Sermons and Biblical Studies

by Staff Forerunner, September 1992 Is changing doctrine a sign of growth? Is “new truth” progress? The church of God is a dynamic, living, changing organism, ever growing into greater and deeper understanding. Through the Holy Spirit, God guides us into all truth, a process that will continue until Christ's return. He leads each generation … Continue reading “Growing in Grace and Knowledge?”

by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," August 1992 How do you imagine God? Your answer makes an immense difference! Most people agree that for salvation a Christian needs more than just a theoretical knowledge of God. Over the course of our lives, we increase our knowledge of Him through life's varied experiences. We also come … Continue reading “The Wholeness of God”

by Richard T. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," August 1992 “Fire has devoured the open pastures, and a flame has burned all the trees of the field. . . . For the water brooks are all dried up.” For those living in the American West, the words of Joel 1:19-20 ring especially true this summer. Though … Continue reading “Parched West Is ‘Ready to Burn’”

by John O. Reid (1930-2016) Forerunner, August 1992 People who lack patience often seem to embody this statement. It brings up the contradiction: one must have patience to have patience. And whether we have godly patience or not can mean the difference between attaining God's Kingdom or the Second Death. Because it is so vital … Continue reading “I Want Patience – and I Want It Now!”

by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," July 1992 What are symbols? Why does God use them? What can we learn? The book of Revelation provides a myriad of mysteries involving symbols. There are a lampstand, a woman, sun, moon and stars, a great dragon, a beast rising from the sea, locusts, trumpets, seven thunders and … Continue reading “Biblical Symbolism”

by Richard T. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," July 1992 Under cover of Denmark's recent decision to reject the European Community's Maastricht treaty, nine of the EC's member nations took a significant step toward a unified military force. On June 19, representatives of the nine-member Western European Union signed a document revitalizing the dormant organization, promising … Continue reading “Europe Edges Toward Common Army”

by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, July 1992 Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just. —Thomas Jefferson “Viability,” a term related to earlier abortion arguments, has again been thrust into the forefront by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's recent opinion regarding Pennsylvania's abortion law. She wrote, “First is a recognition of … Continue reading “Abortion: The Land Is Full of Bloody Crimes”

The vast majority of Christian churches today teach the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, as a time for rest and worship. Yet it is generally known and freely admitted that the early Christians observed the seventh day as the Sabbath. How did this change come about? History reveals that it was … Continue reading “Roman Catholic and Protestant Confessions About Sunday”

Why Do Protestants Keep Sunday? FEBRUARY 24, 1893, the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists adopted certain resolutions appealing to the government and people of the United States from the decision of the Supreme Court declaring this to be a Christian nation, and from the action of Congress in legislating upon the subject of religion, and … Continue reading “Rome’s Challenge (Part 1)”

Most Christians assume that Sunday is the biblically approved day of worship. The Roman Catholic Church protests that it transferred Christian worship from the biblical Sabbath (Saturday) to Sunday, and that to try to argue that the change was made in the Bible is both dishonest and a denial of Catholic authority. If Protestantism wants … Continue reading “Rome’s Challenge (Part 2)”