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Tisha b'Av
Sermonette by Clyde FinkleaThe 9th of Av commemorates major historical tragedies. When it occurs on a Sabbath during a Shemitah (year of release), horrible things occur.
Lamentations (Part Two; 1989)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJerusalem recounts her sins as a nation, depending on her own strength or on her lovers (political alliances) rather than upon God.
Lamentations (Part One)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe book's five acrostic songs (chapters) answer the question, 'Why did this happen?' God brought the punishment on Judah because of gross and sustained sin.
Psalms: Book Three (Part One)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughBook Three of the Psalms deals with the somber theme of judgment on a people who have rejected their God and have produced much rotten spiritual fruit.
Psalms: Book Three (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughBook Three of the Psalms addresses the compulsion to fast and to mourn. Judah's faithlessness brought about the horrific destruction of Jerusalem on Av 9.
Fear and Faith (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by Mike FordThe spies returned on the 8th of Av, and as the 9th of Av began, the people murmured, beginning a long list of calamities to befall Israel on this date.
Psalms: Book Five (Part One): Psalms for the Winter Blues
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWinter is a time of cold, darkness, and sadness. As many as 10% of people in northern areas have Seasonal Affective Disorder. The Psalms for winter can help.
Pentecost and the Book of Ruth
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughAlthough many lessons of the book of Ruth allude to Old Covenant teachings, Ruth prefigures New Covenant principles such as mercy, Christ's care, and acceptance.
Thanksgiving or Self-Indulgence?
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughShould Christians celebrate Thanksgiving Day? Are all this world's holidays off limits? Here is how to determine their propriety.
Fear and Faith or Between a Rock
Sermonette by Mike FordGod's people are pressured by this evil age. We must remember that God will fight for us; we need to wait silently and patiently for His promised intervention.
The Time of Jacob's Trouble
Sermon by David C. GrabbeThe biblical concept of 'Jacob's Trouble" describes a lengthy period of severe divine punishment prophesied in Jeremiah 30:12, the worst time for Israel and Judah, but eventually culminating in their deliverance. The scriptures symbolically refer to summer (such as the 9th of Av) as a season of judgement, linking both historical and modern events (duality of prophecy), fulfilling prophecies of national apostasy and consequences. The consequences include economic collapse, military defeat, foreign domination, pestilence, war, and natural disasters necessitating extreme chastisement to provoke repentance. The curses of Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 can be seen as "warning shots" of God's displeasure over moral decay and national sins. Jacob's trouble, both in ancient times and current times, will strip Jacob's children of their autonomy, forcing a total reliance on Almighty God. The metaphor of labor pains is used to describe the pain and intensity of the trials which describes the inevitable, but transformative, suffering. We are warned against complacency, prioritizing godliness over any worldly alternatives, trusting God, and seeking His coming Kingdom. We must trust in God's sovereignty amid our trials, realizing that suffering is often a tool for sanctification. Consequently, we must faithfully await His timing for deliverance. While no one except God the Father knows the timeline, we should stay ready, clinging to Him. Thankfully, Jacob's Trouble is not an end, but an intense refining fire, leading to redemption for all who humbly submit to the sovereign will of God.
A Blessing in Winter?
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeHaggai's last two prophecies are given on, and revolve around, Kislev (or Chislev) 24. Historically, this date has been highly significant, and it will be again.