COG Sermons

Ron Dart - Obstructionism vs Work

cogsermons — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:22:52 +0000

From 1996. Lesson number 1 for people who hope to win in whatever they do. An inspiring look at Nehemiah and his persistence on overcoming obstacles to do God’s work.

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John Ogwyn - The 6th Commandment

cogsermons — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:52:22 +0000

From 1980. Ogwyn looks at the 6th commandment in many ways, angles, and aspects. He tracks the history of violence from Genesis to today, and the future of violence. Violence is even in our entertainment. We should not be entertained by sin. Why so much violence? How will peace be brought about? It is not enough to simply avoid murder, but we must be peacemakers. The spirit of the law expands the law beyond the letter. The purpose of civil government. There will be a day when war will not be learned. That should be our aim now.

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Ron Dart - HWA Remembered

cogsermons — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 22:48:06 +0000

Given in 1986, two days after Herbert W. Armstrong’s death, Dart talks about Armstrong’s vision, his legacy, and his accomplishments with respect, and at times with fondness. Included are stories of Dart’s personal time with Armstrong, beginning as a student at Ambassador College, and later at the Bricket Wood campus. He does note some of the remarkable differences between the church in the 50s and 60s and what it became in the 70s and 80s, specifically concerning tolerance, church government, HWA as an apostle, and more. He suggests that 1967 is the time when things changed, although he does not talk about any of the negatives. Noting WCG’s two-fold commission, Dart also addresses the error that many hold today in thinking “It doesn’t matter what we do because God is going to call who He is going to call anyway.”

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John Ogwyn - 7 Keys for Growth

cogsermons — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:10:20 +0000

From 1995. Ogwyn chronicles the story of Jacob and how he was not very dedicated to God but repented and changed, as we are to do. Real change must come from the heart, not outward appearance. Ogwyn then outlines seven keys (including forgiveness and gratitude) that will help anyone to grow spiritually, if followed.

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Ron Dart - Keep the Feast

cogsermons — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 22:25:20 +0000

From 1996. In the midst of the WCG apostasy, Dart asks “Did God scatter the church? Has He done it before?” As the church fragments, it presents opportunities for many to work, not just a few. Was the Feast of Tabernacles the single most unifying thing in Israel? How might the Feast unify us? By bringing all the churches under one umbrella? Or by building relationships between congregations – to know that while they are independent, they are not alone. An excellent explanation of “where God places His name”.

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Ron Dart - Legalism & Liberty

cogsermons — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:23:24 +0000

From 2001. Dart discusses the tendency of men to enforce their rules on others. The binding and loosing role. The problem with putting judgments and the injunctions of men on a par with the law. Men were condemning based on their own rules, not on the law of God. Paul was not going to obey the rules of men. When Paul talks about freedom, he is not talking about freedom from the law, but about freedom from men’s rules.

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John Ogwyn - The 2nd Commandment

cogsermons — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:22:13 +0000

Given in 1980, Ogwyn notes the U.S. prides itself in being a religious country. There are many prohibitions against worshiping God using physical objects, rather than in spirit and truth. Worshiping in sincerity is not good enough, it must be sincerity AND truth. Discussed: upright poles, asherah, obelisks. What about pictures of Jesus? They are certainly inaccurate, but are they wrong? Why are images so destructive to the worship of God? What about the cross? OK, but we may not bow down before pictures and idols today, so how does this command affect us?

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Ron Dart - The Real Work

cogsermons — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 21:14:59 +0000

From 1998. Dart goes over the land Sabbath, the Jubilee, the year of release as an intro to what Jesus’ work was, that is, specifically, to heal, to feed, to provide the real human needs to the needy. Of course He did more than that, but this is one aspect. If we don’t care for people’s very real human needs, what makes us think we will be given that responsibility in the Kingdom of God?

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John Ogwyn - The Author and Finisher of Our Faith

cogsermons — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:15:21 +0000

Given on the Last Day of Unleavened Bread, 2003. This day commemorates a day of conquering. Ogwyn relates military victories that occurred on this day. We are told to be conquerors. The only way to rule in the future is to rule ourselves now. Drive and commitment are necessary. How to fight compromise and discouragement, which sap our will. Focus on the big picture – the effort is worth it. Ogwyn gives a strategy to win and to conquer sin. Be strong and of good courage! We have power we can tap!

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