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What Will You Do?
Sermonette by Martin G. CollinsWe must guard against complacency and inactivity, putting our activities and energies into something permanent- such as God's eternal plan for us.
The Hand You're Dealt
Sermonette by Hunter D. SwansonThe hand that we are dealt contains the potential for victory, but not if we are not equipped to play it skillfully and wisely.
Give God Something to Bless
Sermonette by Hunter D. SwansonWe are not puppets whom God and Satan are fighting to take control over. We are fighting carnal nature and must always take action to give our hearts to God.
It's Enough! Now, Lord, Take My Life!
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsAction counters depression by replacing passive despair with deliberate, obedient steps grounded in faith. Biblical figures such as Elijah illustrate this when, after exhaustion and self-pity, God directed him to arise, eat, and return to purposeful service by anointing new leaders and recognizing the faithful remnant. This obedient action shifted focus from circumstances and self to God's direction, breaking the cycle of hopelessness. The same principle extends to daily life through positive and active engagement that builds character and serves others. Making each day count involves diligent effort rather than dwelling on negatives, as every task done with might contributes to spiritual fruit and renewed perspective. Such action connects directly to the broader message that victory over discouragement comes through reliance on God's power, which strengthens the inward person day by day and produces stability, compassion, and maturity. By choosing godly responses instead of emotional inaction, believers align with the promise that all things work together for good, enabling them to endure trials without yielding to futility or isolation.
Producing Fruit
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughRighteousness begins with avoiding sin but requires a decisive shift to positive action, as a merely defensive approach leaves the life vulnerable and self-centered. After the cleansing symbolized by Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread demand that a new dynamic enter the emptied life so that good works replace former habits and fruit is produced for others. Without this active replacement, idleness allows former evils to return in greater strength, resulting in a worse condition than before the cleansing occurred. Action centers on love expressed in concrete deeds rather than words or feelings alone. Hearing the Word and keeping it means laying down one's life in service, seeking justice, defending the needy, and supplying what a brother lacks. Such doing glorifies the Father and confirms discipleship, because the branch that abides in the vine necessarily bears fruit. Growth follows the same pattern: the Spirit leads the mind into understanding and supplies strength, yet the believer must respond by continuing in prayer, study, and obedience so that the cycle of feeding produces maturity rather than stagnation. Uselessness therefore invites removal, for the tree that receives nourishment yet yields nothing consumes resources without reciprocating. God supplies every needed resource precisely so that each person may act, grow, and bear fruit. In this way action fulfills the purpose of the holy days, transforms character, and secures the blessing that returns to the one who gives.
The Behavior of Onesiphorus
Sermonette by Jared M. EllisOnesiphorus stands out for his unwavering loyalty and selfless support of Paul during persecution. His actions, not his words, spoke volumes.
Don't Stand Still!
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe best way to conquer evil is to do righteousness, serving God and mankind. Sins of omission are every bit as devastating as sins of commission.
Everlasting Consolation and Good Hope
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsGod's saints are not immune to depression. Job, Moses, and Elijah all felt so overwhelmed, they wanted God to take their lives.
Strategies for Escaping Babylon (Part Five)
Sermon by David F. MaasTo escape Babylon, we must embrace God's work ethic, choosing to serve rather than be served, endeavoring to give extra measure and go the second mile.
Fear is the Mindkiller
Sermonette by Jarod RitenbaughFear impacts the nervous system, manifesting three instinctive responses: freeze, flight, and fight. These occur in everyday life and throughout Scripture.
The Road Not Taken
Sermonette by James C. StoertzAfter standing still, waiting for God's decision for us, we must diligently move forward as God draws us, taking the opportunity of acquiring more of God's Spirit.
Unleavened Bread and Hope
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughAfter we purge the corruption from our lives, we must replace it with the anti-leaven of truth and sincerity, or our last state will be worse than the first.
Titus 2:11-14
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe are obligated to dress and keep what is placed in our care, improving what He has given to us. We dare not stand still, but must make effort to grow.
