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.
United With Whom?
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeOur relationship with God is the key to unity with the brethren. When we are all just like Christ, we will also all resemble each other—and there will be unity.
The Pursuit of Unity
CGG Weekly by Levi W. GrahamJesus was confronted with a situation that could have stirred up pride to fight back. Despite having all power, He chose to work toward unity rather than destruction.
Unity and Personal Responsibility
'Ready Answer' by John W. RitenbaughHumanity is tragically disunited. Here is what we must do, individually, when calamitous events—in the world and in the church—are taking place.
Unity and Division: The Blessing and the Curse (Part One)
'Ready Answer' by Charles WhitakerUnity seems to be 'godly,' while division is 'ungodly.' However, unity and division are not as black and white as we typically think of them.
Trends in Global Religion
'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. RitenbaughRon Sellers, a religious trend watcher, sees great instability in world religion, and it is mirrored in God's church. Richard Ritenbaugh shows how this dovetails with Bible prophecy of the end time.
Psalm 133
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughUnity comes only through the initiation of God. If we would follow the suggestions in Romans 12, we could do our part in promoting unity in God's church.
Unity and Division (Part One)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeEven though God desires brethren to dwell in peace and unity, at times HE ordains and causes disruption and division. How do we explain this apparent paradox?
Pride, Contention, and Unity
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughThe sin of pride underlies many of our other sins, and it is often the reason for the contentions we get into as brethren.
Humble Your Hearts and Be No Longer Stubborn
Sermonette by Bill OnisickThe peace that passes all understanding comes from yielding to God's will, asking Him for a soft, pliable heart to replace the hard heart of stubbornness.
God's Perseverance With His Saints (Part Three)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, concluding his series "God's Perseverance with the Saints," focuses on Christ's desire that all His disciples have unity and love. The unity He appeals for is not organizational unity, but unity within the divine nature, exampled in the unity between the Father and the Son. This unity operationally …
Unity (2006)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLike the symphony orchestra, only as an instrumentalist submits to the leader, working with the other members of the ensemble, can unity be accomplished.
Unity (Part 7): Ephesians 4 (D)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughBecause of our lack of self-discipline and willingness to guard the truth, we have allowed our theological base to deteriorate under the persuasion of the world.
Differences of Opinion
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, referencing the scriptural teaching that God is not the author of confusion (I Corinthians 14:33), asserts that the breaking of God's law has brought the curses of Deuteronomy 28 onto the offspring of Jacob. Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44), champions self-opinion and mob behavior. From the very beginning, …
Spirit of Peace
CGG Weekly by Gary MontgomeryThe spirit in the world inspires chaos and hatred. But to the Christian, it seems even more intense. How are we supposed to react to these things?
The Epistles of II and III John (Part Two)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins focuses on the second and third epistles of John, letters. Second John warns Christians against false teachers and the necessity not to let down their guard, realizing that deception is possible when they move 'progressively' against doctrines of Christ, as had occurred in the final years of the Worldwide Church …
Unity
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJesus, in His prayer recorded in John 17, fervently asks for unity among His Disciples (and by extension-all of us). Almost 20% of this prayer is devoted to the subject of unity, that His disciples would be unified with God the Father and with each other, as Jesus is unified with the Father. If we aren't unified with our …
Of One Accord
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughConfusion and separation have been man's legacy since Eden. Christ is working to put an end to division, enabling us to be one with the Father and each other.
Goats on the Left
Article by Mike FordGoats are intelligent creatures, but also loners and devious. Understanding their characteristics helps us in evaluating our own tendencies that hinder our walk.
Glory and Oneness
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeIn Christ's Passover prayer, He states that the glory the Father had given Him had also been given to the disciples. Christ's glory is the key to being one.
