Sermons and Biblical Studies

by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," May 12, 2021 In the last issue, we again broached the subject of the count to Pentecost, emphasizing the fact that God's instructions regarding the count should be applied consistently every year no matter when Passover might fall. Scripture contains no alternative counting method when Passover occurs on a … Continue reading “Pentecost Revisited (Part Two): Joshua 5”

by Mike Ford (1955-2021) Forerunner, "Ready Answer," May 5, 2021 “Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.” (Genesis 9:3) As Alice in Wonderland begins, Alice is lying in the grass on a hot summer day, idly doing nothing, when a white … Continue reading “Was Jesus a Vegetarian?”

by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021) Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," April 28, 2021 “Where the LORD goes, there are whirlwinds and storms, and the clouds are the dust beneath His feet.” (Nahum 1:3, New Century Version) In Part One, we saw that God possesses His own cloud; He enwraps Himself in it. “His cloud,” as David calls it … Continue reading “Clouds (Part Two): God’s Cloud as His Chariot”

by Joseph B. Baity Forerunner, "WorldWatch," April 21, 2021 Regardless of one’s perspective, the COVID-19 pandemic historically upended the global community. Of the many burdens the world has suffered in its wake, some of the greatest have been economic. In the United States, many businesses—large, medium, and small—were forced to shut down or dramatically scale … Continue reading “Universal Basic Income”

by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," April 14, 2021 The magnificent epistle to the Hebrews reveals a great deal about our God and Savior’s operations in spiritual activities in which He remains involved to this day. When He invites us into His church, we may know almost nothing that is actually true about Him. However, … Continue reading “Why Hebrews Was Written (Part Twelve): The Son’s Superiority Over Angels”

by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, April 7, 2021 As many know, 2008 is another of those years in which Passover falls on a weekly Sabbath. As such, it again brings into question when the Wavesheaf was anciently presented before God. Counting fifty days from that event determines when the church should observe Pentecost. Historically, the … Continue reading “Pentecost Revisited (Part One): Counting Consistently”

by Earl L. Henn (1934-1997) Forerunner, March 31, 2021 Years ago, I had a favorite question to ask ministers about the Feast of Unleavened Bread. “Why must we go through the physical act of putting leaven out of our homes before the Days of Unleavened Bread, but we are not required to be physically circumcised?” … Continue reading “Why We Must Put Out Leaven”

by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," March 24, 2021 The idea of human sacrifice is repugnant to our modern sense of decency and civility. We feel that those who practiced this act of appeasing the gods were ignorant savages of by-gone times. However, it is beyond question that Jesus of Nazareth, the only begotten Son … Continue reading “Christ, Our Passover”

by Ronny H. Graham Forerunner, "Ready Answer," March 10, 2021 “. . . to another discerning of spirits . . .” (I Corinthians 12:10) We have just come through a year like no other in our lifetimes. None of us will ever forget the many things that have transpired over the year of COVID-19 and … Continue reading “The Gift of Discernment and Godly Love”

by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021) Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," March 3, 2021 “God’s cloud led them on by day when they broke camp and set out.” (Numbers 10:34, The Voice) One of the most nuanced yet telling dichotomies in God’s Word is that of concealment and revelation. Keeping something under one’s hat is the opposite of bringing … Continue reading “Clouds (Part One): A Really Special Cloud”