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Added Ron Dart's 2004 sermon The Passing. With a somewhat sorrowful tone, Dart reflects about how we long to have a permanent home, but are destined to be pilgrims. Abraham and others left their home for the promise of another, but didn't receive it. We are here today and gone tomorrow. We are not home, and have a place better than this. Hope in this world is vain -- a theme for a lot of old gospel music. We are all faced with the reality that our time here will end. Dart ponders the death of his "sometime friend" Ted a year earlier and thinks about his own time to come.


Added Ron Dart's 1989 sermon Feast of Huts. Dart looks at the words for “tabernacles”, “huts”, or “tents”, and where they are used. Is keeping this “Feast of Huts” only for Israel? No. There are NOT two ways of worshipping God, one way for the Jews and one way for the Gentiles. Dart chronicles, dramatically, the tabernacle in ancient Israel, where God “camped” with His people, and the story where the Israelites feared to enter into the promised land. After all that had happened in the year since their departure from Egypt, and they feared. What more would it have taken for them to believe? For them to have faith? They were right on the edge – and failed. . . . an example for all of us. You are going to have to believe, trust, obey. You need faith when you have every reason in the world to be afraid, to believe it’s not going to happen. Faith is not so much a feeling as it is a decision.


Added Ron Dart's 1990 sermon Day of Atonement. Dart begins by discussing what happened with Aaron’s sons, and a discussion of the general priesthood duties. He then goes through the Leviticus 16 ceremony in detail, explaining each step and how it relates to Jesus Christ. Uncleanliness is not necessarily sin. While Dart does not ascribe to the theory that the Azazel goat also represents Christ, he does offer an explanation as to why, after the sins have been washed, they are still present to be laid on the head of the second goat. Fasting is discussed. Atonement is addressed in the book of Hebrews. Forgiveness, conscience, and consequences. Dart wonders: Were some of the Old Testament practices God’s intent from the beginning? Or regulations of man’s traditions? For example, were animal sacrifices really God’s idea? Or were they God’s regulation of, and use, of human customs to accomplish His own ends? It seems men started sacrificing before God instructed them on it. God had no intention to have a king, yet there are laws about kings. God had no intention of having a temple, yet there are laws about the temple. Slavery may be similar.


Added Ron Dart's 1980 Feast of Tabernacles sermon The Feast in Prophecy. Dart discusses the festivals as harvests. What does that tell us? The connection between Pentecost and Tabernacles. Was Joel’s prophecy fulfilled on the first Pentecost? There is a great harvest at the end time, but the work of the church today is not merely to witness or plant the seed, it is to harvest – today. Trumpets is tied to the return of Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God. Dart then describes the re-establishment of the worship of God, and obedience to the law of God. Dart: “I would never trust any human being that I know to enforce even God’s law upon another human being because much harm, much death, and much suffering has been inflicted upon mankind in the name of God and of the law of God.” What are some of the first steps that will occur upon this establishment? What will our role be? Conversion is a process, and we are spread all along that process. The Feast of Tabernacles is a critical component of that lifelong process.


Added Ron Dart's 1988 sermon Trumpets and the Return of Christ. Almost 30 years ago, Ron Dart talked about driverless cars. Did he foresee the future? No, he was referring to the idea that those raptured would leave their cars driverless. Leaving that idea aside, Dart speaks about the time to get ready. To watch, to be vigilant. What if I try to live a good Christian life and don't watch? Jesus wants people to have a sense of the time of the end. We are told to be awake and alert, so there must be some sort of activity that we are to be engaged in. But it needs to be sustainable. Jesus talks about what it means to be ready, why it is that He wants us to be alert, what it is He wants us to watch for, and what we ought to be doing. Matthew 25 is a critical part of the end-time Olivet Prophecy. "They that were ready went in with him to the marriage and the door was shut."


Ron Dart's 1991 sermon Clan Paradox. A Biblical view on race. Dart debunks many verses that are used to justify racism. What race was Adam? What was the mark of Cain? Did Eve mate with Satan? Did demons mate with women? Who were the nephilim? Was Noah genetically perfect? Is the curse on Canaan still in force today? The second half of the message talks not about race, but about clans. Man tends toward clans, and God allows them in order to prevent a concentration of power. They often clash, yet sometimes unite. In the church, we are technically one, yet there are still clans within the Church of God, sometimes leading to the evil of exclusivism and its attendant lies about others and judgments of others.


Added Ron Dart's 1986 sermon 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.


