Playlist: United States of America (topic)

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Is the United States a Christian Nation? (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Governments of men are enmity against God. Our allegiance can be only to Jesus Christ, and not to the hopelessly corrupt political systems of the world.


Is the United States a Christian Nation? (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

A true Christian is sanctified by a specific body of beliefs and how he lives. No mainstream church in America has ever yielded itself to the right doctrines.


Is the United States a Christian Nation? (Part Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

In evaluating the dubious fruits of a false minister, we must realize that belief and conduct are inextricably linked and the linkage must be with God's Word.


Is the United States a Christian Nation? (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

America has never embraced true Christianity as its dominant faith, nor has it ever really followed Christ, but has instead embraced a counterfeit.


Is the United States a Christian Nation? (Part Six)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The belief that America was or is a Christian nation cannot be supported by the facts. The world, governed by Satan, hates Christ's true followers.


Is the United States a Christian Nation? (Part Five)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The Founders of this nation were guided more by laws of expedience than by ideology or theology, not having the true faith once delivered.


There Really is a Deep State

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The Deep State has long existed in Britain and America, made up of elites and ostensibly to maintain government stability during military and economic crises.


A Quick Survey of American Christianity

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

A nation's religions generally determine the moral standards of a nation. The United States is currently afflicted with biblical illiteracy.


American Conservatism (Part Two)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh

American conservatism is judged more harshly because its tenets took root in biblical principles advanced by the Puritans.


Individual State Bankruptcies (Part Two)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

California, Illinois, and Minnesota, while levying confiscatory taxes for liberal programs, are hemorrhaging productive taxpayers to more responsible states.


Is America a Christian Nation? (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The founding of the United States and the other nations of modern Israel was not random or accidental, but purposely orchestrated by our Creator.


Destroying America From Within (Part Two)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Recently, 'Christians Against Nationalism' published a set of 'Interfaith Principles,' suggesting that any religion is acceptable—and thus denying Christ.


Is America a Christian Nation? (Part Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The Constitution, in some ways, makes a mockery of God's sovereignty, preferring a hodge-podge of syncretism of the world's religions.


Is America a Christian Nation? (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Although America was not founded as a Christian nation, it was designed to accommodate a sense of morality and justice based on Judean-Christian principles.


Is America a Christian Nation? (Part Five)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Having experienced the turmoil of the Catholic—Protestant clash, the framers of our Constitution did not want any sect dictating religious doctrines or practices.


Is America a Christian Nation? Summary (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The founders made no covenant between the People of the United States and God. American citizenry never practiced true Christianity.


Is America a Christian Nation? Summary (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The following seven points refute the unsubstantiated claim that America ever was, or continues to be, a Christian nation.


Is America a Christian Nation? (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Though the United States was not established as a Christian nation, the founding Fathers established a legal system based upon biblical ethical standards.


Simple Gifts: American Reflection

Commentary by Mark Schindler

Liberty cannot exist without morality, or morality without faith. Today, humanists are destroying God's 'simple gifts' that made America exceptional.


Has America Gone Crazy? (Part Three)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Those being molded by today's education system lack the historical context to permit them to grasp how it is twisting their impressionable minds.


Destroying America From Within (Part One)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God confused the languages at the tower of Babel, causing confusion similar to the discord in the West. Without communication, productivity grinds to a halt.


Preventing the Warfare State

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Satan has taught mankind the craft of war between nations, within families, in politics, and in sports. We must resist being dragged into partisan battles.


Neonatal Circumcision in America

Commentary by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021)

The prevalence and demographic distribution of neonatal circumcision in America make the United States stand-out among other Israelite nations.


Individual State Bankruptcies (Part One)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Productive, middle-class Americans are emigrating from highly taxed, nearly bankrupt states to more tax-friendly and fiscally responsible venues.


Liberal Lunacy (Part One)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Progressive humanists are neither satisfied with God's standards nor common sense, but strive to replace them with something they deem to be 'better.'


