Playlist: Appearances, Deceptiveness of (topic)
Beware of False Prophets
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsFalse prophets promote the broad way, giving people what they want to hear. They replace God's truth with human tradition. They are identified by their fruit.
Seeing is Not Believing
Sermonette by Ryan McClureWe have the tendency when we see something to register it as truth imprinted on our minds. Jesus warned of deceptions that could confound our sense of sight.
Looks Fair, Feels Foul
Sermon/Bible Study by Richard T. RitenbaughBe wary of things and people that appear attractive and fair on the outside, but are actually foul and destructive underneath. Evaluate the fruit.
More Righteous Than the Pharisees?
Sermon by John O. ReidThe Pharisees were in the office or seat of Moses. Jesus taught His followers to follow their words (pertaining to the Law of God), but not their personal examples.
Reconciliation and Unity
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIt is foolish and pointless to use the same charm, social skills, and duplicity toward God as we use to deceive others and, sadly, even ourselves.
Matthew (Part Twelve)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughTo establish sound doctrine, we must build on the foundation Christ's teaching, taking the straight and narrow course rather than the wisdom of this world.
Matthew (Part Eleven)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughLife consists of a series of choices, often a dilemma of a pleasurable choice on one hand and a difficult choice (that produces more growth) on the other.
Deceiving the American Public
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Although previously cohabiting and homosexuality were viewed with repulsion, political correctness has coerced society to look upon these as normal.
The Leavening of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herod
Sermonette by Ted E. BowlingJesus warned of three varieties of leaven that we must guard against, staying aware of the pitfalls that will pull us down and corrupt us.
Knowing God: Formality and Customs (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe notion that it does not matter what we wear if our heart is right on the inside is foolish. Our clothing ought to reflect our inward character.
Satan (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughSatan uses disinformation, spread through false ministers/prophets, teaching smooth things that destroy. We must test the spirits to ensure a teaching is from God.
Life in the Church
Sermon by David C. GrabbeOutwardly, many members in Sardis bore Christ's name, but like the apparently religious Pharisees, they were in reality hypocrites, full of dead men's bones.
The Sovereignty of God (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThose who have made a covenant with God can be corrupted unless they make a concerted effort to know God, realizing He has the right to do as He pleases.
Why Did the Jews Hate Jesus?
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe elites' jealousy over losing political power fueled their hatred of Jesus. Conflict between those who have power and those who want it is a way of life.
Ambassadors for Christ
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsWe are sojourners, pilgrims, aliens, and ambassadors, living among, yet separate from, the peoples of this present world. We must be loyal to our spiritual family.
The Providence of God (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod uses calamities as part of His creative process. Like Jacob, who initially succumbed to weak faith and fear, we must repent of our loss of devotion to God.
Acts (Part Seven)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughLuke records the confrontation of the apostles and the Sanhedrin. Amazingly, the apostles found an ally in Gamaliel, a Pharisee and grandson of Hillel.
The Secret Sin Everyone Commits
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsSelf-righteous people tend to trust in their own heart, be wise in their own eyes, justify themselves, despise or disregard others, and judge or condemn others.
Camouflage and Salvation
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughSatan has provided what appear to be plausible alternatives to Christ's sacrifice for salvation, like service, positive changes, and right thinking.
New Covenant Priesthood (Part Seven)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPride is the basis of resisting God, while humility is the key to a relationship with Him. We recognize it in others but we seldom see it in ourselves.
Lamentations (Part Seven; 1989)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughLamentations 3 and 4 show the stark contrast of a once proud people (secure in their wealth, technology, and cleverness) suffering bitter humiliation.
Absalom: A Study in Narcissism
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughProbably the biblical character best exemplifying the narcissistic personality is David's son, Absalom, clearly a spoiled son in a dysfunctional family.
God Will Understand
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsGod pays attention to the small things we may excuse in ourselves, sins we commit in weakness. God's patience does not constitute approval of our sin.
The Commandments (Part Eight)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughIn our hectic culture, we commit far too little time to God, depriving ourselves of the Holy Spirit and attenuating the faith required to draw close to God.
God Expects a Return on His Investment (Part One)
Sermon by David F. MaasWe have the obligation to bear spiritual fruit, heeding the lessons of the cursing of the fig tree, and the parables of the barren fig tree and the talents.
Job and Self-Evaluation (Part Two): Perspective
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughJob's three 'friends,' exemplars of all men, made critical assumptions and judgments about Job on the basis of biased religious and cultural tradition.
Is God's Inspiration of the Bible Imperfect?
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsWhen properly evaluated, there are no discrepancies in scripture; God is not the author of confusion. God does not enlighten us until we are mature enough.
Leadership and the Covenants (Part Twelve)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)The first use of the word 'grace' in Scripture is in context with the rescuing of Noah, a preacher of righteousness from the line of Seth.
The Handwriting Is On the Wall (2010)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)A perception is how we affix significance to what we look at. With a distorted perception, we will not accept reality; our perception becomes our reality.
Does Doctrine Really Matter? (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughMost people have not used the Word of God as their standard of morality and conduct, but instead are allowing society and culture to shape their attitudes.
Imagination
Sermon by John O. ReidSatan works on us through our imagination; he broadcasts images to our minds. To counter this, we must resist him, practice humility and draw close to God.
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.