COG Sermons
Ron Dart 1983 Sermons
| 8305 Pride and Humility Pride is a pre-occupation with the self versus denying the self. Inferiority is not humility. What pride is and what pride isn’t. Pride in the Biblical sense is different than our day-to-day use of the word. How competition interacts with pride. Greed’s role in pride. Comparing self with others. Wanting power over others is pure pride. “Pride is the ultimate anti-God state of mind.” Pride leads to competition with all, even ultimately God. Pride always divides and is the root of all splits in the church. Dart shows how we can test ourselves in this regard. Humility is absolutely essential to a relationship with God. |
| 8319 What is a Friend? Dart looks at various aspects of friendship, using David’s varied relationships. Loyalty, commitment, betrayal, unconditional friends, conditional friends, false friends. Dart gives strong encouragement to at least attempt reconciliation. |
| 8327 Talk to God |
| 8334 Church Politics Where there are people, there will be politics. Dart shows how to reduce the impact of politics. How does hierarchical government impact politics? A look at Exodus 18 and Numbers 11 in this regard. People’s need to make an impact can be for the good, but it is bad if it stems from, or results in, a desire to control others. The Galatian church was split by such politics, not by doctrine. The desire to control others almost always brings division. Dart looks at church politics in the books of 3rd John and Jude. |
| 8336 Personal Evangelism - Part 2 People tend to lament “if only we had more” when God’s way is to multiply whatever we do have. Great works have been done by men of God not because they had a lot, but because God multiplied what they had. What do you have that God can multiply? Dart uses this as a basis for how each of us can evangelize, regardless of our experience. |
| 8342 Personal Evangelism - Part 3 Dart gives practical tips for how to approach people and how to use “the interested man” method to get people to think. He then delves deeply into the subject of hell. He addresses what it is, what it isn’t, and backs it all up with scripture. This is an absolutely outstanding sermon on hell. All aspects are covered, and are done so from the perspective of asking other Christians why they believe what they do about hell. The goal is to get them to think. You never know where that might lead. |
| 83-01-08 Facing the Future Upon entry into 1983, Dart discusses negative bias in the news and how pessimism is a reflection of the recent past, not an indicator of the future. Also, if society fears a catastrophe is coming, it is probably wrong. Dart then gets more personal, talking about the coming year, carnal desires, normal desires, Godly desires, how to order your life, how to achieve perfection. He gives a great analogy about inviting Jesus into your home to fix a plumbing problem and He ends up remodeling the whole house, if you let Him. |
| 83-03-19 Agape - Charity A remarkable message discussing agape. Dart points out that agape is not about feelings or emotions or affections. It is about a virtue, the kind of person you are, based on God's law. It is about how you behave, not how you feel. It is not a matter of liking or not lliking, it is a matter of action toward others. Dart gives excellent examples and scriptures showing how practicing agape toward others is better for you. |
| 83-09-10 Symbols of Atonement Dart delves into Leviticus 16 and Hebrews 9 & 10, and does a provocative, in-depth exploration of the possibility of the symbolism of the Azazel goat being other than Satan. The symbolism of the priest entering the Holy of Holies and re-appearing. Jesus continues his work today as an intercessor on our behalf. Our working out of our own salvation continues. “Once saved, always saved” refuted. |
| 83-12-03 Should Sinners Attend Church? Dart reviews the multiple incidents where Jesus interacted with "sinners". They were drawn to Him, and He directed much of His ministry toward them, yet most of the religious leaders loathed Him. The difference was that the "sinners" knew what they were. Dart points out that Jesus did not turn the sinners away and even encouraged them to come to Him. Dart then effectively criticizes churches that screen their prospective visitors. |
| 83-12-31 Remember or Forget We will never forget God, but we may forget about Him or neglect Him – this is what the Bible means when it warns us not to forget God. Similarly, remembering God means actively doing so. When we are in want, it humbles us and draws us closer to God and helps us realize we need to live by every word of God. Plus, we appreciate subsequent blessings all the more and acknowledge God as their source. Remember, memorialize, keep. How does one remember the Sabbath? By our actions, not just an acknowledgment. We remember God by praying, tithing, assembling, etc. |
| 1983 Can the Church Save? What the church can and can’t do. What the church is and isn’t. What the New Testament writers mean when they say “church” (ecclesia), how it is different from the common meaning of church, and the problems caused by those differences. “It has led to all manner of errors.” Subjects: church eras; “one true church”; universal church, image of the beast; infallibility; the vicar of Christ. Dart gives a long reading from Halley’s Bible Commentary on the history of the Roman Catholic Church. It is important because of its parallel, structurally, to the Worldwide Church of God. Dart recommends the book “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Church” by Malachi Martin, a Jesuit priest and Herman Hoeh’s 1952 article on the image of the beast. The fruits of a universal church and how infallibility is eventually inevitable in such an organization. The accumulation of power, the exercise of power and the abuse of power. |
| 1983 Christ Our Sacrifice Dart describes in great detail the Old Testament sacrifices, the beauty of their meaning, and presents a full realization of all the different types of offerings. Unleavened bread was connected with every sacrifice. The significance of the blood sacrifice and drinking the blood as confirmation of a covenant. All of the Old Testament offerings symbolize Christ. The importance of ceremony. Why is baptism necessary to partake in the Passover? A compassionate explanation of the sufferings of Christ and how they apply to us. Concludes on an encouraging and inspiring note about what Christ did for us and what we should do in response. |
| 1983 Christian Liberty Incomplete file. If anyone has the whole file please email me. |
| 1983 Holiness Dart defines holiness, giving synonyms, how it means being dedicated to God, and the role of the laying on of hands. What is the moral component of holiness? How important is holiness? Being dedicated to God is not a mere formality or external surrender, but surrendering to be ruled by Jesus Christ alone. It must be pursued. Holiness grows from a mere designation and becomes conduct. Renewal = re-dedication. Separation for God is not isolation. “You will never understand true holiness until you grasp the idea that your relationship with God is personal.” There is no such thing as holiness by association. It is Jesus Christ in one that makes one holy. Our submission is to Him, not to an organization of men. Holiness is more than obedience, more than righteousness. Is holiness the gift of God? Or the task of man? Dart concludes with a very inspirational encouragement to pursue holiness. |
| 1983 The Searcher Are we searching? For what? Why? When we find it, what will we do? A look at Paul’s contentment. Paul was not a searcher, but a striver. Is it the journey that brings contentment? We are on the road, the path – that is what brings contentment, not searching and never finding, but moving toward the goal. We are sojourners, our state is temporary. Others have been down the path ahead of us. Faith is knowing there is a worthwhile destination, even though the road may be difficult. We already know the destination. We don’t need to search for it, but move toward it. |
