The Fruit of the Spirit: Meekness
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughMeekness is often confused with weakness and considered to be undesirable. But Jesus lists it as a primary virtue of one who will inherit His Kingdom.
The Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughKindness goes hand-in-hand with love. It is an active expression of love toward God and fellow man, produced through the power of God's Spirit.
The Fruit of the Spirit: Patience
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughBiblically, patience is far more than simple endurance or longsuffering. The patience that God has shown man gives us an example of what true, godly patience is.
The Fruit of the Spirit
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughThe Bible frequently uses the symbol of fruit. Here is an in-depth look at what it means to bear fruit, and the work of the Holy Spirit in us.
The Fruit of the Spirit: Joy
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughJoy is more than just happiness. There is a joy that God gives, through the action of His Spirit in us, that far exceeds mere human cheerfulness.
The Fruit of the Spirit: Love
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughLove is the first of the fruit of the Spirit, the one trait of God that exemplifies His character. Here is how the Bible defines what love is and what love does.
The Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughFaithfulness is a hallmark of a true Christian, yet unfaithfulness is prevalent at the end of the age. Here is what the Bible teaches about faithfulness.
The Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughGoodness is a nebulous concept, used to describe everything from a tasty snack to God's sublime character. But God's character defines what goodness is.
The Fruit of the Spirit: Peace
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughThe world has little or no idea what true peace is or how it is achieved. Yet we can produce godly peace even in the midst of turmoil—and we must.
Spiritual Maturity
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Kingdom parables allude to the process of spiritual maturity, depicting a planted and cultivated seed becoming a sprout, eventually bearing fruit.
Spiritual Renewal
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsPaul admonishes the Corinthians to resist contentions, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambition, backbiting, whispering, slander, conceit, and agitation.
Jesus on the Holy Spirit
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughJesus taught about the Holy Spirit's function to carry out God's work, including inspiring one to speak the words of God and to resist the power of Satan.
A True Disciple
Sermonette by Clyde FinkleaClyde Finklea, asking us what identifies a person as a true disciple of Christ, points to the command in John 13:34, commanding that the disciples love one another as Christ loved us—loving to the extent that He would give up His life. God is composed of love, as described in its many facets in Galatians 5:22 and I …
Time for Self-Evaluation
'Ready Answer' by John O. Reid (1930-2016)Prior to the Days of Unleavened Bread, we are told to examine ourselves. How can we do that? Here are a few pointers on doing a thorough, honest once over.
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 …
Are You Worthy of Your Calling?
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, focusing upon the topic of unity, maintains that the church has been charged with the responsibility to bring unity to a hopelessly disunited, fragmented, and chaotic world. In order to maintain this unity, like the Ephesians, we must maintain a solid balance between doctrine and practice, walking worthy of our …
Meekness
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsMeekness is one of the hardest virtues to define. The Bible shows meekness to be strength, as the character of such people as Jesus and Moses shows.
Blessed Are the Meek
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughIn Paul's listings of virtues, meekness always appears near the end, reflecting its difficulty. Meekness is the gentle, quiet spirit of selfless devotion.
Longsuffering
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsLongsuffering, or patience, the fourth fruit of the Spirit, is a much needed virtue in a fast-paced, impatient world.
The Longsuffering of Our Lord Is Salvation
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, citing a startling 700,000 assaults ("intimate partner violence" episodes) in 2001, accounting for 20% of felonious crime, suggests that patience and longsuffering are diminishing commodities in modern Israel, while selfishness and violence sadly are on the increase. We are admonished, as practicing …
As Much as Depends on You
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, observing that despite such inane, politically correct slogans such as "unity through diversity," neither unity nor peace really exists in the world, but conflict has continued to increase. Though we are periodically confronted with conflict, we have a Christian duty to make peace through exercising …
Endeavoring to Keep the Unity
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, anticipating the national observation of Father's Day, maintains that the leadership of a father and a husband has a profound influence upon family, society, and culture- especially regarding unity. Five principles fostering greater unity include: (1)having a true belief in God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the …
Delusions of Perfection
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh introduces his topic of covering sins by reflecting on the illegal trial of Jesus, in which false witnesses and false accusations were trumped up by the presumptuous Jewish religious leaders against the very Son of God. The Pharisees and Sadducees demonstrated hypocrisy, professing righteousness and teaching …
God the Father (Part 3)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins suggests that the purpose of God the Father is to make us Christ-like—abounding in godly agape love. God is able to turn horrendous and gruesome circumstances into ultimate blessings for those who love Him and are called according to his purpose. After our calling, we realize that our experiences are no …
Unity (Part 8): Ephesians 4 (E)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe group that one fellowships with is less important than the understanding that there is one true church, bound by a spiritual, not a physical unity.
Is Speaking in Tongues the Only Sign?
Sermonette by Ted E. BowlingIn Pentecostalism, speaking in 'tongues' is the worshipped sign that God has accepted a person. Yet the miracle of Pentecost was not the speaking gibberish.
Assurance That We Know Him!
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, reflecting on the fate of the double-minded man in James 1:5, admonishes us to strengthen our foundation of faith in our run-up to Passover. We cannot take the Passover while doubting God's faithfulness in delivering us and giving us eternal life. The love of God is perfected in those who exercise faith by …
Self-Control
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsAs a fruit of God's Spirit, self control may be the single hardest to master over the course of a lifetime, yet we need it to do our parts in God's Kingdom.
A Time to Grow
Sermonette by Ryan McClureHorticulture is not so easy as merely planting a seed and watching it grow. Tending and keeping implies continually watering, fertilizing, and cultivating.
Lessons From Roots (Part One)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeFruit is not produced immediately; it is produced only when a plant is both mature and stable enough that mere survival is no longer its top priority.
Caveats About Self-Examination
Sermon by David F. MaasDavid Maas, anticipating the forthcoming Passover, and the stern warning from the apostle Paul that we thoroughly examine ourselves, cautions us to be very careful how we undertake this self-examination. We must realize that (1) taking the Passover in an unworthy manner can result in serious physical or spiritual hazards, (2) …
Hidden Anger (Part One)
CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe'Of the seven deadly sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the ...'
Liberty Through Self-Control
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughOnly by using God's Spirit can we gain the self-discipline, self-mastery, and self-control to put to death the carnal pulls, giving us freedom from sin.
Kindness
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsThe fifth fruit of the Spirit, kindness, reflects God's loving actions toward us. We in turn must learn to bestow kindness on others.
