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We Are Not Alone
Sermonette by Ted E. BowlingBeing alone carries profound weight, as seen in the story of a man stranded on a small island, the sole survivor of a plane crash. For four years, he endures complete isolation, with no one to speak to, no voice but his own, and only an inanimate volleyball as a companion. In moments of triumph, like starting a fire, he celebrates alone, and in despair, contemplating suicide, he has no one to counsel him. Even after rescue, the shadow of loneliness lingers. The word "alone" holds multiple meanings: being apart from others, solitary, or isolated; being without anyone else; considered separately from others of the same class; and being without equal, unique, as in the unparalleled nature of the Father and Jesus Christ. Loneliness can strike anyone, bringing emptiness, discouragement, and disconnection from family, friends, or the congregation. Many in the scattered church today meet by themselves, feeling alone, separated from the body of believers, whether through phone hookups or live streaming. This isolation echoes through history, with individuals and families detached from the larger church, struggling in both good times and bad, especially during disappointments, tests, and trials. Single parents, young people seeking mates, and those who have lost loved ones often face this solitude. Yet, there is assurance in Isaiah 41:9-10, where God declares, "You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." God remains faithful to His people through all ages, present in every promise. As spiritual Israel, surrounded by a world of opposition and battling its influences, believers strive to walk uprightly, often suffering for refusing to compromise God's standards, and frequently enduring this struggle alone. Examples abound of those who faced solitude in their trials. Abraham ventured into an unknown land alone; Joseph was cast into a pit, sold as a slave, and imprisoned, bearing his hardships in isolation; Elijah once believed he alone served God. Even Christ, in His temptation after forty days without food or water, faced satan alone in a weakened state, yet refused to sin. In His greatest trial, as foretold in John 16:32, Christ knew He would be physically alone, abandoned by all, yet He was not truly alone, for the Father was with Him, giving Him strength through unimaginable suffering and humiliation unto death. This sacrifice marks the beginning of eternal life for believers, a promise renewed at Passover, a time to remember that they are never alone. Hebrews 13:5 affirms, "I will never leave you nor forsake you," a promise echoed with emphatic assurance through time—to Jacob, to Israel, to Joshua, to Solomon, and to all believers today. Unlike the stranded man with only an inanimate object for company, believers have a God who loves deeply, providing strength and meeting needs before they are even asked. No matter the trial or difficulty, the call is to be strong and courageous, for they are not alone.
Could You Stand Alone?
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWould we have the same courage to stand spiritually as the brave unarmed man who resisted the tanks of the Chinese Red Army in Tiananmen Square?
We Are NOT Alone!
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughThe X-Files TV drama popularized the phrase, 'We are not alone.' For Christians, the phrase takes on a somewhat different meaning, but it is absolutely true.
Friends of the Friendless (Part One)
CGG Weekly by John ReissGod exhorts His children to be friends of the friendless, and reach out to others in our fellowship who may be experiencing difficult times.
Friendship
Sermonette by James BeaubelleTrue Proverbs 18 friends are those who stick with us in this life and will wait for us as we finish our spiritual race.
Unsharpened
Sermonette by Joseph B. BaityThe church of God may have focused too intensely on elusive esoteric principles and neglected the basics, such as developing solid relationships.
The Elijah Syndrome (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeGod taught Elijah that He is not in excessive displays of power or showy miracles when a voice will suffice.
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.
Lonely, But Not Forsaken
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsEven Jesus had to cope with feelings of anxiety and loneliness in Gethsemane before His crucifixion, a time when He experienced separation from His Father.
Elijah's Dose of Reality
Article by Richard T. RitenbaughSometimes, we get down because we think that all our labors for God have gone unnoticed. Elijah did, and his story points out a major lesson for us all.
God, Why Am I so Lonely?
Sermonette by Craig SablichBecause of God's outworking, we may consider isolation a vital key, causing our spiritual vision and understanding to become sharper through fewer distractions.
The Elijah Syndrome
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeElijah fell into a dilemma of either fearing God or fearing man, and ended up fearing Jezebel rather than God, thinking he was alone in his zeal for God.
The Path to Magnificence
Sermon by Mark SchindlerWe have not been uninformed about the enemy's tactics, nor about our capacity to endure. God will never forsake us, and we should never forsake one another.
Overcoming Discouragement and Depression
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsEven loyal servants of God have had to contend with depression and discouragement. Antidotes include rest, refocus, right expectations, and obedient actions.
Isolation
Sermonette by Joseph B. BaityGod uses isolation as a tool for a plethora of reasons—some for protective purposes, some for quarantine, some for correction, some for punishment.
Imagining the Garden of Eden (Part Eleven)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod's selection of Eve as a companion to Adam took into account the need for a helper as a counterpart—like himself, but standing opposite as complementary.
Our Divine Fellowship
Sermonette by Austin Del CastilloUnless our primary relationship is with God, positive relationships with our brethren will be impossible and we will feel alone in our spiritual battles.
The Elijah Syndrome (Part Three)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeWe can draw several lessons from Elijah, particularly his belief that he was the only one left whom God could use. God is always doing more than we are aware.
Antidote For Disunity!
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. CollinsWe will become united as we draw closer to God. If we regard a brother in Christ as a competitor rather than as a trusted ally, unity will be impossible.
Prayer and Persistence
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPersistence in prayer does not mean an incessant pestering God into action. God always looks at our petitions from the vantage-point of His purpose.
Lamentations (Part Five)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe expressions of sorrow in the Psalms far outnumber expressions of praise, indicating that the Hebrew culture has almost made the lamentation an art form.
Imagining the Garden of Eden (Part Ten)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe statement, 'it is not good for man to be alone,' is the first declaration that something was not good. Being alone denotes separateness.