
Calling Out the Complacent Church
In Revelation 3, Jesus called out the church at Laodicea for their complacency, lukewarmness, and total ineffectiveness. As we listen to Jesus rebuke lukewarm believers, what is most needed by complacent Christians in today’s world? How c...
The Fingerprints of a Faithful Church
On Sundays at Wrightsdale we’ve been in a message series called “7 Letters”, where we’re examining Jesus’ words to seven churches of the NT era. The church at ancient Philadelphia received no corrections from Jesus, but only commendations-- bec...
Reviving a Dead Church
While some churches receive commendation in Revelation 2-3, one church gets a harsh critique for being “dead.” What does a dead church look like, and is there any hope of reviving one? What can you learn about diagnosing spiritual d...
No Escape for a Negligent Church
In Revelation 2-3, Jesus speaks candidly to seven churches of the ancient world. Can you imagine a church congregation looking the other way when public, persistent sin was happening in their midst? Is your church supposed to be tolerant at any...
Confronting a Compromised Church
Did you know that one of the greatest threats to the church is cultural compromise? What is at the heart of compromise, and what does it look like for the church in America? What does Jesus have to say to a church caught in the web of cultural ...
Strength When You're Suffering
The second church that Jesus addressed was the ancient church at Smyrna, where Christians were suffering under intense persecution for their faith. When the church of Jesus is under assault, and Christians are paying the price, wha...
Lessons from a Loveless Church
Even though these were ancient letters to ancient churches, they are still very relevant to our churches today. Is it possible that your church is so busy doing ministry and defending doctrine that it’s forgetting the supreme motivation? Could ...