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Our 'Mental' Deathbed
Sermonette by Bill OnisickMoses asks God to teach us to number our days, realizing that our physical lives are finite, requiring a sense of urgency to get rid of our sins.
Of Death
Sermon by James BeaubelleDeath emerges as an unavoidable and universal reality woven throughout Scripture, appearing in 46 of the 66 biblical books and referenced hundreds of times through the words death, dead, die, and kill. From Genesis 2:16-17, where God warned Adam that eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil would bring physical death, to Revelation 21:8, which describes the second, spiritual death in the lake of fire, death stands as a constant theme running through the human experience. This certainty contradicts a popular but false belief, reminiscent of Satan's lie to Eve in Genesis 3:4, that death is merely a transformation into cosmic energy rather than a real and final event for those who reject God. Solomon's words in Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 establish that a time to be born and a time to die are inseparably linked; mankind possesses little control over either boundary of life, though foolishness or wickedness, as noted in Ecclesiastes 7:17, can hasten one's death. Yet nothing occurs outside God's sovereign will—no one dies unless God allows it, particularly those hidden in Christ. Genesis 3:19 and 23 confirm that physical death is the consequence of sin, returning man to the dust from which he came, while Ecclesiastes 12:7 affirms that the spirit returns to God, who is fully aware of its arrival. Christ's teaching in Matthew 10:29-31 and Luke 12:6-7 reinforces this certainty of divine oversight: not even a sparrow falls apart from the Father's will, and believers, being of greater value, need not fear those who can only kill the body. Hebrews 9:27 states plainly that it is appointed for all men to die once, followed by judgment, confirming death's inevitability as a fixed point in human existence. Yet this certainty is reframed through Christ's victory over death, as declared in Revelation 1:18, where He holds the keys of Hades and Death, symbolizing His governmental authority to judge concerning both. Hebrews 2:14-15 explains that Christ shared in flesh and blood so that through death He might destroy the one holding death's power—the devil—and free those enslaved by the fear of death throughout their lives. John 11:25-26 further reveals that though physical death is certain for all, those who believe in Christ shall never truly die, for He is the resurrection and the life. Thus, while death's certainty is affirmed as an appointed and universal reality tied to sin's penalty, it is not portrayed as final annihilation for the faithful. Rather, it is depicted as a doorway or a rest preceding the fulfillment of God's purpose, a change rather than an ending. Job 14:13-15 captures this hope, anticipating a set time when God will remember him and call him forth from the grave. The certainty of death, therefore, is inseparably bound to the certainty of God's sovereign power to raise the dead, ensuring that death, though sure, is not the last word for those found in Christ.
Ode to Sleep
Sermonette by Jarod RitenbaughRest is an essential element for mankind. It is also a metaphor for God's short- and long-term message of His Kingdom.
Deadlines
'Ready Answer' by Joseph B. BaityEvery human being possesses an innate biological clock and congenital deadline that dictates the span of physical life, a fact confirmed by both scientific observation and Scripture, which declares that God knows the days appointed for each person. This fixed endpoint means that the moment of death marks the irrevocable completion of judgment, as the test ends, the die is cast, and the individual either has worked out salvation or has failed. Because the precise timing remains hidden, believers are compelled to focus on present decisions and conduct rather than on predicting or manipulating the future, fostering a heart of wisdom that prioritizes holiness, repentance, and the resolution of spiritual issues while time remains. The certainty of this deadline underscores the urgency of aligning daily priorities with God's will, yet it also warns against extremes of anxiety over an unknown date or complacency arising from the illusion of ample time. God provides ongoing guidance through interventions, correction, and the assurance of His love to keep His people moving steadily toward righteous character, granting peace that prevents the heart from being troubled by the certainty of death while maintaining the motivation to live faithfully until that moment arrives.
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Thirty-Four): Ecclesiastes 9:2-12
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughAlthough some try to make their lives easier by compromising, Solomon warns that all evil leads to death, and that doing evil in any circumstance is insane.
Ecclesiastes: What Is It All About? (Part Three)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughTime must not be wasted walking into blind alleys and labyrinths, but must be spent walking the paths God has set before us, developing character through our choices.
Ecclesiastes (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughTime and events are in the hands of God; He knows when to relieve the pressure and when to bring on more. Looking above the sun teaches us about the seasons.
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Thirty-Three): Ecclesiastes 8:10-9:1
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughFor the called, enjoying life's pleasures should not be the top priority, but rather seeking first the kingdom of God, trusting that physical things will be added.
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Thirty-Eight): Ecclesiastes 11:1-8
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughSolomon counsels us to exercise diligence, work hard, plan for disruptions, obstacles, and roadblocks, spreading risk to work within this futile world.
Ecclesiastes (Part Four; A)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod is sovereign over time; nothing happens without His superintending. Birth and death are divine events which God alone controls.
Resuming Ecclesiastes (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe only kind of pleasure that fulfills comes from applying God's Holy Spirit in serving others. We must seek those permanent things which are from above.
The Unknown Deadline
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeWe do not know how long the project (our sanctification process) will take. Each day is critical in doing our part to be of the same mind as God.
Back to Life (Part One)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsSickness and hardship should not erode our faith in God's ultimately favorable purpose for us. A current trial may serve as a witness for the good of others.
The Purposes of Aging
Sermon/Bible Study by Richard T. RitenbaughModern society is obsessed with youth and staying young, but aging is a natural process God intended as part of life. Aging is a process for gaining wisdom.
Was Enoch Translated to Heaven (Hebrews 11:5)?
Bible Questions & AnswersEnoch was transferred or conveyed from one place on earth to another to escape violence against him. In this other earthly place, he died like all men.