Are You Living the Abundant Life?
'Ready Answer' by Richard T. RitenbaughNon-Christians tend to see Christianity as an utterly boring, rigid way of life. However, Jesus says He came to give His disciples abundant life. Here's how.
Are You Living an Abundant Life?
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughIf Christianity is lived the way Christ intended, rather than as represented by media caricatures, it is one of the most exhilarating and abundant lifestyles.
The Elements of Motivation (Part Six): Eternal Life
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughIf you knew you would live forever, how would you live? Biblically, eternal life is much more than living forever: It is living as God lives!
The Gift of Eternal Life
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, distinguishing between living forever and eternal life, points out that longevity does not necessarily equate to quality of life. Living forever while enduring pain lacks appeal. Most people would want eternal life only if it were vibrant, the kind promised to God's called-out ones in I John 5:9-12 and John …
The Unleavened Life Is a Happy Life!
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh observes that some misguided individuals have denigrated the practice of putting out leaven as childish and something to be outgrown. The fruits of their lives indicate that they never learned the subtle lessons these customs or practices were supposed to teach. The annual rehearsal of these practices is …
Life Doesn't Work on a Balance Sheet (Part Three)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeAs soon as The Father and Son created man with the ability to choose right or wrong, They exposed Themselves to the certainty that humanity would rebel.
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Thirteen)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, cuing onto Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, observes that we must do what we must to keep a relationship with God. Solomon teaches us that money may provide some security, but it cannot be relied upon for satisfaction; only a relationship with God will fill that yawning vacuum. Money is neutral commodity, serving either …
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twelve)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, reflecting on the curse of a corrupt judicial system described in Ecclesiastes 5:8-9, warns us that corruption in the courts is a fact of life, but it will intensify before Christ returns. We should not be surprised by this curse, realizing that God, who is sovereign over everything, is aware of it and is …
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.
House Rules
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeImagine that you receive a personal summons from a mysterious benefactor. ...
Elements of Motivation (Part Seven)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughEternal life, emphasizing a special intimate relationship with God the Father and Christ, is vastly different from immortality, connoting only endless existence.
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Fourteen)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, reflecting on Solomon's ruminations about life being seemingly futile and purposeless, reiterates that a relationship with God is the only factor which prevents life from becoming useless. As many celebrities and public figures withdraw to spend more time with families, so must we withdraw from the rat race of …
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 …
Natural Law
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeGravity is but one of the many natural laws. These cause-and-effect principles operate continuously in our lives. We either comply, or we suffer the consequences.
Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Six): Listening
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughWhen Solomon visits the Temple, he comes away with a sense that too many treat religion far too casually, forgetting that they are coming before God.
Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part One)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughEcclesiastes is full of frustration, bluntness, and even a little hopeless. However, its themes are realistic and necessary for us to grasp.
Eating: How Good It Is! (Part Four)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughJohn 6 has always been a difficult chapter to explain. However, Jesus' teaching is clear. Here is what it means to us.
Holiness (Part 1)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughTo appropriate the name of God means to represent His attributes, character and nature. Our behavior must imitate Christ just as Christ revealed God the Father.
John (Part 12)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughWhat we believe automatically determines what we do; it is impossible to separate faith and works. If Jesus is not our source of belief, our works will suffer.
Money, Control and Sacrifice (2015)
Sermonette by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, cuing in on Ecclesiastes 10:13, explains the context in which the statement "money answers everything" appears. Some people obsess about money, working their fingers to the bone to accumulate more. Money is neutral, but the inordinate desire or love of money has horrific, evil consequences. Money does …
Recognizing Our Obligation
Sermonette by Richard T. RitenbaughHow different would our lives be if God had not called us? God's intervention in our lives improved their quality exponentially, and we must respond in kind.
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Eleven)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, reiterating that, although Ecclesiastes contains no direct prophecies, it does not present Christ as Savior, it contains no "thus saith the Lord" commands, and it makes no mention of Satan, nevertheless it does deals with quality of life issues for those who have been called, emphasizing responsibility …
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh reiterates that the book of Ecclesiastes, a document which provides an overview of the consequences of life's frustrating activities, gives us directions for making it through the labyrinth of life. This treatise prepares us with helpful, practical, and profitable approaches, preparing us for the Kingdom of God. …
Money, Control, and Sacrifice
Sermonette by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, focusing on Solomon's observation that "money is the answer to everything" (Ecclesiastes 10:10), suggests that, though wealth is neutral, the inordinate and obsessive desire for money as a means of control is evil. Equating money with power is an illusion when one factors in the exigencies of …
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, cuing in on Psalm 73:1-9, describing the despair of someone seeing the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer, affirms that it is a delusion that people in the world are leading comfortable lives. Christian living, while not comfortable, has a restorative faith in God. If our focus is on comfort, we cannot …
What's So Bad About Babylon? (2003) (Part 2)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh explores the negative symbolism of wine (as representing intoxication and addiction) in Revelation17 and 18. The entire Babylonian system (highly appealing to carnal human nature) has an enslaving addicting, and inebriating quality, producing a pernicious unfaithfulness and Laodicean temperament. As in Solomon's …
Deuteronomy (Part 2)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh emphasizes that this book was given to our forebears standing on the boundaries of a physical kingdom as it is now given to us standing on the boundaries of our spiritual inheritance encompassing all of creation. As time is closing in on all of us, we need to develop vision (the ability to see in the mind's eye …
