Parable of the Rich Fool
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsEven if we have everything we could ever want or need, when we die, our goods will do nothing for us. Because of wealth, the fool believes he has no need of God.
Spiritual Satisfaction
Sermonette by Martin G. CollinsThe Parable of the Rich Fool illustrates that, when one has all the material possessions he could want, he may still not be rich toward God.
A Telling Juxtaposition
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughThe fourth Thursday in November, the holiday Americans call Thanksgiving Day, is always followed by an unofficial shopping holiday known as "Black Friday. ...
Be Happy (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by Gary MontgomeryGod has made it possible through His Spirit for us to be optimistic and happy even in a world that seems to be crumbling around us.
Parable of the Treasure
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsJesus' Parable of the Treasure in Matthew 6:19-21 is designed to get us to evaluate the relative values of material wealth and "treasures in heaven." Martin Collins expands on the metaphors of moths, rust, and thieves.
Gambling: A Question of Motive
Commentary by Martin G. CollinsThe addiction of gambling comes from the lure of effortless profit and the way of get, motivated by covetousness, which militates against contentment.
A Warning from Jude (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeBlinded by greed, Balaam used whatever mental gymnastics necessary to arrive at the answer he wanted. He turned the grace of God into a license for evil.
The Tenth Commandment
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsA biblical survey of coveting: what it is, what it produces and what a Christian should be doing.
The Tenth Commandment
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughCoveting begins as a desire. Human nature cannot be satisfied, nothing physical can satisfy covetousness, and joy does not derive from materialism.
The Entertainment Craze
Commentary by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, reflecting on the recent death of Elizabeth Taylor, opined that, although she may have been considered a star, her life was severely lacking in many ways. With her hopelessly warped personality, she seemed driven by hedonistic sexual conquests. Although married eight times, she was unable to make a marriage …
Blessing Promises: Our Spiritual Inheritance
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. CollinsWhen we ask to be blessed, it should be exclusively on God's terms. What God has done in our lives is the best preparation for our future responsibilities.
The Tenth Commandment
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughEveryone is out to acquire as much as possible for himself. The tenth commandment, however, governs this proclivity of human nature, striking at man's heart.
The Christian and the World (Part Eight)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughHaving anxiety, foreboding and fretting about food, clothing, and shelter, or being distressed about the future, demonstrates a gross lack of faith.
The Consequences of Affluence
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. Collins'Affluenza' describes the bloated insensitivity caused by trying to keep up with the Joneses, the stress caused by doggedly pursuing the American Dream.
Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Seven): Contentment
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughGod desires far more for us than mere satisfaction: He wants to give us real contentment, a state that comes only through a relationship with Him.
Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Five): Comparisons
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughSolomon provides these comparisons to indicate the choices we should make to live better lives in alignment with God, even in an 'nder the sun' world.
What Does God Really Want? (Part 5)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh insists that true riches consist of what we are (or what we become) rather than what we have. True riches consist of those things that can be carried through the grave and into the Kingdom of God. The circumstances of our lives (totally determined by God)- health, sickness, wealth, poverty, etc. we could consider …
Wisdom for the Young (Part Three)
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughSolomon already lived the wild side, considered it deeply over, and reported on it. If we will listen to what he says, we can avoid all kinds of heartache.
What Is Your Lentil Soup?
'Ready Answer' by StaffThe story of Esau and his selling his birthright for a bowl of soup is a cautionary tale for today. What we treasure will ultimately determine our destiny.
Balaam and the End-Time Church (Part 2)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughBalaam, motivated by self-interest, believing that the ends justify the means, willing to do anything to get his way, is spiritually inferior to a donkey.
The Commandments (Part 19)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJesus taught that all outward sin stems from inner inordinate desire. What we desire or lust after automatically becomes our idol.
The Seven Laws of Success
Herbert W. Armstrong BookletMen have searched for centuries for the keys to success in life. Many have found rules to live by to bring them physical wealth and well-being, but all of them have neglected the most important factor: God!
The Joy of the Lord Is Our Strength!
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins marvels that despite the continuous dramatic increase of material wealth in Modern Israel, this affluence or prosperity has not remotely led to joy. Clinical depression, requiring professional help (usually consisting of a host of powerful anti-depressant drugs) is almost pandemic in North America, with one in …
Stuff
Sermonette by Mike FordMike Ford, acknowledging that many of us are now in a de-leavening mode, suggests that getting rid of accumulated clutter is a positive goal as we simplify our lives in our preparation of extracting ourselves from the world and following God. Spring cleaning is a custom largely connected to Israelitish nations. Everybody has the …
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Seventeen)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh reiterates that satisfaction in life does not derive from material things or wealth, by instead from an eternal relationship with God who has given us abundant spiritual gifts which we must reciprocate by developing skill in living from using godly wisdom. Wisdom enables us to make the very best practical use of …
Laodiceanism
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughOur love for beauty must be coupled with love for righteousness and holiness. Our relationship with Christ must take central place in our lives, displacing all else.
Joy
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsA biblical study on the basic aspects of one of the fruit of God's Spirit, joy.
Hebrews 12 and 13: Advice for the End Time
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWe must lay aside every weight, accept God's chastening, receive encouragement from those who have gone before, and get back into the spiritual race.
Lot's Day and Our Day
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeThe West is obsessed with materialism and guaranteed security, as many institutions protect—even encourage—mediocrity, incompetency, and malfeasance.
Why is Life So Hard?
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeDavid Grabbe, assessing the impact of struggles, pressures, and tribulations of our spiritual journey, reveals that Christ's followers will have to endure afflictions and fiery trials as He prepares them for His Kingdom. Some detractors have tried to preach that "godliness is a means of gain," implying that if we were …
Take Heed to Yourselves
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh, reminding us that we have a perennial mandate to examine ourselves, warns that the cesspool of this world's culture is deep and getting deeper. Even though the world is waxing progressively worse, many of us live in a comparatively safe, free, and prosperous country, with incredible material abundance, …
God's Rest (Part 4)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughCoveting—lust—is a fountainhead of many other sins. Desiring things is not wrong, but desiring someone else's things promotes overtly sinful behavior.
God's Rest (Part 3)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLust begets a guilty conscience, agitation, anxiety, depression, grief, torment. Wrong desire leads to lying, adultery, and murder—eventually leading to death.
A Bed Too Short (Part 1)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Charles WhitakerCharles Whitaker warns that our society is too connected with the present, too enamored of technology, too surfeited on abundance to pay attention to lessons from history or the basic laws of cause and effect. Our technology will not allow us to advance beyond consequences. What we sow we will reap. Our sins will eventually find …
Prepare to Meet Your God! (The Book of Amos) (Part One)
Booklet by John W. RitenbaughThe book of Amos is an astounding prophecy, closely paralleling the conditions in the Western world today. Amos reveals how unrighteousness undermines society.
The World, the Church, and Laodiceanism
Booklet by John W. RitenbaughLaodiceanism is the attitude that dominates the end time. It is a subtle form of worldliness that has infected the church, and Christ warns against it strongly.