Added Ron Dart's 1997 sermon Where is Home? Solomon said, and correctly so, that the universe cannot contain God. Why, then, would the temple, or even the New Jerusalem? Humans have a need for home. Abraham lived in tents; we are pilgrims. God has no such need. Is it possible that, to God, home is where He is? Might home for us be where He is? What does this mean for us now? Our bodies, our nation, our planet, the sun, even the whole universe are aging and are temporary. Eternity in our hearts is a yearning for home and that is a yearning for God. A Feast of Tabernacles message.


Added Ron Dart's 1985 sermon Was the Law Abolished? Dart answers this with great clarity. Jesus was aware that the Jews would accuse Him of doing away the law, when in fact He was only doing away with their interpretations of it, and in the process established the permanence of God's law. Dart gives repeated New Testament examples of the law of God still being in effect, especially in regards to the Sabbath. He also allots a whole section of the message to clean/unclean meats, giving a very detailed explanation thereof, including the difference between common and unclean. Jesus did not come to destroy the law, rather Jesus came to correct misinterpretations about the law, to teach a higher concept of the law, and to introduce His own administration of the law, including binding and loosing.


Added Ron Dart's 1980 sermon Beyond Disillusionment. At the Feast couple of years after CGI started, Dart gives a harsh message that addresses a lot of the emotions that remain from that split. He relates iniquity in the world with iniquity in the church and how it may lead to the love of many growing cold. It is up to each individual to serve God, regardless of what any other person does, even if that person purports to have been sent by God. Dart gives examples of how the messenger is of little import. Thy Word is truth. How does the 2nd commandment play into this?


Added Ron Dart's 1997 sermon Does Crime Pay? A 1997 interactive session repackaged as a weekend Bible study. Dart asks, in this world, does crime pay? Lying? Stealing? Even more interesting than the question, "why do bad things happen to good people?" is the question "why do good things happen to bad people?". Are we actually envious of the evil sometimes? What about the teen who observes the world and concludes, "God doesn't see; God doesn't care." Will risk/reward work? Can we teach that it all evens out in the end? No, this world is not just, but God is. Dart cites appropriate scriptures and reasoning from the Bible.


Ron Dart's 1991 sermon An End to War. In the light of the end of the 1991 Iraq war, Dart ponders the real cause of wars and the ultimate end of all wars. He contrasts the spirit of war and the forces of this world with a world with no Satan and the Kingdom of God, described by Dart with exciting imagery.


Ron Dart's 1991 sermon Born To Win. What does it mean to overcome? Is it necessary? Why; isn't grace enough? Is it ok to be competitive? Contentious? Do we have to struggle and persist? Just because God might not grant our prayer, do we just give up? He wants us to push Him, to try another way. The ultimate overcomer, the ultimate winner is, of course, Jesus Christ. There is something in each of us that resists being pushed around. Satan wants us to surrender our will to him. Biblical examples of winners and losers. God has invested in us; He expects us to be profitable, to be winners. David was not lazy, not fearful, would not be defeated; a man of action, probably a bigger sinner than most of us, yet a man after God's own heart; a winner.


It turns out that the "new" Ron Dart sermon I posted on 4/7 was not actually new. I am grateful to a reader of this site for pointing out that it is actually 1984's Yoke of Liberty. The new verion, however, is noticeably better quality, so I have updated the file.


Ron Dart's 1992 sermon The Clock is Ticking. Given on the first Sabbath in the count to Pentecost, Dart gives a narrative of a Hebrew traditional wave-sheaf collection and offering scenario, then moves on to events following the crucifixion, the ascension, and the connection between Christ and the wave-sheaf, as the first of the first-fruits. He shows how we are a type of first fruits. When Jesus started His ministry, he was urgent. He only had a very limited time to do everything He had to do. Have we lost urgency because of bad date-setting in our past? Dart predicts that we will all be stunned at the rapid onset of Revelation events. Paul realized that the work he did made a difference. There will be people in the first resurrection because of the work of Paul that would not have been there without it. Can just one person make a difference? What about Ora Runcorn?


Ron Dart's 2006 sermon Shared Suffering. Dart reflects on recent deaths in his congregation, and Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" and concludes that shared suffering increases love. Same with shared pain, shared projects, shared time, shared work, shared play, shared food. In times of need, we lean on family and church. Judging others harms this reservoir of love, unless discussed with the judged. Dart wants to share all things, good and bad, share his life with people who are down-to-earth, don't exalt themselves, are well-behaved, and more. Dart finishes with an excellent look at loving others, even when it is hard.


