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Teaching Us To Think (Part Three): Proving God's Will
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod is deeply invested in shaping our minds to align with His own, aiming for us to think as He and His Son do. His purpose is to develop in us a character that mirrors His, enabling us to react appropriately to any situation and make sound, wise decisions based on what we have learned and experienced. He desires for us to cultivate a likemindedness with Him, preparing us to rule alongside Him in His Kingdom. To achieve this, God subjects us to the proving grounds of human life, testing and refining our character. He works tirelessly to transform our thinking, urging us to reject conformity to this world and to renew our minds. This transformation is not merely a mental exercise but a profound reorientation, turning us away from worldly patterns toward His holy, righteous way of life. Through this process, we learn to prove what is good, acceptable, and perfect in His will, ensuring that our decisions and actions reflect His standards. God does not settle for superficial acceptance of His declarations. He expects us to test and live out His will through real-life experiences, embedding His principles deeply within our character. By putting His ways into practice, we confirm their value and superiority, engraving them into our very being. This proving process requires constant vigilance and effort, as we evaluate ourselves and our circumstances, striving to discern good from evil and to align our thoughts with His. As we navigate these challenges, God equips us with His Spirit to guide our understanding and help us perceive His will. He calls us to be alert, thoughtful, and circumspect, prioritizing this transformative journey without wasting time on distractions. Through persistent effort and a commitment to thinking as He does, we grow into the image of His Son, producing righteous fruit that glorifies Him.
Teaching Us to Think (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod is teaching us how to think, urging a complete reorientation of our minds toward His way of life. This transformation, as highlighted in Romans 12:1-2, requires us to sacrifice ourselves as living offerings, submitting fully to His will with unwavering commitment. We must reprogram our innermost selves, deleting old patterns of behavior and writing in superior code provided by His Spirit and Word, making these new habits ingrained so that we automatically choose the right path. The Greek term "anakainosis," meaning renewal or renovation, signifies a complete change for the better, adjusting our moral and spiritual vision to align with God's perspective. This renewal starts in our minds, transforming how we think and react, ultimately affecting how we live. God expects us to renovate our minds, much like flipping a house, by removing inferior elements and upgrading every function to the standard of Jesus Christ's own mind, enhancing our spiritual value. In Ephesians 4:23, using the cognate "anakainoo," we are called to renew our minds, making them new and superior. This involves taking off carnal, sinful conduct and putting on the holy, righteous character of the new man, Jesus Christ, replacing the contaminated influences of this world with the pure garments of God's righteousness. Through 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, we learn that God's Spirit reveals hidden wisdom, inaccessible to those without it, enabling us to think on a spiritual level. This Spirit guides us to compare spiritual truths with spiritual truths, reaching conclusions that reflect God's mind, while the natural man, lacking this key, cannot comprehend these mysteries. We have the mind of Christ within us as a gift, though not fully integrated, presenting both a potential and a responsibility to grow into His likeness through submission and effort. Finally, in Colossians 3, we are urged to be renewed in knowledge and image, refurbishing what we know by replacing wrong information with godly truth and imitating Jesus Christ as our ultimate goal. Letting His Word dwell richly in us through constant contemplation, study, and practices like singing hymns ensures it infuses our minds, facilitating real growth in the mind of Christ.
Teaching Us to Think (Part One)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod is teaching us to think as He does, and it is a critical task for us to embrace this learning with diligence. Thinking as God thinks involves a profound transformation of our minds, a shift from carnal to spiritual, from worldly to godly. This process begins with a willingness to be a living sacrifice, surrendering our own desires and comforts to align with His will. As we commit to this sacrifice, we open ourselves to the renewing of our minds, striving to understand and prove His perfect will through our actions. This transformation is not merely intellectual; it requires a complete reorientation of our thought processes, a conscious turning away from human nature and the influences of the world toward following God. Repentance, at its core, means changing the mind, deciding to reject sin, and choosing to live according to His ways. The mind must change before behavior can follow, for it is the mind that directs our conduct. We are called to grow in the mind of Christ, to let His mind be in us, as we battle the constant war within between flesh and Spirit. The carnal mind pulls us toward selfishness, while the Spirit urges us toward righteousness. True growth demands that we put the flesh to death, refusing to give in to its urges, and instead walk in the Spirit, ensuring our conduct reflects our belief. This journey from head and heart to behavior and works is essential, for without it, our growth remains incomplete. God's work in us centers on transforming our thinking, rewiring our minds to follow Christ in faith. By reorienting our minds toward Him, we position ourselves to live the abundant life He promises. It is past time for us to knuckle down and learn to think as He does, embracing the lessons He imparts with unwavering commitment.
Grace, Mercy, and Favor (Part Four): Favor to Live as God Lives
Sermon by Mark SchindlerWe earn God's favor by obedience; there is a direct tie between submission to His will and His favor. The more one submits, the more favor and grace accrues.
The Post-Resurrection Last Words of Christ (Part One)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsWe must be involved in proclaiming His message, feeding the flock, living His example, assuming the responsibilities of our awesome commission.
The Second Resurrection and Union With Christ
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWe are going to have to find ways to make God's way appealing to people of alien cultures, gently bringing them to a tipping point.
What Is Prayer?
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPrayer to a tool we must learn to use. Because we take on the characteristics of those we are around, we should keep company with God continually though prayer.
Facing Cultural Headwinds
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod's saints encounter great difficulties keeping their balance and moving toward the Kingdom while being buffeted by the anti-God, progressive culture.
What Is the Work?
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe work of God does not always stay the same, continually shifting media, techniques, and approaches, similar to the Israelites following the Cloud.