The Meaning of the Offering
Sermonette by John W. RitenbaughThe New Covenant sacrifices are far more demanding than the Old Covenant sacrifices. But there are poignant lessons to be learned from animal sacrifices.
An Acceptable Sacrifice
Sermonette by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, focusing on the theme, "An acceptable sacrifice," reflects upon the relative acceptability of the offerings of Cain and Abel. Perhaps God sent fire to totally consume Abel's offering, indicating acceptance of his offering. Interestingly, Abel was totally consumed, becoming the first martyr for faith. …
Quality Holy Day Offerings
Article by StaffWe tend to forget how different holy days and their offerings were under the Old Covenant as compared to the New. However, the important part of giving offerings remains the same!
Offerings and Sacrificing
Sermonette by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, reflecting that we have been marking nearly 6,000 years since Abel's offering was accepted and Cain's offering was rejected by God, an event revealing the carnal proclivity for jealousy leading to the first murder, reminds us that the Bible clearly shows that the requirement for the offering was in-force at the …
An Acceptable Gift
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeWhat God is most interested in is the heart behind the offering, and what is in the heart will be seen in what we are willing to do for the sake of a brother.
The Offerings of Leviticus (Part Four): The Peace Offering
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughThe peace (or thank) offering was the most commonly given in ancient Israel. It pictures God, the priest, and the offerer in satisfying fellowship.
The Offerings of Leviticus (Part Five): The Peace Offering, Sacrifice, and Love
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughThe peace offering teaches many things, but one of its main symbols is fellowship. Our communion with the Father and the Son obligates us to pursue peace.
Pentecost, Consistency, and Honesty
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughHow does one count to Pentecost when Passover falls on a weekly Sabbath? If we are consistent and honest with the Scriptures, the solution is clear.
Pentecost Revisited (Part Two): Joshua 5
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughCorrectly counting to Pentecost in years in which Passover falls on a weekly Sabbath is more than a matter of consistency. John Ritenbaugh explains that a far greater, more spiritual—and unfortunately, often overlooked—factor in the wavesheaf offering concerns a subject God considers highly important: holiness.
Wavesheaf Requirements and Joshua 5
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughFocusing upon a deceitful proclivity of human nature to find a loose brick to nullify a doctrine, John Ritenbaugh rebuts red herring arguments that the events of Joshua 5 provide an exception to the rule or pattern established in Leviticus 23:11. The entire contents of Leviticus 23 provides a chronological listing of the …
Cain's Assumption (Part One)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeThe Bible does not explicitly reveal what prompted Cain's actions, but there is a possibility that is worth considering as to why he acted as he did.
Holy for the Lord
Sermonette by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, reflecting on the foulest smelling item on the earth, namely the Titan Arum flower, emitting the odor of rotting flesh, contrasts it with the wonderful aromas recorded in scripture, sweet aromas from burnt offerings, fragrant incense, symbolic of prayers. If the Israelites were to use this incense for profane or …
Do Little Things Not Count?
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh warns that seemingly insignificant things to man are quite big things to God. Some well-meaning individuals, blinded by their pride, vanity, and clever sophistry, consider certain areas of the Bible to have little or no importance. They (1) fail to grasp the spiritual intent of the scriptures and (2) fail to …
Pentecost, Consistency, and Honesty
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughBecause Pentecost does not have a specific date, God commands us to count from the day after the weekly Sabbath falling within the Days of Unleavened Bread.
Sanctification and Holiness (Part 5)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod gives conditions for acceptable sacrifices and offerings, differentiating the holy and authentic from the defiled, unclean and strange.
Abel Glorified God!
Sermonette by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, analyzing the differences between the offerings of Cain and Abel, emphasizes that failure to obey the command specifically requiring a livestock offering rather than produce from already-cursed ground (Genesis 3:17) disqualified Cain's offering. The observation that Cain's countenance fell suggests that he had …
Our God-Given Need to Sacrifice
Sermonette by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins asserts that all human beings have a built-in, programmed need to sacrifice provided by Almighty God. Environmentalist extremists, abusing this wired-in need, feel smug satisfaction by sacrificing comfort and safety replacing SUV's and large vehicles with unsafe and uncomfortable, undersized and underpowered …
First Things First (Part One): Access to God
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeThe lessons of Abel, Enoch, and Noah in Hebrews 11 are sequential. The lesson of Abel's faith must be understood before Enoch's example can be followed.
The Wavesheaf and the Selfsame Day
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe wavesheaf offering is reckoned from the weekly Sabbath within the Days of Unleavened Bread. It had specific requirements that were not met in Joshua 5.
Sanctification and Holiness (Part 4)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh reiterates that only God, not man, can determine whether something or someone is holy or authentic as opposed to profane and strange. God will accept only what He has set apart or designated as holy or authentic, such as the sacred fire in Numbers 16 (symbolizing God's cleansing and purifying power) as well as …
The Presence of the Eternal
Sermonette by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, acknowledging that, after Adam and Eve's sin, being in God's presence has been problematic for all of their offspring, points out that the intercessory prayer of Moses led to the promise of God to accompany His people and dwell among His people, sanctifying them by His glory. When God shows mercy, it is because …
Grace, Faith, and Love
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh observes that although each of God's festivals depicts increasingly larger numbers of people being drawn to God, the counter pulls emanating from sinful carnal human nature war against the prompts of God's Holy Spirit, producing continual conflict. Choosing between these two opposite poles is something we have to …
