Israel, Selfies, and Idolatry
Sermonette by Mike Ford (1955-2021)The religious hobbyist Micah practiced his own self-devised hybrid of religion, amalgamating some orthodox truth with abundant noxious, pagan admixtures.
The Fourth Commandment: Idolatry
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod, not man, created, sanctified and memorialized the seventh day Sabbath from the time of creation, intending that man use this holy time to worship God.
The Second Commandment: Idolatry
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe natural mind craves something physical to remind us of God, but the Second Commandment prohibits this. Any representation will fall short of the reality.
The First Commandment: Idolatry
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIdolatry is the most frequently committed sin, seen in five commandments. God challenges us to either defend our body of beliefs or drop them in favor of His.
Extremes of Idolatry: Graven Images and Sacred Names
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughSome stretch the second commandment to condemn the use of all paintings, photographs, and sculptures. Others claim only Hebrew names for God can be used.
Deuteronomy and Idolatry
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe are admonished to internalize the book of Deuteronomy in preparation for our future leadership roles.
Deception, Idolatry and the Feast of Tabernacles
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJeroboam, pragmatic and fearful, established a more convenient idolatrous festival to prevent his people from keeping the real Feast of Tabernacles in Judah.
The Third Commandment: Idolatry
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIn the the Third Commandment, God's name describes His character, attributes, and nature. If we bear God's name, we must reflect His image and His character.
Is the Symbol of the Cross Idolatry? (Part One)
CGG Weekly by Mike Ford (1955-2021)Will wearing a silver cross around the neck keep a person from harm? Will it stay the hand of Satan? Superstitions about the cross arose long before Christ.
Animal Idolatry
'Prophecy Watch' by Mike Ford (1955-2021)Have the animal rights groups gone too far? This movement borders on—if not transgresses—the line between concern and idolatry.
The Second Commandment
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsHuman nature tries to limit God to the confines of physical objects. Men fabricate images, called idols, to aid them in worshiping a god they have concocted.
The First Commandment
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsThe first commandment reveals our first priority in every area of life: God. Anything we place ahead of Him becomes an idol!
What Will It Take?
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeWhat would have to happen for us to wake up and, instead of rolling over and going back to sleep, actually turn back to God with the entirety of our being?
The Second Commandment
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughMost people consider the second commandment to deal with making or falling down before a pagan idol, but it covers all aspects of the way we worship.
Why Worship God?
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughMany believe and attend church services without really answering this most fundamental of questions. Here are three reasons for worshiping almighty God.
A Picture Against a Thousand Words
CGG WeeklyA fundamental difference exists between images and language, and by understanding the difference, we can understand the second commandment's importance.
The Second Commandment (1997)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughMany fail to perceive the difference between the first and second commandments. The second commandment defines the way we are to worship the true God.
The Commandments (Part Three)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughIdolatry derives from worshiping the work of our hands or thoughts rather than the true God. Whatever consumes our thoughts and behavior has become our idol.
The First Commandment
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughIdolatry is probably the sin that the Bible most often warns us against. We worship the source of our values and standards, whether the true God or a counterfeit.
The First Commandment (1997)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughThe Ten Commandments open with the most important, the one that puts our relationship with God in its proper perspective. It is a simple but vital command.
Keep Yourself From Idols
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsAn idol is anything in our lives that occupies the space which should be occupied by God alone, anything having a controlling force in our lives.
The Fourth Commandment
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughAt creation, God sanctified only one day, the seventh, as a day of rest. At Sinai, He again sanctified it as a holy day, tying it to creation and freedom.
Identifying Our Idols
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughWe tend to ignore the possibility of idolatry in our lives. But we need to do the hard thing and examine ourselves to identify any hidden idols.
Unity and Division: The Blessing and the Curse (Part Four)
'Ready Answer' by Charles WhitakerGod commanded the Israelites to utter blessings from Mount Gerazim and curses from Mount Ebal, most of which deal with hidden sins that give rise to hypocrisy.
