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The Fourth Commandment: Idolatry
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIdolatry and Sabbath-breaking are deeply intertwined sins that lead individuals away from the true worship of the Creator God. Idolatry, as a central issue of the first commandment, involves giving devoted service to someone or something other than the Creator, turning the direction of one's life off the path of God's purposes. This sin, often subtle and slow in revealing its destructive fruit, acts like a cancer that destroys by increments, making it impossible to produce anything good toward God's purpose when devotion is misplaced. Sabbath-breaking, closely linked to idolatry, represents a failure to honor the specific time God sanctified for rest and spiritual connection with Him. The Sabbath was created as a deliberate gift from God, not merely for physical rest, but to support mankind's role in His spiritual creation. It serves as a sign that unites and sanctifies God's people, setting them apart from the world. When Israel broke the Sabbath, it intensified their idolatry, as they used this holy time for their own ends, failing to know the true God and fulfill their purpose of witnessing for Him before the world. The lesson is clear: Sabbath-breaking and idolatry go hand in hand. Committing idolatry leads to breaking God's Sabbath, and breaking the Sabbath leads to idolatry. The best protection against idolatry is to keep God's Sabbaths, for it is through this sanctified time that He instructs His people in His way, fills them with His Spirit, and transforms them into the image of His Son, fostering greater obedience and the right attitudes to glorify Him. The Sabbath stands as a wonderful gift from God to guard against the lure of idolatry in our lives.
The Second Commandment: Idolatry
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe natural mind craves something physical to remind us of God, but the Second Commandment prohibits this. Any representation will fall short of the reality.
Did God Change the Sign From the Sabbath to the Holy Spirit?
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeA common idea is that the Sabbath is the sign of the Old Covenant, but the Holy Spirit is the sign of the New. Yet the seventh day has been holy since creation.
The Commandments (Part Six)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughGod gave the Sabbath to His people so they can know Him intimately. Idolatry, scattering, and captivity are the natural consequences of Sabbath-breaking.
Sabbathkeeping (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIt is from the proper use of the Sabbath—in fellowshipping with Him and getting to know Him—that we derive true spiritual rest and refreshment.
Polluted Sabbath?
Sermon by Bill OnisickPolluting and profaning God's Sabbath means to allow the distractions of the world to prevent us from calling the holy Sabbath a delight.
The Commandments (Part Nine)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughBenign neglect of the Sabbath covenant can incrementally lead us into idolatry. We must treat this holy time as different from the other days of the week.
The Commandments (Part Eight)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughIn our hectic culture, we commit far too little time to God, depriving ourselves of the Holy Spirit and attenuating the faith required to draw close to God.
Sabbathkeeping (Part 1)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughHow and why a person keeps the Sabbath determines whether this test commandment is really a sign between God and His people or an act of futility.
Is It Salvational? (Part Three)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeWhen Jesus returns, many will be prohibited from entering the Kingdom! They think they know Him, yet they are just using Him to make themselves important.
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?
The Doctrine of Israel (Part Four): God's Indictment
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughEven though Jacob's offspring have had a special relationship with God, their carnal nature led them to test God's patience, growing more corrupt than even Sodom.
Reflections on the COVID-19 Pandemic
Sermon by David C. GrabbeLessons learned from COVID, as well as possible reasons God allowed or caused the pandemic to sweep through the church and wreak havoc on Feast observance.
Keep Yourself From Idols
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsAn idol is anything in our lives that occupies the space which should be occupied by God alone, anything having a controlling force in our lives.
Conscience (Part 3)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLawful behavior with a wrong attitude, motivated by pride, displaying lack of sensitivity to others or lack of wisdom, also constitutes sin.