The Final Straw

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The environmentalist warriors do not really want to save the planet so much as they want to promote group-think and global control.


What Is a Liberal?

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

While the term 'liberal' used to stand for generosity, the Democrat party has hijacked the term, applying it to murder (abortion) and sexual immorality.


Religious Liberty at Risk

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The First Amendment protects religion from government interference. However, some liberal politicians are exploiting the coronavirus crisis to erode this right.


Abortion Legislation

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Recently, nine states have passed legislation to restrict abortion. An equal number of states have removed all rights of the fetus, even up to birth.


Socialism is Mob Rule (Part Two)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Many religious people realize that liberals threaten adherence to the moral principles taught in God's Word, and that Satan is the poster child of liberalism.


A Lesson From History

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

A democracy only works when the citizenry are moral and capable of governing themselves, neither of which the current citizenry possess.


Liberalism and Education (Part Two)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Liberalism is much easier to push than conservatism because the latter requires discipline, while the former caters to self-interest and emotion.


You Can't Fix Stupid

Commentary by Clyde Finklea

The first action of Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the House of Representatives was to ban all terms related to gender and family relationships.


The Handwriting is on the Wall (2017): The Fourth Turning

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

Steve Bannon embraced The Fourth Turning, a book which explains why many Americans no longer recognize the country they once knew and respected.


Great Earthquakes

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

As God's patience with modern Israel is tried, the likelihood of major earthquakes in North America may be dramatic and devastating.


The Whole World is Writhing

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Wherever secularism has gained ascendancy, it has attempted to bully and harass the religious elements of society by the tyranny of political correctness.


Many Tribulations

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The timidity and apathy expressed by our citizenry today is a far cry from the bravery of the original Colonists.


The Abuse of Freedom

Commentary by Joseph B. Baity

Change agents in the United States are engaging in a deliberate assault on free speech, which the Founding Fathers protected through the Bill of Rights.


A Gift Opens Doors

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The bribe seems to be the magic elixir designed to turn a moral man into a pragmatic amoral man.


What's in the Bucket? (Part Two)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

If the Founders of the United States had been ardent followers of Christ, they would not have legalized chattel slavery through the Constitution.


Extreme Environmentalism and National Security

Sermonette by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021)

Ezekiel 7:14 contains a chilling description of a summons to battle followed by a refusal to defend the home country. This prophecy pertains to the nations of Israel.


Presumption of Innocence

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Progressives have attempted to remove a cardinal principle of jurisprudence: The legal doctrine that one is innocent until proven guilty.


If You Can Keep It

Sermonette by Joseph B. Baity

Americans, having by and large lost both their morality and their sense of vigilance, now stand on the verge of losing the republic.


One Speaking For Many

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh

The United States is not a democracy (that is, popular or "mob" rule) but instead a representative republic in which citizens elect representatives.


Hebrews 2: God Is Present

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God's people must immerse themselves daily in the Scriptures. While sinning Israelites consider God to be absent, He is nevertheless present with His saints.


If You Do Not Obey My Voice

Commentary by Martin G. Collins

America's infrastructure, educational standards, and economy, etc. are beginning to flag, largely from disobedience to God's laws and squandering blessings.


The Answer is in the Bucket (Part Six)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh

Americans once held high ethical standards. However, America has egenerated into a cultural cesspool, now providing a poor example for the rest of the world.


Birthrates in Decline

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Statistics show that the birth rate for the Western nations has dropped below the replacement rate of 2.1 children per woman, sometimes significantly so.


God, the End Times, and Massive Movements of People

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The cult of diversity has created more conflicts, hatred, and crimes than any other idea promoted by secularists, who consider God-fearing people to be deplorable.


The Fear Has Shifted

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

A family, a company, or nation cannot keep spending beyond its means without consequences. It is illogical that we need to spend money to get out of debt.


Sodom and Egypt

Sermonette by John W. Ritenbaugh

'Sodom and Egypt' in Revelation 11:8 identifies Jerusalem, but stands for all the inhabitants of modern Israel, including the US, Canada, and England.


