The Christian and the World (Part Eight)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughHaving anxiety, foreboding and fretting about food, clothing, and shelter, or being distressed about the future, demonstrates a gross lack of faith.
The World, the Church, and Laodiceanism
Booklet by John W. RitenbaughLaodiceanism is the attitude that dominates the end time. It is a subtle form of worldliness that has infected the church, and Christ warns against it strongly.
The Christian and the World (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe entire world is antagonistic to God because of the spirit generated by an unseen ruler. Our Christian duty is to stay awake and keep our guard up.
Priorities
Sermonette by Ryan McClureRyan McClure suggests that each year the calendar is filled with meaningful events, but what we consider important is modified by maturity and experience. Eventually, we learn that the world does not revolve around us and we defer to the needs of others. Our children teach us the magnitude of the selfishness we have emerged out …
Weeds!
Article by Mike FordDrawing an analogy between kudzu and the thorns in the Parable of the Sower, Mike Ford shows how we have to "weed out" detrimental habits that choke our lives. If we want to produce quality fruit, we must weed the garden!
Simplify Your Life!
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughTime—it marches relentlessly on, and we have only so much of it. Yet we waste a lot of it on foolish pursuits, procrastination and distractions. John Ritenbaugh explains how getting control of our time puts us in the driver's seat in our pursuit of God's Kingdom!
Parables of Matthew 13 (Part Two): The Parable of the Sower
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsThe first parable of Matthew 13 lays the groundwork (pun intended) for the remainder of the chapter. Martin Collins explains the various soils upon which the seed of the gospel falls, and the reasons why growth—or its lack—results.
Parable of the Sower
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsGod spreads His Word liberally among the world's people. Besides God's direct involvement in converting people, the difference between one growing in it and another "dying on the vine" is the soil in which the Word is planted, explained in Jesus' Parable of the Sower.
Beating the Rat Race (Part One)
CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh"But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase" (Daniel 12:4). ...
Parable of the Great Supper
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsThe Parable of the Great Supper is Jesus' response to a fellow dinner guest exclaiming, "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!" In the parable, Jesus exposes and corrects the ignorance of those who, in their pride, misjudge their true moral condition.
Praying Always (Part One)
Article by Pat HigginsLuke 21:36 says to 'Watch and pray always....' Does this refer to watching world events, or is there more to this verse spiritually than meets the eye?
Where the Eagles Are Gathered
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeDavid Grabbe, cuing in on verses in Matthew 24 and Luke 17, referring to the sign of eagles or vultures gathering together in the wake of God's impending judgment, corrects some misapplications of these verses, wherein people believe it refers to the Rapture. These pictures refer to the judgment against sin, providing a banquet …
Looking Back to the Future
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe dwelling in booths and the sacrifices were the context for rejoicing at the Feast of Tabernacles. The booths depict our current lives as pilgrims.
Don't Be Indifferent
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIn this sobering message, John Ritenbaugh warns us about our attitude or our perception of the greatest axial period (turning point) that will ever take place on this earth. We need to be sober and alert, realizing that we don't have an infinitude of time to prepare for Christ's second coming. We cannot allow ourselves to become …
Of Living Dogs and Dead Lions
Sermonette by Austin Del CastilloGuilt from failure to overcome is a dangerous distraction. When we consider God's profound pity, we realize that He is able to cleanse us, too.
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. Though God is shown to be merciful and just, the invitees' character is revealed to be wanting.
Preparing for the Feast
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughWhy does God want us to keep the Feast of Tabernacles? John Ritenbaugh shows that the Feast is far more than a yearly vacation!
The Flood Is Upon Us!
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughRevelation 12 pictures a flood proceeding from the mouth of the dragon, sweeping many away in a torrent of information that drowns out the truth.
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Eleven)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, reiterating that, although Ecclesiastes contains no direct prophecies, it does not present Christ as Savior, it contains no "thus saith the Lord" commands, and it makes no mention of Satan, nevertheless it does deals with quality of life issues for those who have been called, emphasizing responsibility …
Don't Be Indifferent
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh notes that labor-saving technology seems to have had the effect of separating us from each other and making us indifferent to things that should be important to us, such as family intimacy and preparing for God's Kingdom. Trumpets, a pivotal holy day and an event that looks backwards and forwards, is a holy …
Intimacy with Christ (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh emphasizes that the ordinary cares of life- making a living and being concerned with our security- have the tendency to deflect us from our real purpose- seeking God's Kingdom (Matthew 6:33) Becoming overburdened with devotion to wealth or surfeiting will cause us to lose our mobility or ability to stand, …
Where the Eagles Are Gathered
'Prophecy Watch' by David C. GrabbeJesus' statement that 'Wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together' is a warning that He will judge those who resist Him.
Is God in All Our Thoughts?
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWe must not allow the cares of the world, its pressures or its pride, to crowd God out of our thoughts, bringing about abominable works or evil fruits.
Focus!
Sermonette by Joseph B. BaityJoe Baity, drawing an analogy from the function of the camera lens to enable light rays to converge at a specific point, suggests that many spiritual parallels exist. Psalm 91:14-16 (ISV) states that God has focused His love on us, encouraging a reciprocal response. God wants to walk with us, sharing His path as Enoch and Abram …
Hebrews, Love, and the Ephesian Church
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh warns that the sheer variety of choices (distractions) available to us today (with their potential accompanying temptations and enervating time-wasting diversions) is extremely stressful because it automatically increases sin and lawlessness, automatically decreasing love, zeal, and affection. Like our society, …
What Does God Really Want? (Part 5)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh insists that true riches consist of what we are (or what we become) rather than what we have. True riches consist of those things that can be carried through the grave and into the Kingdom of God. The circumstances of our lives (totally determined by God)- health, sickness, wealth, poverty, etc. we could consider …
