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playlist Go to the Self Centeredness (topic) playlist

Overcoming (Part 7): Selfishness

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

Perhaps the main impediment to overcoming is our innate selfishness. Our goal is to bear the character of our God, whose primary characteristic outgoing concern.


Overcoming (Part 10): Self-Pity

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

We all have low days, but when our despondency turns to self-pity, we have a problem. 'Woe is me' can hamper our growth because it is self-centeredness.


Overcoming (Part 3): Self-Righteousness

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

On the heels of self-deception and self-justification often comes self-righteousness. This occurs when we set our own standards rather than God's.


The Heart's Self-Absorption

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

II Timothy 3:1-5 contains 19 characteristics of carnality. The common denominator is self-absorption and pride, placing the self above others.


Our Part in the Sanctification Process (Part Ten): Cultivating the Fruit of Self Control

Sermon by David F. Maas

It is impossible to cultivate self-control unless one uses God's Spirit to reprogram the desires of the heart from self-centeredness to submission to God.


Israel, Selfies, and Idolatry

Sermonette by Mike Ford

The religious hobbyist Micah practiced his own self-devised hybrid of religion, amalgamating some orthodox truth with abundant noxious, pagan admixtures.


On Self-Righteousness

CGG Weekly by John W. Ritenbaugh

Self-righteousness lies at the root of many other sins. Because we are self-centered, self-righteousness will follow as surely as water runs downhill.


Celebrating Birthdays

Article by Martin G. Collins

Are birthday celebrations as harmless as they seem? How did the practice start? Here is a spiritual principle concerning birthdays that many do not consider.


Take the Red Pill

Sermonette by Bill Onisick

If we were to consciously monitor our thoughts, we would be appalled about the percentage of our day that we are exclusively wrapped up in ourselves.


Whatsoever Your Heart Desires

Sermonette by Mark Schindler

We must not construe the term, "whatever our heart desires," as a pass to sin, but we should use every occasion to grow in thinking and acting like God.


Humility

Sermonette by James Beaubelle

Humility is not an obsequious act we turn on and off at will, but a sober reflection of our true relationship to God and our spiritual siblings.


It's Not About You

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Baby Boomer generation has taken on characteristics of narcissism, self-absorption, and excessive self-centeredness, leading to rampant materialism.


Worship

Sermonette by James Beaubelle

Worship is required for all events in our lives, including the trials that build character within us. Anything that displaces God must be rooted out.


What Makes Generation "Me" Tick?

Commentary by David F. Maas

Over the past six decades (from the Boomer Generation to the Millennial generation), individuals have grown more narcissistic, entitled and miserable.


Are These Your Feasts? (Part One)

CGG Weekly by Mark Schindler

This earth is a prison, and Satan is its jailer. The inmates—mankind—do not realize that there is no free will! A prison takes away freedom.


Human Will

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God's children should never emulate the self-willed attitude Frank Sinatra's song "My Way" glorifies. Human nature and godly character are polar opposites.


Is Ignorance Truly Bliss?

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

The 'people of the lie' do not believe they have any major defects and, consequently, do not have any need to examine themselves, let alone change.


New Covenant Priesthood (Part Six)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

We must have both perseverance and humility in prayer to keep our vision sharp and clear. Without humility, the doorway to acceptance by God is closed.


Pride, Humility, and the Day of Atonement

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

The Day of Atonement, when God commands us to afflict our souls, is a day of self-evaluation and repentance to seek unity with Him and our brethren.


The Danger of Trusting in Oneself

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Those wise in their own eyes, including philosophers, politicians, educators, and religious leaders, have failed in their quest to make the world better.


The March Toward Globalism (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

As parents, we can protect our children from death and destruction if we discourage the self-absorptive pulls through correction and discipline.


Balaam and the End-Time Church (Part 2)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Balaam, motivated by self-interest, believing that the ends justify the means, willing to do anything to get his way, is spiritually inferior to a donkey.


What Does God Really Want? (Part 3)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Good Samaritan parable teaches that unless one practices doing good rather than just knowing good, his faith will be severely compromised.


Themes of Ruth (Part Four): Kindness and Faith

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Both Ruth and Naomi demonstrated covenant loyalty in this marriages long after the death of their spouses. Ruth faithfully continued to serve her mother-in-law.


Psalms: Book Four: All His Benefits

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

All that we have has come from others, especially God. The Day of Atonement points out how needy and dependent on God we are; fasting shows our frailty.


Authority: Why So Many Resent It

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Pride, the father of all sins, is the source of self-exaltation, self-justification and the despising of authority. It cloaks rebellion in a deceptive appeal.


Are These the Last Days? (Part 2)

'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

According to the book, 13th Gen: Abort, Retry, Ignore, Fail?, those born between 1961-1981 belongs to the 13th Generation, the 13th since America's Founding Fathers.


Pride, Contention, and Unity

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

The sin of pride underlies many of our other sins, and it is often the reason for the contentions we get into as brethren.


WHAT?! Me Submit to Someone Else?

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Submitting is repugnant to the carnal mind. The church is no place for uncompromising people who demand their own way.


How Human Nature Came to Be

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Why is human nature so corrupt? Why is it so widespread? How did it come to be? Did God create it this way?


Marriage and the Bride of Christ (Part Eleven)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Our concept of marriage must be positive and more mature, modeled after Christ's attentiveness toward the Church, as opposed to the world's distorted concept.


Is the Christian Required To Do Works? (Part Two)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Just as a dead person does no works, so a faith that does not include works is also dead. A person in whom living, saving faith exists will produce works.


New Covenant Priesthood (Part Seven)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Pride is the basis of resisting God, while humility is the key to a relationship with Him. We recognize it in others but we seldom see it in ourselves.


Are You Sharp-Tongued? (Part Two)

'Ready Answer' by Staff

James' exhortation about the use of the tongue seems to stop with James 3:12. However, the rest of the chapter provides more wisdom on controlling our speech.


Without Natural Affection

Sermonette by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Because of lawlessness, love has gone stone-cold. Sin and lawlessness begets more sin and lawlessness, and natural affection and love disappear.


Thankfulness (1986)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

We need to give thanks for everything, blessings and trials. Christianity ought to be an exhilarating experience, but it depends on our outlook on life.


What Do You Fear? (Part Three)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

If we fear things other than God, we stunt our spiritual growth. We stop overcoming because any non-godly fear will involve self-centeredness, the opposite of God.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The paradox of Ecclesiastes 7 shows an unrighteous man flourishing and a righteous man suffering. The solution to this conundrum is found in Psalm 73.


Godly Fear is Humble Reverence

Sermonette by Ted E. Bowling

The fear and trembling before God is more like reverence and awe instead of abject terror. It leads us to total dependence upon God with a desire to repudiate sin.


Parable of the Great Supper

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

In the Parable of the Great Supper, Jesus exposes and corrects the ignorance of those who, in their pride, misjudge their true moral condition.


Are You Living An Illusion?

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Religious narcissists, who identify with the servant who received ten talents, cherry-pick Scripture to enhance their self-love and support their views.


New Covenant Priesthood (Part Nine)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Pride elevates one above God, denigrating any dependence upon God, replacing it with self-idolatry. We ought to boast or glory in the Lord instead of ourselves.