Purpose-Driven Churches (Part 7)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Purpose Driven Church will be a major player trying to take the true, end-time church in the wrong direction.


Handwriting on the Wall: Forgetfulness

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

America once had national greatness, but because of the ignorance of youth, forgetting the lessons from history, they will soon pay for their forgetfulness.


Where Are the Children?

Sermon by Ronny H. Graham

Malachi 4:5-6 predicts a horrible curse if the hearts of the fathers are not turned to the children and the hearts of the children turned to their fathers.


The Insatiable Seizing

Commentary by Martin G. Collins

The American family farm has become an endangered institution as business interests purchase parcels of land as investments, driving up prices.


Intensity is Increasing: Are You Listening?

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

It is far more important for God's called-out ones to be ready than to know the time of Christ's return, an event to which even He is not privy.


Blessings We Could Have Had

Sermon by Kim Myers

Despite Abraham's loyalty to God's covenant, Abraham's offspring have violated this covenant, thanklessly squandering the blessings and reaping curses.


The Handwriting Is on the Wall (1995)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Because restraints that once held human nature in check have been removed, the US has grown increasingly more corrupt, approaching conditions before the Flood.


Leaving Religion Behind

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

More Millennials identify themselves as non-religious and show no indication of embracing religion in the foreseeable future.


Deuteronomy and Holiness

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

God has provided the God-plane marriage relationship to teach us how to submit to one another, sacrificing our self-centeredness for the benefit of our spouse.


A Time For Thanksgiving

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Our annual Thanksgiving was derived from the harvest festivals, patterned after the Holy Days such as Pentecost and Tabernacles. We must not forget God.


Two Different Perspectives

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

While more people consider themselves spiritual, fewer are religious. They are less sure about what they really believe and more tolerant of other beliefs.


Breaking Israel's Pride

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Modern Israel has not yet learned that 'there ain't no free lunch.' The reality of the depth of this crisis has not really hit the national psyche.


Freedom Isn't Free

Commentary by Ryan McClure

Abraham Lincoln, in his 1838 Lyceum Address, warned that America's destruction could occur only from moral rot within, as exampled by the Roman Empire.


Unity and Godly Diversity in One Body

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Mark Schindler

To take sides in any type of national struggle is to battle on behalf of mankind's wrong-headed, godless attempts to avoid the consequences of sin.


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.


Hope to the End (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The church must forcefully deal with the overwhelming feeling of hopelessness or it too will succumb to the terrifying vortex of despair.


Are We Already In Captivity?

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Major curses, including economic oppression, famine, pestilence, mental illness, alien invasion, the scattering of modern Israel are yet to occur.


Patriotism, the Summer Soldier, and Our Times (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Jesus Christ was not a sunshine patriot, but sacrificed everything He had for the sake of God's people and the Kingdom of God—His holy nation.


The Doctrine of Israel (Part Thirteen): Jacob's Trouble

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

During Jacob's Trouble, a confederacy of gentile peoples (particularly the offspring of Ishmael and Esau) will destroy the nations of modern-day Israel.


The Unshakable Kingdom!

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Because all things will be violently shaken, God commands His people to place their trust in the unshakeable Kingdom of God which will displace all empires.


Privilege, Responsibility, and Judgment

Sermonette by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Our welfare programs have scriptural principles as their general inspiration, but they have been abused, encouraging dependency which God never intended.


What to Do in Babylon

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021)

There is nothing to be desired in the Babylonish system, but we can grow spiritually in spite of the downward pulls.


Should a Christian Go To War? (Part 1)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Conscientious objection to military action requires exercising mature faith, involving submission, loyalty, dedication, and conscientious obedience to God's Law.


Check Your Culture

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God's people living in America must prioritize God's Commandments over the U.S. Constitution and over American culture. We have a heavenly citizenship.


Hope to the End (Part Two)

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

We need these horrific times and conditions to learn the consequences of foolish decisions in order to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.


