Appearing Before God (Part Three)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeThe specific instruction in Deuteronomy 16:16 is that, during the three holy day seasons of the year, we should not appear before God "in vain" or "with futility. ...
Appearing Before God (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeGod's Word causes things to increase just as rain causes crops to increase, but the increase is not always numeric. Often, it is qualitative.
Appearing Before God (Part One)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeWhen God speaks, His words are never futile or useless. He never utters a word in vain. Genesis 1 shows what resulted from God speaking just a handful of sentences!
It's Important to God Too (Part One)
Sermonette by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, focusing upon Deuteronomy 16:16 and Exodus 23:17, the traditional verses calling for an offering, admonishing not to come to Holy Day services empty-handed, reminds us that we are not really giving God anything because He owns everything. The experience of giving an offering is for our benefit. We receive …
It's Important to God Too (Part Two)
Sermonette by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, reminding us that God does not do things uselessly, and certainly does not need our physical goods, examines the role of the offering and sacrifice rehearsed at each Holy Day. The nouns offering and sacrifice derive from two separate Greek words meaning "to bring forth" and "to kill" …
God Works in Marvelous Ways (Part Three)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Bible contains mysteries (God's invisible activities on our behalf)that have been hidden in plain sight, but made clear by revelation from God's Spirit.
Knowing God: Formality and Customs (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh cautions that placing our hope in the wrong thing can jeopardize our relationship with God. We must remember that God alone is the source from whom all blessings flow, and that we need to reciprocate those gifts back to God,fearing and standing in awe of Him, honoring Him, and conforming to His standards. We must …
The Purpose of Offerings
Sermonette by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Pastor General of a well-known church made a statement that turned the giving of offerings into a competition and a rich man's game. Is this God's intent?
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 …
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 …
Money, Control and Sacrifice (2015)
Sermonette by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, cuing in on Ecclesiastes 10:13, explains the context in which the statement "money answers everything" appears. Some people obsess about money, working their fingers to the bone to accumulate more. Money is neutral, but the inordinate desire or love of money has horrific, evil consequences. Money does …
Faith and the Christian Fight (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Bible abounds in metaphors of warfare, indicating that the Christian's walk will be characterized by stress, sacrifice, and deprivation in building faith.
