COG Sermons
Ron Dart 1986 Sermons
| 8607 New Testament Passover Dart addresses Passover timing issues. What are they? Why? Includes Old Testament Passover timing. Luke 22’s “First Day of Unleavened Bread in which the lamb was killed.” The gentiles’ role in the Passover. The real meaning of the New Testament Passover. The true symbolism of the bread and wine plays a big part in showing when the New Testament Passover should be kept. |
| 8611 The Power of Love If there is a church split, how would you know where to go? Herbert Armstrong’s surprising answer is related by Dart, who discusses how power over another often replaces the power to love others. He addresses concepts of manipulation, control, domination, and intimidation versus the concepts of love and humble service with no reward, no recognition. How hierarchical church governments facilitate power over others. Service is an end in itself, not a road to power. Biblical examples of church splits and why. People do not necessarily love us for all the things we do for them. “The power of love grows for the doer of good to others, not, perversely, for the person who receives the good.” |
| 8623 Your Present Saviour An outstanding set of parallels between the Egyptian slavery/deliverance and Christian slavery/deliverance. For example -- Neither set of people were worthy of being saved; God sent the deliverer while the people were still enslaved; several more. Addresses being saved not only from the consequences of sin, but from sin itself; While were yet sinners; Saved by His life; Handwriting of ordinances. |
| 86-01-11 Confrontation vs Authority How should the church deal with a bad guy? Politics, money, power, and abuses in the early church and how they were dealt with. The tactics wolves use in a congregation. People will use anger, ridicule, and condescension to intimidate. One approach in handling them is to appeal to authority – report to the minister – and why this is the worst solution. Peter did not disfellowship Simon Magus. Instead he directly confronted him, which is the Biblical method. A grass-roots, basic, low-level, direct confrontation is best – never in anger or resentment, but in humility, with logic, no emotion, and for the sake of the person. Ideally, this is done as soon as possible, and private, personal. Every part of the body matters; don’t neglect problems. |
| 86-01-18 HWA-Remembered 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." |
| 86-01-25 Can You Flee From God? Where is God? Is He in a specific place? If He is, can you flee from Him? What about Jonah? When God has called you, is working with you, put His spirit in you, He will not leave or forsake you. He knows you intimately, and the Psalmist knows the reason for this is God's love for you, as a mother wants to know about her baby. Every wrong thought, every cancer cell, every hope. God has made His abode with us, not to punish us, or spy on us, but because He loves us and will never forsake us. Psalm 139. |
| 86-06-28 The Church at the End Dart examines the churches of Revelation 2 & 3, showing the state of the church at the end of the age. Contains an excellent refutation of the church eras theory. Also, how a church can change for the worse, yet the individual must not – and Dart shows how. |
| 86-07-13 The Day After What should I do the day after baptism? This sermon was given the day after 13 people were baptized. It takes time for a seed to sprout -- parable of the sower and how we can change the soil! The importance of fellowship, doctrine, breaking bread. Faith can only exist in the face of doubt, therefore faith takes courage. God gives power at baptism, but requires us to make decisions with the goal of building righteous character. The role of the law after baptism and the importance of us embarking on the road to righteousness. This sermon contains tremendous spiritual encouragement to the newly baptized in preparation for the trials that are sure to come. |
| 86-08-30 Why We Observe Tabernacles Why did God want Abraham to be a wanderer? Does my life say "I am seeking a country?" Dart shows how and why Israel observed the Biblical feasts, and how and why Christians are to. Tabernacles points to the temporariness of the human condition. Israel's entry into the Promised Land is a beautiful model of the Christian hope. An interesting discussion on the idea of "is it required for salvation?" and the role of the law. The unifying effect of the Feast of Tabernacles. |
| 86-10-11 At One With God Atonement sermon. How Jesus & the Father can be One and how we can be one with Them. What it means to be one. To share God’s power, His will, and His sacrifice, something in us has to change. As we are reconciled to God, we are reconciled to each other. The Leviticus 16 ceremony. |
| 86-10-18 The Abolition of Man A Feast of Tabernacles sermon. There will, ultimately, no longer be man. Dart speaks of mortality, the yearning for eternity, the decaying of the outward man, the renewing of the inward man. He takes a look at concerns about this life (including money), trust in Jesus, chastisement from God, what we set our hearts on. Biblical examples of those who focused on the eternal and those who did not. Given the reality of the end of your life and the end of man, where should your focus be? If you're excited about something you're going to do tomorrow, what does it matter if you sleep first? The idea behind the FOT is 1) to acknowledge our days are numbered 2) confess we are strangers and pilgrims here 3) to declare that we seek a kingdom 4) To voluntarily for a moment divorce ourselves from our work 5) to pray from our hearts, thy kingdom come. |
| 86-11-01 Gifts For God Due to the sons of Eli, offerings to God were resented. Dart talks about what gifts are, what makes them important, and what they say about the relationship. |
| 86-11-29 Friday Crucifixion? An excellent harmonization and summary of the gospel accounts surrounding the crucifixion and the resurrection. Four independent witnesses and their importance and legitimacy. Addresses: 3 days and 3 nights; Buying/preparing the spices and the Sabbath; "Today is the third day since these things happened". |
| 86-12-13 Destructive Pride Pride is the most destructive vice. C. S. Lewis describes pride as “the complete anti-God state of mind.” Is all pride wrong? How about pride in a child’s accomplishment? In our personal grooming and appearance? Yet, pride is sin. Is there a “good” pride and a “bad” pride? Or is is a matter of degree? What about self-esteem? Breaking down the Greek word helps Dart as he uses the Bible to shed a lot of light on the issue of pride. |
| 1986 A Time To Work Why do we preach the gospel? As a witness to the world? Dart asks: “Is it sufficient to gather people around and preach at them and say ‘I hope some of this works out some day for you’? - - - Is it enough to throw the gospel out there like so much seed and walk off and do nothing with it? - - - What are you trying to accomplish? - - - What is your objective?" Dart again: "When I get up to speak before a group of unbelievers, I am commanded by Jesus Christ to have as my goal to get them to believe, to bring them to repent, in order that they might become disciples, and in order that they might be baptized - - - That is my goal.” While Dart does not criticize anyone in this sermon, it is never-the-less a powerful condemnation against the primary mission of most of the churches of God today and it is straight from the words of the Bible. Dart also addresses calendar issues and how the calendar cannot be determined from the “heavenly signs” alone. |
| 1986 Abomination of Desolation Analysis of Daniel's prophecies, Revelation 13, Matthew 24. While Antiochus Epiphanes was a historical type, the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Jesus (and therefore Daniel) is yet future. Subjects: Babylon past and future; What is the Beast; Image of the beast; Mark of the beast; 666; Right hand and forehead; How to prepare and defend self for the times to come. (This sermon is also on the 1981 page.) |
| 1986 Law and the Cross What parts of the law, if any, were done away with at the crucifixion? Dart goes through many of Jesus’ teachings (including those on the law), and shows how they all apply today. He concludes with the real responsibility of the Christian. |
| 1986 Listen and Understand Dart goes over different kinds of listeners, different kinds of talkers, and what they need. He reflects on his own experiences in listening. It is ultimately about service and help to others. Many proverbs are instructive in teaching us how to listen, and how to be approachable. The proverbs also admonish us not to be too quick to engage in self-expression. Prayer is not all about us telling God what we care about – we should be open to listening in prayer. God is the best listener of all; we should strive to be as He is. |