The Handwriting is on the Wall (2008)

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

We must allow God to change our lives. The blessings and cursing principle of Deuteronomy 28 remains unchanged, applying to all who have made the covenant.


Don't Be Indifferent

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The frightful Trumpet Plagues are coming on the world because of the breaking of covenants on the part of people who should have known better.


Forget Not All His Benefits

Sermonette by Clyde Finklea

As long as the nation truly remembers God, He will prosper us. When we forget that foundational principle, He will break the pride of our power.


Urgency to Get Closer to God

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Kim Myers

The time when the offspring of Jacob are going to pay the piper is rapidly closing in. We must cultivate a sense of urgency in our relationship with God.


Hebrews (Part Fifteen): Chapter 2, A Mind Bending Purpose (Part Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Even though we must cooperate in cultivating spiritual fruit, God alone creates character and takes responsibility for creating spiritual offspring.


COVID-19 and Returning to Normal

Commentary by David C. Grabbe

While we naturally desire to 'get back to normal,' what the United States experienced before COVID-19 was hardly normal when viewed from God's perspective.


Hiding in Plain Sight

Sermonette by Mike Ford

59% of 'Christians' do not believe in Satan, but we see his hand in the transgender movement, the obsession with climate change, and the abortion plague.


God and Government

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Government run by carnal men will never work, but those under the New Covenant, having God's law written on their hearts, can make any form of government work.


Liberty and Justice for All

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

God has freed us from the bondage of sin, the breaking of His law. Liberty comes only from obeying God and accepting the positive yoke of Jesus Christ.


Don't Give Up!

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

We must reorient our focus onto God's Word and His message of hope, never giving up our quest for righteousness and integrity in the midst of immorality.


The Handwriting Is on the Wall (2005)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The family is under savage attack, with more and more children born out of wedlock. With the destruction of the family, we are witnessing the death of the U.S.


We Give Our Heads and Hearts

Sermon by Mark Schindler

God's people (as ambassadors and pilgrims) must pledge their hearts, minds, and allegiance to the coming Kingdom of God, which will last forever.


Patriotism, the Summer Soldier, and Our Times (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

In terms of patriotism to God's Kingdom, Jesus set the standard higher than anyone else, sacrificing His life for everyone, even before the Father called them.


The Doctrine of Israel (Part Twelve): Joseph

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God frequently bypasses the firstborn, selecting for His purposes another sibling. Jacob selected Joseph's second son, Ephraim, to receive the blessing.


Zephaniah (Part One): The Day of the Lord Is Near!

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Zephaniah'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.


Wilderness Wanderings (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Israel's trek was not only a physical journey, but a mental wandering caused by rejecting God's leadership. The potential to sin is a test of resolve.


The March Toward Globalism (Part One)

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

The cat has been let out of the bag in terms of plans to establish a New World Order, possibly the precursor or foundation for the Beast of Revelation.


Does Doctrine Really Matter? (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The strife between this world's belief systems shows that God did not originate them. False teachings are dangerous because they can erode the faith.


The March Toward Globalism (Part Eight)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Satan is cultivating vessels of destruction by turning God's principles of child-rearing upside-down, encouraging permissiveness and destroying the family.


The Commandments (Part Fifteen)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jesus emphasized the spirit of the law, which places deterrents on the motive (anger, resentment, envy, revenge), preventing murder from ever taking place.


Lamentations (Part Four; 1989)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

The prophets and the religious leaders bear the greatest blame for the destruction by providing a quasi-religion and not teaching the Law of God.


Lamentations (Part Three; 1989)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

As Lamentations opens, Jerusalem is personified as a widow who has had to endure the destruction of her family as well as the mocking scorn from the captors.


Purpose-Driven Churches (Part 1)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Despite the growing popularity of Purpose-Driven churches, national immorality is still increasing. The 'emerging church' grows numerically by suppressing truth.


Yet Another Call for a European Army

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

If our speculations about a military might emerging from the European Union (assuming the Beast rises out of Europe) are correct, it won't be anytime soon.


