Playlist:

playlist Go to the Relationship Problems (topic) playlist

The Purpose of Relationships

Sermonette by Ryan McClure

The marriage covenant was designed to bring incomplete components of the God image together in one flesh, from which other relationships developed.


Building Relationships

Sermonette by Ryan McClure

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


A Trustworthy Relationship

Sermon by Mark Schindler

We have been given an incredible privilege to be placed within the Body of Christ. This same privilege applies to our fellow saints as well.


The Father-Son Relationship (Part Six)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Father and the Son are two distinct beings, not co-equal as the trinity doctrine proclaims, but with the Son deferring to the Father in all things.


Five Major Problems of the Pilgrimage

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Learning to judge is one of the most important qualities of a leader. Consequently, Christ warned that intemperance in judging will act as a boomerang.


United With Whom?

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Our relationship with God is the key to unity with the brethren. When we are all just like Christ, we will also all resemble each other—and there will be unity.


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.


Loving the Body of Christ (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by John Reiss

A root cause of the Corinthians' problems (and perhaps ours) was a massive failure in evaluating the worth of other members of the spiritual Body of Christ.


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.


Friendship

Sermonette by James Beaubelle

True Proverbs 18 friends are those who stick with us in this life and will wait for us as we finish our spiritual race.


Does Jesus See You as His Friend?

Sermonette by Austin Del Castillo

Jesus puts a condition on our friendship: We are His friends if we do what He commands, unlike the assumption that belief on His name is the only requirement.


A Time to Throw Away

'Ready Answer' by David F. Maas

Many of us are pack-rats, saving everything for years until we have collected a mass of—well, junk. This is like accumulated sin—and it is time to get rid of it!


Comfort-Zone Christianity?

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God does not want us to find a cozy comfort zone because that is when we are most likely to slip into dangerous spiritual drowsiness and complacency.


Out Of Egypt

Sermonette by Ryan McClure

The Israelites witnessed many miracles, but their attention was short-lived as they prevailed upon Aaron to make a golden calf. They never really left Egypt.


Love Thy Neighbor (Part 2)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

He who loves God must love his brother, including every fellow human being. Our closeness with God transcends the other human relationships.


First Things First (Part Two): The Right Sacrifice

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Cain represents religion and worship on a person's own terms, according to his own priorities, rather than according to God's instruction.


Godly Friendship: A Priceless Commodity

Article by David F. Maas

Here is how we should cultivate and appreciate our friendships, for they are a necessary tool in growing in godliness.


Blessed Are the Meek (2014)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In Paul's listings of virtues, meekness always appears near the end, reflecting its difficulty. Meekness is the gentle, quiet spirit of selfless devotion.


Faith (Part Six)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The hallmark of Christian character is humility, which comes about only when one sees himself in comparison to God. Pride makes distorted comparisons.


Listen, Wait, and Then Speak

Sermonette by Ted E. Bowling

James provides some of the best advice on communication and control of the tongue. The correct order of communication is listening, waiting, and then responding.


Rejection Hurts

CGG Weekly by John Reiss

No one has felt more rejection than Jesus Christ. He was rejected by those of His hometown, and His own physical brothers rejected Him because they did not believe.


Do Unto Others and Reap What We Sow

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Reaping good fruit does not happen immediately. If we feel we are not reaping, we must consider that we might be reaping some negative things we have sown.


Right Out of the Gate

Sermonette by Austin Del Castillo

God has called many to be the bride, but only a relative few have been chosen. We have the honor of having God as our friend just as much as Abraham.


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.


Unlovable

Sermonette by Joseph B. Baity

If God's people do not believe they are lovable, they may deprive others of a blessing by refusing to accept charitable help from a spiritual sibling.


Is it Salvational?

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

It is easy to denigrate a matter as not being 'salvational,' but the real question to ask is, How will this action affect my relationship with God?


The Great Divide

Sermonette by Joseph B. Baity

Resentment unresolved can make us physically and spiritually sick. It raises havoc with our nervous system as well as jeopardizes our salvation.


Spiritual Grave Robbers

CGG Weekly by David F. Maas

It is bad enough when we dwell on our own character flaws, but we greatly compound this habit when we dwell on other people's past sins and transgressions.


The Cost of Reconciliation

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Reconciliation is the product of a sacrifice to pacify the wrath of an offended person. We must imitate Christ in His approach toward hostility from others.


Eating: How Good It Is! (Part Seven)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Our physical bodies have a defense system to keep out invaders. Spiritually, how well do we maintain our defenses against error and contamination?


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.


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?


Compassion and Couch Potatoes

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021)

Christians who 'sit out' opportunities to serve, becoming in effect couch potatoes, commit sins of omission which may lead to the Lake of Fire.


The March Toward Globalism (Part Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Self-will must be extirpated from our children; God's will must take its place. Childrearing must begin at the start of a child's formative life.


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


The Tongue: Our Tool of Power

'Ready Answer' by Staff

Our hurtful words can create scars that last longer than any physical scar that sticks and stones may cause. Christians must harness the power of the tongue.


New Covenant Priesthood (Part Nine)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Pride elevates one above God, denigrating any dependence upon God, replacing it with self-idolatry. We ought to boast or glory in the Lord instead of ourselves.


Is a Rock Just a Rock to God?

'Ready Answer' by Bill Keesee

God calls us 'living stones' in I Peter 2. Here is why this description is a very fitting view of God's work making us His jewels.


Checklist for Overcoming

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Romans 12-16 provide a checklist for overcoming and promoting positive relationships, developing tender affection. We are mutually dependent upon one another.


Forgiveness

Article by John O. Reid

Following our too frequent mess-ups in life, forgiveness is so refreshing! We must forgive others if we are to be forgiven.


'But I Say to You' (Part Two): Murder and Anger

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Murder originates in the heart. Nothing from the outside defiles a man but originates in the heart governed by carnal human nature.


The Peacemakers

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

When people are not in a right relationship with God, peace is impossible. Sin (the breaking of the law or covenant) automatically breaks the peace.


WHAT?! Me Submit to Someone Else?

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Submitting is repugnant to the carnal mind. The church is no place for uncompromising people who demand their own way.


Reacting to Criticism

Commentary by Martin G. Collins

All have been guilty of malicious gossip; consequently, they should not become offended when they hear gossip about themselves (Ecclesiastes 7:21).


Antidote For Disunity!

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. Collins

We 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.


Our Divine Fellowship

Sermonette by Austin Del Castillo

Unless our primary relationship is with God, positive relationships with our brethren will be impossible and we will feel alone in our spiritual battles.


Pride, Humility, and Fasting

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The intent of fasting is to deflate our pride—the major taproot of sin—the biggest deterrent to a positive relationship with God. Humility heals the breach.


The Seven Churches (Part Three): Ephesus

Bible Study by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Christ's letter to the Ephesians focuses on a people who succeeded in fighting heresy and apostates but, in the process, had left their first love.


Faith (Part Seven)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Pride is a perverted comparison that elevates one above another. Because of its arrogant self-sufficiency, it hinders our faith. Faith depends on humility.


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.