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God's Love and Teachings for His Children
Sermon by Kim MyersGod assures us that all things are possible for His children. As His beloved, we are never without His presence, and nothing is impossible with Him. He extends kindness and grace to those who keep His commandments, showing His love to us, His family. God teaches His ways and laws to His children, not to the children of this world. He has chosen us, and we are born into His family, blessed with His constant guidance and care. Our Father is always with us, looking over us and teaching us. When we feel afraid, God reminds us that He has not given us a spirit of fear. As parents protect their children, so does God love and protect us, His children. We should be confident that no matter the challenges we face, He is with us, loving us, and working for our good. When we feel unloved, God declares, "I love you." His love for His chosen children is profound, even greater than His love for the world. Despite our shortcomings, His love remains steadfast, nurturing our faith and trust as we grow in His family. When we say, "I can't do it," God affirms that we can do all things through Him. He empowers us with His Holy Spirit, making all things possible for His children. We are blessed with His strength and presence, capable of overcoming any obstacle. When we think, "It's not worth it," God assures us that it will be worth it. The struggles of this life are temporary, and the future He has prepared for us is beyond imagination. Our perseverance in His way is acknowledged and valued by Him. When we are worried and frustrated, God urges us to cast our cares on Him. As parents ease their children's anxieties, our Father looks out for us when we bring our concerns to Him. We should not be consumed by fear or negativity, for we are in His hands. When we feel unable, God declares, "I am able." He never takes His eyes off us, watching over us every moment. Unlike human parents who cannot always be present, God is constantly with us, able to care for and protect His children. We are God's children, deeply loved and blessed. Though we will face trials and corrections, He is always with us, just as parents stand by their children. His love, protection, and promises are our confidence, encouraging us to live without fear or doubt, knowing we are His.
The Faithfulness of God (Part One)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)God's care for us is a profound reality that shapes our understanding of our place in His plan. He perceives us not just as a collective body, but as individuals with unique value. His interest extends to every detail of our lives, demonstrating that He is keenly aware of each one of us. As the Psalms declare, His eyelids test the sons of men, showing a mind so vast that it encompasses concern for every single person. His purpose is not to diminish us, but to build confidence and trust, assuring us that He is always present and will never leave us. His faithfulness to Israel and the church as a whole is evident, yet it is equally vital to grasp His personal faithfulness to each of us. Eternal life hinges on knowing Him intimately, which requires individual effort to strengthen our relationship through conversation and meditation on Him. He desires to help those He loves, those who submit to Him, talk to Him, and think of Him, reinforcing that we are not insignificant in His eyes. In Deuteronomy 7:6, He calls us a special treasure, a term imbued with emotional depth, indicating not just value but love. This is not a cold or distant regard; He loves us deeply and does not treat us carelessly. Each of us is an object of particular attention and care, set apart from the ordinary. In Malachi 3:17, we are described as individual jewels of great value, each one treasured by Him to the extent that He will spare us as His own son, reflecting a warm, personal caring for every individual within the body. Furthermore, His election of us, as seen in Romans 9, underscores that we are here entirely by His choice. Just as He chose Jacob before birth, without any action on Jacob's part, He has hand-picked each of us for this opportunity. This personal selection by the Great God, who created everything, affirms that we are jewels in His treasure house, loved as He loves His own Son. This should fill us with encouragement and confidence, knowing that He does not overlook any of us.
The Providence of God (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod's care, often termed as His providence, encompasses His protective and providing nature over His creation. He sustains all things continuously, as evidenced by the immense miracles during the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. With a vast number of people, estimated between two to three and a half million, God parted the Red Sea wide enough for thousands to cross abreast in a single day, ensuring their escape. He provided food daily for forty years, enough to fill mile-long trains for each meal, and supplied water in similar abundance, meeting their needs in the wilderness where they camped in areas half the size of a small state. This providence is not limited to grand miracles but extends to everyday needs and trials. God's care involves both blessings and what may seem like curses, yet all work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. His sovereignty touches on pain, suffering, and even perplexing events, as seen in the life of Job, where despite obedience, calamity struck, revealing that God's purposes often transcend human understanding. Job learned to accept that God can do anything He desires, shaping circumstances for His creative ends. God's involvement is constant, upholding all things by the word of His power, as Jesus Christ sustains creation without ceasing. He intervenes in natural laws as He sees fit, whether dividing the Red Sea, causing a deluge to neutralize enemies, or providing for David in distress. This care is not selective in a simplistic sense of rewarding righteousness and punishing sin, especially as seen in the New Testament where providence ties to the new creation in Christ, sometimes requiring suffering to mold us into His image. Even in judgment, God's providence shows mercy, as with David, where despite severe sin, He spared his life while imposing painful consequences. God's care extends to all, providing for enemies and creating both good and calamity, affirming His sovereignty over all aspects of life, including disease and death. This complex care challenges us to accept both the favorable and the painful as part of His overarching plan, humbling us as we recognize His intimate involvement in every detail of existence, working meticulously to transform us into His likeness.
