Playlist:

playlist Go to the Poor in Spirit (topic) playlist

The Beatitudes, Part Two: Poor in Spirit

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

What is it to be poor in spirit? This attribute is foundational to Christian living. Those who are truly poor in spirit are on the road to true spiritual riches.


Poor in Spirit (1997)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Being poor in spirit is a foundational spiritual state for qualifying for God's Kingdom. Poor in spirit describes being acutely aware of one's dependency.


The Poor in Spirit

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Nothing that we could ever do could impress God, except for our contrition, acknowledgment of our infirmity, and remorse for our sins which displease God.


The Fruit of the Spirit: Meekness

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Meekness is often confused with weakness and considered to be undesirable. But Jesus lists it as a primary virtue of one who will inherit His Kingdom.


Living by Faith and Humility

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

People resist God because of their pride, but pride can be neutralized by humility, a character trait that allows a person to submit to God.


Who Do You Trust? (Part Four): You Shall Soar Like Eagles

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Mark Schindler

Even Hezekiah, more righteous than any other king, stumbled. But Almighty God is always ready to pick us up, enabling us to soar like eagles.


The Great Con

Sermonette by Bill Onisick

All individuals who have been duped into con schemes have the same perennial weakness: to be self-sufficient and to get something for nothing.


Doorway to the Kingdom

Sermonette by Bill Onisick

Any time we feel prompted to exalt ourselves, we demonstrate Satan's spirit of pride, thereby jeopardizing our entry into God's family.


Living By Faith: Humility

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Paradoxically, God stoops to us when we humble ourselves. Humility produces honor from God; if we humble ourselves, He will hear us.


Wild Horses

Sermonette by Ronny H. Graham

The Greek author Xenophon, in his work The Art of Horsemanship, dispels the notion that meekness is weakness by describing the 'meeking' of war horses.


What Is Happening Is Ordained of God

Sermon by Mark Schindler

As we look at the insanity around us, we need to remember that our citizenship is in heaven. We cannot allow pride to draw us into the controversy before us.


On Self-Righteousness

CGG Weekly by John W. Ritenbaugh

Self-righteousness lies at the root of many other sins. Because we are self-centered, self-righteousness will follow as surely as water runs downhill.


Living by Faith: Humility and God's Justice

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Humility, poverty of spirit, and acknowledging our total dependence on God are of the utmost importance. God responds to those who are humble.


Job, Self-Righteousness, and Humility

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

The story of Job reveals a man whom God forced to see himself as he really was, and his true self-image paved the way to a leap forward in spiritual growth.


Entrance Exam

CGG Weekly by Mike Fuhrer

Only a relative few can meet God's standards because they are extensive and demanding. This fact is one reason 'many are called, but few are chosen.'


The Case Against Pride

Sermonette by James Beaubelle

Three symptoms of pride include (1) lying to protect our self-image; (2) competitiveness; (3) believing our personal ideas are more valuable than God's Truth.


From Pride to Humility

Sermon by John O. Reid

Two tests to reveal the presence of pride are the way we treat others (especially our own family) and the way we receive instruction or correction.


Unity (Part 7): Ephesians 4 (D)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Because of our lack of self-discipline and willingness to guard the truth, we have allowed our theological base to deteriorate under the persuasion of the world.


Human Will

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God's children should never emulate the self-willed attitude Frank Sinatra's song "My Way" glorifies. Human nature and godly character are polar opposites.


A Contrite Heart

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

The contrite or brokenhearted person finds special favor with God, and a humble or contrite spirit is indeed a precursor to forgiveness and spiritual healing.


New Covenant Priesthood (Part Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Sacrifices of thanksgiving, praise, and gratitude are required of God's called out priests. By meditating on the right things, we prepare ourselves for prayer.


Is the United States a Christian Nation? (Part Six)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The belief that America was or is a Christian nation cannot be supported by the facts. The world, governed by Satan, hates Christ's true followers.


A Day Without Work

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Refraining from work on the Day of Atonement symbolizes our inability to atone for our sins. We, humble and poor in spirit, depend upon God for everything.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Fourteen)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

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


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.


Blessed Are: Summary

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, Jesus exposes the depths of His own heart, while demonstrating the deficit of our own carnal hearts.


Trumpets: Glorious Appearings

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God spoke audibly to Moses and the people, intentionally testing their faithfulness, to instill the fear of the Lord in them, and to keep them from sin.


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.


Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Physical hunger and thirst provide important types of the desire one must cultivate for spiritual resources, realizing that man cannot live by bread alone.


New Covenant Priesthood (Part Six)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

We must have both perseverance and humility in prayer to keep our vision sharp and clear. Without humility, the doorway to acceptance by God is closed.


How Big Is God?

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

We must not have a one-dimensional perspective of God. Our puny minds can only grasp a tiny sliver of what God really is.


Zephaniah (Part Two): God's Wrath on the Whole World

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Even though the Gentiles will be punished, only Israelites had a special relationship with God, and consequently were more accountable for their failure.


Knowing God: Formality and Customs (Part Six)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

In the matter of godly standards for dress, we must adopt the humble, childlike, sincere, unassuming, and teachable attitude, loving God intimately.


New Covenant Priesthood (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Without thanksgiving and praise, our prayers degenerate into the 'gimmes' with the emphasis on the self. We must give God thoughtful thanks in every circumstance.


Deuteronomy (Part 5) (1994)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Paradoxically, humble obedience and dependency upon God strengthens us, while prideful self-sufficiency weakens us.


Do You Recognize This Man? (Part Seven)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The prevailing view is that at the end time, God will judge between the righteous and unrighteous, consigning each to heaven or hell, an idea from paganism.


'He Who Has an Ear, Let Him Hear . . .'

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

A man with myopic judgment will take the good times he has as evidence of God's pleasure, and conclude that the bad times must be caused by Satan's persecution.