Envy: The Most Precious Daughter
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeIt is easy to follow in Satan's footsteps, courting his daughter Envy, reaping the disquiet which accompanies her. Envy comes from pushing God from our thoughts.
The Nature of God: Elohim
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughUnderstanding Elohim teaches us about the nature of God and where our lives are headed. Elohim refers to a plural family unit in the process of expanding.
The Commandments (Part Two)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughIdolatry constitutes the fountainhead from which all other sins flow, all of which amplify obsessive self-centeredness and self-indulgence.
The Commandments (Part One)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughWhat have we accepted as our authority for permitting ourselves to do or behave as we do — our value system, our code of ethics or code of morality?
Who Is on the Lord's Side?
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Feast of Trumpets is a day of decision, a time to determine whether we are on the Lord's side. We must loyally fulfill the role to which God called us.
Secession (Part Two): Spiritual Separation
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. CollinsAny syncretism with the world will lead to confusion. We must separate from the world in terms of its religious practices and its false gospels.
Nicolaitanism Today
'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. RitenbaughThe end-time church is warned against Nicolaitanism, for it exists today. The Scriptures, plus some first century history, reveal who the Nicolaitans are.
Do You Have a Golden Calf?
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Mike Ford (1955-2021)Abijah had three good years but was suddenly cut off because he didn't remove the idols. One act of faith is only something to build on, not a cause to rest.
Our Mission Possible
Sermonette by Bill OnisickBill Onisick suggests that if we inculcate the mission statement found in Deuteronomy 6:1-5 (known as the Shema), we will have a high certainty of life and a huge chance at success. If we get this one thing right (loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind) we will succeed at our objectives. Jesus Christ pointed out that the …
What Is Always True About the World?
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsTo guard against the world, we must be careful not to fall into idolatry, based upon limiting God to tangible objects or those things which occupy our thoughts.
Does God Forbid All Images?
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughMade in God's image, human beings have the same drive to imagine, create, innovate, and express their designs in the works of their hands.
Passover and I Corinthians 10
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLike the Old Testament examples, the Corinthians had a careless presumption, allowing themselves to lust, fornicate, tempt God, and murmur.
Sandcastle Virtues
Sermon by Mike Ford (1955-2021)Modern Israel still worships Astarte, now known as "mother earth," and crusades on behalf of fornication and all forms of sexual perversion.
Humanism Dominates
Commentary by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, lamenting that the course that America is taking has destroyed her virtue, claims that breaking the first commandment is the worst sin because its violation is the epitome of self-centeredness, putting the self before God, the most blatant form of idolatry. The secular humanists, infiltrating education, …
Is Mary Worthy of Worship?
Article by David C. GrabbeThe Catholic Church places great importance on Mary, to the point that many Catholics are pushing for Mary to be recognized as 'Co-Redemptrix!
The Fourth Commandment (Part One) (1997)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughMost people think the fourth commandment is least important, but it may be one of the most important! It is a major facet of our relationship with God.
Were the Ten Commandments in Force Before Moses?
Herbert W. Armstrong BookletIt is commonly believed that the Ten Commandments are part of the ritualistic law, and that they lasted only until Christ. But here is the rest of the story.
Letters to Seven Churches (Part Five): Thyatira
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Thyatira epistle carries a central theme for all seven churches, namely the tendency to syncretize or mix worldly ideas with the truth of God.
Asa
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughAsa left a few things undone, losing steam in his later years and playing it safe. Idolatry was so ingrained in the land that Asa grew weary in well-doing.
What Is an Abomination?
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsThe English word 'abomination' is quickly becoming archaic in modern usage because so few things are considered abominable anymore.
Seeking God (Part One): Our Biggest Problem
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughAfter making the covenant with God, how does a person avoid backsliding? The answer lies in seeking God, which involves much more than commonly thought.