Sermons and Biblical Studies

by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," November 1999 Herbert Armstrong mentioned on several occasions that one of the first things he said in prayer to God was to thank Him that He is God. This expression of gratitude encompassed his understanding of the enormous difference that exists between the kind, wise, patient, loving yet all-powerful … Continue reading “The Sovereignty of God: Part Two”

by Staff Forerunner, "Ready Answer," November 1999 Does God expect perfection? Indeed, He does, but not all at once. Step by step we are to become perfect in keeping God's law just as our heavenly Father is (Matthew 5:48). Our attitude, though, can be perfect today already. The way to accomplish this is to seek … Continue reading “Works of Faith (Part Two)”

by Martin G. Collins Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," November 1999 Complaints abound regarding the health and welfare of our children. Dr. Luther Holt, known as one of America's first and finest pediatricians, says: “The conditions which kept child life simple and natural 50 years ago have greatly changed since that time. On every side there is … Continue reading “The Century of the Child”

by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," September-October 1999 Most of us in the Western world have the terms “sovereign” or “sovereignty” in our vocabulary of recognizable words, though we do not use them frequently. They are words many of us find difficult to define accurately. We vaguely understand they have something to do with rulership, … Continue reading “The Sovereignty of God: Introduction”

by Staff Forerunner, "Ready Answer," September-October 1999 The church of God has taught that God's grace does not abolish His law. The issue is not “law or grace” but “law and grace,” for the grace of God does not grant us license to transgress His law. God's spiritual law coexists with His grace. Even that … Continue reading “Works of Faith (Part One)”

by Staff Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," September-October 1999 In former days, cities possessed strong exterior walls to protect their people and wealth. Many cities had quite extensive defense mechanisms built in conjunction with these walls: glacis, moats, drawbridges, arrow slits, towers, gates, portcullis, etc. Stories of castles and fortifications and the battles that raged before them … Continue reading “Rebuilding the Wall”

by Richard T. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, September-October 1999 II Kings 4 contains four miracles the prophet Elisha performed during the reign of the Israelite king Jehoram (c. 850 BC). Each of these four miracles—multiplying the widow's oil (II Kings 4:1-7), raising the Shunammite's son (II Kings 4:8-37), purifying the pot of stew (II Kings 4:38-41) and … Continue reading “Elisha and the Shunammite Woman, Part II: Serving God’s Children”

by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," August 1999 Persecution! The very word can generate vivid images of hiding in terror of pursuing, implacable foes; of being found and resolutely facing the excruciating pain of torture meant to cause renunciation of cherished beliefs; and finally—hopefully—following faithful resistance to every agonizing constraint to deny the faith, of … Continue reading “The Beatitudes, Part 8: Blessed Are the Persecuted”

by Staff Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," August 1999 Recently, the media has generated a tremendous amount of news about a self-inflicted computer programming problem called Y2K. In the not-so-distant past, many computers were programmed to use only the last two digits in dates. For instance, computers saved January 17, 1978, as 01-17-78, assuming the century to … Continue reading “Y2K: You-2-the-Kingdom”

by Richard T. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, August 1999 The Old Testament contains scores of historical events, mostly from the lives of Israelites, many of whom struggled to learn and live God's way amidst a contrary culture, much as people in the church must do today. God purposely includes these “stories” in His Word to give us … Continue reading “Elisha and the Shunammite Woman, Part I: Reviving God’s Children”