How Expensive Is Your Religion? (Part Three)
CGG Weekly by Mike FordChristianity is not for the faint of heart. Jesus urges us to count the cost of discipleship. Many of the patriarchs had to make hard choices, as do we.
Rejection Hurts
CGG Weekly by John ReissNo one has felt more rejection than Jesus Christ. He was rejected by those of His hometown, and His own physical brothers rejected Him because they did not believe.
All About Edom (Part One)
'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. RitenbaughThe twin sons of Isaac, Esau and Jacob, are a classic model of sibling rivalry, and their contentious relationship has had a tremendous impact on history.
Benjamin: Son of the Right Hand
Article by StaffWe know a lot about Joseph, but we tend to know precious little about his younger brother Benjamin. Here is what the Bible shows about him.
The Israel of God
Article by Charles WhitakerPaul refers to the church as 'the Israel of God.' Why not 'the Judah of God'? Why did God not inspire Paul to call the church "the Jacob of God"?
The Rape of Dinah
'Ready Answer' by Mike FordAn entire chapter of Genesis is devoted to the sexual violation of Dinah and its consequences. Who bears the responsibility for this grievous crime?
Eating: How Good It Is! (Part Two)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughBy studying eating in the experiences of those in the Bible, we plumb a deep well of instruction from which we can draw vital lessons to help us through life.
Joseph: A Saga of Excellence (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJacob's son Joseph receives the least criticism and the most praise, a sterling record of character and human accomplishment surpassed only by Jesus Christ.
What You Feel vs. What You Believe
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsFeelings and emotions may throw our faith off course. Our moods are mercurial and we must control them with daily prayer and Bible study.
Psalms: Book One (Part One)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Hebrew word used to mark appointed times connotes a pilgrimage. The Hebrew year contained five steps or seasons, corresponding to God's holy times.
Do You Have Enough Oil? (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeWhile the indwelling of God's Spirit certainly produces abundance, it is more accurate to say that oil and the Holy Spirit are often parallel, not equivalent.
Building Relationships
Sermonette by Ryan McClureRyan McClure, reflecting on the oft-repeated Rodney King quotation, "Can we all get along?" asks us how we are doing with our relationships, dealing with people with whom we find it difficult to get along. The Scriptures provide many examples of how difficult relationships were dealt with by humility, deference, and …
Amos 5 and the Feast of Tabernacles
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughHow can we evaluate whether our Feast is 'good' or not? God's criticism of Israel's feasts in Amos 5 teaches what God wants us to learn from His feasts.
God of Our Salvation
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh, suggesting that many people go to their graves with their spiritual problems unresolved, suggests that they carelessly follow the dictates of their own hearts. Even just men fall into sin. Many people have lived their whole lives not aware of their sin, unaware of the law that defines sin. The Great White …
The Providence of God (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, citing the maxim that 'the apple doesn't fall very far from the tree,' suggests that the nation of Israel and the Israel of God, having the same aggresive, controlling, and contentious spirit as their forefather Jacob, must learn to let God provide blessings rather than, through crafty scheming, grabbing them …
Envy: The Most Precious Daughter
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeIt is easy to follow in Satan's footsteps, courting his daughter Envy, reaping the disquiet which accompanies her. Envy comes from pushing God from our thoughts.
Joseph's Extraordinary Example
Sermon by Kim MyersJoseph was an extraordinary type of Jesus Christ. His life and character parallels Christ's in at least 16 ways, which God purposefully foreordained.
We Can Make It!
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, reflecting on the book Final Exit by Derek Humphry, a work exploring the prevalence of suicide and its impact on the survivors, warns us that this is the time to get our ducks in a row, making the most of what we have experienced, establishing our spiritual priorities, and reflecting deeply on why we gave …
Imagining the Garden of Eden (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh, continuing on the topic of the creative imagination, reminds us that this capacity begins at age two, and allows children (of all ages) to transcend their current surroundings, enabling them to put themselves into other situations beyond normal reality. Dr. Jerome Singer suggests that children who use their …
Tithing: First Tithe
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsMany churches understand tithing but do not believe that God commands them for today. However, tithing has always been God's way of financing His work on earth.
How to Survive Exile
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh, addressing our current scattered state as a form of exile, asserts that exile has been a form of punishment God has used from the very beginning, with our original parents through the patriarchs, through the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah, right up to the present time. God exiles to punish for sin, …
The Providence of God (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughEven when we exercise free moral agency, God engineers circumstances and outcomes so that we are virtually forced to make the right decision.
Amos 5 and the Feast of Tabernacles
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIf we go to the Feast with the goal of physically enjoying, we may lose out on both the spiritual and physical benefits. 'Going through the motions' defiles it.
Joseph: A Saga of Excellence (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughEven though Joseph was born into a highly dysfunctional family, he nevertheless had a "high batting average" when it came to making the right moral choices, even when the consequences appeared initially to his own detriment. Joseph stayed the course, doing good even when it became a stumbling block with his associates, …
Maintaining Good Health (Part 5)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIn the Bible, eating can be a symbol of fornication. Like Jacob and Christ, we must learn to curb our appetites, learning to distinguish holy from profane.
The Providence of God (Part Six)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh emphasizes that a spiritual Israelite, following Jacob's example, undergoes a metamorphosis in which his own stubborn, self-centered will is broken so that God's creative work can be completed within him. Abraham, whose very name connotes faithfulness, learned to work through fearful catch-22 dilemmas, walking by …
Prayer and Seeking God
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughRather than having an apathetic relationship toward God, we must ardently, earnestly, and fervently seek God in order to imitate His behavior in our lives.
How God Deals With Conscience (Part Four)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsAt times, God has to ignite our conscience and undermine our self-confidence to get our attention in a similar fashion as he did to Joseph's brothers.
Martha, Martha
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Mark SchindlerMark Schindler, alluding to the Hollywood Movie The Ten Commandments as an illustration , suggests that the repetition of the name of Moses depicts special reverence given to this character. Seven stalwart individuals received this special distinction: Abraham, Abraham (Genesis 22:11) Jacob, Jacob (Genesis 46:2), Moses, Moses …
Maintaining Good Health (Part 6)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh reveals that the reason Jacob succeeded and Esau failed had nothing to do with personality, but Jacob was elected from the womb (Romans 9:7-11). God gave Jacob the edge. Likewise, we can do nothing to gain the favor of God before our calling, but we are empowered by God to carry out a particular part of His plan …
Hebrews (Part 7)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughWith godly hope, we need to envision the successful accomplishment of God's purpose for us, realizing that God has bound that promise with an oath.
How God Deals With Conscience (Part Three)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, continuing the series on the awakening of guilt in Joseph brothers, focuses on a message by Rabbi Daniel Lapin, who proclaimed that Moses never just said, "Let my people go" The second part of this request was "that they can worship God in the desert." Egypt has long served as a metaphor of …
The Witty Side of God's Inspiration
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, focusing on the myriad forms of humor in the Bible, including God's own wry sense of humor and wit. Paradoxically learning to laugh makes us see more seriously. The Bible contains many examples of subtle humor, including situation comedy, intoxication humor, picaresque humor, satiric humor and taunt songs, verbal …
The Providence of God (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe have to exercise faith, realizing the timing will be right for us, enabling us to accept His provisions and decisions for us without fear or anxiety.
