Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Ten): Paradox
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughEcclesiastes 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 and Christian Living (Part Twelve): Paradox, Conclusion
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughThere 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 and Christian Living (Part Eleven): Paradox, Continued
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughHard 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 Twenty-Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughTrials are a means to produce spiritual growth, unless we resort to super-righteousness, straining to please God by exalting our works.
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughBiblical wisdom (sagacity, quickness of perception, soundness of judgment) is achievable by anyone called of God because God is the source of this wisdom.
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe 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 Resumed (Part Twenty-Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPsalm 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.
Words Without Knowledge
Sermonette by Levi W. GrahamElihu respectfully admonished Job for presumptuously taking God to task for his affliction, instructing Job that his words were without wisdom and insight
Joshua and the Gibeonites
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeThe Gibeonites' pretense of coming from a distant land resulted in their slavery. Yet, through their influence, they contributed to Israel's destruction.
The Merciful
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe harsh religion of the Pharisees was unfeeling, placing more attention on rituals and man-made laws, and had turned their super-righteousness into sin.
Joshua and the Gibeonites (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeThe Gibeonites' subterfuge succeeded because Israel's leaders, including Joshua, failed to check in with God, and in time, that failure cost them dearly.