Author: Tony Reinke

Sin makes man a destroyer

Tony Reinke Great Quotes, Octavius Winslow, Sin, Sin in Culture, Sinfulness

“Man is a suicide – he has destroyed himself; a homicide – his influence destroys others; a deicide – he would, were it in his power, annihilate the very being of God. What a proof of this have we in the crucifixion of the Son of God! When God brought himself as near to man as Infinity could approach, he exclaimed, ‘This is the Heir; come, let us kill him!’ and they proceeded to consummate the crime by nailing him to the tree.”

Octavius Winslow, No Condemnation in Christ Jesus (Banner of Truth: 1853/1991), p. 93. Online edition.

Spurgeon on earnestness

Tony Reinke Boldness, C.H. Spurgeon, Earnestness, Fresh preaching, Great Preachers, Great Quotes, John Angell James, Preaching, Pupit Seriousness

This week I am hoping to complete the wonderful book on earnestness by John Angell James. Spurgeon also has much to say on this topic in Lectures to My Students. Here is just one example …

If I were asked – What in a Christian minister is the most essential quality for securing success in winning souls for Christ? I should reply, “earnestness”: and if I were asked a second or a third time, I should not vary the answer, for personal observation drives me to the conclusion that, as a rule, real success is proportionate to the preacher’s earnestness. Both great men and little men succeed if they are thoroughly alive unto God, and fail if they are not so. We know men of eminence who have gained a high reputation, who attract large audiences, and obtain much admiration, who nevertheless are very low in the scale as soul-winners: for all they do in that direction they might as well have been lecturers on anatomy, or political orators. At the same time we have seen their compeers in ability so useful in the business of conversion that evidently their acquirements and gifts have been no hindrance to them, lint the reverse; for by the intense and devout use of their powers, and by the; anointing of the Holy Spirit, they have turned many to righteousness. We have seen brethren of very scanty abilities who have been terrible drags upon a church, and have proved as inefficient in their spheres as blind men in an observatory; but, on the other hand, men of equally small attainments are well known, to us as mighty hunters before the Lord, by whose holy energy many hearts have been captured for the Savior. I delight in M’Cheyne’s remark, “It is not so much great talents that God blesses, as great likeness to Christ.” In many instances ministerial success is traceable almost entirely to an intense zeal, a consuming passion for souls, and an eager enthusiasm in the cause of God, and we believe that in every case, other things being equal, men prosper in the divine service in proportion as their hearts are blazing with holy love.

C.H. Spurgeon, Lectures to My Students (Passmore and Alabaster: London), 1881. 2:145.

Sermon notes: Psalm 73

Tony Reinke Audio sermon, Preaching notes, Sermon notes

Last night I had the honor of preaching a sermon on Depression, Worldliness and the Presence of God (Psalm 73). For those interested here’s the audio:

Psalm 73 – Tony Reinke – 7/30/06 – Audio (mp3)

Summary: Depression covers the heart when we envy the comforts and excesses of the ungodly (vv. 1-16). To help us out of depression and protect us from it we are reminded that God’s eternal judgment is near (vv. 17-22) and His presence is here (vv. 23-28).

(Tony S. Reinke, Omaha Bible Church, 7/30/2006 PM – 47:26 – 21 MB – Psalm 73:1-28, Psalm 16:8,11; Philippians 3:18-19).

Pastors wives: Let her works praise her in the gates

Tony Reinke Great Quotes, Pastor's family, Pastor's wives, Pastoral Ministry

When we set out to sell our house in the hopes of moving to Minneapolis to pursue pastoral training I promised the family that once our house sold we would spend a family day together. It did, and so today we will.

But it’s also a great day to be reminded of the importance of my wife in this transition. By God’s grace she is simply incredible. She has been focused and works with great diligence, making sure (with everything in our world now in motion) that the spiritual priorities remain at the front. Like the Proverbs 31 woman she is competent in the real estate market, searching out properties that would suit our family well and researching neighborhoods in Minneapolis (v. 16). Her busy day is often interrupted by two small children. She is loving, caring and able to stop everything to minister to the friends and family who call frequently.

This family day is a good reminder of the blessing it is to pursue pastoral ministry with a godly partner. I simply couldn’t be blessed any further than I am. If your wife is like mine, let her praise resound at the city gate!

Spurgeon’s example of earnestness

Tony Reinke Boldness, C.H. Spurgeon, Earnestness, Experiential preaching, Great Quotes, Preaching, Pupit Seriousness

This weekend I have the great honor to preach on the topic of Psalm 73. And in my study I was given a great example of the pulpit earnestness that we have been talking so much about over the past several weeks. It’s from the pulpit of C.H. Spurgeon:

“Please remember we are not speaking now of people in the street, of drunkards, and harlots, and profane swearers, and such like — we know that their damnation is sure and just — but, alas, I need not look far. If I glance along these seats and look into faces upon which my eye rests every Sabbath day, there are some of you, some of you who are unconverted still. You are not immoral but you are unregenerated; you are not unamiable but you are ungracious, you are not far from the kingdom, but you are not in the kingdom. It is your end I speak of now, yours ye sons of godly mothers, yours ye daughters of holy parents — your end, unless God give you repentance. I want you to see where you are standing today. “Surely thou didst set them in slippery places.”

Spurgeon sermon #486, 12/28/1862

Christ and Him Crucified

Tony Reinke Biblical Quotes, Cross of Christ, Earnestness, Gospel, Gospel in Culture, Great Quotes, Justification, Justification by Faith, Pupit Seriousness

The pulpit is one run-on sermon series on the same thing. Preaching that does not preach Christ as its central focus and neglects words like “sin,” “atonement,” “wrath of God,” “substitute,” etc. is the worldly wisdom that appears quite foolish in the sight of God and remains powerless to change lives.

1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 … For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 2:1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (ESV)