Playlist:

playlist Go to the Character, Building (topic) playlist

Character and Reputation

Article by James Beaubelle

Obedience to God's instructions brings a Christian excellent benefits, and one of the greatest of these is working with God to grow in righteous character.


Godly Character

Sermonette by James Beaubelle

None of us is born with godly character; we develop it over a lifetime, working with God to develop right habits, conforming to God's holy characteristics.


Excellence in Character (Part Two)

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

Scripture defines virtue as a strength or power that disciplined people use to produce beautiful traits of goodness.


The Source of Church Characteristics (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Jesus Christ is the architect of the church, indicating that the institution must take on the characteristics of the Builder, reflecting His character.


Fasting: Building Spiritual Muscle

Article by David F. Maas

Though fasting deprives the physical body of nutrition and strength, a proper, biblical fast adds conviction and depth to the inner, spiritual man.


The True Gospel (Part 2)

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Jesus' message is certainly encouraging, but the adjective 'good has its roots in the word 'god,' suggesting that Jesus' message also possesses a moral quality.


Genesis 1 and Free-Moral Agency

CGG Weekly by John W. Ritenbaugh

What does Scripture say about free-moral agency? Are we human puppets on a string, manipulated from above? How does free will relate to God's sovereignty?


Good Habits

CGG Weekly by David F. Maas

The key to success in adult life stems from habitually choosing lawful and productive behavior over unlawful and unproductive behavior now.


Sovereignty, Election, and Grace (Part Six)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Grace's influence extends beyond justification, into the sanctification stage where the believer yields himself to righteousness, keeping God's commandments.


Responding to God's Pruning Is Not Passive (Part One)

Sermon by David F. Maas

Our Heavenly Father, the Vine Dresser, has provided His junior partners some valuable tools to assist in pruning and cultivating His emerging spiritual crop.


Sovereignty, Election, and Grace (Part Seven)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

In terms of building character, God does the creating, assaying, testing, and proving; we do the yielding and walking in the pathway He has set for us.


Little Choices

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

True Christianity is a religion of constant vigilance in a conscious endeavor—striving, struggling, and making choices—to do what is right to please God.


Our Part in the Sanctification Process (Part One)

Sermon by David F. Maas

Misguided theologians have tried to create a false dichotomy between grace and works. We do works of obedience to build character, not to earn salvation.


No Works Is No Good!

CGG Weekly

The 'no works' doctrine says that all one has to do is believe in Jesus and accept His grace, and one's sins will be forgiven. This has disastrous effects.


Marriage—A God-Plane Relationship (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

When God introduces marriage, the first thing He does is to put it on a spiritual plane. Our relationships should include this God-plane quality.


Sovereignty, Election, and Grace (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God, as Creator, takes the initiative (as the potter over the clay) for the elect's salvation, enabling us to build the repertoire of habits called character.


Worldview and Government

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The solution to all of man's problems begins incrementally when each called-out person turns his life around, governing himself rightly by yielding to God.


What Do You Do in the Dark?

Article by Mike Ford

Character has been defined as what you are when no one else can see you. The story of Joseph in Potiphar's house teaches us lessons about character.


Hebrews (Part Fourteen): Chapter 2, A Mind Bending Purpose (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Without a meaningful relationship with Christ, God's people cannot possibly bear fruit. Our responsibility is to yield to God's creative work in our lives.


Where Does Righteousness Come From?

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

Job was righteous because of the work of God, forming his righteousness out of nothing, guiding events and providing an environment in which character was formed.


God's Creation and Our Works

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Like Joseph, we need to realize that God—not ourselves—is the Creator, engineering events that form us into what He wants us to become.


God's Tools

Sermonette by Clyde Finklea

Spiritual maturity does not come about without difficulty, and suffering is one of God's tools to perfect us. Suffering refines endurance and character.


Eternal Security (Part 2)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

All people will be judged according to the quality of their works after they make the covenant with God. Works are required and rewarded.


Completing Sanctification

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

An emphasis on hyper-grace is wrong-headed, denying any need for repentance and overcoming, and totally at odds with the teachings of Jesus Christ.


Places of Safety (Part Two)

Sermonette by Ryan McClure

God has warned us what is to come; we now have time to refine our character, allowing God's Spirit to transform us into the image of Jesus Christ.


His Eye Is on the Sparrow (Part Five)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

As the lives of the major biblical figures were predestined, so are our lives. God chooses, moves, and manages the lives of His servants.


Seeing Sanctification as an Exciting Adventure

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by David F. Maas

The events in today's news can seem overwhelming, but there are strategies to turn the sanctification process into an exciting adventure.


Spiritual Maturity

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Kingdom parables allude to the process of spiritual maturity, depicting a planted and cultivated seed becoming a sprout, eventually bearing fruit.


Magic Doesn't Work (Part Three)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Magic is always used as some kind of weapon, but not to build or develop moral strength or character. God chooses a life-long process of sanctification.


Choosing the New Man (Part Two)

Article by Charles Whitaker

The spiritual new man is one who is reconciled to God and has chosen to collaborate with Him in creating a totally new mind—one just like Christ's!


The Whole Truth

'Ready Answer' by John O. Reid

We have heard the courtroom mantra, 'the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.' Behavior shows that many shy away from 'nothing but the truth'!


Preparing to Rule!

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Have you ever considered what it will be like right after Christ returns? What will you do, as a king, to help and govern the people placed under you?


Is the Christian Required To Do Works? (Part Six)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Works cannot earn us salvation. However, they play many vital roles in our Christian walk toward the Kingdom of God, especially in developing holiness.


Spiritual Fine Tuning

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by David F. Maas

As maturing Christians, we are called to lay aside the childlike tendency to over-correct, violently and impulsively moving from one ditch to the other.


Psalms: Book Two (Part Two)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The second set of documents and events consists of Book Two of Psalms, Exodus, Ruth, Psalm 147, and the Pentecost season, relating to faith within trials.


From Rubble to Utopia

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The World Tomorrow is not going to happen because of an instantaneous miracle. God takes His time to produce both physical and spiritual changes.


Five Easily-Neglected Doctrines

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Here are five easily neglected doctrines, which, if carelessly observed or distorted, could jeopardize the salvation of God's people.