Playlist:

playlist Go to the Ecclesiastes, Book of (topic) playlist

Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Five)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Solomon warns against bad choices in our investment of time. Our knowledge that we will ultimately die should motivate us to use our time circumspectly.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Thirteen)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Solomon teaches us that money may provide some security, but it cannot be relied upon for satisfaction; only a relationship with God will fill that vacuum.


Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part One)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Ecclesiastes is full of frustration, bluntness, and even a little hopeless. However, its themes are realistic and necessary for us to grasp.


Ecclesiastes and Wisdom

Sermonette by John W. Ritenbaugh

There is a vital linkage between wisdom and understanding, understanding comes only through hard work and experience. Wisdom is skill in living.


Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Four): Other Gifts

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

God has given His people tremendous gifts that, if used, will build their faith and draw them closer to Him. He wants us to succeed because we matter.


Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Three): Time

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Solomon reveals that God is solidly in control of time. Knowing that God is sovereign over time should fill us with faith in God's workmanship.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Ecclesiastes is perhaps the most practical book in the Old Testament, providing overviews of life-guiding advice, essentially a roadmap through the maze.


Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Thirteen): Confessions

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

As he closes Ecclesiastes 7, Solomon makes a confession about the search for wisdom, saying that, even to him, true wisdom remained beyond his grasp.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Eleven)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Ecclesiastes deals with quality of life issues for those who have been called, emphasizing responsibility and choice, continually fearing God.


Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Two): Works

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

God works all the time. In fact, it is the first thing we see God doing in His Book. We must follow His example to become skilled in living as He does.


Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Seven): Contentment

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

God desires far more for us than mere satisfaction: He wants to give us real contentment, a state that comes only through a relationship with Him.


Ecclesiastes and the Feast of Tabernacles (Part 2)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God 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.


Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Ten): Paradox

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Ecclesiastes 7 contains a paradox: wickedness appears to be rewarded and righteousness seems to bring trouble. We must be careful in how we respond to this.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Fifteen)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Our relationship with God is often strengthened through hardship. We must choose to yield to God, living for a much higher goal than raw materialism.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Until Christ returns, the world's problems will not be solved. Using godly wisdom helps us to deal with our circumstances, but it won't change the world.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Sixteen)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Ecclesiastes 1-6 contains an indictment of materialism. The only lasting fulfillment comes from establishing and maintaining a relationship with God.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Biblical wisdom (sagacity, quickness of perception, soundness of judgment) is achievable by anyone called of God because God is the source of this wisdom.


Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Six): Listening

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

When Solomon visits the Temple, he comes away with a sense that too many treat religion far too casually, forgetting that they are coming before God.


Ecclesiastes and the Feast of Tabernacles (Part 1)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Love for this world will inevitably bring disillusionment. Because the world is passing away, our priorities should be to fear God and keep his commandments.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Nine)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Only those called by God are given insight into God's grand design, making living by faith possible. God adds understanding as we are able to use it.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Eight): Time

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

We must realize that God is sovereign over time all the time, even as it is running out for all of us. God works to make the most of every situation in our lives.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Six)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God wants us to use wisdom to change ourselves, humbly replacing our perspective with His perspective. God gives wisdom as a component of His grace.


God's Sovereignty, Ecclesiastes, and God's Will

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God knows the end from the beginning, but He does not give us all the details at once, except as they are necessary for us for His purpose to be worked out.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Our supreme objective in godly living is attainment and cultivation of wisdom, which consists of attributes giving us skill in living.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twelve)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Corruption in the courts is a fact of life. We should not be surprised by this curse, realizing that God is aware and is allowing it for a purpose.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Seven)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God has given time to mankind as a gift, manipulating its use for us. The bad as well as the pleasant aspects of life are fashioned for our ultimate good.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Thirty)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

In the matter of deference to civil authority, we must remember that we must give governing officials respect, even though they may be the basest of men.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Nine)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

We are not privy to God's, but we must realize that He has the prerogative to impose both blessings and calamity, the latter in response to disobedience.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Six)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

To keep us secure from the temptations of the world, we must embrace our metaphorical sister, Wisdom, keeping us focused on our relationship with God.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Fourteen)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Solomon ruminates about life being seemingly futile and purposeless. A relationship with God is the only factor which prevents life from becoming useless.


Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Five): Comparisons

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Solomon provides these comparisons to indicate the choices we should make to live better lives in alignment with God, even in an 'nder the sun' world.


Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Nine): Wisdom as a Defense

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

The type of wisdom Ecclesiastes teaches is not of the purely philosophical variety, but is a spiritual sagacity combined with practical skill in living.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Eight)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Wisdom does not give us complete understanding into the ultimate purposes of God, but when accompanied with faith in God, it will brighten our countenance.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Eighteen)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

We accept most of our opinions, prejudices, and beliefs unconsciously. We must scrutinize our own beliefs through the principles of God's Holy Scriptures.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Ten)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Many of God's servants, including Elijah and Jeremiah, had their crises of faith, desiring to flee from their responsibilities and commitments.


Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Twelve): Paradox, Conclusion

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

There is a danger that arises when the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper: trying to put God under obligation to bless us through becoming 'super-righteous'.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Psalm 73 describes someone seeing the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer, but it is not true that people in the world are leading superior lives.


Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Fourteen): A Summary

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Along with the central paradox of Ecclesiastes 7, the chapter emphasizes the importance of an individual's lifelong search for wisdom.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Five)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Gossip about us from someone we may have trusted can be painful, yet our tongue has likely been just as detrimental against someone who may have trusted us.


Psalms: Book Four (Part One)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Only 18 psalms—11.3%—apply to the fall holy days. Book IV of the Psalms align with Numbers in the Torah or Pentateuch, and Ecclesiastes in the Megilloth.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Seventeen)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Wisdom can be defined as doing the right thing at the right time in the right way to the right measure. Wisdom is not given as a whole, but incrementally.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Seven)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Solomon exercised a lifetime of hard work trying to find answers, but fell short because some things are discoverable only through God's revelation.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Profit from life is produced by work, requiring sacrifices of time and energy. We have been created for the very purpose of doing good works.


Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Eight): Death

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Ecclesiastes 7:1-4 highlight the Bible's attitude toward death, particularly its insistence that we allow the reality of death to change our approach to life.


Pentecost and the Book of Ruth

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Although many lessons of the book of Ruth allude to Old Covenant teachings, Ruth prefigures New Covenant principles such as mercy, Christ's care, and acceptance.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The paradox of Ecclesiastes 7 shows an unrighteous man flourishing and a righteous man suffering. The solution to this conundrum is found in Psalm 73.


Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Fifteen): Deference

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Solomon makes the subject of deference a major part of Ecclesiastes 8. Christians must always strive to see God behind those in power over us.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Trials are a means to produce spiritual growth, unless we resort to super-righteousness, straining to please God by exalting our works.


Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Eleven): Paradox, Continued

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Hard trials are not punishments from God for unrighteousness but tests of faith in which He is intimately involved to prepare us for the world to come.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Nineteen)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Ecclesiastes 7 contains a series of 'this is better than that' observations. Wisdom seems to carry more sadness and sorrow than mirth or foolishness.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Solomon emphasized in Ecclesiastes 2 that we should enjoy and derive pleasure from our work. The way that we work is a visible witness of God before men.


Psalms: Book Five (Part One): Psalms for the Winter Blues

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Winter is a time of cold, darkness, and sadness. As many as 10% of people in northern areas have Seasonal Affective Disorder. The Psalms for winter can help.


Wisdom for the Young (Part Three)

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Solomon already lived the wild side, considered it deeply over, and reported on it. If we will listen to what he says, we can avoid all kinds of heartache.


An Exhortation for Young Adults

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh

Wisdom is not a trait valued or acquired by youth, but takes second place to strength, beauty, or fun. We get too soon old and too late smart.


Crookedness

'Ready Answer' by David C. Grabbe

Solomon says, 'What is crooked cannot be made straight,' a truism that most people know to be the case. Harsh words cannot be unsaid. Wicked deeds cannot be undone.


The Vicissitudes of Old Age

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh

The indiscretions we commit in our youth have the invariable tendency to whip our hind ends. Even when God forgives, the piper will demand his fee.


The Feast of Tabernacles and Unleavened Bread

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

Both Tabernacles and Unleavened Bread keep us off balance so that we remain humble, seek stability, and trust in God's providence for our ultimate destiny.


Death Is Not the End (Part Four)

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

While various religions and some philosophies suggest an afterlife of some sort, the fear of the unknown transforms death into a foreboding Grim Reaper.


The Fruit of the Spirit: Joy

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Joy is more than just happiness. There is a joy that God gives, through the action of His Spirit in us, that far exceeds mere human cheerfulness.


Vanity (Part 1)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Vanity has many nuances, including transitoriness, futility, profitlessness, confusion, falseness, conceit, vainglory, denial, and idolatry.


Biblical Wisdom

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

While Greek culture rendered wisdom mostly mental and contemplative, it is not truly biblical wisdom unless it follows through with a specific behavior.


The W's and H's of Meditation (Part Four)

Sermon by David F. Maas

Meditating on the perils of our transitory existence paradoxically leads to a longer, happier life as our portion of God's Spirit grows within us.


Meditation: Preventing Spiritual Identity Theft

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by David F. Maas

If we don't cultivate the ability to meditate on a regular basis, we run the very real risk of losing our spiritual identity and letting someone take our crown.


Letting Go (Part Two): Avoid the Void

Sermonette by Joseph B. Baity

The carnal man's mission statement appears in Genesis 11:4: 'Let us make a name for ourselves, let us build ourselves a tower, defining our own destiny.'


Rejoice in What We Are (2011)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Because we have been given revelation, we should have peace and a sense of well-being about life that would make the high-achievers of this world envious.


Living Abundantly In Tough Times

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Lived properly, a Christian's life is scintillating and deeply satisfying, full of rewards, even though it involves responsibility and self-control.


The Faithfulness of God (Part One)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God has a very real concern for us, promising to never leave us. We have to strongly believe in His faithfulness to build a relationship with Him.


Our Awesome Destiny

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Understanding is totally different from knowledge. Some people with ample knowledge are incredibly ignorant when discerning the plan of God.


Vanity (Part 2)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Solomon's statement that all of life is vanity is only true if one is not privy to God's ultimate purpose for mankind. Paul describes what God is doing.


Abraham (Part Eight)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

If we surrender to God, allowing Him to shape character in us, He will enable us to live in hope, giving us direct access to Him, giving us a more abundant life.