Playlist: Patterns of God (topic)
Unity (Part 2): God's Pattern of Leadership
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod is not the author of confusion, but throughout the scriptures has used a consistent pattern of appointing leaders over His called-out ones.
What Is the Work of God Now? (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe largest portion of the great commission demands that the lion's share of time, money, or energy ought to be invested in feeding the flock.
What Is the Work of God Now? (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe preaching the gospel to the world is at best the beginning of a complex process of creating disciples through steady feeding and encouragement to overcome.
Spiritual Leitmotifs: Patterns of Seven
Sermon by David F. MaasGod's signature, the repeatable pattern of the recurring number seven, can be seen in astronomy, physics, chemistry, genetics, and all other sciences.
Faith, Hope, and the Worship of God (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughUsing assumptions, some have concocted some nine conflicting calendars. The preservation of the oracles has not been entrusted to the church but to the Jews.
Grace, Mercy, and Favor (Part Three): A Faithful Witness to God's Mercy
Sermon by Mark SchindlerGod protected Enoch from death so he could teach Noah, providing the godly instruction that Methuselah and Lamech (Noah's grandfather and father) failed to give.
Carefully Tending and Keeping God's Extraordinary Blessings
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Mark SchindlerGod's Sabbaths are inestimable blessings which should not be squandered; we must tend and keep these blessings, avoiding the careless use of hallowed time.
God's Good Work in Us
Sermon by John O. ReidDespite the privileged position of our calling, God does not cut us any slack in terms of trials and tests to perfect us. We must accept God's sovereignty.
The Pattern of Creation
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Mike FordGod has a pattern that we can use for planet formation, a skill He will teach us after we assume a glorified spirit body following our resurrection.
Outside the Normal Pattern of Order
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. CollinsGod is a God of order and not confusion; all He does follows a specific order—summarized by the adage, a time and a place for everything.
Image and Likeness of God (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJesus did not take on a different shape or form when He was transfigured. Taking on the image of the heavenly does not vaporize one into shapeless essence.
God's Creation and Our Works
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLike Joseph, we need to realize that God—not ourselves—is the Creator, engineering events that form us into what He wants us to become.
The Shemitah: God's Year of Release
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeBecause we have spurned God's years of release, we have reaped a whirlwind of curses, including crop failure and devastating stock market crashes.
Patterns That We Live With
Sermon by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021)God works in patterns and God has wired our minds to think in patterns. We need to be thankful for them and be careful that we don't misuse them.
Patterns of Resistance
Sermonette by Joseph B. BaityOne of man's twisted thought patterns has two parts: (1) We seek to elevate ourselves above God, and (2) we lie to ourselves about the first pattern.
His Eye is On the Sparrow (Part One)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)As God has His eye on the sparrow, He has had His eye on us through the entire process of scattering so the tests we have endured will bear good fruit.
What Is the Church's Work Today (Part Two)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe easiest part of God's work is preaching the gospel to the world. Much more demanding is the feeding of the flock, producing life-changing faith.
Are Humans Becoming More Intelligent? (Part Three)
Commentary by Martin G. CollinsScientists and engineers often mimic God's patterns and structures when creating 'modern' technology.
Faith and the Calendar (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe real issue in the calendar controversy is not astronomical, but faith in God's sovereignty, providence, and His right to assign responsibility.
A Calendar Summary
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod gave us a calendar, assigning the responsibility for its maintenance to the nation of Israel, not to the church or private individuals.
Faith and the Calendar (Part Five): Summary
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod assigned the tribe of Judah to be the caretakers of the oracles. The real issue in this controversy is faith in God's sovereignty and His faithfulness.
A House Left Desolate
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod is a God of mercy, but He has a stiff core of justice which will not be placated unless we repent. To whom much has been given, much will be required.
The Five Warnings of Hebrews
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe modern church stands in danger of allowing salvation to slip away. Hebrews gives warnings to help us turn our lives around so we do not fall short.
Lessons From Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim
Sermon by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021)If God's Law has not been written in our hearts, the corporate entity in which we find ourselves will not save us from the wrong side of the judgmental cut.
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.
Does Doctrine Really Matter? (Part Eight)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughFaith is difficult enough to maintain on its own, but greatly confused when the pastor dilutes correct doctrine with 'benign' false doctrine from the world.
Philippians (Part One)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughPaul expresses joy and camaraderie more with the congregation at Philippi than any other, appreciating their selflessness, generosity, and sacrifice.
Why Are You Here?
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)God, following a pattern, routinely calls the lowly and weak to guard against pride. God will transform the weak of this world through His Holy Spirit.
Chronicles: Answered Prayer
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe thesis of Chronicles seems to be that when God's people seek Him in repentance and humility, God comes to their aid; if not, they fail.
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.
Leadership and the Covenants (Part Fourteen)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Only God's calling, followed by repentance and a rigorous conversion process, will safeguard us from the fiery holocaust that is coming upon this the world.
Shrugging Off Scoffers (Part One)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsPeter warns of scoffers in the church, apostate tares, devoid of God's spirit, ridiculing the doctrine that Christ would return or doctrines of judgment.
