Playlist:

playlist Go to the Distraction (topic) playlist

Age of Distraction

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

A distraction is any event that breaks our focus or attention. Satan's chief stock in trade is the distraction, creating confusion and consternation for all.


One Answer to Distractions

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Distractions and interruptions caused by phone, e-mail, computers, or texting are detrimental to productivity and to the operating a business at a profit.


Always on Call

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Must I have a cell phone? Do I really need the extra expense? Do I have to relate information right now? Can I not wait until I tell the person directly?


Focus Is The Key

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

To counteract interruptions, we must rid ourselves of vague goal setting, replacing it with a deadline, continually reminding us that time is finite.


Time Management

Sermonette by Clyde Finklea

A time management seminar teaches that unless we put large rocks (priorities) in a container first, the container will inevitably fill up with trivia.


Simplify Your Life!

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

We waste a lot of time on foolish pursuits, procrastination, and distractions. Getting control of our time is foundational for seeking God's Kingdom.


Lest We Forget (2011)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The modern Israelitish nations have difficulty remembering God, His providence, and His mercy. Ingratitude has been one of the worst traits of our culture.


Weeds!

Article by Mike Ford

We must weed out detrimental habits that choke our lives. If we want to produce quality fruit, we must weed our garden.


A Heavenly Homeland (Part Three)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

During such times of turmoil, we need to remind ourselves that our hope and confidence were never in the capabilities of man in the first place.


The Perils of Double-Mindedness (Part One)

CGG Weekly by David F. Maas

God makes it abundantly clear that double-mindedness or split-allegiances place our spiritual growth and development—and ultimately our salvation—in peril.


Don't Lose Your Focus!

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Paul urged that we get our focus more balanced, emphasizing love over prophetic correctness, not remaining indifferent to what Christ deemed important.


Listening

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Biblical listening is not just hearing, but active understanding and responding, leading to changed behavior. Not hearing is tantamount to rebellion.


Are You Worthy to Escape?

'Prophecy Watch' by Staff

Luke 21:36 is a memory scripture, but do we apply it too narrowly? In reality, we can apply it generally anytime we face trials and crises in our lives.


Make Sure NOW of Your Focus

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Demas became distracted by pulls of the world, which may have started by small incremental seemingly innocent thoughts, but scuttled his conversion.


Make Sure of Your Focus!

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Distractions produce a movement toward randomness and confusion, seriously endangering one's calling. We must sharpen our focus on God and His purpose.


A Feast Message From Hebrews

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Bible shows a clear pattern of how people leave the faith: looking back, drawing back, looking elsewhere, and then going backward and refusing to hear.


Parables of Matthew 13 (Part Two): The Parable of the Sower

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

In the first parable of the sower, the quality of the various soils upon which the seed of the gospel falls determines whether or not there is growth.


Don't Be Indifferent (1995)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

We cannot allow ourselves to become surfeited with the world's distractions, being lulled off to sleep as the foolish virgins, wasting our precious time.


Indistractable

Commentary by Bill Onisick

Social media, text messages, e-mails, websites and blogs are competing for our time, eroding our attention spans and exhausting our ability to concentrate.


Don't Be Indifferent

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The frightful Trumpet Plagues are coming on the world because of the breaking of covenants on the part of people who should have known better.


Hebrews, Love, and the Ephesian Church

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Like the Ephesians, the weary veterans in Hebrews were becoming apathetic through outside pressures, losing their former zeal and devotion to Christ.


The Christian and the World (Part Eight)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Having anxiety, foreboding and fretting about food, clothing, and shelter, or being distressed about the future, demonstrates a gross lack of faith.


Hebrews 12 and 13: Advice for the End Time

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

We must lay aside every weight, accept God's chastening, receive encouragement from those who have gone before, and get back into the spiritual race.


Friends

Sermonette by Craig Sablich

God's people should not waste their time on entertainments dedicated to spreading Satan's lies, but rather turn their attention to pure and wholesome things.


A Dull and Compliant People

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Those in power have learned to keep the people ignorant, fat, and happy, and as such, they will not—cannot—give the authorities any trouble.


Keeping Our Focus Through Stormy Seas

Sermonette by Ted E. Bowling

Distractions of any type may cause us to shift our attention from our Creator, as Jesus' disciples did on that stormy night in the Sea of Galilee.


The Grand Secret!

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

God reveals a grand secret through David: namely, that spiritual growth will come to people who set the Lord before oneself continuously.


Ping

Sermonette by Ted E. Bowling

God has given to us spiritual sonar to help us to navigate in uncharted venues. As we pray, study, and meditate, we develop our spiritual sonar.


Don't Be Indifferent (2010)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Labor-saving technology seems to have had the effect of separating us from each other and making us indifferent to things that should be important to us.


Faith and the Christian Fight (Part Ten)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Like with the heroes of faith, our testing will be commensurate with the job God has prepared for us. We must make our relationship with God our top priority.


Does Doctrine Really Matter? (Part Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Even with Christ's sacrifice, God does not owe us salvation. We are called to walk, actively putting to death our carnal natures, resisting the complacency.


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.


Hebrews: A Message for Today

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The book of Hebrews provides reasons to recapture flagging zeal, focusing on the reason for our hope and faith, establishing Christ's credentials.


Make Sure of Your Focus (1998)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Our focus should be to seek God's kingdom, reciprocating God's love, committing ourselves to a life of service, fulfilling His purpose without complaining.


Our Spiritual Reality

Sermonette by Bill Onisick

Neither virtual reality nor spiritual reality can be seen with the naked eye—the first requires equipment, and the second requires eyes of faith.


Life in Sodom

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Sodomites were industrious people, but they cared nothing for God, mirroring the worst aspects of modern Israel. We need to make sure that we live soberly.


Keeping Love Alive (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Works demonstrate our faith, our response to God's calling and His freely given grace. Reciprocity is always a part of our relationship with God.


The Flood Is Upon Us!

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Revelation 12 pictures a flood proceeding from the mouth of the dragon, sweeping many away in a torrent of information that drowns out the truth.


Focus on the First

Sermonette by Joseph B. Baity

We need to be less concerned about world events and more concerned about our relationship with God. The more serious conflict is the one within our heads.


Focusing on God's Thoughts

Sermonette by Craig Sablich

We have the responsibility to hear God's still, small voice and to act upon His thoughts, thereby shunning the deceitful input constantly coming from Satan.


Put God First

CGG Weekly by John Reiss

It is easy to be distracted by things other than prayer, Bible study, and our relationship with God. He rarely zaps us to remind us to study and pray.


Hebrews (Part Ten): Chapters 1 and 2

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God created angels as ministering spirits to take care of the heirs of salvation. The Bible is filled with examples of angels rescuing God's people from harm.


Don't Meddle and Always Be Ready to Answer

Sermon by Mark Schindler

Satan seeks to distract God's people by enticing them to meddle in governmental matters, thereby endangering their relationship with God.


Matthew 24:34: 'This Generation'

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Preterists hang their entire philosophy on the interpretation (or misinterpretation) of 'this generation' in Matthew 24:34. Here is what it means.


Brave New Dystopia

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Both Aldous Huxley and George Orwell predicted a transition from representative government into totalitarian regime, monitored by Big Brother.


Knowing Christ (Part 4)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Sanctification is the longest, most difficult, and most grueling part of the conversion process—a time when suffering and sacrifice are demanded of us.