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A Thoughtful Offering
Sermonette by Richard T. RitenbaughChristianity calls for a thoughtful, attentive, and careful approach to life. God desires that we devote our entire hearts, souls, and minds to His way, maintaining constant focus on His commandments. As Solomon writes in Proverbs 19:16, keeping God's commandments requires great thought and effort, applied continuously in every moment of our lives. If we remain attentive, we secure abundant life; if we are careless or inattentive, we risk dire consequences. Paul, in Titus 3:8, urges believers to be careful and thoughtful in maintaining good works, emphasizing a constant focus on finding ways to do good. There is no time for a wandering mind, as distractions can lead us astray. These good works often involve acts of service to others, such as feeding the hungry or clothing the needy, reflecting the care Jesus Christ described. Offerings are a form of good work, facilitating support for many in need and enabling the spread of the gospel. God does not want us to give thoughtlessly or out of habit; instead, He calls us to consider His blessings upon us and the needs our contributions can meet. We are to remain engaged, thoughtfully considering how our resources are used to fulfill the work of the church. In Haggai 1:3-8, God challenges us to consider our ways, to think about our priorities and whether we are contributing to His work. He connects our thoughtful participation in His work with the blessings He bestows, urging us to focus on ways to help spread the gospel and care for the flock, ultimately to bring Him pleasure and glory. Through thoughtful consideration and offerings, we fulfill this purpose.
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.
Perfect, Gentle Courtesy (Part 3)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsParents are obligated to teach God's laws to their children. According to Emily Post, good manners are to the family what good morals are to society.
Gentle and Lowly in Heart
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsPaul displayed a gentleness not grounded in weakness, but in strength, a gentleness which showed anger, but only at the right time and to the right degree.
Marriage and the Bride of Christ (Part Eleven)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsOur concept of marriage must be positive and more mature, modeled after Christ's attentiveness toward the Church, as opposed to the world's distorted concept.
Matthew (Part Twelve)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughTo establish sound doctrine, we must build on the foundation Christ's teaching, taking the straight and narrow course rather than the wisdom of this world.
Matthew (Part Ten)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughEntering the Kingdom requires choosing the narrow, difficult path of sacrifice, service, and humility over the easy, broad path of selfishness.
A Vivid Comparison
Sermonette by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)The widow described in Luke 21:1-4 gave a paltry 2 mites—a mere quarter of one cent. Yet she sacrificed all she had rather than giving from excess.
Sending Thank-Yous
CGG Weekly by Dan ElmoreIt is a big mistake to neglect expressing earnest thanks whenever it is called for. The benefits to others and to us are too valuable to pass up.
Imagining the Garden of Eden (Part Ten)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe statement, 'it is not good for man to be alone,' is the first declaration that something was not good. Being alone denotes separateness.
Keep it Clean!
Sermonette by John W. RitenbaughAn acceptable offering must be thoughtfully considered, contain some sacrifice, given in faith and without a grudging spirit.
The Laborers: Matthew 20:1-16
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughBecause God is completely just, we have an obligation to be content with what He has given us, to allow Him to use us for whatever purpose He desires.