Authority and Government
Sermon by John O. Reid (1930-2016)Too many feel that they are above the law, but paradoxically, laws proliferate when corruption prevails. We must be subject to all law, God's and man's.
Self-Government (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIf we govern ourselves, God will take care of us. Government of any kind will not work unless people govern their own nature. Self-control enables us to show love.
Government (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh asserts that only those who are governable will ever be allowed to govern. No government (not even God's government) will work without each individual submitting in his area of responsibility. Our elder brother, Jesus Christ, qualified to rule because of his feeling of responsibility (1) to God, in submitting to …
Government (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh asserts that the smallest unit of government is the individual; God is dealing with each of us on this most basic of all levels of government. It is under the New Covenant that individuals are immersed or installed into His church by the Spirit of God, given only to those who willingly consent to obey Him. In …
Government (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh teaches that our spiritual transformation (conversion) gives us the capacity to see Christ and other people, the self, institutions (such as churches or governments) in their true light. Things we formerly deemed important (money, pleasure, and power) become less important and other things (love, duty, and …
Self-Government: Overcoming
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, reflecting on the recent demise of our prior fellowship, suggests that many of us have been guilty of making an idol of the church, letting it stand between God and ourselves. Our obligation is to follow the life-saving message (a message given to Herbert W. Armstrong during his tenure as God's apostle), …
Faith, Government, and the Calendar (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh reiterates that the calculated Hebrew calendar reflects God's faithfulness in providing His Spiritual offspring a reliable calendar. To concoct one's own calendar with errant human reason and assumptions equates with the presumptuous way of Cain. Some of the bedrock American values such as competition and …
Honor the King
Commentary by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh, reflecting upon his experience of viewing President Trump's motorcade, analyzes Peter's comment in I Peter 2:17: Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God and honor the king. If we are in harmony with the ideals and policies of the leader, we find it easy to follow Peter's admonition. Conversely, we …
The Promise in the Fifth Commandment (Part Two)
'Ready Answer' by David F. MaasAs our society continues to crumble around us, most analysts of the situation point the finger of blame at the destruction of the family. When the fifth commandment is neglected, David Maas insists, respect for leadership and authority erodes, lowering quality of life, and ultimately, length of life too.
Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Fifteen): Deference
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughSolomon makes the subject of deference a major part of Ecclesiastes 8. Christians must always strive to see God behind those in power over us.
Submitting (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughSeeking our will at the expense of the group makes conflict inevitable. Society work only when everyone submits to one another in the fear of Christ.
Socialism is Mob Rule
Commentary by John W. RitenbaughSocialism is a denial of law, resulting in the masses to plundering the productive. When agitators convince people of their victimhood, they unleash mob rule.
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Eight)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, reiterating the warning of the apostle Paul that evil company corrupts good habits, warns us that the desire to sin is highly contagious and is a deadly, communicable disease. Because the world we inhabit swims in sin, we have the obligation to become a thinking people, voluntarily choosing God's purpose for …
Should a Christian Go To War? (Part 1)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsConscientious objection to military action requires exercising mature faith, involving submission, loyalty, dedication, and conscientious obedience to God's Law.
A Matter of Honor
'Ready Answer' by StaffThe Bible has a great deal to say about honor and whom we should honor. Here are some difficult but necessary lesson in honor.
Childrearing (Part 2)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh[Audio Note: Quality improves at 1:20] John Ritenbaugh warns that when an aberrant cultural change of any kind is introduced into society, it soon becomes accepted. Many parents of the 1980's considered children hindrances to their self-fulfillment, turning the responsibility for their education over to government or some other …
