Our Part in the Sanctification Process (Part Five): Cultivating Patience
Sermon by David F. MaasNumerous scriptures show the bad effects of impatience committed by ancient Israel, while the patriarchs, Jesus Christ, and the Father set examples of true patience.
Like a Growing Seed (Part One)
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Parable of the Growing Seed is unique to the book of Mark, the most basic of the gospels, perhaps due to it being so simple and its point self-evident.
Like a Growing Seed (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughLike its physical counterpart, spiritual growth happens slowly. A newly baptized Christian will not produce the fruit of the spirit as easily as a mature one.
Lessons From Roots (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeIf we are intent on bearing fruit, we can do some things to make sure that we are not inhibiting the process. We find them in one of the fig tree parables.
What Is Real Conversion? (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughSome in Antioch believed the preaching of the persecuted Christians, and they not only agreed with the teaching but also changed or transformed their lives.
Growing to Perfection
Article by Charles WhitakerCharles Whitaker shows that spiritual growth mimics our physical growth to maturity. If we continue in the process, we will "grow into" our potential as God's children.
Perfection...Piece by Piece
'Ready Answer' by Mike FordWhat is perfection? Does God require perfection of us? Mike Ford defines Biblical perfection and shows to what standard God holds us accountable.
Magic Doesn't Work (Part Three)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh, reiterating that in physical and spiritual creation, God does not wave a wand, but does a great deal of work. Likewise, in our repentance, there is a great deal of reciprocal effort between God and us. In the stories of Star Wars, the X-Men, or Harry Potter, the protagonist does not grow in character, but …
God's Creation and Our Works
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLike Joseph, we need to realize that God—not ourselves—is the Creator, engineering events that form us into what He wants us to become.
Holy Days: Unleavened Bread
Bible Study by StaffThe Feast of Unleavened Bread immediately follows the Passover. In it we see how hard it is to overcome and rid our lives of sin.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Nineteen)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe spirit of the law does not do away with the letter of the law; without the letter, there is no spirit because there is no foundation. Examples show God's will.
The Endurance of the Firstfruits (Part One)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeThe seven Sabbaths in the count to Pentecost represent the process of the firstfruits becoming spiritually complete, that is, perfect and blameless.
A Seed of Highest Quality
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsGod calls Israel a seed of highest quality, but she turned into a degenerate vine, bearing bitter fruit, rejecting God and relying on her own resources.
Principled Living (Part Three): Growing in Righteousness
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh, reminiscing about a school science fair project on tree growth rings, draws an analogy to spiritual growth, pondering what our spiritual growth rings look like. Because nature abhors a vacuum, once people rid themselves of sin, they must fill the void with righteous character. God's law'the pure, undefiled …
The Offerings of Leviticus (Part Nine): Conclusion (Part Two)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughThere must be something to prove we are one with Christ and in union with the Father and the Son. That something is the manner in which we conduct our life.
From Rubble to Utopia
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughIn this preview of the Millennium, Richard Ritenbaugh cautions that the Wonderful World Tomorrow is not something that is going to happen because of an instantaneous miracle. God takes His time to produce both physical and spiritual changes. Because of the massive destruction at the close of the age, the survivors under God's …
Christ Our Standard
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughKnowledge of God's truth is useless unless it is acted on. God will only accept children who follow Christ's example and conduct their lives by His high standards.
Five Teachings of Grace
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughProtestantism unthinkingly presents grace as "free." However, Scripture shows that God expects a great deal of effort from us once we receive it—it is costly.
Faith (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughAt the time of the end, sin will be so pervasive and so compelling that our only resource for enduring its influence will be our relationship with God.
Love's Greatest Challenges
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLaziness and fear are the greatest challenges to love. When Protestant theologians disparage "works," connecting them to salvation rather than sanctification and growth, they encourage spiritual laziness. If we are lazy, we might still be saved, but we will have built nothing to fulfill God's purpose in us. If we …
Abraham (Part 9)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughGod helps us to overcome our problems in an unraveling process, sometimes taking us back through the consequences of the bad habits we have accumulated.
