Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe are not individually sovereign, but we are taught to give ourselves over completely to God's sovereignty. If we do, we will reap unfathomable blessings.
Patterns of Resistance (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by Joseph B. BaityA vicious circle begins with elevating ourselves in relation to God, which leads to our failure to submit. Separated from God, we then lie to ourselves, neglecting any opportunity for repentance.
Patterns of Resistance (Part One)
CGG Weekly by Joseph B. BaityIt is natural, as age increases, for a person to feel the end creeping up on him or her, and we begin asking how, when, where, and what is to be our end.
God's Creation and Our Works
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLike Joseph, we need to realize that God—not ourselves—is the Creator, engineering events that form us into what He wants us to become.
The Sovereignty of God: Part Eight
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughIf God is manipulating everything in His sovereignty, why pray? What does prayer teach us? Here is why God commands us to come before Him in prayer.
The Providence of God (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe have to exercise faith, realizing the timing will be right for us, enabling us to accept His provisions and decisions for us without fear or anxiety.
Image and Likeness of God (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe true nature of God differs greatly from the trinitarian concept. Having created us in His form and shape, God desires to develop us into His character image.
Resistance (Part Two): Solutions
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh continues his exposé of artistic and spiritual resistance, an analogy derived from Stephen Pressfield's The War of Art, a manual designed to overcome artistic resistance and many forms of self-sabotage. The core of self-sabotage is our carnal human nature, which absolutely abhors any change which leads to …
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 …
God Works in Mysterious Ways (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod has providentially given us trials to build character, proving beyond a doubt that we believe Him and have a burning desire to be at one with Him.
Patterns of Resistance
Sermonette by Joseph B. BaityJoseph Baity observes that God's thought patterns demonstrate perfection, while man's thought patterns are seriously flawed and corrupted by sin. One of the most egregious of man's twisted thought patterns has two parts: (1) We seek to elevate ourselves above God, and (2) we lie to ourselves in relation to the first pattern. The …
The Sovereignty of God (Part Eight)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe purpose of prayer is not to overcome God's reluctance, but to help in yielding to His will. 'Prayer changes things' is only true if it conforms to God's will.
What Is the Work of God Now? (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh reiterates that neglecting to feed the flock has been detrimental to preaching the gospel to the world. Because of this unwitting neglect, many members succumbed to the "lost in the crowd" syndrome, feeling insignificant, meaningless, and useless. The vine and branches analogy (John 15:1-6) and the body …
Living By Faith: Humility
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughParadoxically, God stoops to us when we humble ourselves. Humility produces honor from God; if we humble ourselves, He will hear us.
Vulnerable
Sermonette by Joseph B. BaityWhile we are all different, we are all vulnerable to something, such as fear of deprivation, harm or shame. In response, we all create protective defense mechanisms.
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Fourteen)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, reflecting on Solomon's ruminations about life being seemingly futile and purposeless, reiterates that a relationship with God is the only factor which prevents life from becoming useless. As many celebrities and public figures withdraw to spend more time with families, so must we withdraw from the rat race of …
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Eight): Time
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, cuing in on Ecclesiastes 2:24-26, affirms that enjoyment from one's labor comes from the LORD and that the proper use of our allotted time becomes increasingly more relevant as we anticipate the conclusion of our physical lives. Solomon instructs us to adjust our attitude from under the sun (carnal, …
Sovereignty, Election, and Grace (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh explores several nuances of the term grace, describing a generous, thoughtful action of God, accompanied by love, which accomplishes His will, equipping us with everything we will need to be transformed into the Bride. Even though we, like Jeremiah, may feel timid and underpowered, God is always out in front, …
Sovereignty, Election, and Grace (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIn this message on the subject of planning and God's sovereignty, John Ritenbaugh stresses that we are obliged to respond to God because He has interfered in our lives, causing us to repent, giving us His Holy Spirit, and limiting our options. We should plan our lives to be in sync with God's planning and purposes for our lives. …
Pride, Humility, and Fasting
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe intent of fasting is to deflate our pride—the major taproot of sin—the biggest deterrent to a positive relationship with God. Humility heals the breach.
Sovereignty and Its Fruit: Part Ten
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughOnce we accept God's sovereignty, it begins to produce certain virtues in us. John Ritenbaugh explains four of these byproducts of total submission to God.
Living by Faith: Human Pride
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughOur human nature is pure vanity with a heart that is desperately deceitful and wicked, motivated by self-centeredness, a deadly combination for producing sin.
Deuteronomy (Part 5) (1994)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh describes the process through which God perfects His image in us, linking three sub-themes: 1) God's disciplining, 2) our listening, and 3) God's watchful care. Obedience to God's Word strengthens us, enabling us to receive our spiritual heritage. Remembering the lamentable condition of our slavery to sin and …
