COG Sermons
Ron Dart 1984 Sermons
| 8426 Ezekiel and the Watchman's Message Ezekiel's prophecy is to a nation, Israel, that had ceased to exist some 120 years earlier. Who, then, is the prophecy for? Dart gives a brief history of Israel, its separation from Judah, and Ezekiel's prophecy that Israel and Judah will come together once again, which is the major key to understanding the book of Ezekiel. Much of Ezekiel's prophecy fits today, which is not a surprise since end-time prophecies are the object of the book. Dart ties together Ezekiel's prophecies with those of Jesus. Dart also relates very sobering and powerful warnings that apply to us today, and how it is our responsibility to proclaim those warnings. |
| 8432 How Great Thou Art Dart goes over the astronomical estimates of the size of the creation and asks “Is your God big enough?” God is glorified with the scriptural references to the heavens. Are there other worlds? Other people? What is man? To be brought to glory? To be as God is? Is man the point? |
| 84-02-11 Who Is The Enemy? Satan is, of course, an enemy of the church, but Dart is convinced that in the last 2000 years, the church has done more to hurt itself than any other adversary. And it is still happening today. Dart covers Diotrophes' motives, tactics, and politics. Barnabas and Paul division. The conflict in Thessalonica. Another one in Corinth, following men. Each is unique and offers lessons for us. How to recognize it, what to do. Dart outlines the ultimate solution to handle all these situations, following the example of Paul. |
| 84-02-18 What Is A Christian? Dart looks at the full spectrum of Christian sects. Disciples, believers, Christians. Believing is important, but Dart gives repeated examples of how belief is not enough. Baptism isn’t enough. Even being a teacher is not necessarily enough. Dart gives 7 simple sequences of concepts on being a Christian. Some wish it was harder than it is; others wish it was easier, but these 7 are scriptural. A Christian does what he says; unless we turn around and become as little children; no pride, no self-righteousness; repent and change your life from that point on according to God’s law. It’s what you do that matters, not what you say. If you really believe, you will change. That is what a Christian is, yet, there is nothing anyone can do to earn their salvation. |
| 84-03-03 Tithing A very comprehensive sermon on tithing. Dart starts with some outrageous church fund-raising stories and techniques, but shows how they all eventually fail. God’s way is consistent, proportional, sustained giving --- the tithe. The tithe acknowledges the supremacy of the one to whom the tithe is paid. Specifically, it acknowledges God as provider. Example of the tithe used to proclaim the gospel. “Live long and prosper” promises. Jesus sanctioned the tithe to the Levites, but did He change anything? Did the New Covenant? Who was Melchizedek? How were the laws that pertained to the priesthood changed, and why? Is only agricultural productivity tithable? |
| 84-04-14 Personal Passover Dart looks at several aspects of Passover and applies them to us personally today, emphasizing our close, personal, family relationship with Jesus and how we are “inside” each other. The New Testament Passover is intensely personal. A surprising parallel between the Jewish Seder and the traditional Church of God Passover service. Includes an excellent Dart narrative on what Jesus went through on the night He was betrayed and the day He was crucified. |
| 84-05-26 Fellowship Forsaking the fellowship refers to a conscious act of deliberate withdrawal, not staying away due to physical circumstances -- that we may consider others and provoke them to good works. There will be heresies, savage wolves, and divisions, but there is no Biblical suggestion of using church discipline to address these situations. So, how should these be handled? Can they actually serve a purpose? Personal connections can hold groups together when two might dispute. A false leader or false minister can be overcome only at the personal level, by strong ties between individuals that will hold the group together in such stresses. Church government must be judged by the standard of the Bible (not vice-versa), and only the individual can make that judgment. Unity must be unity of the faith, not unity at any cost. There is only one mediator between God and man. The individual must withdraw from unsound teachers, but not from anyone else, and must not let anyone tell him he can’t. Fellowship equals sharing; builds relationships; holds brethren together. |
| 84-09-15 Wisdom A Bible study on wisdom. Why do the Jews so often find themselves in positions of power? Why is wisdom a trait often associated with the Jews? A look at Solomon's wisdom. How is it acquired? The law of God is foundational, but must be practiced with wisdom. Part of wisdom is knowing the limits of yours. Is it possible to lose wisdom? How? Dart gives examples from WCG 1978-80. |
| 84-09-22 God's Feast Days A look not so much as why to observe the feast days as how to observe them. Including second tithe, why a commanded assembly, where God places His name, New Testament Festival observance, and more. |
| 84-12-29 Those Who Went Back Why do people come to church? What are they looking for? What were the people who followed Jesus looking for? Their expectations were off-center. "It is me you need." But they were looking for more, for something else, and many were offended. Jesus talked about the supreme importance of belief, trust, and acceptance of Him as Savior. Dart gives repeated examples of un-belief, and laments those who have left the church. Did they ever believe? |
| 1984 How To Interpret the Bible How does God communicate with man? God gave us all the tools we need, else we would be dependent on others in order to understand the Bible. It is not wrong to use human reasoning. “If church authority supersedes human reasoning, then we should all be Roman Catholics.” How the Bible was preserved. Dart provides seven steps to help with Bible interpretation, such as language, context, writer’s mental and external condition. Redundancy in the Bible. How apparent contradictions establish credibility. A good explanation of the “hell” of Revelation 14. The bottom line about interpreting the Bible is that we have to think. The alternative is slavery. |
| 1984 Wooden Leg What's your excuse? God expects us to be productive. Humans share a need to be creative. What if we produce nothing? Do we make excuses? Dart explores two kinds of fear – paralyzing and action-motivating. The action of love casts out fear. |
| 1984 Yoke of Liberty Dart speaks on religious liberty with the background of religious persecution from the first century Jews to the middle-ages Catholics to today – namely, that men strive for power and, sooner or later, will use it. The Jerusalem conference (Acts 15) was not about doctrine, but doctrine was only a tool in the fight for political control. Christ preached liberty. The law can never be a yoke of bondage unless imposed by men. Otherwise, it is voluntarily picked up by the believer. With liberty comes responsibility. Paul gives the example of our responsibility to vegetarians not to eat meat if it offends others, even though we are free to otherwise. Bondage in the Bible is never to the law, but to men. You are free to obey the laws of God or not. No man can force you one way or the other. Should we be interfering with other’s freedom? What if they are sinning? How involved do we get? Paul was free of all men – are you? |
