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.
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.
Always on Call
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughMust 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?
Time Management
Sermonette by Clyde FinkleaA 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. RitenbaughWe 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.
A Heavenly Homeland (Part Three)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeDuring 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. MaasGod makes it abundantly clear that double-mindedness or split-allegiances place our spiritual growth and development—and ultimately our salvation—in peril.
Make Sure of Your Focus!
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughDistractions produce a movement toward randomness and confusion, seriously endangering one's calling. We must sharpen our focus on God and His purpose.
Indistractable
Commentary by Bill OnisickSocial 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 Lose Your Focus!
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPaul 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. RitenbaughBiblical 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 StaffLuke 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.
Never Saw it Coming
Sermonette by Joseph B. BaityThievery, both literal and metaphorical, is commonplace, but because of normalcy bias, we underestimate threat warnings, thinking that nothing will get in our way.
Make Sure NOW of Your Focus
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughDemas became distracted by pulls of the world, which may have started by small incremental seemingly innocent thoughts, but scuttled his conversion.
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.
A Feast Message From Hebrews
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe 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.
Weeds!
Article by Mike FordWe must weed out detrimental habits that choke our lives. If we want to produce quality fruit, we must weed our garden.
Hebrews 12 and 13: Advice for the End Time
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWe must lay aside every weight, accept God's chastening, receive encouragement from those who have gone before, and get back into the spiritual race.
Strategies for Interfacing with Babylon Without Becoming Assimilated (Part Three)
Sermon by David F. MaasThe current stormy cultural headwinds consist of noise, hurry, and party spirit. We must replace the gentile style of leadership and elevating leaders.
A Dull and Compliant People
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughThose in power have learned to keep the people ignorant, fat, and happy, and as such, they will not—cannot—give the authorities any trouble.
The Christian and the World (Part Eight)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughHaving anxiety, foreboding and fretting about food, clothing, and shelter, or being distressed about the future, demonstrates a gross lack of faith.
Don't Be Indifferent (1995)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe cannot allow ourselves to become surfeited with the world's distractions, being lulled off to sleep as the foolish virgins, wasting our precious time.
Friends
Sermonette by Craig SablichGod'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.
Keeping Our Focus Through Stormy Seas
Sermonette by Ted E. BowlingDistractions 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.
Ping
Sermonette by Ted E. BowlingGod 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.
Hebrews, Love, and the Ephesian Church
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLike the Ephesians, the weary veterans in Hebrews were becoming apathetic through outside pressures, losing their former zeal and devotion to Christ.
Does Doctrine Really Matter? (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughEven 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.
Hebrews: A Message for Today
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe book of Hebrews provides reasons to recapture flagging zeal, focusing on the reason for our hope and faith, establishing Christ's credentials.
Our Spiritual Reality
Sermonette by Bill OnisickNeither virtual reality nor spiritual reality can be seen with the naked eye—the first requires equipment, and the second requires eyes of faith.
Faith and the Christian Fight (Part Ten)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLike 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.
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.
Make Sure of Your Focus (1998)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughOur focus should be to seek God's kingdom, reciprocating God's love, committing ourselves to a life of service, fulfilling His purpose without complaining.
Don't Meddle and Always Be Ready to Answer
Sermon by Mark SchindlerSatan seeks to distract God's people by enticing them to meddle in governmental matters, thereby endangering their relationship with God.
Life in Sodom
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughSodomites 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.
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.
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.
Keeping Love Alive (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWorks demonstrate our faith, our response to God's calling and His freely given grace. Reciprocity is always a part of our relationship with God.
Knowing Christ (Part 4)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughSanctification is the longest, most difficult, and most grueling part of the conversion process—a time when suffering and sacrifice are demanded of us.
Focus on the First
Sermonette by Joseph B. BaityWe 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 SablichWe 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.
Hebrews (Part Eleven): A Simple Recap
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Most of the attrition from the truth stems from losing interest. Drifting away is rarely intentional, but the result of choosing to live carnally.
Put God First
CGG Weekly by John ReissIt 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.
Matthew 24:34: 'This Generation'
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughPreterists hang their entire philosophy on the interpretation (or misinterpretation) of 'this generation' in Matthew 24:34. Here is what it means.