Dividing Line

D. Ellis Gary

Description

A book and workbook that teaches how to overcome the challenges all churches face in dealing with conflict, fellowship, and diverse groups of people. Speaking from experience, Pastor Ellis teaches us to combat situational convictions, how to overcome the influence of secular humanism in the church, how to remain relevant and much more.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: First Edition Design Publishing
• Date de parution: 29 mars 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781622872817
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Dividing Line
Gary D. Ellis


First Edition Design Publishing
“The Dividing Line”

Gary D. Ellis
The Dividing Line
Copyright ©2013 Gary D. Ellis
ISBN 978-1622872-53-4

March 2013

Published and Distributed by
First Edition Design Publishing, Inc.
P.O. Box 20217, Sarasota, FL 34276-3217
www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com



ALL R I G H T S R E S E R V E D. No p a r t o f t h i s b oo k pub li ca t i o n m a y b e r e p r o du ce d, s t o r e d i n a r e t r i e v a l s y s t e m , o r t r a n s mit t e d i n a ny f o r m o r by a ny m e a ns ─ e l e c t r o n i c , m e c h a n i c a l , p h o t o - c o p y , r ec o r d i n g, or a ny o t h e r ─ e x ce pt b r i e f qu ot a t i o n i n r e v i e w s , w i t h o ut t h e p r i o r p e r mi ss i on o f t h e a u t h o r or publisher .

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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version , Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.;
The Amplified Bible , Old Testament copyright © 1965, 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified Bible , New Testament copyright © 1954, 1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.;
The Living Bible , Copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.;
Good News Translation ® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition)
Copyright © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.;
God’s Word ® , © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.;
The Holy Bible, New Living Translation , copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.;
The Message , Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group;
And the New Century Version , Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

