Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeIf we lose sight that Jesus is the head of the Church, we will forget that Christ is currently purifying His Church, sanctifying those called to be His family.
Jesus Christ: First Savior, Second High Priest, Third King
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe book of Hebrews teaches that our relationship to Christ as our Savior, High Priest, and King is the key to salvation. He shows us the way to the Father.
The Measure of Christ's Gift
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsJesus selected disciples with disparate temperaments, unifying them to accomplish a steadfast purpose. God disperses a wide diversity of spiritual gifts.
Christ Our Passover
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe focus of our self-examination should not be self-centered or comparing ourselves with others, but on the awesome significance of His sacrifice.
Autoimmunity in the Body of Christ
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeMisidentifying parts of the Body of Christ as enemies, or even being highly suspicious of them, causes pain and inefficiency throughout the whole Body.
The Mystery of the Church
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, contrasting the world's mega-churches with the church that Christ is building, focuses on the body analogy (I Corinthians 12), illustrating the interconnectedness of all members to Christ and to each other. In considering the differing functions of the body's parts, we realize that not one is unimportant or …
Marriage and the Bride of Christ (Part Nine)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsThe marriage relationship and the family structure provide a workshop to learn the intricacies of the God-plane relationship between Christ and the church.
Four Views of Christ (Part 7)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughOur lives parallel what Christ experienced: crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and glorification. The death of self must precede resurrection and glory.
Principles of Church Leadership
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughA major responsibility for the fracturing of the WCG rested with the leadership, based on a philosophy of authoritarianism Christ warned against.
Is There a True Church?
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughGod's true church cannot be found without revelation nor can one join the organization; God calls and places each member in its appropriate place in the Body.
Creator, Sustainer, Head (Part Three)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeThe One who sent forth His Spirit to create and breathe life into the physical world, also breathed on His disciples and endowed them with spiritual life.
Marriage and the Bride of Christ (Part Four)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsGod established the order of family relationships, creating Eve after Adam, not as a slave, but as a companion, prefiguring Christ and His Church.
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.
Letters to Seven Churches (Part Two): Ephesus
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Ephesus church effectively battled various heresies, for which Christ commends it. However, the members lost sight of the reason, having left their first love.
The High Christology of Colossians
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughHigh Christology as a doctrinal stance was not enough to prevent the eventual apostasy of those in Asia Minor. Doctrine must produce the right conduct.
Letters to Seven Churches (Part Six): Sardis
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe letter to the church in Sardis reads like an obituary, warning us who are alive but lacking zeal to repent and become serious about our calling.
Creator, Sustainer, Head (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeDespite being perhaps the oldest text in the canon, Job contains many detailed, even scientific, insights into the creative and sustaining power of Christ.
Passionate Patience
Sermon by Mark SchindlerMark Schindler, reflecting on a recurring song which lodged in his memory, "Have Patience," launches into a topic which has been of perennial concern in articles, sermons, sermonettes, and Bible studies over the years in the Church of the Great God. The need for passionate patience constitutes a major binding thread in …
Where Is God's True Church Today?
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughWhere can we find the true religion, the true church, in all this confusion? Only the church Christ founded and heads today has the answers to eternal life.
Marriage and the Bride of Christ (Part Five)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, continuing on the series of marriage and the family, asserts that most men don't seem to be really good men or good husbands. Hanna Rosin, in her article the End of Men, citing Anthony Eden, suggests that real men were annihilated by the Welfare system, encouraged to be passive, unable to lead, yielding to bitter …
Marriage and the Bride of Christ (Part Three)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsIn the order of creation, the husband was designated as the leader. From the Garden of Eden to the present, there have been problems with this arrangement.
Marriage and the Bride of Christ (Part Two)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsThe husband is charged to exercise love to his wife, actually a more demanding task than submitting, carrying more instructions than the command to submit.
Judging in the Church
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughHuman nature is strongly competitive and full of pride, making judgment inherently problematic. Nevertheless, God wants us to learn to judge with equity.
'I Will Build My Church'
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeJesus is aware of all that transpires within His church—regardless of how out-of-control things may seem—and He will always act in the way that is best.
What Is the Work of God Now? (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh reiterates that neglecting to feed the flock has been detrimental to preaching the gospel to the world. Because of this unwitting neglect, many members succumbed to the "lost in the crowd" syndrome, feeling insignificant, meaningless, and useless. The vine and branches analogy (John 15:1-6) and the body …
Who Is the Israel of God?
Sermonette by Gary Garrett (1950-2019)Gary Garrett, acknowledging that, while the Old Testament Israelites, under the Prevailer with God, provided the type of the Israel of God, Jesus Christ, who was called out of Egypt, fulfilling multiple Messiahship prophecies, is actually God's Israel. The Israel of God makes up the body identified in Galatians 6:15-16. The …
Unity and Unleavened Bread
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughAs members of Christ's body, we must function for the good of the whole body, not competing with other parts. We must continually function as a son of God.
Unity (2006)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLike the symphony orchestra, only as an instrumentalist submits to the leader, working with the other members of the ensemble, can unity be accomplished.
His Eye is On the Sparrow (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, cuing in on three scriptures, Psalm 11:3-5, Luke 12:7, and Philippians 4:19, reflects on a frightening earthquake in 1971, in which he realized that he was in no way in control of the alarming situation, a relentless shaking that threatened to destroy the entire foundation. This earthquake has grounds of …
Themes of I Corinthians (Part 5)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughI Corinthians gives ready instruction in the order and decorum that is fitting for church organization, as well as the Passover and weekly service.
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.
All in All
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh contends that history is not confined to the past. We are actively participating in it just as surely as the prominent figures of the Bible. As citizens of Jerusalem above, we need to have our minds singly focused on the heavenly homeland where Jesus Christ dwells, mortifying our flesh, realizing that we need to …
Go Not Out of the House
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughFor Passover, Israel was commanded not to go out of their houses. This is also a warning to Christians when we understand the implications of the word 'house'.
All in All
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughHave you ever wondered what 'all in all' means in relation to God and Christ? This term has great significance to us today.
God's Creation and Our Works
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLike Joseph, we need to realize that God—not ourselves—is the Creator, engineering events that form us into what He wants us to become.
Living by Faith: Humility and God's Justice
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughHumility, poverty of spirit, and acknowledging our total dependence on God are of the utmost importance. God responds to those who are humble.
Of One Accord
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughConfusion and separation have been man's legacy since Eden. Christ is working to put an end to division, enabling us to be one with the Father and each other.
Don't Leave the House!
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughAs part of Christ's body or household, we have a responsibility to stay attached to the spiritual organism and to respond to the head.
Acts (Part One)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh explores the possibility that the book of Acts, in addition to its role in continuing and advancing the Gospel or Good News, could well have been assembled as an exculpatory trial document designed to vindicate the apostle Paul and the early church, demonstrating that Christianity was not a threat to the Roman …
