Playlist: Love for God (topic)
Love God, Love Neighbor
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe outgoing concern toward other beings begins with God the Father to Christ to us. How much we love our brethren may be a good gauge of how much we love God.
Loving Christ and Revelation 2:1-7
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThere is a direct relationship between loving Christ and doing the right works. God's love for us places us under a compelling obligation to reciprocate.
Love's Emotional Dimension
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLove doesn't become 'love' until we act. If we don't do what is right, the right feeling will never be formed; emotions are largely developed by our experiences.
Love Thy Neighbor (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)He who loves God must love his brother, including every fellow human being. Our closeness with God transcends the other human relationships.
Our Part in the Sanctification Process (Part Two): Cultivating Love
Sermon by David F. MaasThe opposite of selfishness is not self-hatred, but mature self-love, loving ourselves as a responsible, caring parent would (or should) love a growing child.
Keeping Love Alive (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIf we love another person, we like to think about him/her, to hear about him/her, please him/her, and we are jealous about his/her reputation and honor.
God Works in Mysterious Ways (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughOur carnal nature's desire to satisfy an addictive self-centeredness can eventually overrule the Christian's loyalty to God and His commandments.
Keeping Love Alive (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWorks demonstrate our faith, our response to God's calling and His freely given grace. Reciprocity is always a part of our relationship with God.
Love Thy Neighbor (Part 1)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Jesus set the bar very high when it comes to love. We no longer live for ourselves, but to Christ, who commands us to love everyone, including our enemies.
How to Know We Love Christ
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe cannot become weary of well-doing, allowing our first love to deteriorate, looking to the world for satisfaction. Here are 8 tests of our love for Christ.
By This We Know Love!
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsAs God's people keep God's law in its spiritual intent, they begin to think like the Father and His Son, both of whom habitually do good.
Israel's Missing Characteristics of God
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Faithfulness is living continually by faith, acting even though doing so may cost us. Love is not primarily a feeling, but faithfulness in applying God's Word.
Love and Fellowship
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughFellowship with God is the only antidote to overwhelming feelings of despair, doubt, and self-condemnation.
Do You Really Know God?
Sermon by Clyde FinkleaWe can know for sure that we know Him intimately by keeping His commandments and practicing loving kindnesses.
Strategies for Escaping Babylon (Part Six)
Sermon by David F. MaasAll the New Testament writers warned about false prophets trying to sever the symbiotic relationship between law and grace, law and faith, law and works.
Hebrews, Love, and the Ephesian Church
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLike the Ephesians, the weary veterans in Hebrews were becoming apathetic through outside pressures, losing their former zeal and devotion to Christ.
Thou Shall Love Thy Neighbor
Sermon by John O. ReidWe are obligated to show compassion and mercy to all, refraining from gossip, exercising righteous judgment, forgiving others and applying the Golden Rule.
Prayer and Seeking God
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughRather than having an apathetic relationship toward God, we must ardently, earnestly, and fervently seek God in order to imitate His behavior in our lives.
A Hidden Mystery in God!
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsBefore anyone can have fellowship before God, the obstacle of sin must be eliminated, which is a permanent barrier between us and God.
Grace, Mercy, and Favor (Part Four): Favor to Live as God Lives
Sermon by Mark SchindlerWe earn God's favor by obedience; there is a direct tie between submission to His will and His favor. The more one submits, the more favor and grace accrues.
God Expects a Return on His Investment (Part One)
Sermon by David F. MaasWe have the obligation to bear spiritual fruit, heeding the lessons of the cursing of the fig tree, and the parables of the barren fig tree and the talents.
Handpicked By God
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Kim MyersGod handpicked us for a specific purpose, just as He did Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Noah. God also handpicked second-generation Church members.
Knowing God: Formality and Customs (Part Six)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIn the matter of godly standards for dress, we must adopt the humble, childlike, sincere, unassuming, and teachable attitude, loving God intimately.
Will You Be Accounted Worthy for the Kingdom?
