Playlist: Competition (topic)
Overcoming Satan's Competitive Spirit
Sermonette by Bill OnisickThe competitive spirit to dominate a competitor, not confined to athletic contests, militates against God's mandate that we esteem others over ourselves.
Unity Through Humility
Sermonette by Richard T. RitenbaughCompetition in the church can lead to disaster, destroying harmony and unity. Competition and pride destroy unity; humility and cooperation enhance unity.
Conflicts In The Body
Sermonette by Ryan McClureAs members of God's family, we must be quick to forgive one another for real or imagined slights. Those in God's Kingdom, will all be working together.
The Zero-Sum Game
Commentary by Mark SchindlerDespite the often wrong-headed propaganda promoted by the mainstream media, voices of common sense and logic occasionally manage to ascend to power.
Satan, Division, and Humility
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughCompetition is the root cause of war, business takeovers, and marital discord. Solomon describes man's rivalry with one another as a striving after wind.
The Agape Evolution
Sermonette by Bill OnisickIn one context, evolution is absolutely real:the transition of one of God's called-out ones from a state of fear to a state of transcendental agape love.
Faith (Part Six)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe hallmark of Christian character is humility, which comes about only when one sees himself in comparison to God. Pride makes distorted comparisons.
Casting Off Fear
Sermonette by Bill OnisickFear manifests itself in many forms, including pride, anger, and competition, stemming from feelings of inadequacy and not measuring up to our pretense.
The Spiritual Mark of the Beast
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughAnger and hostility, driven by self-centered competitive pride constitute Satan's spiritual mark that divides nations, ethnic groups, families, and the church.
Prosperity's Consequences
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsProsperity is not always an emblem of God's approval. God will not prosper us if it would cause spiritual damage, insulating us from seeking His kingdom.
Surprise Attack
Sermon by Bill OnisickAny thought not aligned to God's Spirit is satanic, including bragging, putting others down, being puffed up with arrogance, or putting anything before God.
Division, Satan, Humility
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThroughout the course of Biblical history, whenever sin appears, confusion, division and separation are the automatic consequences.
Satan (Part 4)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughSatan uses lies and disinformation to promote self-satisfaction over obedience to God. The way to the kingdom is through self-denial, even suffering unjustly.
Conviction to Godly Righteousness
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughReal repentance and conviction of righteousness should dramatically augment prayer, study, meditation, but most importantly, how we live our lives.
Who Are We and Where Do We Fit (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)God has placed us all in the body where it has pleased Him. We dare not imitate Satan by letting self-centered goals eclipse God's purpose.
Unity (2006)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLike the symphony orchestra, only as an instrumentalist submits to the leader, working with the other members of the ensemble, can unity be accomplished.
Debate
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Bible takes a very dim view of argument, debate, discord, and strife. In all matters of contention, we must strive to put ourselves above the fray.
New Covenant Priesthood (Part Seven)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPride is the basis of resisting God, while humility is the key to a relationship with Him. We recognize it in others but we seldom see it in ourselves.
Countering Presumptuousness
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughKorah, Dathan, and Abiram were not content with where God had placed them, but, in a spirit of pride, wanted to arrogate to themselves the office of Moses.
Antidote For Disunity!
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. CollinsWe will become united as we draw closer to God. If we regard a brother in Christ as a competitor rather than as a trusted ally, unity will be impossible.
Preventing the Warfare State
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Satan has taught mankind the craft of war between nations, within families, in politics, and in sports. We must resist being dragged into partisan battles.
Preparing To Rule
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)How can a group of rag-tag upstarts with no experience—that's how the world's leaders perceive us—hope to succeed where they have utterly failed?
Concerning Edom
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe prophet Obadiah sorrowfully dramatizes God's judgment upon Edom (Esau) for his hatred, haughtiness, and pride, and how and why Edom will be annihilated.
Faith (Part Seven)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPride is a perverted comparison that elevates one above another. Because of its arrogant self-sufficiency, it hinders our faith. Faith depends on humility.
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.
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.
Satan (Part 5)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughTo resist the Devil is to resist unlawful desires, not allowing him to manipulate our emotions. Satan works on fear of being denied something pleasurable.
Satan (Part 1)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe origins of our adversary, Satan the Devil, and his host of fallen angels or demons. God has promised us protection if we yield to and obey Him.
Grace, Mercy, and Favor (Part One): To the Beaten
Sermon by Mark SchindlerGod's people may fall into the trap of forgetting the sinful past from which God rescued them and come to look disdainfully on those not yet called.
Are You Envious or Content?
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Mike FordEnvy is a work of the flesh, involving coveting. A significant example of envy is found in the relationship of the two wives of Elkanah, Hannah and Peninnah.
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Ten)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Many of God's servants, including Elijah and Jeremiah, had their crises of faith, desiring to flee from their responsibilities and commitments.
Civility and Courtesy
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughSocietal incivility, discourtesy, and in-your-face attitudes (works of the flesh) have manifested themselves in the church of God, but contradict agape.
