The Glory of God (Part 4): Glorifying God
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh insists that a raw display of emotion and exuberance does not necessarily glorify God. What we do to glorify God will reflect just how highly we esteem Him. Because God has redeemed us (purchasing us with an awesome price), we must become living sacrifices, no longer joined with the world—a condition …
Glorifying God
Sermon by John O. Reid (1930-2016)John Reid emphasizes that we have a responsibility after our calling to conform to the image of Jesus Christ, actively giving of ourselves to overcome. God has called us in order that we glorify Him in our behavior, being His representatives. God wants His people to be just like Him, to imitate Him, to adopt His very nature. If …
How You Can Glorify God!
Article by Martin G. CollinsThe Bible commands us to glorify God in all we do, but sometimes we are not sure just how we can do that as sinful human beings. Martin Collins shows that the key is righteous character.
God's Workmanship (Part 4)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughSalvation is not a one time event, but a continuous process—not just immunity from death, but a total transformation of our nature into a new creation.
God the Father (Part 3)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins suggests that the purpose of God the Father is to make us Christ-like—abounding in godly agape love. God is able to turn horrendous and gruesome circumstances into ultimate blessings for those who love Him and are called according to his purpose. After our calling, we realize that our experiences are no …
Giving Glory to God
CGG Weekly by Mike FuhrerChrist expects us to ask for His help, and when He gives it, He does it to glorify His Father. When He thus responds, we should glorify God by praising Him.
Glorify You Me
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John O. Reid (1930-2016)John Reid, reflecting on Jesus' moving prayer in John 17:1-10, asserts that the purpose of our calling is not the place of safety, but that we glorify God, following the example of our Elder brother, that when He was reviled and persecuted, He patiently submitted to the will of God the Father. If we closely observe the behaviors …
Using God's Given Authority
Sermon by Mark SchindlerGod has gifted all His called-out ones, expecting them to use those gifts with the pillars of godly wisdom for the edification of the Body of Christ.
Psalms: Book Four (Part Four): God as Creator
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe creation offers compelling testimony to the intricacies which preclude even the possibility of evolution. Evolution is a futile attempt to get rid of God.
Do All to the Glory of God!
Commentary by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, decrying the casualness which has overtaken many mainstream Protestant and Catholic churches, suggests that this attitude has been creeping into the greater Church of God. In the current scattered condition of the church, formality has given way to a casual approach in which some individuals appear in pajamas, …
Living by Faith: God's Grace (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGrace implies empowerment for growth. It is the single most important aspect of our salvation, and His giving of it is completely unmerited on our part.
Knowing God: Formality and Customs (Part Six)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh warns that human nature is hostile to change, even when it is confirmed to be in the wrong. In the matter of godly standards for dress (as in any other aspect of God's teaching), we must adopt the humble, childlike, sincere, unassuming, unpretentious, and teachable attitude, loving God intimately, denying …
The Sovereignty of God (Part Nine)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPrayer is not a dictating to a reluctant God, but a demonstration of our attitude of dependence and need. It is a means to get into harmony with God's will.
Parable of the Light
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsOne of Jesus' most remembered sayings concerns the Parable of the Light. The Bible Study explains how we can let our light shine both in the world and at home.
This Little Light of Mine
CGG Weekly by Gary MontgomeryNo sincere and humble Christian lives in vain. Even the feeblest light at midnight is of use. How brightly has our light shined this past year?
Lollapolooza
Sermonette by Charles WhitakerCharles Whitaker, using the example of the word "lollapalooza," which was used in World War II as a shibboleth (Judges 12:5-6) to detect Japanese infiltrators, whose language habits obliterated the r/l distinction common in English, suggested that a shibboleth could be viewed as any cultural custom which makes one …
How Bright is Your Light?
Sermonette by Ryan McClureRyan McClure, reminiscing about an airline flight into the Los Angeles basin late at night, viewing millions of sparkling and flickering lights of the city below, asks what God must see as He looks down viewing our lives as we function as spiritual lights in this darkening world. Do we let our lights shine through our lives by …
Without Me, You Can Do Nothing (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeJohn 15:4-5 in the Phillips translation gives us a great deal to consider: "You can produce nothing unless you go on growing in me. ...
A City on a Hill (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by John ReissWe may never be featured in a museum, receive a Medal of Honor, or be the subject of a movie, but we can still be outstanding examples with our own lives.
Is the Christian Required To Do Works? (Part Four)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughThe Bible makes it plain that salvation is by grace, but it is also clear that we are 'created in Christ Jesus for good works.' Grace and works fit together.
Christians in the Spotlight
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh contends that, like our Elder Brother Jesus Christ (the source of our illumination), we need to serve as lights, walking in the light, and reflecting this light to this dark and confused world. While this light begins as reflected light, it must eventually emanate from the inside as self-contained, righteous …
An Acceptable Sacrifice
Sermonette by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, focusing on the theme, "An acceptable sacrifice," reflects upon the relative acceptability of the offerings of Cain and Abel. Perhaps God sent fire to totally consume Abel's offering, indicating acceptance of his offering. Interestingly, Abel was totally consumed, becoming the first martyr for faith. …
All in All
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh contends that history is not confined to the past. We are actively participating in it just as surely as the prominent figures of the Bible. As citizens of Jerusalem above, we need to have our minds singly focused on the heavenly homeland where Jesus Christ dwells, mortifying our flesh, realizing that we need to …
The Christian Fight (Part Four)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughWhile we must express some of our own faith as we come to salvation, the great bulk of "saving faith" is a gift of God, given graciously and miraculously as part of God's creative process in us. In particular, John Ritenbaugh uses the examples of Abel and Enoch to illustrate the pattern of faith through which God walks His people.
Is the Christian Required To Do Works? (Part Six)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughWorks cannot earn us salvation. However, they play many vital roles in our Christian walk toward the Kingdom of God, especially in developing holiness.
The Elements of Motivation (Part One): Fear
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughEven though a Christian's potential is so wonderful, it is still necessary for God to motivate His children to reach it. This begins with the fear of God.
Aim for Productivity
Sermonette by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, focusing on God's creation of plants (Genesis 1:11-13), observes that God demonstrates His practicality and efficiency by establishing the genotype within the seed capable of infinite reproduction. God also gave humans the means to master time efficiently. God's called out-ones, metaphorized as soil, should …
What Are You Leaving?
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeDavid Grabbe, reminding us that the Days of Unleavened Bread are about leaving one venue (sin and Satan) and moving toward deliverance, warns us that as we leave sin, we do not want to leave our first love, as did the Ephesus congregation as recorded in Revelation 2:1. The Ephesians had a strong sense of duty to not let down, as …
