Sermons and Biblical Studies

by Richard T. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," November 1997 The biggest evangelical controversy this year centers on a revision of the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible. World magazine reported in March that Zondervan and the International Bible Society (IBS), publishers of the NIV, had plans to release in America an inclusive language version … Continue reading “God and Gender”

by Richard T. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, October 1997 Though most of the ancient manuscripts of the Bible agree, wide variation exists among English translations, a fact that becomes evident after perusing several. Translation, it has been said, is an art and not a science, blending verbal precision with literary style. Some translations, though easier to read … Continue reading “Which Bible Translation Is Best?”

by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," September-October 1997 Anyone who drives on this nation's freeways knows how everyone “gawks” at an accident or what appears to be an accident. A motorist could be doing nothing more exciting than standing beside his automobile, but it creates a bottleneck, sometimes of great length. People just cannot seem … Continue reading “The Seventh Commandment (1997)”

by Staff Forerunner, September-October 1997 Our Savior Jesus Christ shows in Matthew 23 that the scribes and Pharisees had perverted judgment and were terribly unmerciful to anyone “beneath them,” as viewed from their own exalted position. This self-exaltation reached the point where they placed themselves above God. Matthew 23:18-19 explains that they honored their gift … Continue reading “The Weightier Matters (Part 4) : Faith and Fidelity”

by Staff Forerunner, "Ready Answer," September-October 1997 Adultery, fornication, and other forms of sexual immorality have been in the news a lot lately. The military in particular is undergoing a top-to-bottom review of its sexual policies because of various misdeeds of its officers and troops. From the lowest to the highest offices in the land, … Continue reading “Sex, Sin and Marriage”

by Richard T. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," September-October 1997 The church of God does not exist in a vacuum. Events, trends, moods and ideas that grow popular in the world—whether good or bad—soon find their way into the church. This incursion of worldliness is a “natural” process that Christians must constantly guard against. For instance, … Continue reading “Scratching Our Itches”

by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," August 1997 A bomb goes off in a department store, an airport or a parked car. Women and children are killed—passersby whom coincidence brought to that particular spot at that particular deadly time. The phone lines light up at police, radio and television stations with callers eager to claim … Continue reading “The Sixth Commandment (Part 2): War! (1997)”

by Staff Forerunner, August 1997 “Lord, have mercy!” “Lord, have mercy on me!” “Mercy me!” Occasionally, people use these phrases when they sincerely recognize a need for God's mercy, but more often they are used as expletives, exhibiting surprise or astonishment. Even more popular, “Oh my God!” is used so flippantly that it has lost … Continue reading “The Weightier Matters (Part 3): Mercy”

by Richard T. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Ready Answer," August 1997 I was absolutely stunned and extremely saddened when I read the e-mail message on my computer screen. A long-time member of God's church was imploring anyone who read the message to prove him wrong! “I would appreciate it if you could show me the error that … Continue reading “Jesus Disqualified?”

by Martin G. Collins Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," August 1997 For an evening's entertainment, I picked up a movie from the video store. Having been produced before the rating system, it was unrated, but the review on the box made it sound harmless enough. So we all sat down to enjoy the story. The movie progressed … Continue reading “The Writing of Prostitutes”