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Unity (Part 2): God's Pattern of Leadership
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughRejecting God's chosen representative is portrayed as a direct rejection of God Himself, a principle established firmly throughout Scripture and central to understanding why unity within the church has repeatedly broken down. This truth begins with Moses, who understood that when the people chided him in the wilderness, they were actually tempting the Lord, since he stood as God's direct ambassador despite his personal flaws and struggles with temper. The pattern continues when Miriam and Aaron challenged Moses's leadership, asking whether God had spoken only through him. Their rebellion was not truly about Moses's marriage to an Ethiopian woman but about respect for the office God had established, and God rebuked them severely for tempting Him by questioning His appointed servant. An even more serious challenge came from Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who accused Moses of exalting himself above the congregation. God answered decisively by causing the earth to swallow them, demonstrating that their true failure was a lack of faith in the very principle under discussion—that God works through one appointed man at a time. This pattern extends into the New Testament through Jesus Christ, the chief Apostle, and continues through Peter, who was consistently emphasized above the other disciples as "first among equals." Jesus explicitly taught that whoever hears His representatives hears Him, and whoever despises them despises Him and the Father who sent Him. This principle applies directly to the modern church experience, where challenges to Herbert Armstrong's authority mirrored the rebellions of Miriam, Aaron, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Accusations that he was senile, self-appointed, or no better than anyone else missed the actual issue: respect for the office God had established, since the man represents God until God removes him through death or misconduct. The consequences of rejecting God's representative are tied directly to the broader crisis of church unity. Confusion arises when people become uncertain whose voice God is speaking through, and this confusion leads to division, pride, and self-righteous factionalism, as illustrated by Christ's warning that a kingdom or house divided against itself cannot stand. God avoids such confusion by working through one voice at a time, dividing spheres of influence as seen between Peter's ministry to Israelites and Paul's ministry to Gentiles, so that people are not pulled between conflicting authorities. The scattering and splitting experienced within the church is understood as God's method of purification, bringing believers back to genuine submission—not merely to a man, but to Christ and the Father through the man He has appointed. Ultimately, rejecting that representative reveals a deeper rejection of God's government and pattern, while genuine faith requires trusting that God remains faithful to this unchanging pattern, just as He always has been.
Unity (Part 1): God and HWA
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughA major cause in the splitting of the church has been the wholesale rejection of the doctrines Herbert Armstrong, under God's inspiration, restored.
What Does God Really Want? (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIf we want to be like our Savior, then we will live the way He lived, keeping God's commandments — which exemplify the highest form of love.
Knowing God: Formality and Customs (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughFormality and decorum (in terms of dress and behavior) are part of godly standards and sanctity. We must always look for the spirit and intent of what God commands.
Jesus and the Feast (Part One): Alignment With God
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughOnly in John 7 do we find some evidence of Tabernacles and the Eighth Day, providing a gold mine to discover what was on Jesus's mind during this time.
Anarchy in God's Church? (Part Three)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeIf we reject the spiritual gifts God gave to others, we put ourselves at risk of being deceived, and altering our belief system in response to every new idea.
Power Belongs to God (Part Two)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughHuman beings, even those who have been called, have an innate fear that God will not always provide. This fear originates in doubt about God's power.
Power Belongs to God (Part 2)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe may be going through a period of hopelessness, but must believe that all things work together for those who believe and are called for His purpose.
The Sovereignty of God: Part Six
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughThe overriding issue of life is to whom we will give ourselves in obedience. Will it be ourselves, society, business, Satan or God?
Do You See God?
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughUnless we acknowledge God's sovereign authority in our lives, following through with the things we learn from scripture, we, like atheists, will not see God.
A Government Like the Nations
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeSometimes God's most effective judgment is to give His people what they want and let them suffer for it.
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.
Who Was Herbert W. Armstrong?
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughHerbert Armstrong, while not infallible or sinless, nevertheless served as the custodian of the truths of God, occupying the role of God's messenger.
Miriam: Prophetess and Leader
Sermonette by Ted E. BowlingMiriam resembles every one of us as potential leaders. When she learned her lesson about pride, Miriam achieved the same exalted stature as Moses and Aaron.
A Warning from Jude (Part Three)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeKorah and his ilk had a message of equality and populism, but were really interested in enhancing their own positions. God places people as He pleases.
Faith and the Calendar (Part Five): Summary
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod assigned the tribe of Judah to be the caretakers of the oracles. The real issue in this controversy is faith in God's sovereignty and His faithfulness.
Sanctification and Holiness (Part 3)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIn Numbers 16-18, God performed several miracles to demonstrate conclusively that not everyone is called to the same function and that He remains the Boss.
Acts (Part Eight)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughStephen points out that historically, God has dealt with His people without land or temple, but instead through deliverers, initially rejected by their own.
The Sixth Century Axial Period (Part One)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)A 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.
Faith and the Calendar (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe real issue in the calendar controversy is not astronomical, but faith in God's sovereignty, providence, and His right to assign responsibility.
Sovereignty and Submission
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughBeing reared in a democratic nation sometimes complicates our relationship with God; God's government is actually a sovereign, benevolent dictatorship.
Sanctification and Holiness (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughDathan and Korah agitated for a democratization of priestly responsibilities. God shows that not everybody set apart is holy in the same way.