Grace, Faith, and Love
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPride condemned Satan to a fate of manipulating rather than serving. This presumptuous self-centered trait creates disunity and ultimately destruction.
The Purpose of the Ministry
Sermon by John O. ReidThe purpose of the ministry is to train members for service to God, edifying them, equipping them for their job, and bringing them to spiritual maturity.
The End Is Not Yet
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod's people do a disservice to the cause of truth when they allow the media-hype to trigger a false hope about Jesus Christ's return being imminent.
Leadership and the Covenants (Part Thirteen)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)God is at work producing leadership in an organization that will follow Him, calling people into His family, carefully crafting it into a perfect organism.
Leadership and the Covenants (Part Twelve)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)The first use of the word 'grace' in Scripture is in context with the rescuing of Noah, a preacher of righteousness from the line of Seth.
Manasseh
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughEven though Manasseh was absolutely the worst king ever to lead Judah, Manasseh finally got the message that God only is God, and sincerely repented.
Building the Wall (Part Two)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughBuilding a wall requires standing, holding firm, showing alertness and a readiness for action, even if it requires self-denial and unpleasant dirty work.
The Two Witnesses (Part Six)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Two Witnesses have authority from God to annihilate those who interfere with their work as well as power over weather patterns and natural elements.
Hamas' October 7 Attack
Sermon by David C. GrabbeHamas' October 7 attack fits into a biblical pattern of God's people turning from Him, causing God to hide His face and allow incredible suffering.
Line Upon Line
Sermonette by Levi W. GrahamPeter has given us an incremental set of building blocks (II Peter:1-5), describing God's direction for mankind, moving from easier to harder steps.
Eden, The Garden, and the Two Trees (Part Two)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe real cradle of civilization is not Mesopotamia, but Jerusalem, where God started His physical creation and where He will bring it to spiritual fruition.
Eden, The Garden, and the Two Trees (Part One)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe we follow God's patterns, Jerusalem becomes the likely location of the Garden of Eden and the likely location for the future, heavenly Jerusalem.
The Wilderness Trek and Judgment Begins
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)God's people must learn to trust Him for their survival, remembering that the eating of Unleavened Bread is a reminder that only God has the power to rescue.
Five Easily-Neglected Doctrines
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Here are five easily neglected doctrines, which, if carelessly observed or distorted, could jeopardize the salvation of God's people.
The Doctrine of Israel (Part Nine): Romans 11
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughPaul poses two questions in Romans 11: Has God discarded Israel for all time? Will God graft physical Israel into the Covenant people of Abraham?
Numbers Don't Lie
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Mike FordThere are responsible and irresponsible uses of numbers. Only God's numerical patterns are reliable, while all humanly-devised uses of numbers are bogus.
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.
Should All Believers Lay Hands on the Sick?
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeThere is a diversity of gifts, but not everyone in the Body has the same gifts. It is presumptuous to attempt to use gifts one has not received from God.
Esther (Part Four)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughSome regard approaching the Bible as literature to be demeaning, yet the literary approach can be a powerful tool to appreciating it more fully.
Josiah
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughJosiah may have been the most righteous of Judah's kings, having fewer foibles than David, but having equivalent leadership skills and a love of God's law.
Psalms: Book One (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughBecause Jesus is God's Son, we can avoid the rod of His anger by paying respect with worshipful awe. We must know both His instruction and Him personally.
Do You Recognize This Man? (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe truer our conception of Christ, the truer our discernment will be in dealing with spiritual problems or conflicts. Modern Israel has cuddled up to sin.
Faith and the Christian Fight (Part Nine)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe heroes of faith may have had a longer period of testing than those called now, but the trials will come at greater intensity here at the end.
Sabbathkeeping (Part 3)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe biblical instructions for Sabbath keeping apply far more to the church than to the Israelites, who did not have the fullness of scriptural counsel.
Trials: Much Needed Experiences
Sermon by John O. ReidGod uses trials to test our hearts, but He never places a trial before us to tempt us. God uses trials we bring on ourselves to draw us closer to Him.
The Needed Dimension
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughUnless we humbly submit before God, all of His efforts go for naught. God will not give His Spirit to those who will not obey Him.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Eleven)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIt is not the physical nation, but the spiritual remnant with whom God is working, circumcising their hearts and writing His laws in their minds.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Ten)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe term "covenant" describes an agreement made by two parties and "testament" to describe the one-sided commitment made by God to improve the promises.
Preparing to Be a Priest
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe primary function of a priest is to assist people in accessing God so that there can be unity with God. A priest is a bridge-builder between man and God.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughUnder both the Old and New Covenants, refusal to keep to keep God's Law severs the relationship. God's law protects us and brings us quality life.
The World (Part 1)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughOur worldview must be shaped by a fear of God, a love for His people, and a hatred for the world's practices that destroy our relationship with God.
Acts (Part Nine)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughStephen's martyrdom and his compassion on his persecutors, followed by the reaction against his brutal murder, resulted in a rapid spreading of the Gospel.