Playlist: Individualism (topic)
The Church, One Body
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod's call to learn from the ant does not teach us to yield to a hierarchical system, but to participate in a community with the goal of edification.
Corporate Faith
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughCorporate faith requires that we lay aside our individualism and join our brethren doing God's work.
Eating Out on the Sabbath
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIn the gray areas of applying God's Law, extending mercy and easing of burdens trumps legalism and hairsplitting.
Unity (Part 8): Ephesians 4 (E)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe group that one fellowships with is less important than the understanding that there is one true church, bound by a spiritual, not a physical unity.
It Takes a Church
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughAs Christians, we need to form warm, productive, quality relationships with our brethren, actively ministering to the needs of one another.
What Makes Generation "Me" Tick?
Commentary by David F. MaasOver the past six decades (from the Boomer Generation to the Millennial generation), individuals have grown more narcissistic, entitled and miserable.
Unity (Part 7): Ephesians 4 (D)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughBecause 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.
Loyalty to the Body
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeWhen we consider the value of our calling, we must look at Paul's warning about discerning the Body more soberly, maintaining our loyalty to the Body.
Titus (Part Four): Traits of a Healthy Church
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughTitus 2 gives specific instructions to senior members of the congregation, followed by instructions to the youth, explaining their responsibilities.
Human Will
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod's children should never emulate the self-willed attitude Frank Sinatra's song "My Way" glorifies. Human nature and godly character are polar opposites.
Much Greater Than Ourselves
Sermonette by Martin G. CollinsNone of the heroes of faith faced their challenges by themselves, but were aware of God's protection and power, a power much greater than themselves.
The Mystery of the Church
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod desires to know whether the spiritual remnants will choose His teaching or assimilating into the world, biting and devouring one another.
Faith, Government, and the Calendar (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe calculated Hebrew calendar reflects God's faithfulness in providing His children a reliable calendar. Concocting one's own calendar is presumptuous.
Cultural Paradigms in Scripture
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughPaul had the capability of seeing the truth from several different cultural paradigms, namely from honor-shame, power-fear, and innocence-guilt continuums.
Themes of I Corinthians (Part 2)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughA true, godly minister does not draw people to himself, but instead to God. Not placing Christ at the forefront will lead to carnal-mindedness.
Promised: Protection and Healing
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod gives several conditions for receiving protection and healing, including God's sovereignty, God's purpose, and one's level of growth.
WHAT?! Me Submit to Someone Else?
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsSubmitting is repugnant to the carnal mind. The church is no place for uncompromising people who demand their own way.
Control and Self-Control
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughParadoxically, when we yield to God's sovereignty, He wants to cede control over to us, teaching us to develop self-control as an ingrained habit.
Conscience (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughA conscience can only function according to what it knows, and will automatically adjust in the way it is exercised. Conscience follows conduct.
Love's Importance and Source
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod is the source of real love; mankind by nature does not have it. It is only by knowing God that we can have this love. Godly love is a cycle that God initiates.
God's Stare Decisis
Sermon by Mark Schindler'Stare Decisis' is a principle that precedent should determine legal decision in making a case involving similar facts.
Christian Service
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughAlthough selfless service is not valued today, it is at the core of God's character and a trait we must emulate to go to a higher level of Christian living.
Deleavening the Home
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughIf each of us individually puts out the leaven of malice and consume the Unleavened Bread of sincerity, we would fulfill our community responsibility.
Purpose-Driven Churches (Part 8)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod has to know whether we will be loyal and our convictions are anchored in His law. The tests we are going through now are preparing us for His kingdom.
Psalms: Book Three (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughBook Three of the Psalms addresses the compulsion to fast and to mourn. Judah's faithlessness brought about the horrific destruction of Jerusalem on Av 9.
Corporate Sin
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWe are obligated to purge our thoughts, deeds, and words, cleaning out individual and corporate sins and replacing them with sincerity, truth, and holiness.
Hebrews (Part Eight)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ's priesthood is superior to the Aaronic priesthood because Christ tenure is eternal rather than temporal, guaranteeing both continuity and quality.
Reflections on the COVID-19 Pandemic
Sermon by David C. GrabbeLessons learned from COVID, as well as possible reasons God allowed or caused the pandemic to sweep through the church and wreak havoc on Feast observance.
The Cultural Moral Norm
Commentary by Martin G. CollinsShockingly, two-thirds of the American populace believe truth is relative, while only one-third believe in absolute standards.
Mightier Than the Sword (Part Twelve)
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)In one of his writings, Emerson reacts with anger, adamantly rejecting any force, custom, or tradition which threatened to put his intellect in chains.
Mightier Than the Sword (Part Four)
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)John Locke rejected all contact with any influence of the will of God, promoting secular liberty and human reason as the final arbiter of all truth.
Privileges of the Family of God
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. CollinsIt is impossible to be a Christian without being a child of God. When we are in God's family, we have distinct privileges.
Lacking Nothing (Part Three)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsWe should reduce expenses today in order to be free tomorrow. Debt is designed to bring people under subjection; the debtor is always the servant.
Enduring as a Good Soldier
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)To wage spiritual warfare, we must endure hardship, not entangling ourselves in the affairs of the world, being single-minded in pleasing our Captain.
Loyalty and Submission (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLoyalty and submission to God (not always easy) empowers and guarantees ultimate success and leadership, actually freeing us from the fear of death.
The Old Stories
Sermonette by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021)We must guard against forces that would systematically undermine the faith once delivered to the saints, and learn not to denigrate the stories passed down.
Liberty or Independence?
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsThe approach of 'I want it my way' begins with license but then leads to chaos, and eventually the loss of liberty.
The Challenge of Growth in the New Eden
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021)Young people need to prepare themselves now, envisioning themselves as architects, civil engineers, transportation engineers, explorers, and teachers.
Politics and Christ's Return
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughBecause we are set apart by God, we are not to become involved in the world's political, judicial, or military systems. Our term in office has yet to begin.
Submitting (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughSeeking our will at the expense of the group makes conflict inevitable. Society work only when everyone submits to one another in the fear of Christ.