What is the Calvinist view of God's sovereignty? I have many Calvinist friends, and when we discuss matters of theology or doctrine, almost inevitably, the conversation turns to them saying something like "That's because of God's sovereignty," or "That undermines God's sovereignty."

In fact, most (if not all) of the 5 points of 5-point Calvinism hinge on the sovereignty of God as their cornerstone, either directly, or as they build on the other points.

I have my own idea of what God's sovereignty means, but it must be quite different than what Calvinists mean by this phrase, because when they throw that phrase at me to support their views, I usually see my concept of God's sovereignty contradicting their view.

So... what is the Calvinist view of God's sovereignty, and where is it based in scripture?
As a Calvinist, I believe God's Sovereignty to mean God has actively decreed all that will come to pass, and has done so for His glory in all things. God knows all that will come to pass because He has determined it, however not in the passive sense like I determine the temperature of water by touching it. Rather, God has actively determined all that will come to pass, and nothing occurs outside of God's decree.
Further, God's decree does not strive against man's will, in that man is forced into doing all that God decrees man will do, but instead man's will is determined by the decree. We willingly do that which God has decreed we will do (yet not necessarily that which God has prescribed).
With regards to Salvation, our view is that man is depraved and incapable of doing anything that pleases the LORD. In this state of depravity man will always despise the things of God, and will never seek them. It is only when God, in an act of grace, replaces the sinners heart of stone with a heart of flesh that the sinner will then will to do the things of God, and will come to God in obedience and belief.
So it's not God's choice vs man's choice. God doesn't coerce man into becoming saved. Rather, God's power radically changes man's heart so that man will willingly seek the LORD.
There are many very clear passages regarding this, however one very popular text is John 6 where we can read the following statements from Jesus:

&quot;All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.&quot; - John 6:37 KJV

Calvinists read here that anybody the Father gives to the Son will indeed come to the Son.

&quot;And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.&quot; - John 6:39 KJV

Here we read further that Christ came to do the Fathe'rs will, and that will is that all of those whom the Father gave to the Son, the Son will lose none of them, but will raise them up.

&quot;No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.&quot; - John 6:44 KJV
&quot;And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.&quot; - John 6:65 KJV

So no man has the ability or desire to come to Christ outside of the affectionate drawing by the Father.
This is by no means exhaustive. If I might suggest a book on the topic, I would suggest The Potter's Freedom, by Dr. James White.