Ron Dart's 1989 sermon Small Things. "Men fail to do a great work for God because they set out to do a great work for God." They despise the day of small things, tasks they feel are not important enough for them to do. Every great work is made up of small things. God repeatedly works outside of the "organization". The big-thing syndrome can discourage people from trying. But there is no reason why you can't go read the Bible to a blind person. Your kindness, your patience, your letter, your little work will be added to others' as God sees fit. Your best opportunities to do good are often random in your life. You can make a difference in the life of another, and do so in the name of Jesus Christ, if you are aware, thoughtful, and willing to do the small things. Dart gives some steps you can take. Small things lead to other small things that taken all together make a big difference in people's lives.


Ron Dart's 1989 sermon Why Marriages Fail.
1) People won't listen to each other or a preacher or a counselor or even to God
2) People react too easily to provocation
3) People get even, rather than turn the other cheek
4) People won't forgive each other
5) People don't keep their word. God will hold you to your promises.
Marriages need a good dose of basic Christianity – sermon on the mount – 1 Corinthians 13 – fruits of the spirit – etc. Do this first. Never allow profanity to enter your marriage. No name calling. Address actions. Don't lie to each other. What your marriage needs is Christian love.


Ron Dart's 1989 sermon Strength in Weakness. Dart contrasts David and Gideon. With Israel, David's mighty men were great warriors. But, with Gideon, not so mighty. God was showing that the success of Gideon's army was absolutely a miracle from God. Israel's full army would not have demonstrated that. The strength, the faith, the power, the courage of the people God chose are not a factor in the victory. Most of us are like Gideon, not David. We don't have the power, the courage, the faith as did David. We need God to intervene in our weakness. For Paul to be of value to God, he had to be weakened, as was Gideon's army. God's strength works in weakness. In Romans, Paul explains how Israel failed because they tried to accomplish salvation through their own work and power, but what saves one is Jesus Christ. He is our Savior. God does not directly work through human strength, but through human weakness.


Ron Dart's 1989 sermon The Devil's Tracks. Dart looks at encounters with the spirit world, including the "Prince of Persia", the "King of Tyre", angels, adversaries, and Satan himself. When we "go with the flow", things are easy because "the flow" is the way of this world, the way of Satan. It is when you start resisting that flow as you start to try and obey God, that you have resistance from the enemies of God. Dart talks about looking for signs of the devil. God-hating in Hollywood; the gender abolishment movement; the hidden agenda in the abortion industry, the gay rights movement, radical feminism, and ultimately the movement to abolish the Father. The devil's tracks are all over; we can see them if we look. It is very important that Satan will one day be bound, yes, he is all around us now. Thus, it is critical to maintain a close relationship to God. Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee. Speak no evil of one another. Also, stay attached to a church.








Ron Dart's 1992 sermon How Old is God? Dart takes a stab at just how old the universe might be, and then states that God is far older. What has God been doing all that time? In light of that immensity, what is man that God is mindful of him? Why do we worry about trivial things? What is God doing? What is our role in it?




Added Randy Stiver's 1995 sermon It Is a Good Day to Die. In the aftermath of the 1995 WCG apostasy, UCG pastor Randy Stiver discusses martyrdom for Jesus Christ. He speaks of the critical importance of courage, giving examples from the Old and New Testaments. In a battle, you might die. He intersperses references to Star Trek and the U.S. founding while discussing the kingdom of God and refuting the wrong teachings that WCG has come out with. True martyrdom has no ego. Jesus – the ultimate martyr. He reconciles the concepts of martyrdom and the place of safety. The statement "You must be loyal to the Lord's anointed or you won't go to the place of safety" is a snare that trapped many. Are we prepared for the ultimate witness for Jesus Christ? The martyr does not fear men, and Satan has no leverage on him.




Ron Dart's 1989 sermon Change or Growth? Entropy leading to disorder is inevitable, without design and power to impose order. So, with change inevitable, how can we direct that change into growth? Dissatisfaction with our life leads to the establishment of goals and objectives you can impose on your mind. Paul provides several things we can and should impose upon ourselves. Letting others be free to impose change upon themselves, we can all combine to grow the church. Change, without a goal, leads to chaos. The ministry has a role in this, also. Use adversity to motivate yourself to impose change. Can you grow in a trial? Or will you let your suffering be in vain?


Added Ron Dart's 1991 sermon Fatherhood of God. The religion of the Bible is patriarchal. Why? The 70 elders were all men. The priesthood was all men. Jesus chose 12 men. Paul established that only men are to lead the church. The husband is the head of the wife. Why? How does modern society view this? Abraham was a father. Jesus has revealed that we are to relate to God as Father. Is this just sexism? Or is it really something else? Dart answers these questions, and addresses the role women play.


