Playlist: Change, Resisting (topic)
Called to Change
Sermon by Ryan McClureWe are admonished to change, becoming living sacrifices, renewing our minds from carnal to spiritual, becoming transformed into the image of our Savior.
Dealing With Change
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)God deliberately places change in our lives to bring about spiritual growth toward perfection.
Resistance (Part One)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe antidote to spiritual resistance is certainty and confidence in Christ to conform us into His image—a directed movement toward Christ.
Resistance (Part Two): Solutions
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughMoses, Jonah, David, and Gideon demonstrated resistance to God's prompts, indicating that they initially feared men more than they feared God.
Ground Hog Day - Again?
Sermonette by Bill OnisickIf we become stiff-necked, like our ancestors at Sinai, we are not submitting to God's Holy Spirit, sabotaging our overcoming and our path to salvation.
Teaching Us To Think (Part Three): Proving God's Will
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughAs God tests His people, He desires that they test and prove His Laws to demonstrate that they invariably work, to prove these principles by following them.
Where Do You Belong?
Commentary by Mark SchindlerThe penchant to seek preferred area codes is like the party spirit in Corinth, in which cliques began to champion leaders and look down on other factions.
Afflicting Our Souls
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughJesus taught that fasting is an internal, spiritual good work, done in the inner self. Any other kind of fasting has little or no spiritual value.
A Body in Motion (2012)
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Churches are powerless to stop the legalization of perversion; the secular progressives intend to cram this immorality down everybody's throat.
Amos (Part Eight)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughAmos severely chides Israel for exalting symbolism over substance, superstitiously trusting in locations where significant historical events occurred.
Teaching Us to Think (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod instructs us to be living sacrifices. Too many drag this change out over decades, thereby self-limiting the process of sanctification.
Are You Dissipating Your Own Energy?
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsWe need to be on guard against dissipating our energy, becoming over-immersed in activity and busyness to the point of losing overall effectiveness.
Values and Conversion
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughRepentance involves incorporating God's values, alien to our human nature—ones that will unify us with God and with others who accept His value system.
Love's Greatest Challenges
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughAn irrational fear of loss prevents the development of agape love — we fear that keeping God's commandments will cause us to lose something valuable.
The Momentum of Sin Redux
Sermonette by Joseph B. BaityLike Lot, many of us are rapidly running out of time to take corrective action. All of us are subject to inertia and momentum, resisting needed change.
Abraham's Sacrifice (Part One): Faith Perfected
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Scriptures place a paramount importance on sacrifice. Abraham's 'sacrifice' of Isaac confirmed him to the position of father of the faithful.
Learning to Live in the Light
Sermon by Kim MyersThrough the indwelling of His Spirit, God has enabled us to walk exclusively in the Light. However, three forces work against living this lifestyle.
Letting Go (Part One)
Sermonette by Joseph B. BaityFearing the end of something we thoroughly know and have become emotionally attached to may be every bit as terrifying as facing the unknown.
Truth (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughOnly a converted person humbles himself before the truth, making a conscientious effort to follow the light of evidence, even to unwelcome conclusions.
Letters to Seven Churches (Part Seven): Repentance
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughAs High Priest, Christ is putting His people through the paces, tailoring the trials and experiences needed for sanctification and ultimate glorification.
He Who Overcomes
Sermon by John O. ReidIt is not profitable to focus on the place of safety or the specific time of Christ's return, but instead to make the best use of our time to overcome.
Amos 5 and the Feast of Tabernacles
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIf we go to the Feast with the goal of physically enjoying, we may lose out on both the spiritual and physical benefits. 'Going through the motions' defiles it.
Lamentations (Part Seven)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe people suffering under the Babylonians had basked in the privilege of being God's chosen people while also trashing the terms of the Covenant.
Matthew (Part Fourteen)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughSin causes disease, but the person who becomes sick does not necessarily commit the sin. Because God alone can forgive sin, God alone can heal.
Zephaniah (Part One): The Day of the Lord Is Near!
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughZephaniah's prophecy is sharply focused on Judah and Jerusalem because they should have known better. They are ordered to keep silent and consider their sins.
Matthew (Part Twenty-One)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughThe Pharisees and Sadducees, who normally opposed each other, joined forces against their common enemy, Jesus. They should have recognized Him as the Messiah.
Our Part in the Sanctification Process (Part Five): Cultivating Patience
Sermon by David F. MaasNumerous scriptures show the bad effects of impatience committed by ancient Israel, while the patriarchs, Jesus Christ, and the Father set examples of true patience.
Examine Yourself
Sermon by James BeaubelleJesus kept the two great commandments flawlessly, providing us an example. These two great commandments are where most of our self-examination should revolve.
The Beauty of God's Law
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughKeeping God's Law brings bountiful blessings, harmony, and profound peace (Psalm 119:165), while the 'cheap' grace brings guilt, anxiety, and pain.
Many Are Called, But Few Are Chosen (Part Five)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsWe must avoid forgetting the connection between past and present, especially as our forebears had to battle outer and inner enemies of God's truth.
An Age of Mass Delusion
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)We need to steer clear of the tentacles of the media and mass culture, realizing that believable or plausible lies have led to tragic consequences.
American Conservatism (Part Two)
Commentary by John W. RitenbaughAmerican conservatism is judged more harshly because its tenets took root in biblical principles advanced by the Puritans.
Malachi's Appeal to Backsliders (Part Four)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsAt the end of Malachi, the priests make seven feeble queries, questioning God's providence and His faithfulness, asking what good it does to be godly.
Count Your Blessings
Commentary by Richard T. RitenbaughThe fact that God has handpicked us from the billions that live on the earth should give us a quiet confidence that God is providentially caring for us.
Stand Firm in the Truth
Sermon by John O. ReidIn this time of sharp religious confusion, it is good to hunker down in our spiritual foxhole until the deadly volleys of heretical shrapnel have ceased.
The Handwriting Is On the Wall (2010)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)A perception is how we affix significance to what we look at. With a distorted perception, we will not accept reality; our perception becomes our reality.
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.
Maintaining Good Health (Part 10)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughEven though we are already damaged goods when God calls us, by embracing God's truth and seeking His help, we can break the bad habits which enslave us.