Playlist:

playlist Go to the Strife (topic) playlist

Harmony with God and the Brethren

Sermonette by Ted E. Bowling

God's people are like a musical ensemble, each having unique pitches and timbre. As we yield to our Conductor, we also blend with one another, creating harmony.


'Sons of God?'

Sermonette by Bill Onisick

God gave Jesus Christ to us to restore peace, reconciliation, and harmony with God. In the Beatitudes, the peacemakers are called 'sons of God.'


Unity

Sermon by James Beaubelle

The virtue of love is the overarching framework for unity, demanding rigorous control over the tongue, understanding its capacity to destroy.


Satan, Division, and Humility

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Competition is the root cause of war, business takeovers, and marital discord. Solomon describes man's rivalry with one another as a striving after wind.


Unity (Part 7): Ephesians 4 (D)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Because of our lack of self-discipline and willingness to guard the truth, we have allowed our theological base to deteriorate under the persuasion of the world.


Hijacking Peace

Sermonette by Joseph B. Baity

The world has no idea where peace comes from because they have long ago rejected the Prince of Peace and His prescription for tranquility.


Building Relationships

Sermonette by Ryan McClure

The Scriptures provide many examples of how difficult relationships were dealt with by humility, deference, longsuffering, and prayer.


Conflicts In The Body

Sermonette by Ryan McClure

As 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.


James and Unleavened Bread (Part Two)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The epistle of James stresses both faith and works, emphasizing those factors necessary for growth, enabling us to produce a bountiful harvest of fruit.


Differences of Opinion

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Satan champions self-opinion and mob behavior. God's church has never been immune to division because each member has only part of the truth.


Psalm 133 (1998)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Unity comes only through the initiation of God. If we would follow the suggestions in Romans 12, we could do our part in promoting unity in God's church.


Isaac the Peacemaker

Sermonette by Ted E. Bowling

Isaac was a genuine peacemaker, yielding to interlopers and suffering wrong while trusting God to provide. In all his actions, Isaac exemplified a peacemaker.


Unity

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Each member of Christ's body must choose to function in the role God has ordained to produce unity, emulating Christ in striving to please the Father


Isaiah 58 and Fasting

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Fasting puts us in a proper humble and contrite frame of mind, allowing God to respond to us, freeing us from our burdens and guiding us into His Kingdom.


The Fruit of the Spirit: Peace

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

The world has little or no idea what true peace is or how it is achieved. Yet we can produce godly peace even in the midst of turmoil—and we must.


Fruit of the Flesh - On Conflict

Sermonette by Bill Onisick

As God's chosen saints, we must not let our keyboard or mouth defile us. Godly conversation includes stifling the urge to win the argument at all costs.


The Beatitudes, Part 7: Blessed Are the Peacemakers

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

This world lauds warmakers, but God says that peacemakers are blessed. The first step in becoming a peacemaker is to be reconciled to God.


A Portable Peace

Article by David F. Maas

Peace is less of an external situation than an internal state. We can create this state by occasionally getting away from the hustle and bustle of modern life.


Living by Faith: Humility and God's Justice

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Humility, poverty of spirit, and acknowledging our total dependence on God are of the utmost importance. God responds to those who are humble.


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.


Grace, Faith, and Love

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Pride condemned Satan to a fate of manipulating rather than serving. This presumptuous self-centered trait creates disunity and ultimately destruction.


Peace

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

True peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but a positive, proactive, heartfelt peace of yielding to God and of good will toward all.


Restoration and Forgiveness

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

It is impossible to grow spiritually in a climate of animosity and jealousy. If we use the power of God's Holy Spirit, peace will accrue as a fruit.


Tests of True Knowledge

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

A person who is puffed up parades his knowledge by exhibiting impatience, intolerance, or a false modesty, marginalizing what the uneducated in their minds.


Debate

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The 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.


Envy: The Most Precious Daughter

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

It is easy to follow in Satan's footsteps, courting his daughter Envy, reaping the disquiet which accompanies her. Envy comes from pushing God from our thoughts.


Of One Accord

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Confusion and separation have been man's legacy since Eden. Christ is working to put an end to division, enabling us to be one with the Father and each other.


Flame Wars

Sermonette by Ryan McClure

Are we part of flaming — the aggressive and offensive interaction between Internet users? Or do we pursue righteousness in our speech and communication?


Reviler

Sermonette by Ronny H. Graham

As culture degenerates, the sin of reviling has become more pervasive, as impatient narcissists lash out at others, using foul and abusive language.


It Takes a Church

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

As Christians, we need to form warm, productive, quality relationships with our brethren, actively ministering to the needs of one another.


Honor Before Love

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Agape love will not occur unless we first learn to honor, esteem, and cherish God and the preciousness of Christ's sacrifice for us.