First Edition

Published by
NewBookPublishing.com, a division of Reliance Media, Inc.
2395 Apopka Blvd., #200, Apopka, FL 32703
NewBookPublishing.com
The Dividing Line
About Pastor Gary D. Ellis
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1: - Every Man Did What Was Right In His Own Eyes
Chapter 2: - Situational Convictions
Chapter 3: - Humanist Infiltration
Chapter 4: - Relevance at the Expense of Righteousness
Chapter 5: - “Called” A Common Claim
Chapter 6: - “Popularity,” the Puppet Master
Chapter 7: - The Gift of God or the Gift of Gab?
Chapter 8: - “God Ain’t as Smart as Me”
Chapter 9: - “This is Just a Test”
Chapter 10: - The Dividing Line Between Convenience and Commitment
Chapter 11: - Adversity—the Dividing Line
Chapter 12: - Where to From Here
The Dividing Line
Recognizing that Satan could appear as an angel of light and that his ministers could appear as ministers of righteousness, the Apostle Paul was concerned that the Church was being drawn into a snare of deception. He wanted them to understand that, what may have seemed like extreme teaching and over the top behavior on his part, was actually his way of drawing some lines of distinction between himself and those who he called, “false apostles and deceitful workers.” The modern Christian church is imperiled with an abundance of those who are posing as ministers of Christ. They not only exist in the pulpit, but they also carry major influence in the church from positions of lay-leadership and the strong close knit relationship among the laity from the pew.
About Pastor Gary D. Ellis
Pastor Gary D. Ellis, Sr. is founder and lead pastor of Abundant Life Outreach Center in Clarksville, TN. He served as the Presbyter of Section-I, of the Kentucky District Board United Pentecostal Church International.
Pastor Ellis is also the founder and host of the Kingdom Connection Conference which includes Esther Assignment and Man2Man Ministries. The conference has grown rapidly over the years and now enjoys the fellowship of men and women from over 12 states.
He founded Destiny Toastmaster, a local chapter of an international public speaking and leadership training organization, a community outreach ministry with a myriad of programs for personal development, job skills training, computer training, and more. Pastor Ellis is the Dean of the Clarksville, TN Campus of Purpose Institute; a ministry training institution which partners with local churches to develop leaders for service in the Kingdom of God.
Pastor Ellis is a graduate of Austin Peay State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Criminal Justice.
Pastor Ellis retired from the U.S. Army after serving in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
Pastor Ellis travels extensively around the country and abroad conducting seminars, workshops, preaching conferences and other special meetings.
Foreword
It has been said that pastoring would be a great job if it wasn’t for people. Those of us who have served in pastoral ministry may chuckle at this remark, but the only reason we do is because we know in our hearts that we have sometimes felt that way. People! They are the source of our greatest joys and our worst nightmares. At times they lift us up, but all too often they frustrate us, discourage us, and drag us down. Yet these very people are the apple of God’s eye, the ones He purchased with His own blood. Or are they?
In any local assembly there is likely to be both wheat and tares. This is not my observation; this is what Jesus taught. In similar fashion Paul wrote “In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor” (2 Timothy 2:20) . The “great house” is the church; yet how often does this reality get talked about in pastor’s meetings and conferences? It almost seems as though many would prefer to pretend that this spiritual reality doesn’t really exist. Yet all of us know, deep down, that we have tares among us.
When Jesus told His disciples about the tares, He instructed them to just let them alone, continuing to grow among the wheat, lest by their efforts to remove them they damage the wheat. But we all know that sometimes tares cause trouble. Sometimes they don’t cooperate. Sometimes they undermine our efforts to build the church. So what do we do when this happens? Do we just let them be, hoping they will settle down on their own? Do we toss them out? Is there a way to keep a person on the right path so that he never becomes a tare? Why isn’t there more dialogue among pastors about these kinds of “people problems?”
After many years of pastoring, Gary Ellis has concluded that it all comes down to which side of the dividing line a person places himself. In his book, The Dividing Line , he talks frankly about the challenges all pastors face in dealing with people, both the vessels of honor and the ones of dishonor. His experience and candor make this book a must read for every pastor looking for answers to some of the toughest problems we face. And as an added bonus, it just may persuade some church members who read it to use extreme care when they consider which side of the line they will stand on.
The Dividing Line, by Gary Ellis, is a unique blend of Spirit-led ministry and practical applications of biblical truth. Whether you are a leader, or one of the led, it will challenge you to look deeper into the ways of the Lord.

David A. Huston, Pastor
Carlisle, PA
__________
I am so happy that Pastor Ellis has written and now published his first book, The Dividing Line . You will find this book loaded with both information and instructions that will help to make us better Christians and to more effectively reach our lost world.
For more than 25 years, I have witnessed Pastor Ellis build bridges across racial and political barriers to bring the saving message of Jesus Christ to those that hunger for a true and lasting relationship with their Creator.
The content of this book reflects the steadfastness of the Lord of the Harvest and a man of God who has paid the price to now be heard.
Nothing speaks louder than experience. So enjoy and glean the nuggets of knowledge & wisdom that this servant of Christ shares with each reader. God bless this effort & may many hearts be touched.

Bishop G.R. Adams
Hopkinsville, KY
__________
Pastor Ellis, one of Clarksville Tennessee’s leading pastors, has masterfully written a handbook that stimulates the thinking of both the pastor, as well as the church members. From its pages one can easily find a balanced perspective that addresses doubts, fears, confusion, and many of the other issues affecting most churches in America today. As I read this book, I kept thinking of a quote by Pastor Rick Warren, which states, “Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you. Don’t waste your pain; use it to help others.” Pastor Ellis has taken his experience, pain, and success and transformed it into spiritual nourishment that will assist in the advancement of God’s kingdom in the earth.

Overseer William E. Martin III, Pastor/Founder
City of David Ministries, Clarksville, TN
__________
Introduction
On May 11th 1980, I had my own personal encounter with Jesus Christ. It was on that day that the Spirit of the Lord convicted me of sin and its consequences. With deep, heart-felt, conviction and godly sorrow, I asked the Lord to forgive me, and He did. I believe with all of my heart that God heard my prayer and recognized my sincere desi