Psalm Genres (Part One): Psalms of Thanksgiving
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughPsalms of Thanksgiving consists of a rich biblical genre, expressing gratitude not merely through words, but through praise, action, and loyalty to God.
Biblical Wisdom
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWhile Greek culture rendered wisdom mostly mental and contemplative, it is not truly biblical wisdom unless it follows through with a specific behavior.
Four Warnings (Part One): Enter By the Narrow Gate
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWe are admonished to seek the narrow, difficult gate rather than the wide gate and the broad, well-traveled easy way, representing Satan's reprobate teachings.
Oil For the Light
Sermonette by Christian D. HunterGod commanded action in the provision of light, as seen in Exodus 27:20-21, where He instructed the children of Israel to bring pure oil of pressed olives to keep the lamp burning continually in the tabernacle. This task demanded persistent effort, requiring a large quantity of olives to produce the necessary oil, likely a daily responsibility. The priests, Aaron and his sons, were tasked with tending the lamp from evening until morning before the Lord, ensuring the light never went out. This command reflects a broader expectation of action, as God provided the means for the Israelites to fulfill His requirements, even in the challenging environment of the wilderness. He expected them to act with what He supplied, whether through storing olives from Egypt, harvesting in the wilderness, or trading for what they needed. This action of bringing pure oil symbolizes the unseen efforts in one's personal relationship with Christ, while the resulting light represents the visible godly character developed from such actions. God's command for light, first spoken in Genesis 1:3, continues to call for action, as He provides abundantly for His people to reflect His presence through their lives.
Be Ready for Every Good Work
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsPaul underscores the importance of living as citizens of God's Kingdom by maintaining good works, being obedient, peaceable, and humble in all interactions.
The Right Goal
Sermonette by Bill OnisickSuccess requires more than establishing a mission and defining goals; it demands action. Mission statements, goals, and objectives function only as tools, and tools remain of little use until placed in the hands of a capable craftsman who actually employs them. Documenting a vision, however clear, does not guarantee success unless that vision is translated into daily, lived practice. This principle finds its foundation in James 2:20-22, where faith without works is described as dead. Just as Abraham's faith was made perfect through his works when he offered Isaac, vision or mission without corresponding goals and action is likewise doomed to failure. Abraham's clear sense of vision served as a plumb line not merely for his decisions but for every action he took, demonstrating that genuine conviction must express itself through deeds. Luke 9:23 reinforces this by commanding that anyone desiring to follow Christ must deny himself and take up his cross daily. The emphasis on "daily" is critical: goals and objectives are only effective if lived out continually and revisited constantly to monitor progress. Since believers exist in a daily battle with Satan and the world, and since the world constantly works to blur vision and cloud judgment, spiritual success depends on the ability to remain focused through consistent, repeated action rather than passive intention. Practical action includes beginning each day with reflection and prayer, asking for God's assistance regarding one's mission, goals, and objectives, and then closing each day by reflecting on progress and accomplishments. Questions such as what was done that day to glorify God, which objectives were met or missed, and what could have been done differently serve as tools for evaluating whether vision is being actively pursued. The example mission of glorifying God through good works illustrates how broad goals must be supported by concrete, actionable objectives—monitoring prayer request lists, praying daily for brethren in need, praying for the ministry and unity of the church, actively reaching out to those in need, and sending cards for illness, anniversaries, or baptisms. These objectives represent the measurable actions that make an otherwise abstract goal achievable. Ultimately, action must be paired with reliance on God's sovereignty. Missions, goals, and objectives are not solutions in themselves; true success cannot be attained by human effort alone. Full effort is required—working at overcoming, growing, and developing spiritually, and persisting in that effort—but God supplies the essential ingredient of His power, faith, guidance, and life. Each incremental success achieved through consistent action increases confidence and courage to resist worldly temptation and to actively practice God's way of life, fueling ongoing motivation toward the ultimate goal: glorifying God in every thought, action, and word, and pressing forward, as Paul did, toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.