Playlist:

playlist Go to the agape (#G26) (topic) playlist

Abraham's Sacrifice (Part Two): Love Exemplified

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The love of Abraham for Isaac serves as an emblem for the love of the Father for His Son and for all the children of Adam and Eve.


Go and Do Likewise

Sermon by Bill Onisick

Without the gift of God's Holy Spirit, it is impossible to understand the kind of love which Christ commanded of His disciples.


Breakfast by the Sea (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Jesus twice asks Peter if he has agape love, and both times Peter can only respond that he has tremendous personal affection — he was lacking agape love.


Love God, Love Neighbor

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The 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.


Is the Love of Many Growing Cold?

'Ready Answer' by David C. Grabbe

Jesus foretells that "the love of many will grow cold" at the end time. Is this happening right now, or is there love that is just difficult to recognize?


The Nature of God— What's Love Got To Do With It?

'Ready Answer' by Joseph B. Baity

Culture has so confused the common understanding of love that most people do not know what true, godly love is.


River of Life

Sermon by Bill Onisick

I Corinthians 13 describes the assaying instrument to detect the purity of love. Our need for love never ends as we move through the sanctification process.


The Greatest Motivation

Sermonette by Bill Onisick

Most people are not aware of the motivations that drive their behavior. Are we cognizant of our own motivations? Are we analyzing their activation and intensity?


Love's Emotional Dimension

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Love 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.


First Love (Part One)

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

A Christian's foremost responsibility is to love God wholeheartedly. A decline similar to the Ephesians' loss of their first love affected the first-century church.


By This Shall All Men Know You

Sermon by John O. Reid

A native practice involves leaving a young man on a remote island with only a bow and arrows until he learns to become a man, and God does something similar.


Essence of Love

Sermonette by Clyde Finklea

David took all the persecutions from King Saul, and then later showed his mercy to Saul's extended family, he demonstrated the true essence of godly love.


The Fruit of the Spirit: Love

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Love is the first of the fruit of the Spirit, the one trait of God that exemplifies His character. Here is how the Bible defines what love is and what love does.


Love

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John O. Reid

God appreciates when we show concern for others, developing the maturity to overlook the slights others have made to us. Love sets an example for others.


Loving Christ and Revelation 2:1-7

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

There 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 Importance and Source

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God is the source of real love; mankind by nature does not have it. It is only by knowing God that we can have this love. Godly love is a cycle that God initiates.


No Real Love Without God

Sermon by John O. Reid

We are called to take on the very nature of God, to put on the love of God. Surprisingly, We can rekindle our first love by ardently keeping God's Commandments.


Our Spiritual Roof

Sermon by Bill Onisick

If we are not performing righteous acts with the right spirit (God's Holy Spirit or the mind of Christ) we will not hit the mark.


You Are My Friends!

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

While it is common on Facebook to defriend/unfriend, Christ's love for His people is a friending with the condition that godly fruit is produced.


Keeping Love Alive (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

If 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.


Forms vs. Spirituality (Part 3)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God's holy law gives love its foundation, stability, and evenness, preventing it from degenerating into a sappy, sentimental feeling.


Offerings (Part Five)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

We give peace offerings today through living sacrifice, keeping God's law out of love and to glorify Him rather than just to perform duty.


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.


Love's Basic Definition

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Love is not a feeling, but an action—defined as keeping God's commandments, the only means by which we can possibly know Him, leading to eternal life.


"If I Have Not Charity"

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Christianity has both an inward aspect (building godly character or becoming sanctified) and an outward aspect (doing practical good works).


Psalm 23 (Part Three)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

The valley-of-shadow imagery symbolizes the fears, trials, and tests needed to produce character, quality fruit, and an intimate trust in the shepherd.


First Love (Part Two)

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

Christ's reprimand of the Ephesian church, "You have left your first love," seems odd being said to a church that appeared so busy doing God's will.


You Shall Love Your Neighbor (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by John O. Reid

Showing God's love to our neighbor goes beyond wishing him well but extends to actively doing him good. It means doing what will benefit him.


Reach for the Goal

Sermon by John O. Reid

Similar to the way people pull together in times of crisis, we must also have a goal, a vision of the finish line, in order to overcome and grow.


John 3:16: Does God Really Love the World?

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God does not love everybody equally. Nowhere does He tell us to prefer the ungodly world. Though He tells us to love our enemies, but not to be affectionate.


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.


John (Part Twenty-Two)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jesus encouraged His disciples by promising to send the Holy Spirit to empower them for the challenges of the Christian life, making us sensitive to God.


Philippians (Part Two)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Paul both appealed for unity among the Philippians and offered encouragement, reminding them that their relationship with one another was through Christ.


Childrearing (Part Three)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Our children internalize our values; we teach largely by example. If we do not take seriously the responsibility for rearing our children, somebody else will.


Love's Greatest Challenges

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

An irrational fear of loss prevents the development of agape love — we fear that keeping God's commandments will cause us to lose something valuable.


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.


Keeping Love Alive (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Works demonstrate our faith, our response to God's calling and His freely given grace. Reciprocity is always a part of our relationship with God.