Ok, we’re actually starting this morning with chapter 2 verse 11. Job’s friends generally get a bad wrap when people comment on the book of Job. Yet, if there was anytime when they got things right it was here – when they sat with him on the ground and no one spoke a word! When someone is experiencing a trail… Read more →
Joe Fleener
Lover of Christ & His Gospel, Husband to Mandy, Father to three wonderful children, & Servant to the Local Church. Joe earned a Master of Divinity degree from Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary in 2003, completed his Masters of Theology courses in 2005 and moved to New Zealand with his family in 2006. Joe has served as a Bible College lecturer and “lay preacher” (churches, camps, conferences, etc.) in the US and New Zealand. In addition, Joe has taught courses for Bible Colleges in South Africa, Romania, Ukraine, and Australia. From 2010 to 2014, Joe served as the Associate Pastor at Howick Baptist Church in Auckland. Since August 2014, he has been privileged to serve as Pastor of Rolleston Baptist Church. Joe also serves in the following ministry roles here in New Zealand: Steering Committee, Stand for the Gospel | Coordinator, TIM Training Course | Board Member, Gospel Training Trust | Adjunct Lecturer, Grace Theological College. Finally I serve as a trainer for BibleWorks. Infrequently, Joe blogs on his personal blog where you can learn a lot more about him and his family over the years.
Pondering Job in a Pandemic – Chapter 2
I’ve heard some say their greatest fear in the midst of this pandemic is to loose their health. They are uncertain of their financial future. They are terrified of loosing their health or even their life. This is the question the hovers over Job chapter 2. Did you notice the activity of Satan in this chapter? Verse 2 – “And… Read more →
Pondering Job in a Pandemic – Chapter 1
Life is very strange to say the least. As of this morning, according to major International News Outlets, one quarter of the world’s population is in some form of lockdown. This is incomprehensible really. I’ve never even imagined something like this happening, let alone experienced anything like it. Nor has anyone I know. Even at this early hour here in… Read more →
Pondering Job in a Pandemic – Introduction
By 11:59pm today, New Zealand will be in a complete lockdown as a nation due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Among many other important details for our lives, we will not be able to meet together as a church family for the foreseeable future. I plan to write a simple devotional each morning on one chapter of Job here on our… Read more →
Covid-19 Prayer Requests
It is our desire to be a praying people and a praying church at all times. At this time it might be prudent to keep particular prayer requests in mind for our church family and community. This list will be “generic” – particular names will not be given as this is public, more like categories to help stir thought and… Read more →
Resources for Those with Questions Regarding Suicide
Today my wife and two oldest teenage children attended the funeral of one of their classmates who took his own life last week. I am copying here items from my personal blog from 2013 back to 2007. This is a topic which is so very painful yet so very important for Christians to think about carefully. Here are some items… Read more →
Fellowship of Reformed Baptist Churches: Roving Classroom – Saturday, 24 August
We have the opportunity and privilege to host our Fellowship’s Roving Classroom in August.All from RBC are welcome to attendWe will have visiting attendees from other Fellowship and area churchesCloser to the time we will seek volunteers to serve with catering. Watch this space… 🙂 FRBCNZ Roving Classroom – Rolleston When: Saturday, 24 Aug 2019Topic: Ruth–God Gives a Harvest of Sovereign Lovingkindness… Read more →
Liar, Lunatic, Lord or Maybe Legend
C. S. Lewis’ very memorable way of putting this… Stated in a radio talk in 1942 later published in Mere Christianity in 1952: “I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God.’… Read more →
Resources for Home
Over the past few months we have been making use of the book Small Talks on Big Questions by Selah Helms and Susan Thompson Kahler during our “children’s story”. This book is essentially a teaching tool for working through a Children’s Catechism based on the Westminster Confession of Faith & 1689 The London Baptist Confession. We have also started in our 9:30 Bible Class a series where… Read more →
Have you thought of your “status” as a gift?
Originally posted to Joe’s personal blog in September 2005. Sunday’s sermon (31 March 2019) is “A Biblical Theology of Singleness.” Let me say up front, before you keep reading, for the sake of this post by “status” I mean your marriage status – single or married. I am sure I am not the only one who has heard or been… Read more →