Spiritual Blindness (Part One): The God of This World
'Prophecy Watch' by David C. GrabbeThe true God is consistently and exclusively shown to blind while working out His purposes, so who is the '[G]od of this world' (II Corinthians 4:4)?
Spiritual Blindness: Choosing a Curse
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeGod proclaims a cause-effect relationship between sin and madness, blindness, and confusion of heart. Sin causes blindness, and blindness begets more sin.
Spiritual Blindness (Part Three): Choosing a Curse
'Prophecy Watch' by David C. GrabbePeople choose the curse of spiritual blindness through habitually practicing the evils God commands us to avoid. We all have areas of spiritual blindness.
Spiritual Blindness (Part Two): The God of This Age
'Prophecy Watch' by David C. GrabbeScripture reveals God's ability to open people's eyes to the truth or to blind them to it, but Satan is never shown doing so, only deceiving.
The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Healing the Blind Man from Bethsaida
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsOnly Mark contains the healing of the blind man from Bethsaida, highlighting several important spiritual truths. The miracle's location is part of its unique teaching.
The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Healing a Man Born Blind (Part One)
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsOnly John records Jesus' healing of the man born blind, which shows Christ calling a people for Himself despite the efforts of the Jewish leaders to deter Him.
The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Healing a Man Born Blind (Part Two)
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsThe episode of the healing of the man born blind speaks of the relevance of the Sabbath and the ubiquity of opposition to true Christians.
The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Healing Blind Bartimaeus
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsOne of the last of Jesus' miracles was the healing of blind Bartimaeus. Jesus' compassion for the man's blindness points to His compassion for all the spiritually blind.
The Healing of a Man Born Blind (Part Three)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsWe must accept that there are some things for which we do not know the answer, and not all the things we 'know' are necessarily true.
The Blind See
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe man born blind from birth depicts the hopeless spiritual blindness of most of the earth. Only Jesus can release the world from spiritual blindness.
Are You Blind? (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by Dan ElmoreWe need to cast our most discerning gazes on ourselves and, in all humility, refrain from 'fixing' others, especially when we have similar problems.
Sight to the Blind
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughJesus' mission was to recover both physical and spiritual sight to the blind, liberating them from those false beliefs that had previously imprisoned them.
The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Healing Two Blind Men (Part One)
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsTwo blind men doggedly follow Jesus into a house so that He will restore their sight to them. Here are the lessons we can learn from these two supplicants.
The Healing of a Man Born Blind (Part One)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsIronically, the blind man who could not see physically eventually sees spiritually, but the Pharisees, who could see physically, could not see spiritually.
Spiritual Strongholds (Part Two): Faithful Trust
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsThe disastrous defeat at the city of Ai and the ill-advised treaty with the Gibeonites were both the direct result of not consulting with God.
The Healing of a Man Born Blind (Part Two)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsAll of us have been born spiritually blind and have spent a great deal of our early lives in total darkness, oblivious to our need for salvation.
Forms vs. Spirituality (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughSins committed presumptuously by people of high responsibility (leaders) are judged more rigorously than those sins committed by people in ignorance.
Blinded Minds
Commentary by Richard T. RitenbaughSatan has convinced many mainstream 'Christian' churches that the Giver of Grace cannot also be a Champion of the Law and a Hater of sin.
The Seven Churches (Part Nine): Laodicea
Bible Study by Richard T. RitenbaughLaodiceanism, the prevalent attitude in God's church today, can be overcome if we submit to Christ's judgment rather than our flawed self-evaluation.
Overcoming (Part 1): Self-Deception
Bible Study by StaffGod desires us to overcome our human nature and grow, but we tend to place major hurdles in the way of accomplishing this. Here are impediments to overcoming.
Is Ignorance Truly Bliss?
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeThe '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.
What Does God Really Want? (Part 3)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Good Samaritan parable teaches that unless one practices doing good rather than just knowing good, his faith will be severely compromised.
Who Is the 'God of This World'? (Part Two)
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeAs Moses had to veil his luminous face, so, metaphorically, the God of this age mercifully blinds carnal individual for now because light hurts their eyes.
Being Deceived
Sermon by Clyde FinkleaChrist warned that many would be deceived, though no one ever admits to being deceived. The Bible warns of deceptions from within and without the church.
Caught in a Blizzard?
Sermonette by Bill OnisickWe are being exposed to a spiritual blizzard, bringing darkness and coldness into the entire world. We are admonished to stoke the fire of God's Holy Spirit.
Guarding Against a Laodicean Attitude
Sermonette by Kim MyersWe cannot not allow ourselves to backslide, allowing pressure from the world's culture to draw us away from the faith once delivered to the saints.
Increased With Goods
Sermonette by James BeaubelleThe Laodicean congregation had a penchant toward materialism, which sidetracked them from their primary goal of following Christ.
The Great Unknown
Sermonette by Joseph B. BaityMan's greatest fear is of the unknown. Since there is more unknown than known, it is little wonder that we thirst for knowledge because we fear not knowing.
Communication and Leaving Babylon (Part Three)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughChristians must continue to fight against self-centered and deception long after their calling to deepen and strengthen their relationships with God.
Forgiveness and Reconciliation
CGG Weekly by John W. RitenbaughForgiveness from God is directly tied to our forgiving those who have sinned against us! We must reciprocate God's forgiveness by forgiving others.
Who Is the 'God of This World'? (Part One)
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeTranslators use a lowercase "g" in "god of this age [or, world]" in II Corinthians 4:4, yet it is the true God who blinds; He alone opens and closes eyes.
Repentance: The Genuine Article (Part Four)
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughWhen we look back and realize what we have done, we are led to think deeply about our actions, which can lead us into changing our future actions.
Balaam and the End-Time Church (Part 2)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughBalaam, 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.
Points of Reference
Sermonette by Joseph B. BaityAncient mariners recognized they were off course due to stormy weather, unlike those of us today who may be unaware that we are off course on our journey.
Just What is Mercy?
Sermonette by Clyde FinkleaIt is impossible to become perfect without having mercy or compassion. Jesus' command to become perfect includes showing compassion to our enemies.
Living by Faith: Human Pride
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughOur human nature is pure vanity with a heart that is desperately deceitful and wicked, motivated by self-centeredness, a deadly combination for producing sin.
The Beatitudes, Part Two: Poor in Spirit
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughWhat is it to be poor in spirit? This attribute is foundational to Christian living. Those who are truly poor in spirit are on the road to true spiritual riches.
The Handwriting Is on the Wall (1996): Scattering
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod initiated the scattering of the church for our ultimate good. When the revelation of God was replaced with the wisdom of this world, God intervened.
Editing Our Sins
Sermonette by Richard T. RitenbaughWe are so close to our sins that we cannot see the proverbial forest for the trees. We miss glaring faults in our character because of familiarity.