Playlist: God's Standards (topic)
Keeping God's Standards
Sermon by John O. ReidGod's standards are the Ten Commandments. These commandments form the solid base from which everything else emanates. The first four commandments direct love toward God by keeping Him first in life, avoiding idols, respecting His name, and keeping the Sabbath holy from sunset Friday through sunset Saturday. The remaining six …
Standards
Sermonette byGod commands that we use accurate measurements and just standards. Without Godly standards, we have a world without ethics or morality.
God's Law Is Eternal
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsGod's law expresses the expectations for the moral and spiritual conduct of His people, embodying His standards for living as He created us to live. This law is not temporary but permanent, perpetual, and eternal, serving as a reliable guide for human benefit. It originates from God, illuminates understanding, and is intended to …
The Priesthood of God (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)God's standards call for a profound commitment to holiness, reflecting His unique and unparalleled nature. He stands apart from and above His creation, demanding exclusive worship and allegiance due to His infinite majesty, immeasurable power, and perfect righteousness. His holiness is not merely moral purity but encompasses a …
The Sovereignty of God (Part Six)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod has established His standards as the foundation for life, revealing them from the very beginning as central to His purpose. He sets before humanity life and good, death and evil, commanding love for Him, walking in His ways, and keeping His commandments, statutes, and judgments to live and multiply with His blessing. Turning …
Knowing God: Formality and Customs (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod's standards for His people are deeply rooted in the alignment of inner righteousness with outward appearance, emphasizing that both the heart and conduct must reflect His holiness. He is concerned with both the inside and the outside, as the heart's condition often manifests in external choices such as clothing. In Isaiah …
Do You Really Know God?
Sermon by Clyde FinkleaGod's standards are unwavering and define His character as revealed through His lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. He exercises hesed , a Hebrew term akin to the Greek agape , describing His nature as loving, merciful, compassionate, and kind. These traits imply an affectionate relationship, not merely a …
Living By Faith: God's Justice
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod's standards are rooted in His perfect justice and righteousness, serving as the foundation for living by faith. His character is balanced with fairness, impartiality, and love, ensuring that His judgments are always just and aligned with His purpose. As supreme in power, authority, and judgment, He sees through all human …
Teaching Us To Think (Part Three): Proving God's Will
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod manufactures righteous character according to His high standards. He tests every person He chooses to check and improve their quality in every situation. He wants to know when they will break and how well they will endure. He will not pass on any product that does not meet His high standards of righteousness. Because He is …
God Works in Mysterious Ways (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod's Standards require that those living according to the flesh cannot please Him because the carnal mind is enmity against God and is not subject to the law of God nor indeed can be. These Standards were delved into before the foundation of the world and have never been changed since that time. They hinge on conduct toward one …
Approaching God Through Christ (Part One)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod's standards, as revealed through His instruction, are far more profound and comprehensive than the simplistic messages often conveyed in popular Christian slogans. These standards are not merely about initial belief or acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior, but encompass a deep, ongoing process of growth and understanding. …
Getting To Know God
Sermonette by John W. RitenbaughGod requires obedience to His standards for people to be known by Him. Those who work lawlessness do not share the same standards as God. Without sharing these standards individuals cannot know God because they would never experience life in the same way that He does. The New Covenant places His law in minds and hearts to enable …
God the Father (Part 2)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsGod the Father sets the ultimate standard of perfection and goodness, far surpassing any human ideal. His will is the guiding force, and Jesus Christ exemplifies complete obedience to it, demonstrating that true sonship is rooted in love and submission to the Father's commands. The Father's goodness is absolute, determining the …
Knowing God: Formality and Customs (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod's standards reflect His point of view on all matters and require alignment with His perspective as revealed in Scripture. This perspective judges value according to potential for right or wrong and guides choices through the question of what Jesus would do. God's standards demand that every thought be brought into captivity …
Christ Our Standard
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod requires His people to evaluate their spiritual progress by measuring themselves against a single perfect standard rather than against other people or their own opinions. That standard is Jesus Christ, who embodies every aspect of righteousness the law points toward and who personifies the goal of the entire Christian life. …
How Far Have We Fallen? (Part Two)
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Keeping God's laws becomes dangerous in a godless society, in which bribery is good, homosexuality is good, murder is good, theft is good, and sin is good.
The Commandments (Part One)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughWhat 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?
Moral Purity
Sermon by James BeaubelleThe urgency to live righteously, striving for godly character is a continuous, ongoing, and vital pursuit not concluded until our death and resurrection.
Freedom's Dark Underbelly
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughAny freedom to choose must be accompanied by a set of standards against which choices are made. The people of the world do not have this freedom.
Elements of Judgment (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)We must emulate the ways of God, demonstrating justice in our lives, thoughts, words, and deeds, preparing to judge in God's Kingdom. Not all sins are equal.
