Spencer DeBlog (Page 8)

Spencer DeBlog (Page 8)

we pretend to be unable to understand

Soren Kierkegaard “The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand we are obliged to act accordingly. Take any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly.…

The second most important book

What is the second most important book you own? This article give the precisely perfect answer to that question!   http://garrettkell.com/the-2nd-most-important-book-any-christian-can-have/   What book is that? Your local church’s membership directory. Now, before you roll your eyes and run off to read something else, give me a moment more of your time. I…

Pastor Longenecker

Harold Longenecker was called home to his Savior last Friday evening. Memorial Service will be Tuesday, May 27 at 11:00 am at the Bridge Community Church-  946 E. Thacker St., Des Plaines, IL 60016. Harold Longenecker was Senior Pastor of Racine Bible Church from 1987-1993. When I first moved to Racine in 2001 I listened to tapes (yes tapes) of his sermons from Romans.…

grandparents prayer

Here is the prayer for a grandparent I quoted in the sermon last Sunday. I don’t know who the author is —   Lord, you know better than I know myself that I am getting older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving to straighten out…

pray for your pastors to pray

I shared this with the RBC Pastors this morning. Acts 6:4 says that we are to devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word. A simple “and” links two equal priorities. The plain word order puts prayer first. But it is very rare to find a Pastor who actually prioritizes the ministry of prayer right alongside the ministry of the Word. Almost every…

A Happy Home

For the next couple of weeks I’ll be preaching on marriage, parenting, and family relationships. Every family needs God’s grace. I’m praying that He will meet us, change us, and give us hope and strength through His Word and Spirit.   Here is a helpful little list of ten ingredients that make a happy home. There are some great ideas for young…

escape from sorrow

  Psalm 42:5-6 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of Jordan. Are you in a struggle with sadness? Feelings of weakness wash over you in waves? You know you need God’s help…

the mission of the church

Here is some of what we discussed last night at the RBC Board Meeting –   Racine Bible Church belongs to Jesus Christ. It is His. Christ is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22; 5:23; Col. 1:23). Christ calls it “my church” in Matthew 16:18. It is called “the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” in Acts 20:28. It is not ours to do with what we want. It…

a poem about Christ’s resurrection

  Looking forward to celebrating the resurrection this Sunday, this poem by George Herbert keeps ringing in my ears. As with most older writing, you have to take it slowly and let it sink in. If you do, I hope you’ll find it as beautiful as I do. In the first four stanzas he reflects on the work week (the other six days) as toil and labor under the curse of sin but…

God’s Will

How do I know God’s Will? Here are two excellent resources for you: This is a half-page summary from John MacArthur telling you that you can do whatever you want to do! –  http://www.christianity.com/11541428/   This is a three page article detailing what we usually mean about God’s will, how we most commonly get it wrong, and what we can do to get it right. –…