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Who Was the Samaritan Woman at the Well?
Sermon by Ted E. BowlingThe woman was the first Gentile convert and an evangelist to her fellow Samaritans, who clearly did not consider her an outcast or immoral woman.
John (Part Eight)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughThe woman of Samaria is like each of us, initially hardened, self-willed and skeptical when called, but afterwards zealous when enlightened by the truth.
Micah (Part One): Hope for the Hopeless
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsThe prophecy of Micah had a delayed effect, taking many years before a reformer emerged on the scene. Jeremiah's life was spared because of the memory of Micah.
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.
Amos (Part Eleven)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughAncient Israel had at the core of its religion an obsession to please the self at the expense of justice and the best interests of the disadvantaged.
Debased Sodom
Sermon by James C. StoertzSamaria appears in the material as the elder sister in Ezekiel's allegory of three sisters representing nations under judgment. She stands for the northern tribes of Israel, a people already destroyed and dispersed for idolatry at the time of the prophecy. Jerusalem is told that Samaria dwells with her daughters to the north and that Samaria did not commit half of Jerusalem's sins. The comparison shows that Jerusalem multiplied her abominations beyond those of Samaria and thereby justified her elder sister. Samaria's record of idolatry is presented as less severe than Jerusalem's actions, yet both cities share the same pattern of turning from God into pride, excess, and sexual deviance that leads to a debased condition. This ranking places Samaria above Sodom in relative righteousness while still below Jerusalem, underscoring the steady descent into greater corruption that the material traces from pre-Flood times through Sodom to the modern Western world. The allegory thereby reinforces the warning that rejection of God produces a slippery slope ending in divine removal, with Samaria serving as an intermediate historical marker between ancient Sodom and later Jerusalem.
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Sixteen)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Ecclesiastes 1-6 contains an indictment of materialism. The only lasting fulfillment comes from establishing and maintaining a relationship with God.
God's Special Presence and Direct Intervention
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsThe scattering of the early church strengthened it, allowing fresh seed to be scattered in new fields. The 'bad' thing actually increased the church's power.
John (Part Twelve)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughWhat we believe automatically determines what we do; it is impossible to separate faith and works. If Jesus is not our source of belief, our works will suffer.
Acts (Part Nine)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughStephen's martyrdom and his compassion on his persecutors, followed by the reaction against his brutal murder, resulted in a rapid spreading of the Gospel.
Elements of Motivation (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe can become energized and motivated by our high calling and summons to do the will of God, seeing how vitally important we are to God's purpose.