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Prepare to Meet Your God! (The Book of Amos) (Part One)
Booklet by John W. RitenbaughThe book of Amos is an astounding prophecy, closely paralleling the conditions in the Western world today. Amos reveals how unrighteousness undermines society.
Prepare to Meet Your God! (The Book of Amos) (Part Two)
Booklet by John W. RitenbaughIsrael had every opportunity that the Gentiles did not have. God gave the Israelites gifts to live a better way, but they completely failed to reflect Him.
Amos (Part One)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughAmos gives a series of dire warnings, beginning with Israel's enemies, but concluding with a blistering indictment on Israel herself for her hypocrisy.
Amos 5 and the Feast of Tabernacles
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughHow can we evaluate whether our Feast is 'good' or not? God's criticism of Israel's feasts in Amos 5 teaches what God wants us to learn from His feasts.
Amos (Part Thirteen)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughThe people to whom Amos writes have the mistaken assumption that because they have made the covenant with God, they can bask in a kind of divine favoritism.
Amos (Part Five)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughModern Israel cannot see the connection between its own faithlessness to the covenant and the violence of society that mirrors her spiritual condition.
Amos (Part Eleven)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughAncient Israel had at the core of its religion an obsession to please the self at the expense of justice and the best interests of the disadvantaged.
Amos 5 and the Feast of Tabernacles
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIf we go to the Feast with the goal of physically enjoying, we may lose out on both the spiritual and physical benefits. 'Going through the motions' defiles it.
Amos 5 and the Feast
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Just because we keep God's feasts does not necessarily mean we are in sync with God's Law or intent. The Israelites kept the feasts in a carnal manner.
Amos (Part Eight)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughAmos severely chides Israel for exalting symbolism over substance, superstitiously trusting in locations where significant historical events occurred.
Amos (Part Six)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughThe favorite-son status of Israel was conditioned on accepting the terms of the covenant with God. Israel, then and now, has placed her trust in material things.
Amos (Part Ten)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughGod requires a higher standard of righteous behavior from those who have consciously made a covenant with Him and are acquainted with His Law.
Amos (Part Nine)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughAncient Israel regarded Bethel, Gilgal, and Beersheba as a sacred shrines, but were not becoming spiritually transformed as a result of pilgrimages.
Amos (Part Seven)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughGod, through His prophets, warns that He will chasten His people with increasing severity until they repent and begin to reflect His characteristics.
Amos (Part Fourteen)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughAmos indicts rampant, dishonest practices, placing gain above honesty, morality, or ethics, and arrogantly and covetously exploiting the needy for profit.
Amos (Part Twelve)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughGod will do what He must to bring Abraham's seed to repentance and salvation, including allowing crisis, hardship, humiliation, and calamity.
Amos (Part Four)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughAmos, like a circling hawk, makes dire pronouncements on all of Israel's enemies but reserves the harshest judgment for Israel, who should have known better.
Amos (Part Two)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughThe book of Amos is addressed to the ones who have made the new covenant with God. Having made the covenant, we must remember that privilege brings peril.
Amos (Part Three)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughGentile nations without God's revelation were held accountable for basic principles of humanity. God reserves the severest penalty for Judah and Israel.
Peace and Safety
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeWithout national repentance, there will be national calamity. Being the world's sole superpower matters not a whit if God is against us.
Take Heed and Remember the Less Fortunate
Sermon by Kim MyersWhen a nation loses its morals, people feel free to take advantage of one another, especially the poor. God hates seeing the poor oppressed.
Meet the Minor Prophets (Part Two)
'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. RitenbaughThe twelve books of the Minor Prophets—including Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah—are often overlooked in favor of the Major Prophets and the four gospels.
Divine Warning
Commentary by John W. RitenbaughOn 9/11, the political and spiritual leadership of America absolved itself from any culpability, refusing to acknowledge our national collective sins.
Unity and Personal Responsibility
'Ready Answer' by John W. RitenbaughHumanity is tragically disunited. Here is what we must do, individually, when calamitous events—in the world and in the church—are taking place.
Was the Wave a Warning?
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeIs there a reason the nations of southern and southeastern Asia have been so affected, yet those of modern Israel were relatively unharmed?
Divine Warning
Article by John W. RitenbaughThe terrorist attacks of September 11 were a divine warning, especially to God's church, to return speedily to a right relationship with Him.
Prophecy and the Sixth-Century Axial Period
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughProphecy has many purposes, but it is never intended to open the future to mere curiosity. Its higher purpose is to give guidance to the heirs of salvation.
September 11 One Year On
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughAs the nation remembers the victims of terrorism, it is fitting to ask, 'Has the tragedy of September 11, 2001, changed us for the better?'
Zephaniah (Part Two): God's Wrath on the Whole World
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughEven though the Gentiles will be punished, only Israelites had a special relationship with God, and consequently were more accountable for their failure.
Considering the Day of the Lord
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeThe ancient Israelites smugly believed that God was on their side, and that because He had not yet responded to their sins, they would be victorious.
Love Thy Neighbor
Sermon by John O. ReidAs the Good Samaritan took pity on what normally would be his adversary, we are obligated to be sensitive to the needs of those around us, enemy and friend.
Rejoice in God's Feast
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)God can take satisfaction that He is doing the right thing, and thus His rejoicing can even come from painful judgments. Sacrificing and rejoicing are linked.
Don't Be Indifferent
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe frightful Trumpet Plagues are coming on the world because of the breaking of covenants on the part of people who should have known better.
The Goodness and Severity of God (Part Two)
'Prophecy Watch' by Charles WhitakerGod seems to display irreconcilable contradictions, such as great wrath and deep compassion. Yet these are not contradictory traits but rigorous responses.
Laodiceanism and Being There Next Year
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughOur biggest danger at this time is to be lured into spiritual drunkenness by the pagan Babylonian system. Our God is not what we say we worship but whom we serve.
Power
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeDuring Amos' day, people were busy making money, being entertained, and practicing their religion. But God was also busy—sending famines, droughts, and epidemics.
Be There Next Year
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughMembers of God's church usually come home from the Feast of Tabernacles with renewed strength. Yet, some fall away each year. Here's how to stay the course.
The Handwriting Is on the Wall (2000)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThose entrusted with power within the community and nations are taking advantage of their positions, metaphorically raping those who have no power.