Playlist: Heart, Corruption of (topic)
Harden Not Your Heart
Sermon by John O. ReidWe are warned in Hebrews not to harden our hearts, not to let the precious truth of God drift away, realizing that we have been called with a high calling.
Achieving the Desires of Our Hearts
Sermonette by David F. MaasGod's promise to give us the desires of our heart is contingent upon delighting ourselves in Him, changing our hearts to be in alignment with His attributes.
The Heart's Self-Absorption
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughII Timothy 3:1-5 contains 19 characteristics of carnality. The common denominator is self-absorption and pride, placing the self above others.
The Pure in Heart
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughIt is the core of our heart that must be cleansed before we can have a pure heart, enabling us to see God as He is.
Original Sin and Holiness
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)God gave Adam and Eve a neutral spirit and free moral agency; they chose the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, predisposing their offspring to sin.
Human Nature: Good or Evil?
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughProgressives tend to believe that human nature is perfectible and evolving. Conservatives tend to believe that human nature is evil and must be controlled.
Wilderness Wanderings (Part One)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Israel's trek was not only a physical journey, but a mental wandering caused by rejecting God's leadership. The potential to sin is a test of resolve.
Conviction to Godly Righteousness
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughReal repentance and conviction of righteousness should dramatically augment prayer, study, meditation, but most importantly, how we live our lives.
Flee From Idolatry (Part One): Self-Discipline
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThough Paul's spiritual credentials outstripped all of his coworkers, Paul used none of his rights as an apostle, but gave his life as a sacrifice.
Sin (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThough influenced by Satan and the world, sin is still a personal choice. Christ's sacrifice and God's Spirit provide our only defense against its pulls.
Overcoming Hypocrisy
Sermonette by Bill OnisickWe are continually in danger of being deceived by our carnal nature, a nature which distracts us from following God, even though we go through the motions.
Genesis 3:20-24: Consequences for God and Man
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWhen Adam and Eve were given the death sentence by God, they also received hope that through the offspring of Eve a Savior would be born to crush the serpent.
Living by Faith: Human Pride
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Our human nature is pure vanity with a heart that is desperately deceitful and wicked, motivated by self-centeredness, a deadly combination for producing sin.
Sin (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThough relatively neutral at its inception, human nature is subject to a deadly magnetic pull toward self-centeredness, deceit, and sin.
Who Is Responsible For Sin?
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeThough Satan influences, the choices an individual make are totally his own, even for those without God's Spirit. We sin when we are drawn away by our own desires.
Principled Living (Part Two): Conquering Sin
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughChrist warns that we must do everything possible to annihilate sin - surgically going right to the heart or mind: the level of thought and imagination.
Lust of the Flesh, Lust of the Eyes, Pride of Life
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeThe half-time show of the recent Superbowl exemplifies the lust of the flesh and the eyes, and the pride of life. Each choice we make changes our brains.
Values and Conversion
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughRepentance involves incorporating God's values, alien to our human nature—ones that will unify us with God and with others who accept His value system.
Blessed Are: Summary
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughIn the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, Jesus exposes the depths of His own heart, while demonstrating the deficit of our own carnal hearts.
From Pride to Humility
Sermon by John O. ReidTwo tests to reveal the presence of pride are the way we treat others (especially our own family) and the way we receive instruction or correction.
Conscience (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughA conscience can only function according to what it knows, and will automatically adjust in the way it is exercised. Conscience follows conduct.
The Original Sin Question
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Though we inherit the proclivity to sin, neither it nor Satan makes us sin. We are responsible for our own sins and for the consequences—death.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Eleven)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIt is not the physical nation, but the spiritual remnant with whom God is working, circumcising their hearts and writing His laws in their minds.
River of Life
Sermon by Bill OnisickI Corinthians 13 describes the assaying instrument to detect the purity of love. Our need for love never ends as we move through the sanctification process.
The Great Flood (Part One)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughAs much as the flood was a natural occurrence, it was also a supernatural occurrence, in which a loving God brought a hopelessly wicked world to an end.
The Christian and the World (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe prince of the power of the air is responsible for influencing the zeitgeist (dominant mindset of the time), pulling us away from God and His law.
Fast or Famine
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod has used famine as one of the tools to get the Israelites' attention when they violated the terms of the Covenant with Him, forsaking His holy law.
Psalms: Book Two (Part Three)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughBook II of the Psalms was written largely by David and shows how he reacts to some gruesome trials by surrendering to God's redemption.
Letters to Seven Churches (Part Ten): The Church
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughUps and downs, blessings and trials, have characterized every era of the church. God's people are always battling something negative between the brief highs.
New Covenant Priesthood (Part Eleven)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPride destroys relationships, rendering righteous judgment next to impossible. Self-righteousness (a product of pride) makes an idol out of self.
How Much Do You Value the Kingdom of God?
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartyrdom is not a penalty because a person has failed to qualify for the Place of Safety; rather, it is a badge of honor for those who have overcome.
Solving the School-Shooting Crisis
Commentary by Richard T. RitenbaughResolving these problems is not possible unless policy-makers factor in human carnality. The solution is character reform, not political reform.
We Can Make It!
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)This is the time to make the most of what we have experienced, establishing our spiritual priorities, and reflecting deeply on why we gave ourselves to God.
Patterns of Resistance
Sermonette by Joseph B. BaityOne of man's twisted thought patterns has two parts: (1) We seek to elevate ourselves above God, and (2) we lie to ourselves about the first pattern.
Fatherhood and Modern Temptations
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMany fathers abdicate their leadership responsibilities, becoming addicted to workaholism, television, or even pornography. The culture teeters on destruction
God Has Faith in You
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John O. ReidIt can be encouraging to us that our patriarchs and the prophets had serious doubts, but God overrode all their fears in accomplishing His purpose.
Ecclesiastes and the Feast of Tabernacles (Part 1)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLove for this world will inevitably bring disillusionment. Because the world is passing away, our priorities should be to fear God and keep his commandments.