Prophets and Prophecy (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughAlthough by no means a wild man, John the Baptist experienced alienation from people, especially the entrenched religious and political leaders.
Beware of False Prophets
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsFalse prophets promote the broad way, giving people what they want to hear. They replace God's truth with human tradition. They are identified by their fruit.
The Beatitudes, Part 8: Blessed Are the Persecuted
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughPersecution is a fact of life for a Christian. Jesus Christ says we are blessed if we are persecuted for righteousness' sake — here's why.
What Is a False Prophet?
'Prophecy Watch' by David C. GrabbeFalse prophets—including the great False Prophet of Revelation—claim to speak for God, yet reveal themselves in predictable ways. Here is what to look for.
The Fifth Seal (Part Two)
'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. RitenbaughPersecution and martyrdom are not popular topics among Christians, but they are facts. The fifth seal shows the cry of the martyrs and God's response.
Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsJesus uses the parable of the wicked vinedressers to proclaim God's plan to take His message to others, the church, who would accept it.
The Sixth Century Axial Period (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughProphets, even though they may bring new messages, stay consistent with existing Scripture and doctrine as they speak on behalf of God.
The Sixth Century Axial Period (Part One)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughA prophet is one who carries a message from another. A true prophet's message will derive from existing Scripture, even if he is breaking new, unexplored ground.
Parable of the Marriage Feast
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsJesus exposes the Jews' rejection of the gospel using the illustration of a king sending invitations to a wedding celebration.
Time to Repent (Part Three)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeGod is always working for salvation. He creates situations and events—from smitten consciences to large-scale calamities—to lead us to the right path.
How Far Have We Fallen? (Part Five)
Commentary by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, suggesting that we are living in a time when immorality has surpassed righteousness, asks whether we have surpassed the immorality of Sodom and Gomorrah. Strangely, America has perhaps produced more Bibles than any other nation, yet it's peoples are, in the main, not even remotely convicted by the pages of the …
The Beast and Babylon (Part Eight): God, Israel, and the Bible
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughThough she transgressed every commandment in multiple ways, the sin through which Israel's unfaithfulness is most frequently demonstrated is gross idolatry.
The Elijah Syndrome (Part One)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeThough God worked through Elijah in ways that are almost without comparison, God also left a record of a low point in the prophet's life as a lesson for us.
Why Hebrews Was Written (Part Four)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughWe often spend so much time engaged in our present-day trials that we fail to understand and learn from the experiences of Christians of the past.
Don't Be Indifferent
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe frightful Trumpet Plagues are coming on the world because of the breaking of covenants on the part of people who should have known better.
Lamentations (Part Seven)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh begins by recapping the first three chapters of the Book of Lamentation: "Woe is me" (Chapter 1), "God did it" (Chapter 2), and "If God is behind it, it must have been good" (Chapter 3). He then focuses on the themes of the chapters 4 and 5. Chapter 4 is a summation of how low God …
Acts (Part 8)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh explains that Stephen ignited the ire of the Hellenistic Jews, a group passionately devoted to the temple, law and land as a defensive reaction to their historical scattering. Stephen rebukes them for their reactionary (almost superstitious) devotion to the past or reverence to a specific temple location, …
Matthew (Part 16)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh reiterates that disciples of Christ should expect persecution, often from people we normally would feel comfort and protection from, such as members from our own family. The two-edged sword (the Word of God) divides families because receptivity of this word is not a given- especially if one has not yet been …