Playlist: First Commandment (topic)

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The First Commandment: Idolatry

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The First Commandment holds paramount importance as it establishes the foundation for all other commandments. It is the source of one's values, and if this source is not rooted in Almighty God, it sets one up for certain moral and spiritual failure. No other source can compare to those that find their roots in Him. The …


The Fourth Commandment: Idolatry

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The first commandment centers on what we worship, emphasizing that our devotion must be directed solely to the Creator God. It forbids the worship of anyone or anything other than Him, as highlighted in Romans 1:24-25, where giving devoted service to created things is condemned. Worship is not confined to a specific day but …


The Commandments (Part Five)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

The First Commandment establishes the principle of what we worship. Brethren, we are to worship the Creator, as clearly shown in Scripture. Yet, mankind has consistently worshipped the creation rather than the Creator, across various nations and religions, always focusing on the created instead of the One who made all things. …


The Commandments (Part Three)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

The keeping of the First Commandment centers on the worship of the true God, who is the Creator, Sustainer, Ruler, and Provider of the universe, and the Source of a way of life known as Christianity. Without true worship of this God, standards and ideals of conduct in moral, ethical, and spiritual areas are left to limited, …


The Commandments (Part Two)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Idolatry constitutes the fountainhead from which all other sins flow, all of which amplify obsessive self-centeredness and self-indulgence.


The Fourth Commandment (Part 1)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Sabbath is a special creation, a very specific period of holy time given to all of mankind, reminding us that God created and is continuing to create.


The Commandments (Part One)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

What have we accepted as our authority for permitting ourselves to do or behave as we do — our value system, our code of ethics or code of morality?


Humanism Dominates

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The secular humanists, infiltrating education, entertainment, and government, have undermined the virtue and sullied the purity of America.


Flee From Idolatry (Part Two): Faithfulness

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Like a boxer, we must exert ourselves with a broad spectrum of skills to subdue our carnal bodies, mortifying the flesh with maximum self-discipline.


Keep Yourself From Idols

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

An idol is anything in our lives that occupies the space which should be occupied by God alone, anything having a controlling force in our lives.


What Is Always True About the World?

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

To guard against the world, we must be careful not to fall into idolatry, based upon limiting God to tangible objects or those things which occupy our thoughts.


Keeping God's Standards

Sermon by John O. Reid

God's law will be the spiritual weights and measures in the Kingdom, but until then, we must glorify God by keeping these standards as a bright light.


Envy: The Most Precious Daughter

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

It is easy to follow in Satan's footsteps, courting his daughter Envy, reaping the disquiet which accompanies her. Envy comes from pushing God from our thoughts.


Deuteronomy and Idolatry

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

We are admonished to internalize the book of Deuteronomy in preparation for our future leadership roles.


Abomination

Sermonette by Martin G. Collins

The common synonyms for abomination include loathing, hateful, abhorrence, evil anathema, repugnance, and disgusting. It is something which ignites hatred.


Irritant Idolatry

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

A person or object can become so offensive or irritating that this festering irritation crowds God out of our central focus - thus bringing about an idol.


Deception, Idolatry, and the Feast of Tabernacles

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jeroboam, pragmatic and fearful, established a more convenient idolatrous festival to prevent his people from keeping the real Feast of Tabernacles in Judah.


The Book of Joel (Part Two)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

If the victims of the devastating plague would return to the covenant, the land would be refreshed, prosperity would return, and the years lost would be restored.


Manasseh

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Even though Manasseh was absolutely the worst king ever to lead Judah, Manasseh finally got the message that God only is God, and sincerely repented.


Right Out of the Gate

Sermonette by Austin Del Castillo

God has called many to be the bride, but only a relative few have been chosen. We have the honor of having God as our friend just as much as Abraham.


One God and One God Only

Sermonette by Mike Ford

In Deuteronomy 5:7, God commands us to have no other gods before Him. This means that nothing in our lives—be it family, work, or possessions—can be worshipped except Him. He is a jealous God, as seen in verse 9, and will not tolerate anything competing with Him for our devotion. The Moffat translation emphasizes …