Added Ted Armstrong's 1978 sermon Explaining His Disfellowshipment. In the first part, Armstrong goes into some of the accusations made against him, showing why they are false and addresses different aspects of the conflict intermittently as he goes through the sermon. He recalls his childhood in the COG, Oregon Conference, before going into the main sermon, where he addresses the 7 churches of Revelation, emphasizing the saving purpose of Jesus Christ and the expansive nature of preaching the gospel. While expressing doubt that the 7 churches represent 7 eras, he says, “There is a message for every person in every era in each letter to all the churches.” The gospel is more than an announcement. Armstrong asserts that there is no hierarchical relationship among the apostles. He calls “unbiblical” the statement that there has never been a time, in the history of the world, where there was not one man, and one man alone, through whom God worked. He concludes with a declaration of his dogged determination to preach the gospel any and every way he can.




Added Ron Dart's 1993 sermon World Tomorrow Workshop. There is work that is more fun than play, and is far more satisfying. This is what God has prepared for those that love Him. Dart looks at all the problems that will exist at the start of the millennium, and how the solutions will be up to us to fix. We will have the power, the sense, the direction, and the help of God. We won't just sit around and watch God do miracles. The faithful will have rule over cities. The Gentiles will come to OUR light! Dart vividly describes what it might be like. A complete redesign and remake of the world, physically and socially. Why didn't God start out with the millennium? Is this planet earth project the first time God has done this? After all is said and done on earth, what then? What is in your future? What do you have to do to not miss out?




Added Ron Dart's 1983 sermon 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. (Note: this is a complete version of the previously incomplete version that was on the "Miscellaneous" page.)


Added Ron Dart's 1993 sermon Why Cults? Dart tells the story of a pastor who left WCG, started a cult, gained a following,failed spectacularly, quit his ministry, and went and got a job. Dart uses this to examine cults, why they occur. How they are an authority disorder. How your authority must be the written Word of God. What about progressive revelation? What about "call no man father"? Does God know everything about the future? How to avoid getting caught in a cult.




Added Ron Dart's 1991 sermon Springfield Mo Campaign. An evengelistic message at Springfield, Missouri. Dart uses the current USSR instability to show that WCG and CGI have always believed there will not be WWIII between the US and the USSR. Why? The what and when of a prophecy is worthless without the why. What the difference is between apocalyptic literature and prophetic literature. Prophetic literature has a moral teaching as part of it. The Book of Revelation shows the what and when, and it frequently references back to the prophetic books, where we can learn the why. Why does God bother to reveal prophecy to anyone? Dart gives the 2 reasons. We know a diabolical world order will come to power at the end time. We know some people will be protected. Those who understand have an obligation to tell others.


Added Ron Dart's 1998 sermon The Historical Passover. Jesus observed the Passover early on the 14th, yet the Jews observed it late on the 14th. Were the Jews wrong? Dart examines the Exodus Passover account. What is "between the evenings"? How the Exodus Passover was different from the rest. What the Bible says about sunset. Leaving by night. The night to be much observed. The "9th day at even" is the end of the 9th day. There is little dispute today about when Christians are to observe the Passover. But, there is much dispute about the timing of the Old Testament Passover.




Obituary for Ronald L. Dart
Burial will follow at Whitehouse Memorial Cemetery in Whitehouse, Texas.
Mr. Dart passed away Saturday, January 23, at his home in Tyler, TX.
Ron Dart was the founder and president of Christian Educational Ministries and the voice of the international Born to Win radio program. He attended Hardin Simmons University, graduated from Ambassador College, and had work towards his PhD at the University of Texas, Austin. He was gifted with the ability to make a difficult subject clear and understandable and his knowledge of the Bible drew many listeners. He wrote 11 books on various Bible subjects. Born to Win will stay on the air and continue doing the work Mr. Dart began.
Memorials may be made to Christian Educational Ministries, P.O. Box 560, Whitehouse, TX 75791.




Mr. Ron Dart has passed away. Here is a tribute from Ken Swiger:
Allie has also been a faithful worker in the fields of the Lord and as innovators in Christian ministry. Together they have advocated for active involvement of children in the worship of God and led the way in involvement of the laity in the planning and execution of independent Feast of Tabernacles sites.
Let's be in prayer for Allie Dart, The BORN TO WIN team, and all the family of faith as we grieve this loss.
We are saddened by our loss, but we know that our brother Ron has completed his race, and in his next waking moment will be with the King of Kings. Take comfort in that sure knowledge.

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