Purifying the Heart
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughJesus advises a repentant Christian to attack sexual sin at its starting point, making it less about sinful acts than about an immoral way of thinking.
The Offerings of Leviticus (Part Seven): The Sin and Trespass Offerings
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughSin and human nature affect everyone in society—from king to commoner—but God has covered sin from every angle in the sacrifice of His Son, fulfilling Leviticus 4-5.
Obeying From the Heart
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, reflecting on the against all odds accomplishment of "Iron" Will Stoneman, an athlete who was said to have "heart" in his bold endeavors, asserts that we have to develop "heart" or boldness of personality if we are to accomplish our godly objectives. We are continually besieged by …
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Six)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughTo keep us secure from the temptations of the world, we must embrace our metaphorical sister, Wisdom, keeping us focused on our relationship with God.
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Eighteen)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe accept most of our opinions, prejudices, and beliefs unconsciously. We must scrutinize our own beliefs through the principles of God's Holy Scriptures.
Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Eight): Death
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughEcclesiastes 7:1-4 highlight the Bible's attitude toward death, particularly its insistence that we allow the reality of death to change our approach to life.
Keep Your Heart With All Diligence!
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsChrist does not remove His people's trials, but He provides help for those going through them, using the cleansing power of the trial to heal their minds.
In the Wake of an Unnatural Disaster (Part Three)
Commentary by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, reiterating that some successful wars have been fought without weaponry, affirms that the most successful battles have been won by words, with the adversary (the prince of the power of the air) convincingly and deceptively persuading the enemy to surrender without a struggle. Satan has been so overwhelmingly …
Where Is Your Heart?
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughWhat is truly important to us? What do we really need versus what do we merely want? Where are our hearts?
Evil Desires
Sermonette by Clyde FinkleaAll the medieval 'seven deadly sins' could be categorized as a facet of lust. God designed us to have proper desires, just as His desires are always proper.
Our Hidden Enemy
CGG Weekly by John O. Reid (1930-2016)One of our greatest enemies lurks within us, poised to bring disaster upon us if we allow it to take control. This devious enemy even hides its motives from itself.
Lust of the Flesh, Lust of the Eyes, Pride of Life
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeThe half-time show of the recent Superbowl exemplifies the lust of the flesh and the eyes, and the pride of life. Each choice we make changes our brains.
The Tenth Commandment
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughEveryone is out to acquire as much as possible for himself. The tenth commandment, however, governs this proclivity of human nature, striking at man's heart.
As a Man Thinks
CGG Weekly by Clyde Finklea"You are what you eat" is a common expression, yet Jesus teaches that actually we are what we think. Even so, we are not always what we think we are.
Handpicked By God
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Kim MyersKim Myers, asking us "How long do we think we have to live before Christ returns?" reminds us that God handpicked us for a specific purpose, just as He did Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, and their extended families. God also handpicked second-generation Church members, though their environment as children often shielded …
Counting Lessons
Sermonette by Gary Garrett (1950-2019)Gary Garrett, focusing on the "bitter water" episode in Exodus 15:22-25, explains the symbolism behind the bitter water of the spring, the tree, and the sanctification process. The bitter water represents the culture of Egypt which God had not yet extricated from the Israelites, an amalgamation of bitterness of bondage …
Principled Living (Part Two): Conquering Sin
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughChrist warns that we must do everything possible to annihilate sin - surgically going right to the heart or mind: the level of thought and imagination.
The Tenth Commandment (1998)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughOne commentator said all public crime would cease if this one law was kept. Another said every sin against one's neighbor springs from breaking this commandment.
Human Will and God's Sovereignty (Part Two)
Commentary by John W. RitenbaughHuman will is not sovereign in the body, but is just another servant, functioning according to the information it receives. We choose according to desires.
Communication and Leaving Babylon (Part Two)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughOur human nature reflects the nature of malevolent spirits' attitudes. The only way to overcome it is through God's creating a new heart in us by His Spirit.
Defining the Human Mind
Sermon by Charles WhitakerCharles Whitaker, beginning with a potpourri of examples from lexicographers on the definition of the word mind, treating the concept as a verb, adjective, and noun, and mentioning that the King James translators render some twenty Hebrew words and eight Greek words into the English word "mind," concludes that the task …
The Christian and the World (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe prince of the power of the air is responsible for influencing the zeitgeist (dominant mindset of the time), pulling us away from God and His law.
Overcoming Hypocrisy
Sermonette by Bill OnisickBill Onisick, warning us that we are continually in danger of being deceived by our hearts and carnal nature, a nature which distracts us from following God, though we go through the motions, cautions us to not practice hypocrisy before Almighty God. Most have deluded themselves into thinking their ways are pure and acceptable …
Original Sin and Holiness
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod gave Adam and Eve a neutral spirit and free moral agency; they chose the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, predisposing their offspring to sin.
God's Rest (Part 4)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughCoveting—lust—is a fountainhead of many other sins. Desiring things is not wrong, but desiring someone else's things promotes overtly sinful behavior.
Thou Shall Not Covet
Sermon by John O. Reid (1930-2016)Because virtually every sin begins as a desire in the mind, the command against coveting (lustful cravings) could be the key to keeping the other commandments.
A Pure Language
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeWe don't need to be experts in Hebrew or use Hebrew names to call on the name of the Lord, nor is Hebrew sacred. Pure language comes from an undefiled heart.
The Commandments (Part Nineteen)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJesus taught that all outward sin stems from inner inordinate desire. What we desire or lust after automatically becomes our idol.
Remaining Unleavened
Article by John O. Reid (1930-2016)We tend to put matters behind us once we are finished with them, but we cannot afford to do this with the lessons we learn from the Days of Unleavened Bread.
Values and Conversion
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughRepentance involves incorporating God's values, alien to our human nature—ones that will unify us with God and with others who accept His value system.
Dancing With the Devil's World
Commentary by John W. RitenbaughUnlike most Millennials, obsessed with acceptance by their peers, Jesus did not mind being a loner because He loved the things His Father taught.
Hebrews: Its Background (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe book of Hebrews clarifies that the persecution on the early church did not come directly from God, but He did stir the pot that caused the persecution.
Think on These Things
Sermonette by James BeaubelleJames Beaubelle, acknowledging that our annual, self-inflicted review of self can be humbling and even painful, reminds us that God's called-out ones have a measure of control over their carnality which those remaining in the world lack. We also have the assurance that our Savior is not going to lose any of His saints. …
What Is the Prophesied 'Pure Language'? (Part One)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeZephaniah 3 foretells of a "pure language," by which people may call on the name of the Lord. Many believe it will be Hebrew, but the Scriptures reveal more.
He Who Overcomes
Sermon by John O. Reid (1930-2016)It is not profitable to focus on the place of safety or the specific time of Christ's return, but instead to make the best use of our time to overcome.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Seven)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe New Covenant was designed by God to circumcise the heart, making it possible for God's laws to be written in our hearts and reflected in our behavior.