Sermon by John O. ReidLike businessmen reviewing plans, making forecasts, and anticipating accountability, God expects us to define and follow through on spiritual objectives.
The Promises of God
Sermon by John O. ReidIn this time of confusion and rapid change, we have a desperate need for something solid to hold onto. Some of the most secure things are the promises of God.
The Purpose of Relationships
Sermonette by Ryan McClureThe marriage covenant was designed to bring incomplete components of the God image together in one flesh, from which other relationships developed.
Deuteronomy and Holiness
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)God has provided the God-plane marriage relationship to teach us how to submit to one another, sacrificing our self-centeredness for the benefit of our spouse.
No Failsafe Needed
Sermon by Mark SchindlerThe free-will God has allowed mankind has led to some tragic consequences or disruptions, but none of these are outside of His control.
Abraham's Sacrifice (Part Three): Hope Demonstrated
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughAbraham's resolute intent to sacrifice Isaac displayed his unreserved devotion to God's purpose for him. We must display the same kind of tenacity.
Leadership and Covenants (Part Twenty-Two)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Much of Protestantism misconstrues the significance of the New Covenant as a 'free pass into Heaven' without paying attention to the Law within the Covenant.
A Priceless Gift
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod's people are the precious jewels (or the private, personal possessions) of God, obligated to conform exclusively to His will and purpose.
Deuteronomy: Fear
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWhen people allow fear to rule them, they lose their mind. Fear of God, however, is not mind killing, but inspires a reverential awe of the Creator.
The Fruit of Repentance
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)We may feel sorry or even guilty when we sin, but have we actually repented? The Scriptures show that true repentance produces these seven, distinct fruits.
Is the United States a Christian Nation? (Part Seven)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)When the U.S. Congress wanted to put 'In God we Trust' on currency, the Seventh Day Adventists objected, arguing that the U.S. has never been a Christian nation.
Deuteronomy (Part 3) (1994)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe will not be prepared to rule in the Millennium unless we are experientially persuaded of God's faithfulness to His Covenant and His intolerance of evil.
The Merciful
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe harsh religion of the Pharisees was unfeeling, placing more attention on rituals and man-made laws, and had turned their super-righteousness into sin.
Our Part in the Sanctification Process (Part Six): Cultivating Kindness
Sermon by David F. MaasBecause kindness is love in action, we must galvanize our thoughts into concrete behaviors, including offering encouraging words and performing uplifting deeds.
Recognizing Our Obligation
Sermonette by Richard T. RitenbaughHow different would our lives be if God had not called us? God's intervention in our lives improved their quality exponentially, and we must respond in kind.
Eternal Security (Part 1)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughSome of the harshest criticism we receive is for our position opposing the doctrine of eternal security and stating that works are required for salvation.
Prayer and Persistence
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPersistence in prayer does not mean an incessant pestering God into action. God always looks at our petitions from the vantage-point of His purpose.
The Two Great Commandments: First Principles
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod made male and female in His image and has determined that the binary metamorphize into unitary in order to accomplish higher Spiritual purposes.
As The Deer Pants
Sermonette by Ted E. BowlingThere are various connotations of the verb 'pant' as it applies to thirsting in a dry environment as well as to the exhaustion of an escaping animal.
Debt and Obligation
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe live in a time when people have acquired a weak sense of obligation to family, society, or nation. Because sin cannot be undone, all are debtors to God.
Prayer and Fervency
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLiving faith has its roots in fervently, diligently seeking God and His righteousness with intense desire (like a passionate lover) through habitual prayer.
Deuteronomy and Idolatry
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)We are admonished to internalize the book of Deuteronomy in preparation for our future leadership roles.
Letters to Seven Churches (Part Two): Ephesus
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Ephesus church effectively battled various heresies, for which Christ commends it. However, the members lost sight of the reason, having left their first love.
Laodiceanism
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughOur love for beauty must be coupled with love for righteousness and holiness. Our relationship with Christ must take central place in our lives, displacing all else.
