Sermons and Biblical Studies

by John O. Reid (1930-2016) Forerunner, June 1998 One of the primary instructions God gives us through Joel's prophecy—along with a command to fast—is, “Rend your heart, and not your garments” (Joel 2:13). In thinking about this, I was not sure how to “rend” my heart. We all know how to fast—what attitude to have … Continue reading “Recapture Your First Love!”

by Staff Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," June 1998 The 144,000—what a mysterious, unique group of people they are! For centuries, people in and out of God's church have wondered and argued about who they are. However, when we look at what the Bible says about them, their identity becomes clear. The Bible explains itself! The 144,000 … Continue reading “Who Are the 144,000?”

by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," May 1998 Dwight Eisenhower, former U.S. president and supreme Allied commander in Europe during World War II, was quoted by Richard Nixon in Six Crises as saying, “In preparing for battle, I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.” He said this because during the … Continue reading “The Fruit of the Spirit: Peace”

by Staff Forerunner, "Ready Answer," May 1998 The February 13, 1987, issue of The Missileer, a newspaper of the 45th Space Wing, U.S. Air Force, ran this brief and apparently true story by Colonel John W. Mansur: The mortar rounds landed in an orphanage run by a missionary group in the small Vietnamese village. The … Continue reading “No Greater Love”

by David F. Maas Forerunner, May 1998 An elementary art teacher once asked her class to draw pictures that would illustrate or portray the concepts of peace and tranquility. The students for the most part predictably latched onto the typical or stereotypical scenes: blue skies, peaceful valleys with babbling brooks, forest meadows, backyard barbecues, or … Continue reading “A Portable Peace”

by Richard T. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," May 1998 “I do not pray,” Jesus says in John 17:15, “that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.” There are times that each of us wishes we would not have to deal with the world quite … Continue reading “It’s All Relative”

by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," April 1998 Does anyone on earth not want to live confidently and joyfully? Undoubtedly, out of six billion people, a few are so soured on life that they would rather be dead, a thought they express in their downcast, grumbling and sometimes even snarling demeanor. However, they must be … Continue reading “The Fruit of the Spirit: Joy”

by Mike Ford (1955-2021) Forerunner, "Ready Answer," April 1998 James 1:2 tells us to “count it all joy when you fall into various trials” or “Greet it as pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter any sort of trial” (Moffatt). During my Christian life, as trials came along, I would think of this verse and … Continue reading “Joy and Trial”

by Staff Forerunner, April 1998 A generation ago, young people in God's church could attend Ambassador College, the Summer Educational Program (S.E.P.), Youth Opportunities United (Y.O.U.) activities and visit Feast sites all over the world, some of them with upwards of 10,000 participants. Church youth had many opportunities to meet and interact with others of … Continue reading “Christian Dating: Advice for Today”

by Richard T. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," April 1998 For many years the church has been curious about the state of religion in the world because of such prophecies as Christ's Olivet Prophecy, the first Horseman of the Apocalypse, the Man of Sin and the second beast of Revelation 13. It is a “given” within … Continue reading “Trends in Global Religion”