Playlist:

playlist Go to the Church Organization, Idolizing (topic) playlist

What Is the Church's Work Today (Part Two)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The easiest part of God's work is preaching the gospel to the world. Much more demanding is the feeding of the flock, producing life-changing faith.


The Mystery of the Church

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God desires to know whether the spiritual remnants will choose His teaching or assimilating into the world, biting and devouring one another.


The Nanny Church (Part Three)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Character is born out of struggle—out of pitting ourselves against circumstances or our own nature. Without struggle, we will never spiritually develop.


Worshipping the Temple (Part One)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Israel turned the Temple into an idol, making it more significant than God. Similarly, we may esteem the church more than the God it should glorify.


Worshipping the Temple (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

The Jews put greater trust in the Temple of the Lord than the Lord of the Temple. They thought the Temple provided security, but God overthrew everything.


The Philadelphia Syndrome (Part One)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Christ favors the Philadelphia church, but such favor puts it under obligation. Sadly, God's favor causes some to think too highly of themselves.


What Is the Work of God Now? (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The largest portion of the great commission demands that the lion's share of time, money, or energy ought to be invested in feeding the flock.


Empirical Selfishness

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

While it is natural and harmless to identify with a teacher that we hear each week, that identification should not be the source of friction.


The Impossible Metric

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Members, co-workers, and subscribers can all be tallied, yet who save God can track the increase of faith or the building of character of members of a church?


Change and Constancy

CGG Weekly by John W. Ritenbaugh

Change, whether we consider it good or bad, produces stress, and we tend to blame stress for the discouragement or even depression that follows change.


Autoimmunity in the Body of Christ

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Misidentifying parts of the Body of Christ as enemies, or even being highly suspicious of them, causes pain and inefficiency throughout the whole Body.


The Problem with 'Leader Security'

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Will casting one's lot in with the right man, or being a part of a certain group or church, cause God to look more highly upon a person?


The Philadelphia Syndrome

Commentary by David C. Grabbe

The Worldwide Church of God considered itself to be the 'Philadelphia era,' but the fruit has been misplaced trust, idolatry, competition, and exclusivity.


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.


A Search for Identity

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God gave His approval for the destruction of the Worldwide Church of God into numerous groups, allowing heresies so He could see who really loves Him.


Worshipping the Temple (Part Three)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

We are blessed when our trust is in God, but cursed when we trust in man or his abilities or his work, or when our heart is set on anything other than God.


What Is the Work?

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The work of God does not always stay the same, continually shifting media, techniques, and approaches, similar to the Israelites following the Cloud.


Endurance

Sermonette by Ronny H. Graham

As we approach the time of Christ's return, persecution will become increasingly intense, coming from places we least expect it. We must learn endurance.


Unity (Part 1): God and HWA

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

A major cause in the splitting of the church has been the wholesale rejection of the doctrines Herbert Armstrong, under God's inspiration, restored.


Be Strong and Work

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by David C. Grabbe

While the returned Judean exiles prioritized their own houses over building the temple, we should understand that it is always time to work on God's house.


The Philadelphia Syndrome (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

The effect of the Worldwide Church of God seeing itself as Philadelphia has been profound, elevating organizational loyalty over faithfulness to God.


A View of the Work

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

Judging the quality of our work by numeric standards is not a measure of spiritual growth, and to equate it with spiritual growth in rank Laodiceanism.


Unity (Part 2): God's Pattern of Leadership

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God is not the author of confusion, but throughout the scriptures has used a consistent pattern of appointing leaders over His called-out ones.


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.


God Works in Marvelous Ways (Part One)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

False doctrines cut people off from a wholesome relationship with God. Doctrinal purity is measured according to how one emulates Christ.


Reluctant Leaders

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Do we as God's called-out ones find ourselves reluctant heirs to the throne or priesthood? We are all commoners, not yet equipped for rulership.


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.