Forms vs. Spirituality (Part 1)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLove, justice, mercy, and fidelity (the weightier matters of the law) God desires more than meticulous, mechanical religiosity.
Philippians (Part Five)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ, through His voluntary humility, has given us a model of the mindset that we need to have in order to attain membership in the family of God.
Those Who Hunger and Thirst
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughIn the Beatitude, hungering and thirsting for righteousness are present tense active participles signifying continuous longing for God's righteousness.
Our Core Business
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John O. ReidWhen corporations get rid of their core business, they become less effective. Likewise when we deviate from our core job, we risk returning to the world.
Go Forward
Sermon by Mark SchindlerAre we ready to sacrifice as was Moses, realizing that our precious calling is far more than the imaginary quest of Don Quixote?
In Search of a Clear World View (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)The apostle John warns us to be vigilant about the world, not loving its attitudes, mindsets, and frame of mind. We cannot both love the world and love God.
Loyalty and Submission (Part 3)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughAs wives are admonished to emulate the ideal of the Proverbs 31 woman, husbands must emulate the sacrificial spirit of Jesus Christ.
The Feast Brings Hope
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John O. ReidThe Feast of Tabernacles gives us hope that all the perversions will be destroyed, making way for God's righteousness to prevail upon the earth.
Deuteronomy (Part 5)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod's faithfulness is the foundation of our faith. We cannot live by faith unless we believe we have a God who is faithful in everything He does.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Six)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughCircumcision is a token, sign, or seal that one was the heir of Abraham. No physical sign has the power to transfer righteousness to the doer.
His Eye Is on the Sparrow (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)We do not need to excessively fear Satan, his demons, or the world, but we should fear and respect the One who has complete involvement in our lives.
New Covenant Priesthood (Part Ten)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughOur obligation toward God mandates that we love our fellow human beings, even individuals who have severely wronged us.
He Who Overcomes
Sermon by John O. ReidIt is not profitable to focus on the place of safety or the specific time of Christ's return, but instead to make the best use of our time to overcome.
Acts (Part Sixteen)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughWe must always conduct ourselves with the long-term spiritual interests of others in mind, being sensitive to the conscience and scruples of others.
Reconciliation and Unity
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIt is foolish and pointless to use the same charm, social skills, and duplicity toward God as we use to deceive others and, sadly, even ourselves.
Israel's Restoration and the Zeitgeist of Zeal
Sermon by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021)After the Tribulation, God promises to restore Israel to the promised land where she will have a chance to learn and live God's truth in the Millennium.
Life Is Service (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughA culture of slavery pervaded life in the early Christian church, forcing Paul to pen instructions accommodating this practice in the context of love.
Is Education the Answer? (Part 4)
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Because the secular progressives control the media, entertainment, and education, Americans have no inkling about how sin destroys the quality of life.
We Will Serve the Lord!
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsJoshua's deeds were demonstrations of God's power. Joshua charged the leaders to remain courageous, love God and His Law, and serving Him with all their heart and soul.
The March Toward Globalism (Part Eight)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Satan is cultivating vessels of destruction by turning God's principles of child-rearing upside-down, encouraging permissiveness and destroying the family.
Is the United States a Christian Nation? (Part Six)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)The belief that America was or is a Christian nation cannot be supported by the facts. The world, governed by Satan, hates Christ's true followers.
Hope!
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John O. ReidHope is a joyful and contented expectation of salvation or fulfillment. Modern Israel has very little hope because of reaping the consequences of sin.
Communication and Coming Out of Babylon (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughAll of us are influenced by the culture of the world, guided and inspired by the prince of the power of the air. Satan has deceived the whole world.
Joseph: A Saga of Excellence (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughEven allowing for mankind's free moral agency and propensity to stumble, God still works out His purpose, even when people do not know it is for their good.
Hebrews (Part Nine)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughAfter the change from the Aaronic to the Melchizedek priesthood, it was also necessary to change the Covenant. The flaw was not the law, but the heart.