Playlist: Cross, Symbol of (topic)
The Origin of the Christian Cross
Commentary by Martin G. CollinsThe cross stands as the most significant and sacred symbol within mainstream Christianity, adorning Bibles, church signs, altars, and rooftops. Many church buildings are designed with floor plans shaped like the cross, and it is worn around devotees' necks on chains or kissed in times of distress. Globally, it ornaments the …
What Does it Mean to Take Up the Cross?
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeBearing our cross means our time on this earth is virtually finished, that we are willing to give up our lives, emulating the life of our Savior.
Syncretic Use of the Cross
Sermonette by Martin G. CollinsThe cross, as a symbol, is widely recognized in the secular Western world as a good luck charm, often worn as jewelry or tattooed on bodies by various individuals, including those in mainstream Christianity. However, the use of the cross as a symbol raises questions about its appropriateness, given that it was the instrument of …
Matthew (Part Sixteen)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughIn the context of following Christ, the symbol of the cross represents self-denial. It stands distinct from the general burdens of life that everyone faces or the personal afflictions that may affect individuals uniquely. The cross specifically applies to challenges and sacrifices that arise directly from being a Christian. As …
Defining Trials
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John O. ReidAmong the many aspects of our Christian calling, one of the most defining is the necessity to bear our cross, a symbol of the trials and challenges we must endure. As Jesus Christ instructed in Matthew 16:24, if anyone desires to follow Him, they must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow His path. This cross …
Deuteronomy (Part 4) (1994)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe cross, as a symbol, carries profound significance in the journey of faith. It represents two essential aspects of the Christian walk. On one hand, it stands as the instrument of death on which Jesus was impaled due to mankind's sin, reminding us that sin is a constant presence we must bear under. On the other hand, it …
Habakkuk: A Prophet of Faith (Part Three)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsIn ancient times, in Central America, the cross-beamed cross was called Tota, meaning Our Father, reflecting a practice of addressing a piece of wood with a title of reverence. This mirrors the idolatry condemned in Jeremiah 2, where God's people, in mixing pagan worship with their religion, spoke to a tree, saying, 'You are my …