Playlist:

playlist Go to the Choices (topic) playlist

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.


Sovereignty and Choice

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

Some theologians see law and grace at the opposite ends of a continuum. They cannot imagine how God's sovereignty and man's free moral agency can co-exist.


Overcoming is a Choice

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

We must make choices over our entire lifetime. God does the heavy lifting in terms of giving the choices and the solutions for us, but He will not choose for us.


Making Faithful Choices (Part One)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Gideon began his life as a coward, became a conqueror, and ended a compromiser, all the while needing assurances from God to bolster his flagging faith.


Choices and a Man After God's Own Heart: Turn, Turn, Turn

Sermon by Mark Schindler

Honoring our free choice and understanding our weaknesses, God alters time and chance for us, using our mistakes as tools to enhance our godly character.


Making the Right Choice

CGG Weekly by John Reiss

The Bible is dogmatic about certain core doctrines, but we are left to decide how to understand other issues with principles we glean from His Word.


Making Faithful Choices (Part Two)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

God demonstrated to Gideon, through His systematically whittling his army from 30,000 to 300, that His providence, and not Gideon's might, would bring victory.


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?


Controlling the Gap (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by Bill Onisick

Spiritual conditioning involves prayer, study, meditation on God, and occasional fasting, refining our judgment of—and hence our response to—trying situations.


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 Ship Is Yours

Sermon by Mark Schindler

Just as the captain of a ship wants decision-makers, not just order takers, God expects us to make decisions in accordance with His will.


No Failsafe Needed

Sermon by Mark Schindler

The free-will God has allowed mankind has led to some tragic consequences or disruptions, but none of these are outside of His control.


Human Will and God's Sovereignty (Part Two)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Human will is not sovereign in the body, but is just another servant, functioning according to the information it receives. We choose according to desires.


Providence

Sermonette by James Beaubelle

Studying examples of God's hand both favoring and putting down, we must reach out to Him daily for His Divine Providence to be at work in their lives.


Ecclesiastes and Wisdom

Sermonette by John W. Ritenbaugh

There is a vital linkage between wisdom and understanding, understanding comes only through hard work and experience. Wisdom is skill in living.


An Exhortation for Young Adults

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Wisdom is not a trait valued or acquired by youth, but takes second place to strength, beauty, or fun. We get too soon old and too late smart.


Sovereignty, Election, and Grace (Part Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Even though we have the free moral agency to run counter to God's purposes, we court disaster if we presumptuously plan against these purposes.


Are These Your Feasts? (Part One)

CGG Weekly by Mark Schindler

This earth is a prison, and Satan is its jailer. The inmates—mankind—do not realize that there is no free will! A prison takes away freedom.


The Sovereignty of God: Part Seven

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

One aspect of sovereignty that causes some confusion is predestination. God's sovereignty does not remove a person's free moral agency — we must still choose.


Before the Foundation

Sermonette by Levi W. Graham

Christ was a type of Adam, similarly enduring a piercing of the side, dying for His bride, so that His Helper could be brought into being.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Six)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God wants us to use wisdom to change ourselves, humbly replacing our perspective with His perspective. God gives wisdom as a component of His grace.


Sovereignty, Election, and Grace (Part Five)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

In terms of salvation, works cannot save, but good works are the fruit of God's involvement. Grace frees one; works prove that one has been freed.


Sovereignty, Election, and Grace (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The term 'grace' describes a generous, thoughtful action of God, accompanied by love, which accomplishes His will, equipping us with everything we need.


An Abuse of Sovereignty

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Most professing Christians agree that God is sovereign, but there is a wide range of beliefs with regard to just how involved God is in their lives.


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.


Human Nature: Good or Evil?

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Progressives tend to believe that human nature is perfectible and evolving. Conservatives tend to believe that human nature is evil and must be controlled.


Why Are You Here?

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God, following a pattern, routinely calls the lowly and weak to guard against pride. God will transform the weak of this world through His Holy Spirit.


The Sovereignty of God (Part Seven)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

In the example of a child summoned by a parent to clean up his room, the child's dawdling and complaining are not predestined nor are they part of God's will.


The Measure of a Man in the Completed Canvas

Commentary by Mark Schindler

God is the consummate artist, incorporating in His saints what seems to be a random jumble of dot and dashes, consisting of moments spread out on a canvas.


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.


Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part One)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Ecclesiastes is full of frustration, bluntness, and even a little hopeless. However, its themes are realistic and necessary for us to grasp.


Self-Government (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Regardless of whether one submits to God, government, or community, self-government is the best means to having a safe, smooth course toward an objective.


Who Is on the Lord's Side?

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Feast of Trumpets is a day of decision, a time to determine whether we are on the Lord's side. We must loyally fulfill the role to which God called us.


Sovereignty and 'Once Saved Always Saved'

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Those who believe in the "once saved always saved" doctrine fail to see that God has a more extensive and creative plan for mankind than merely saving him.


Shaping Your Worldview

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Our worldview influences every decision we make. If we do not give God the prominent position in our worldview, we will make self-destructive choices.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Until Christ returns, the world's problems will not be solved. Using godly wisdom helps us to deal with our circumstances, but it won't change the world.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Ecclesiastes is perhaps the most practical book in the Old Testament, providing overviews of life-guiding advice, essentially a roadmap through the maze.


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.


The Road to the Kingdom

Article by Mike Ford

The way leading to eternal life is narrow and difficult and few find it. The road to the Kingdom may not be a highway, but neither is it concealed or secret.


Biblical Wisdom

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

While Greek culture rendered wisdom mostly mental and contemplative, it is not truly biblical wisdom unless it follows through with a specific behavior.


Stewardship of God's Temple (Part Four)

Sermon by David F. Maas

One of the most marvelous gifts God has given humanity is water—having both physical and spiritual dimensions, serving as the symbol of God's Spirit.


My Parents Won't Let Me!

Article by Clyde Finklea

Here is the story of a young man's momentous choice regarding his keeping of the Sabbath, a decision he had to make all on his own.


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.


God Has Faith in You

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John O. Reid

It can be encouraging to us that our patriarchs and the prophets had serious doubts, but God overrode all their fears in accomplishing His purpose.


The Summertime Soldier and Sunshine Patriotism

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

We must put our lives, treasure, and honor on the line, picking up our cross daily, declaring our independence from carnality, evil and bondage to sin.


God's Sovereignty and the Church's Condition (Part Two)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

God's hand was definitely involved in the scattering of the church. We should respond by growing and preparing ourselves for His Kingdom.


Deuteronomy (Part 5)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God's faithfulness is the foundation of our faith. We cannot live by faith unless we believe we have a God who is faithful in everything He does.


The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Justification does not 'do away' with the law; it brings us into alignment with it, imputing the righteousness of Christ and giving access to God for sanctification.


Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty (Part Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

We are not individually sovereign, but we are taught to give ourselves over completely to God's sovereignty. If we do, we will reap unfathomable blessings.


In Search of a Clear World View (Part Three)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Each member has been gifted by Christ. We must not go beyond the gifts that have been given to us, but must use them humbly, employing them to edify.


Overcoming Hypocrisy

Sermonette by Bill Onisick

We 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.


Deuteronomy (Part 4)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

If we learn to fear and love God, loyalty, faithfulness and commandment-keeping will naturally follow, and we will instinctively hasten to depart from evil.


Peter's Pentecost Sermon

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The signs that accompanied Peter's Pentecost sermon attracted attention, confirmed God's Word, and provided meaning to the effects of the Holy Spirit.