Sin (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughTrue Christianity is no cakewalk into eternal life, but a life and death struggle against our flesh, the world, and a most formidable spirit adversary.
John (Part Twenty-Six)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughWhile the other accounts of Jesus' trial and crucifixion seem to show passivity, John shows Jesus totally in charge, purposefully and courageously moving.
Strategies for Escaping Babylon (Part One)
Sermon by David F. MaasEvery form of government fashioned by carnal human beings, including democracies and constitutional republics, are riddled with fatal flaws.
Unity and Unleavened Bread
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughAs members of Christ's body, we must function for the good of the whole body, not competing with other parts. We must continually function as a son of God.
God's Rest (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe two principal robbers of peace are pride and the drive to have complete control of our lives. Discontent and imagined victimization led Adam and Eve into sin.
Ecclesiastes and the Feast of Tabernacles (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod emphasizes Ecclesiastes during the Feast of Tabernacles to show the result of doing whatever our human heart leads us to do. The physical cannot satisfy.
Philippians (Part Ten)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughNot one of us with heavenly citizenship has ever been there, but like an ambassador, we are compelled to carry on the culture and laws in our lives.
Watch and Vigilantly Prepare
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsWe are ambassadors in a foreign land, awaiting the return of Christ, when we will help our Warrior King subdue all the rebellious nations of the earth.
Satan (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughSatan uses disinformation, spread through false ministers/prophets, teaching smooth things that destroy. We must test the spirits to ensure a teaching is from God.
Could You Stand Alone?
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWould we have the same courage to stand spiritually as the brave unarmed man who resisted the tanks of the Chinese Red Army in Tiananmen Square?
Camouflage and Salvation
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughSatan has provided what appear to be plausible alternatives to Christ's sacrifice for salvation, like service, positive changes, and right thinking.
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.
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.
The Commandments (Part Nineteen)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJesus taught that all outward sin stems from inner inordinate desire. What we desire or lust after automatically becomes our idol.
A Lesson in Sportsmanship
Sermonette by Ted E. BowlingThe 'Pierre De Coubertin Medal' is given out for sportsmanship, honoring generous behavior toward competing athletes—much harder to win than a gold medal.
The Philadelphia Syndrome
Commentary by David C. GrabbeThe Worldwide Church of God considered itself to be the 'Philadelphia era,' but the fruit has been misplaced trust, idolatry, competition, and exclusivity.
Just Under the Skin
Commentary by Richard T. RitenbaughThe veneer of civility that covers civilization is thin, hardly able to conceal our carnal nature. That nature turns violent seemingly at the drop of a hat.
What Is Your Game?
Sermonette by Ronny H. GrahamPaul was certainly aware of the obsessiveness of Olympic athletes but stressed that sacrificing for eternal, godly character was a far wiser investment.
Christian Men: Personal Responsibility
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsAlthough men have no moral or mental advantages over women, God has commissioned them to actively lead, providing security and stability to family and society.
Conspiracy Theory (Part Eighteen)
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)The meteoric rise of immorality in this country has made it dangerous, leading people to select charismatic tyrants to lead them into dependency.
In Search of a Clear World View (Part Three)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Each member has been gifted by Christ. We must not go beyond the gifts that have been given to us, but must use them humbly, employing them to edify.
Genesis 3:16: Consequences for Eve
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughSpiritually, male and female have equal potential. Rights and legalities are far less important than spiritual development, subject to God-ordained gender roles.
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.
The Fifth Commandment
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe fifth commandment teaches our responsibility to give high regard, respect, and esteem to parents and other authority figures, leading to a prosperous life.
The Handwriting Is On the Wall (Part Two) (2007)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe sheep do not belong to any man or group, but to Christ. It is Christ's responsibility to get the sheep into the Kingdom, not the ministry's.
From Rubble to Utopia
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe World Tomorrow is not going to happen because of an instantaneous miracle. God takes His time to produce both physical and spiritual changes.
Intimacy with Christ (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe must fight against the world's pulls (including advertising), simplifying our lives, seeking quiet to meditate and build a relationship with God.
Avoiding Superficiality
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughSuccess in spiritual things does not consist in growing large and powerful, but humbly living by faith, overcoming, and yielding to God's shaping power.
The Needed Dimension
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughUnless we humbly submit before God, all of His efforts go for naught. God will not give His Spirit to those who will not obey Him.
Government (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughOnly those who are governable will be allowed to govern with God. No government will work without each individual submitting in his area of responsibility.
Psalm 23 (Part Three)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughThe valley-of-shadow imagery symbolizes the fears, trials, and tests needed to produce character, quality fruit, and an intimate trust in the shepherd.
John (Part Eighteen)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughTrust in God's ability to resurrect can neutralize the most basic debilitating fear—the fear of death. Christ assures us that death is not the end.
Matthew (Part Twenty-Four)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughThose who are mature should be able to endure the slights of the immature, being circumspect not to lead anyone into sin through our careless example.