Unity and Unleavened Bread
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, reflecting on Jesus Christ's prayer for unity in John 17, insists that unity with our brethren is impossible without unity with God first. Adam and Eve severed this unity by yielding to Satan's influence, stimulating their minds with a novel diversion. Sin automatically separates us from God. The key to …
Grace, Faith, and Love
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh observes that although each of God's festivals depicts increasingly larger numbers of people being drawn to God, the counter pulls emanating from sinful carnal human nature war against the prompts of God's Holy Spirit, producing continual conflict. Choosing between these two opposite poles is something we have to …
Unity (Part 3): Ephesians 4 (A)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh reiterates that God alone chooses the servants through whom He works His will. Sometimes the rationale God uses for selecting His vessels defies worldly wisdom. The major reason for the horrendous split of the greater church of God was the rejection of the doctrines God's servant and Apostle Herbert Armstrong had …
Unity (Part 2): God's Pattern of Leadership
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod is not the author of confusion, but throughout the scriptures has used a consistent pattern of appointing leaders over His called-out ones.
All in All
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughHave you ever wondered what 'all in all' means in relation to God and Christ? This term has great significance to us today.
Understanding Unity
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, focusing on the alarming fragmentation and disunity taking place throughout society and within God's church, assures us that God will ultimately answer Jesus' five-fold prayer for unity in John 17:11. We have a vital part to play in bringing about this unity, beginning with the marriage institution and families. …
What Is the Work of God Now? (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh admonishes the greater church of God that we make a conscious effort to feed the flock (devoting more effort, time, energy, and money than for preaching the Gospel as a witness for the world) until we get ourselves straightened out first. To preach to the world and ignore a disintegrating flock is like a husband …
The Christian and the World (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe must realize we are walking on a razor's edge, with the Kingdom of God on one side and the world with all its sensual magnetic charms on the other side.
Division, Satan, Humility
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThroughout the course of Biblical history, whenever sin appears, confusion, division and separation are the automatic consequences.
Knowing God
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughTo fulfill one's purpose, one must be singularly focused on what one wants to accomplish. Divided minds result in no productivity or even devastation.
Debate
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh contends that we in the church should side neither with the progressive (liberal) worldview nor the traditional (conservative) worldview, but march to the beat of a different drummer. Americans, as part of the culture of Israel, debate absolutely everything. The Bible takes a very dim view of argument, debate, …
The Beatitudes, Part 7: Blessed Are the Peacemakers
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughThis world lauds warmakers, but God says that peacemakers are blessed. The first step in becoming a peacemaker is to be reconciled to God.
What Is the Work of God Now? (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh takes issue with the popularly held notion that preaching the Gospel to the world as a witness is the sole identifying mark of God's church. There is a vast difference between "preaching the Gospel to the world" and "making disciples"- the major focus in Matthew 28:20. The largest portion of …
James and Unleavened Bread (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh asserts that the epistle of James stresses both faith and works, emphasizing those factors necessary for growth, enabling us to produce a bountiful harvest of fruit. We are to exercise humility and impartiality, taking particular effort to bring our tongues under control, being cautiously slow to speak, …
A Time To Scatter
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeDavid Grabbe, cuing in on Ecclesiastes 3:1-3, reminds us that God has designed sequential seasons in which various events occur as a part of a long-term plan. God plans the season; we only get to choose whether and how to respond. There is a time to gather and a time to throw away; there is a time to embrace and a time to …
Disintegration
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeOur advanced communications, which have allowed globalism, are also bringing about tribalism. Rather than uniting everyone, they are dividing.
Many Are Called, But Few Are Chosen (Part Six)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsLike the four groups of seeds exposed to various qualities of soil, many have heard the true gospel, but few have remained faithful after the onslaught of hardship.
Living by Faith: Humility and God's Justice
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughHumility, poverty of spirit, and acknowledging our total dependence on God are of the utmost importance. God responds to those who are humble.
Together We Stand - But on What?
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsPaul, using the body analogy in I Corinthians, focuses on the need for unity and inter-relatedness by concentrating upon sound doctrine.
Philippians (Part 2)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh focuses upon Paul's motivation for his letter to the Philippians, both appealing for unity and offering encouragement, reminding them that their relationship with one another was through Christ. Unity could only be maintained if they prayed for one another, exercising reasoning, discerning, and discriminating …
Checklist for Overcoming
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh examines the problem of empty externalism (accompanied by no inward change) extant in the greater church of God- a problem which led to its scattering. All of us, individually and collectively were responsible for its demise. God has promised to hear our prayers if we humble ourselves and turn from our sins. …
Titus 2:11-14
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe are obligated to dress and keep what is placed in our care, improving what He has given to us. We dare not stand still, but must make effort to grow.