Waving the White Flag

Commentary by Joseph B. Baity

The radical Islamic forces, like hungry sharks, are circling America and the West, smelling blood in the water and the scent of fear from a defeated nation.


Lest We Forget

Commentary by Mark Schindler

Ronald Reagan warned that America's freedoms and informed patriotism are extremely fragile and will not last if they are not taught to each generation.


In God We Trust

Sermonette by Ryan McClure

When the Assyrian monarch Sennacherib tried to intimidate Hezekiah, attempting to sow doubt and division, God intervened, destroying 185,000 soldiers.


Don't Allow Fear to Direct Your Life

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Kim Myers

Fear and discouragement have infiltrated the church of God, causing many to stop fellowshipping on the Sabbath and some to give up keeping it altogether.


Lest We Forget (2020)

Commentary by Mark Schindler

Mark Schindler, focuses upon the Separatists who fled to Leyden in 1609, to escape persecution from the Anglican Church, which although broke away politically from the Roman Catholic Church, nevertheless retained some of the customs and teachings of Catholicism which the Pilgrims found repulsive. In order to preserve their …


1619 and 1984

Commentary by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021)

Totalitarian governments often attempt to perpetuate their regimes through policies of 'reschooling' their citizens to bring about behavioral changes.


An Unequal Comparison

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

While the sacrifice in life or limb is commendable and worthy of honor, to compare it with Christ's work on the stake trivializes Christ's sacrifice.


Learning the Right Things (Part One)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The harmful things people learn thoroughly in their youth will sabotage any helpful steps to correct this earlier enslaving conditioning.


Thanksgiving

Sermonette by Ryan McClure

We cannot emulate the nine ungrateful lepers, but must be proactive in our expressions of thanksgiving, such as making lists of things for which we are thankful.


The Real Robert E. Lee

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Leftists, obsessed with the removal of Robert E. Lee's monument, are either woefully ignorant of United States' history or maliciously fomenting race war.


Identity Crisis

Sermonette by Joseph B. Baity

The media has succeeded in promoting homosexual, transgender, trans-human, and trans-species movements, encouraging youth to question their gender identity.


Massive Immigration, Few Controls

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The proposed wall between Mexico and America has been sabotaged by establishment politicians who mock that no plane will be hindered by a wall.


Franchising the Faith

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

In churchianity, slick business tactics and advertising take precedence over scriptural knowledge. Yet truth trumps sincerity, emotion, and glitz.


How Many Wars?

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Jesus tells us not to be troubled about the wars and rumors of wars, for they are like false labor pains. We are now at the beginning of sorrows.


Joy in Our Time?

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

We are undergoing the worst of times, but coming into the best of times because the Kingdom of God is in the ascendancy.


The Illegals' Cost

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Currently, 29% of convicted felons (630,000 individuals) in American prisons are illegal aliens, costing the tax payer $1.6 billion dollars.


Things We Won't Get Rid Of

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The United States is of major concern to the world's nations because they witness America's profligate spending and realize that their economic futures are precariously linked to the American economic system. Americans cannot discipline themselves to go without, clinging to portable computers, high-speed internet, smart phones, …


The Summertime Soldier and Sunshine Patriotism

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

We must put our lives, treasure, and honor on the line, picking up our cross daily, declaring our independence from carnality, evil and bondage to sin.


Divine Warning

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh

On 9/11, the political and spiritual leadership of America absolved itself from any culpability, refusing to acknowledge our national collective sins.


What's So Bad About Babylon? (1997)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Babylon constitutes the fountainhead of instruction that, like strong drink, impairs the ability to function properly while creating the illusion of ability.


Life, Fortunes, Sacred Honor

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Many of the Declaration's signers literally lost their fortunes, properties, and health—even their lives. Are we willing to commit ourselves as fully?


The Commandments (Part Nineteen)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jesus taught that all outward sin stems from inner inordinate desire. What we desire or lust after automatically becomes our idol.