The Unique Greatness of Our God (Part Four)
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Bible tells us that, far from being the unconcerned and inattentive Creator that the Deists envisioned, God is intimately involved in His universe.
God's Good Work in Us
Sermon by John O. ReidDespite the privileged position of our calling, God does not cut us any slack in terms of trials and tests to perfect us. We must accept God's sovereignty.
How Does God Help Us? (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe trials we go through are part of His providence, putting us into humility and determining what really motivates us.
The Sovereignty of God (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThose who have made a covenant with God can be corrupted unless they make a concerted effort to know God, realizing He has the right to do as He pleases.
The Promises of God
Sermon by John O. ReidIn this time of confusion and rapid change, we have a desperate need for something solid to hold onto. Some of the most secure things are the promises of God.
Our Part in God's Will
Sermonette by Austin Del CastilloWhile it is good to acknowledge God's will in our prayers and know that His decisions will stand, we must also remember that God's mind can be changed.
Divine Providence (Part One)
CGG Weekly by Mike FuhrerGod's providence is a subject that few people, even in God's church, have a full grasp on. Most look on it too narrowly, but we must consider it carefully.
Psalms: Book One (Part Six)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughPsalm 23 depicts the gratitude we should display from a sheep's point of view, as the animal boasts of blessings and marvels about the care of his Shepherd.
Providence
Sermonette by James BeaubelleStudying examples of God's hand both favoring and putting down, we must reach out to Him daily for His Divine Providence to be at work in their lives.
Abraham's Sacrifice (Part Five): Promises Confirmed
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughSome critical scholars, unable to distinguish between conditional and unconditional promises, mistakenly jump to the conclusion that God cannot be trusted.
Sparrows, Don't Be Afraid
Sermonette by Ted E. BowlingMatthew 10:29-31 and Luke 12:24 assure Christ's disciples that nothing escapes the attention of God, including the flight patterns of the lowly sparrows.
Do Not Be Afraid!
'Ready Answer' by Ted E. BowlingOur Savior utilizes the forgettable sparrow to teach about God's watchfulness and care over His 'little flock' and each of His chosen people in it.
Don't Grow Weary While Doing Good
Sermonette by Ryan McClureWhen facing the character-building tests God provides, we may become weary, forgetting that these trials are necessary for God to test what is in our hearts.
Making Faithful Choices (Part One)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsGideon began his life as a coward, became a conqueror, and ended a compromiser, all the while needing assurances from God to bolster his flagging faith.
The Christian and the World (Part Ten)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughAnxiety and fretting (symptoms of coveting and idolatry), in addition to cutting life short, erode faith, destroying serenity by borrowing tomorrow's troubles.
Confidence
Sermon by James BeaubelleWe are called to cultivate unwavering confidence in God, trusting that He will complete His good work. This confidence is refined through trials that produce maturity.
Stressed Out
Sermonette by Ryan McClureMoses, Job, and Elijah all suffered debilitating stress. Jesus endured overwhelming stress, sweating blood, but trusting His Father's sovereign purpose.
Psalm 23 (Part One)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughOf all animals, sheep need the most care and are extremely vulnerable to predators, pests, and fear, leading to extremely dependent and trusting behavior.
Our Part in the Sanctification Process (Part Eight) Cultivating the Fruit of Faithfulness
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by David F. MaasThe only tangible measures of faith is faithfulness, trust, and loyalty to God. We don't need to ask God for more faith, but rather work on being faithful.
Days of Trials
Sermonette by James BeaubelleThe conversion process resembles a battle, requiring that we must put on armor, expecting continuous skirmishes to enter God's Kingdom victoriously.
Psalms: Book Three (Part Three)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughPsalm 75 reveals that God both promotes and removes individuals from positions of power and He has the final say as to how power will be administrated.
Parables of Luke 15 (Part One)
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsJesus' discourse in Luke 15 is essentially one distinct parable with three illustrations. He reveals that He came into the world to seek and save the lost.
Antidotes to Fear and Depression
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe key to overcoming the fear of loss of control is to admit that God is in control. If we have our priorities straight, God will take care of our anxieties.
Faith Over Fear
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWhen it looks like things are out of control, God is busily at work behind the scenes. If we replace anxiety with faith, God will grant us divine peace.