Godly Regret
Sermonette by Ryan McClureWorldly sorrow is superficial and unproductive, while godly sorrow yields not only repentance, but also a bumper crop of the fruits of God's Holy Spirit.
A Man of Sorrows
CGG Weekly by John W. RitenbaughJesus anticipated what was coming on the nation, prepared for it as well as He could, and persevered through it along with the rest of His fellow citizens.
Repentance: The Genuine Article (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughTrue repentance involves pain, particularly emotional pain. To repent is wrenching to the psyche. It really hurts because it is difficult to do.
Repentance: The Genuine Article (Part Five)
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughWe recognize our need to change when we see, not necessarily how we are, but how we compare to and fall woefully short of the perfect righteousness of God.
Repentance: The Genuine Article (Part Three)
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughWhen we repent, we turn off the path that leads to destruction and onto the narrow path—through the strait gate—that leads to life in the Kingdom of God.
Guilt: Our Spiritual Pain
Article by David F. MaasPain is not something we normally consider positive, nor is guilt. However, David Maas argues, guilt is like pain in that it is a spiritual warning signal to change course!
A Contrite Heart
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsThe contrite or brokenhearted person finds special favor with God, and a humble or contrite spirit is indeed a precursor to forgiveness and spiritual healing.
Repentance and Righteousness (Part 1)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughNothing happens in our lives (including repentance) until God initiates it. A change of heart, by God's Holy Spirit, results in a total change of direction.
Overcoming (Part 10): Self-Pity
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsWe all have low days, but when our despondency turns to self-pity, we have a problem. 'Woe is me' can hamper our growth because it is self-centeredness.
The Beatitudes, Part Three: Mourning
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughBlessedness and mourning seem contradictory, but obviously Jesus saw spiritual benefits to sorrow. True, godly mourning gets high marks from God.
Basic Doctrines: Repentance
Bible Study by StaffRepentance is a condition for baptism, and ultimately of conversion and salvation. It is also a lifelong process—one never stops needing to repent.
Soldier On! (Part One)
CGG Weekly by John ReissPeople often give up when tragedy or adversity strikes. We all make mistakes. But God does not want His people to think that failure is the end of the road.
True or False Guilt?
Sermonette by Ted E. BowlingTed Bowling, acknowledging that God has perfect memory, reminds us that God chooses not to remember our sins as long as we don't repeat them. We, on the other hand are often plagued with the memories of past guilt come for sins we have committed. Guilt is a natural consequence of breaking God's Law, but it can become a curse and …
Matthew (Part Four)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughMatthew's encapsulation of the Beatitudes, the essence of Jesus Christ's teaching, contains the foundation of His teaching through the entirety of His ministry.
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Eighteen)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe accept most of our opinions, prejudices, and beliefs unconsciously. We must scrutinize our own beliefs through the principles of God's Holy Scriptures.
Lamentations (Part Three)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh warns that these laments contain little that is jovial or uplifting, but instead are saturated in despair, sorrow, mourning, and even recrimination against God on the part of a personified Jerusalem, whom God depicts as a grieving widow, blaming others for her troubles while overlooking her own sins as the …
Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Eight): Death
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughEcclesiastes 7:1-4 highlight the Bible's attitude toward death, particularly its insistence that we allow the reality of death to change our approach to life.
The Fruit of Repentance
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe may feel sorry or even guilty when we sin, but have we actually repented? The Scriptures show that true repentance produces these seven, distinct fruits.
Lamentations (Part Six)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh, asking why Christians should ruminate about sorrow and grief instead of focusing on happy thoughts, reminds us that death and suffering are staple features of the human condition and that we need to learn how to handle grief and loss, thereby becoming a witness for those who do not yet know the truth. Isaiah …
Caveats About Self-Examination
Sermon by David F. MaasDavid Maas, anticipating the forthcoming Passover, and the stern warning from the apostle Paul that we thoroughly examine ourselves, cautions us to be very careful how we undertake this self-examination. We must realize that (1) taking the Passover in an unworthy manner can result in serious physical or spiritual hazards, (2) …
Is Ignorance Truly Bliss?
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeDavid Grabbe, examining the saying, "ignorance is bliss," implying that a measure of peace may come to us if we do not know something that might be disturbing, cautions us that this ignorance is dangerous when it comes to the spiritual preparation of self-examination before the Passover. Self-evaluation is foundational …
