Acts (Part Nine)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh continues to reflect on Stephen's incendiary message to fellow Hellenistic Jews (ostensibly given in hopes of their repentance), chastising them for their perennial rejection of prophets and deliverers, including the greatest Deliverer ever sent (namely Jesus Christ), clinging instead superstitiously to the land, …
Why Hebrews Was Written (Part Three)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughHebrews was written to fulfill several needs of the first-century church. One of the most critical was to explain God's opening of eternal life to the Gentiles.
Call Upon the Name of the Lord
Sermonette by Austin Del CastilloShould we only pray to God the Father, given Christ's words in the model prayer and His proclamation that the Father was greater than He?
Does God Care About History?
Sermonette by Mike Ford (1955-2021)Mike Ford, reflecting upon the test for which people who want to become naturalized citizens must prepare (a quiz battery of ten questions from a pool of hundred) expresses incredulity that the average teenager, trained in liberal, progressive public schools, cannot even pass these basic tests. The dumbed-down populace of modern …
Abraham (Part Five)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughWe learn from Abraham's experience to trust God even when we have incomplete information. When we attempt to take the expedient way out, we will run into trouble.
Hebrews: Its Background (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe frightful conditions during the 1st century are typical of the times ahead. To weather these circumstances, we need the encouragement of Hebrews.
Magic Doesn't Work (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh reiterates that people are attracted to magic because they think it brings quick results, bringing them their fondest desires, erasing their fears and providing for their needs, altruistically cleaning up the annoyances of the culture and the people around them, and fashioning the world around them in their …
Acts (Part Eight)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh explains that Stephen ignited the ire of the Hellenistic Jews, a group passionately devoted to the temple, law and land as a defensive reaction to their historical scattering. Stephen rebukes them for their reactionary (almost superstitious) devotion to the past or reverence to a specific temple location, …
Resistance (Part One)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh, drawing a powerful analogy from a book by Dorthea Brand, focusing upon strategies to defeat writer's block and self-imposed creative sabotage experienced by every major writer, applies these insights to spiritual self-sabotage, namely resistance (which is ground zero of our carnal human nature.) As writers …
The Commandments (Part Fourteen)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughMany biblical examples illustrate that when the leader put his faith in God and submitted himself to God's rule, God supernaturally protected His people.
Forgiveness and the Perpetual Covenant of Peace
Sermon by Mark SchindlerIt is commonly thought that we pay no price for forgiveness, yet Scripture shows that God gives us significant responsibilities to be a part of His family.
Could You Stand Alone?
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh, reflecting on the disastrous Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989, focuses on the one brave unarmed man who resisted the tanks of the Chinese Red Army. Would we have the same courage to stand spiritually as this man was able to stand against physical dangers? The collective power of the saints will continue to …
Spiritual Renewal
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsPaul admonishes the Corinthians to resist contentions, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambition, backbiting, whispering, slander, conceit, and agitation.
The Covenant of Circumcision
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughCircumcision was the sign God gave Abraham indicating that his descendants would ascend to greatness, acquiring physical and spiritual blessings.
The Measure of Christ's Gift
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsJesus selected disciples with disparate temperaments, unifying them to accomplish a steadfast purpose. God disperses a wide diversity of spiritual gifts.