Playlist:

playlist Go to the Paradox (topic) playlist

Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Twelve): Paradox, Conclusion

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

There is a danger that arises when the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper: trying to put God under obligation to bless us through becoming 'super-righteous'.


Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Ten): Paradox

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Ecclesiastes 7 contains a paradox: wickedness appears to be rewarded and righteousness seems to bring trouble. We must be careful in how we respond to this.


Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Eleven): Paradox, Continued

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Hard trials are not punishments from God for unrighteousness but tests of faith in which He is intimately involved to prepare us for the world to come.


Eternal Paradoxes

Sermonette by Martin G. Collins

We must learn to be content to be weak and powerless, realizing that, when we are poor in spirit, we receive power from God's Holy Spirit.


The Paradox of U.S. Power and Defeat

'WorldWatch' by David C. Grabbe

Since World War II, the U.S. has rarely fought a successful military action, be it Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, Iran, or Iraq, yet it stands as a lone superpower.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Trials are a means to produce spiritual growth, unless we resort to super-righteousness, straining to please God by exalting our works.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Biblical wisdom (sagacity, quickness of perception, soundness of judgment) is achievable by anyone called of God because God is the source of this wisdom.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The paradox of Ecclesiastes 7 shows an unrighteous man flourishing and a righteous man suffering. The solution to this conundrum is found in Psalm 73.


Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Fourteen): A Summary

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Along with the central paradox of Ecclesiastes 7, the chapter emphasizes the importance of an individual's lifelong search for wisdom.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Psalm 73 describes someone seeing the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer, but it is not true that people in the world are leading superior lives.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Seven)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Solomon exercised a lifetime of hard work trying to find answers, but fell short because some things are discoverable only through God's revelation.


Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Fifteen): Deference

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Solomon makes the subject of deference a major part of Ecclesiastes 8. Christians must always strive to see God behind those in power over us.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Five)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Gossip about us from someone we may have trusted can be painful, yet our tongue has likely been just as detrimental against someone who may have trusted us.


Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Thirteen): Confessions

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

As he closes Ecclesiastes 7, Solomon makes a confession about the search for wisdom, saying that, even to him, true wisdom remained beyond his grasp.


Psalms: Book Three (Part One)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Book Three of the Psalms deals with the somber theme of judgment on a people who have rejected their God and have produced much rotten spiritual fruit.