Whose Morality Are We Following?
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMoral legislation over the years has steadily eroded because liberal leaders have rejected biblical standards of morality in favor of personal choice.
Elements of Judgment (Part One)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)The last days of the Worldwide Church of God demonstrated a dearth of righteous judgment. God expects us to judge wisely within the parameters of His Law.
Our Family Resemblance
Sermonette byEven though we may not recognize changes in ourselves, when we do the work of God with the right heart, we begin displaying the spiritual family traits.
Confidence in the Flesh Versus Faith
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsWe must turn from our own gossamer righteousness to God's solid righteousness, accepting a higher standard than the rest of society.
A Rewired Society (Part Two): A Post-Truth World
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe new morality is lawlessness and rejection of all restraints, which ironically makes them abject slaves of sin and candidates for the Lake of Fire.
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.
Deuteronomy (Part 3) (1994)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe will not be prepared to rule in the Millennium unless we are experientially persuaded of God's faithfulness to His Covenant and His intolerance of evil.
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.
We Must Work for What We Believe
Sermon by Mark SchindlerWiping out terrorists may seem clear-headed, but our viewpoint must be based on Micah 4:1-7, which describes a time when swords will be beaten into plowshares.
Are We Ever Good Enough?
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsIt is necessary to begin with a conviction of sin in order to experience a need for Jesus Christ and to receive the joy in the forgiveness of sin.
You Are What You Choose
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughYoung people must make a choice in favor of God's will. We have the freedom of choice to set our destiny, and must bear the consequences of our choice.
The Two Witnesses (Part Five)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe olive trees in Zechariah 4:11 refer to the Two Witnesses who pour oil (spiritual instruction) into a golden bowl, supplying the churches with nourishment.
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.
A Rewired Society (Part One)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWe are being rewired, with the social Internet and media dangerously altering thought processes, making young and old more susceptible to believing lies.
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.
Amos (Part Thirteen)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughThe people to whom Amos writes have the mistaken assumption that because they have made the covenant with God, they can bask in a kind of divine favoritism.
Purpose-Driven Churches (Part 4)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughOutcome-based religion holds large membership as its measure of success, believing that the ends justify the means. It avoids doctrine that might divide.
Pure in Heart
Sermon by Bill OnisickGod measures the hearts of His people against His holy standard. He penetrates and examines the heart intimately to determine how it aligns with His own heart which is meek and lowly. The standard requires loving God with all the heart and loving one's neighbor as oneself. Guarding the heart ensures that what flows into it …
Walking the Tightrope
Sermonette by Bill OnisickOur calling could be compared to tightrope walking, in which balance and proportion must be assiduously maintained and elements are in correct proportion.
Hebrews (Part Twelve): Chapter 2, A Mind-Bending Purpose (Part One)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)To counteract complacency, Hebrews warns against neglecting God's invitation of salvation, which He does not guarantee until sanctification has run its course.
Christians and Politics
Commentary by Richard T. RitenbaughEven though conservative views seem to be more compatible with the Bible, neither Republican nor Democrat standards are consistent with God's standards.
American Conservatism (Part One)
Commentary by John W. RitenbaughA large number of individuals are hopelessly confused about the terms liberal and conservative.
Sin: The Wall That Separates
Sermonette byOur sins separate us from God; if we want to walk with God, it must be without sin. It is for our benefit that God holds such a high standard.
Liberalism and Education (Part Three)
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Muslims, duplicating the methods of the leftists, are attempting to control the direction of American education, establishing centers for Islamic Studies.
Facing Times of Stress: Lovers of Self
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsWe face the same kind of pressures and stress that Timothy faced, with perilous times ahead of us, threatening the existence of the nation and the church.
Sincerity Without Truth Is Worthless
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsIt is dangerous to judge something on the basis of apparent 'sincerity,' which is often the opposite of godly sincerity. Godly sincerity is paired with the truth.
Limiting the Holy One of Israel (Part One)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsGod has self-imposed limitations when we go against His commands, testing His patience, purposely limiting Him by our faithlessness, robbing ourselves of blessings.
Worship and Culture (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe apostles, to properly honor God, reinforce existing traditions to create unity, order, and decorum, avoiding the common, crude, or profane.
Judgment According to Works
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughBecause God sees the content of our hearts, nothing escapes His attention. He mercifully judges over a lifetime of behaviors, not just isolated incidents.
Foolishness and Cleansing
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughHuman nature has a perverse drive to take risks, pushing the envelope, taking unwise chances, foolishly gambling away the future. Foolishness is sin.
The Two Witnesses (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod's truth may bring about sadness, astonishment, anger, and bitterness to the one delivering the message. James and John were types of the Two Witnesses.
Remembering Your Vows
Sermon by John O. ReidLike the marriage covenant, counting the cost is the most serious part of the baptismal agreement, not something to be taken lightly.