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Avoiding Detrimental Assumptions

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

The world's religions have attempted to cast Almighty God into their faulty images, crafting an evil and destructive situational ethics.

Facilitating Lawlessness

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

We are too eager to display our permissiveness in face of all we know to be against it, from traditional, biblical morality to plain old common sense.

Secret Faults and Presumptuous Thoughts

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

People can mentally 'legalize their iniquities,' in doing so attempting to make God the accomplice of their sins. But He will not overlook blatant faults.

Job and Self-Evaluation (Part One): Job's Character

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The lessons of the book of Job, which carry distinct New Covenant insights, applies to all. Job was complete, yet had spiritually stalled.

Decide Now How You Will Respond!

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

God's chosen saints should realize that while Satan designs temptations to exploit human weakness, Almighty God allows trials to perfect faith and prove loyalty. Consequently, every temptation provides a choice between life or death, blessing or curse. In James 1:13-15, we learn that dealing with temptation is a process, beginning with raw desire, resulting either in resistance and growth or in sin and death. God sets limits on the work of Satan, the accuser, as seen in the positive conclusion of Job's trials. We see a massive contrast between Adam and Eve's failure and Christ's victory. While Eve gave in to the lust of the eyes, Jesus overcame Satan's threefold test—hunger, faith, and power by prayer, fasting, God's Spirit, and Scripture, proving that yielding to legitimate desires becomes sin if pursued outside the will of Almighty God. While temptation is universal, it is not irresistible; no one is ever forced to yield. Furthermore, God promises to provide strength and a way to escape (I Corinthians 10:13). While society excuses sin as weakness or disease, Scripture contends that responsibility rests on the individual. Scripture provides examples of both failure and faithfulness. Failures include Lot, Achan, the rich young ruler (overtaken by greed and materialism), Saul, Absalom, Herod (overtaken by ambition), Peter (overtaken by self-preservation), and Israel (by idolatry). But victories include Job's endurance, Joseph's purity, David's restraint, and Christ's resistance. Temptation reveals whether our hearts will trust God or surrender to selfish desires. We can resist temptation only through deliberate preparation, guarding our hearts, setting boundaries, relying on God's spirit, and clinging to His Word. With God's strength, His chosen saints can endure, resist, and gain eternal life.

The Same Plumb Line

Commentary by David C. Grabbe

A former president was sexually immoral, lied with impunity, and misused his position. The same is true of the current one. Will we apply God's standard equally?

Truth (Part 3)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

With the Spirit of God—the light of God—we see the true shape and form of things, and reality appears as something we can see clearly. We find truth.

Ditching Tithing? Consider Carefully

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In tough financial times, some Christians reduce or cut out altogether God's tithe. They justify it with an excuse like, 'God wouldn't want me to starve!'

Is It Salvational? (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Simply watching out for the so-called "big sins" suggests that we are not genuinely interested in conforming to God—just in not crossing a major red line.

Using Righteous Judgment

Sermon by Kim Myers

When we minimize sin, we become displeasing to God. God expects His people to confront brothers and sisters in Christ gently, without becoming judgmental.

Who Then Is In The Kingdom Of Heaven?

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. Collins

In Matthew 18, some disciples pondered who would be greatest in the Kingdom. However, ambition, arrogance, and pride will keep one from even being there.

Numbers: The Book of Judgment

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

We live daily in uncharted territory, but the sobering account in Numbers provides a roadmap, establishing God's pattern of judging our pilgrimage conduct.