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Bob Hoekstra

Bob Hoekstra ( - 2012)

Bob's involvement with the Calvary Chapels began in 1971, when he and his wife Dini visited Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa on a Sunday evening. They were deeply touched by the life-giving teaching of the word of God, the simple worship "in Spirit and in truth", and the profound expressions of the love of the Lord among the saints. Upon returning to Dallas, they regularly obtained Pastor Chuck Smith's teaching tapes and eventually became daily listeners of the Word for Today on the radio.

Since 1993, Bob had been teaching at Calvary Chapel and other church fellowships across the country and overseas (including, Seminars, Pastors' Conferences, Church Services, Leadership Conferences, Retreats, and Schools of Evangelism/Ministry). He has taught numerous classes at Calvary Chapel Bible College (both at its former location in Twin Peaks, CA and its current location in Murrieta Hot Springs, CA) as well as at the extension campuses of Costa Mesa, Vista, San Diego, El Cajon, and others. Bob's teaching generally highlights such subjects as Counseling God's Way ,Family God's Way ,Growing in the Grace of God ,The Church: How Jesus Builds It ,Contending for the Faith ,Promise Believers ,The Sufficiency of Christ and His Word ,The Psychologizing of the Faith , and related themes.

      Pastor Bob Hoekstra is the founder and Director of Living in Christ Ministries (livinginchrist.org). He has been in ministry since 1967, including fourteen years in Dallas, TX and eleven years as Pastor of Calvary Chapel of Irvine, CA. He and his wife, Dini, were married in 1966, and have three adult children and eleven grandchildren. Bob graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1973 with the Master of Theology degree.

      Bob's involvement with the Calvary Chapels began in 1971. Since 1993, Bob has been teaching at Calvary Chapel and other church fellowships across the country and overseas. The Living in Christ Radio Program is heard on several stations across the country.

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Bob Hoekstra

A Precious Promise of God's Completing Work

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6) Now, we return to the category we are calling "precious promises." (2 Peter 1:4). Here we have a priceless one concerning God's commitment to complete the wo... Read More
Bob Hoekstra

A Precious Promise of God's Perfecting Work

The LORD will perfect that which concerns me. (Psalm 138:8) Again, we look at one of God's "precious promises." (2 Peter 1:4). This one pertains to His perfecting work in the lives of those who know Him and humbly depend upon Him. This priceless promise is the Old Testament antecedent of the one we ... Read More
Bob Hoekstra

A Precious Promise of God's Provision

By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises . . . And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (2 Peter 1:4 and Philippians 4:19) In recent meditations, we have looked at two differing categories of promises: "exceedingly great an... Read More
Bob Hoekstra

Access to Grace through Humility and Faith

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble . . . through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand. (James 4:6 and Romans 5:2) Thus far in our daily meditations on growing in the grace of God, we have examined various areas of biblical truth: such as, the Old Cove... Read More
Bob Hoekstra

An "Unpopular" Promise Regarding Persecution

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12) For a final visit, we return to the category of "unpopular" promises. This promise guarantees persecution for serious believers in Jesus Christ. In a church world where many treasure comfort and popularit... Read More
Bob Hoekstra

An "Unpopular" Prophetic Promise of Apostasy

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron. (1 Timothy 4:1-2) As we continue to alternate between "precious promises" and ... Read More
Bob Hoekstra

Another Proper Response to God's Promises

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative ... Read More
Bob Hoekstra

Coming to the Lord for Edifying Grace

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5) Coming to Jesus habitually for the... Read More
Bob Hoekstra

Coming to the Lord for Grace

Come to Me . . . and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me... and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29) Our previous meditation on Jesus promising spiritual rest provides an excellent opportunity to reflect again upon the relational aspect of living by the gra... Read More
Bob Hoekstra

Contrasting Results for Self-Exaltation and Humility

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, "God, I thank You that I am not like other men" . . . everyone who exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 18:11, 14) The importance of Jesus' teaching in our present verse can be seen in its being repeated on ... Read More
Bob Hoekstra

David Confessing God as His Refuge

Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us . . . . You are my hiding place . . . You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. (Psalm 62:8 and 32:7) David often confessed God as his refuge. This is another indicator that he typically lived by the... Read More
Bob Hoekstra

David Confessing God as His Strength

The LORD is the strength of my life . . . The LORD is . . . my strength, in whom I will trust. (Psalm 27:1 and 18:2) Living by grace involves depending upon God to work in our lives. For the greater part of his life, David was an outstanding Old Testament example of such living. This was certainly e... Read More
Bob Hoekstra

David Confessing the Lord as His God

I hear the slander of many; Fear is on every side; While they take counsel together against me, They scheme to take away my life. But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." (Psalm 31:13-14) Living by grace involves looking to the Lord as the one who must work His ways in and thr... Read More
Bob Hoekstra

David Relying upon the Lord's Lovingkindness

Show Your marvelous lovingkindness . . . Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You . . . Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You . . .. Cause me to hear your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust. (Psalm 17:7; 36:10; 63:3; and 143:8) Ther... Read More
Bob Hoekstra

David Urging Others to Trust in the Lord

Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:3-5) Those who live by grace trust in God to w... Read More
Bob Hoekstra

Even More on David and the Lord's Lovingkindness

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house. (Psalm 36:7-8a) We have been meditating from Old Testament passages upon God's lovingkindness (a term very much lik... Read More
Bob Hoekstra

Even More on God's Promises and God's Law

For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect. (Romans 4:13-14) These words from the book of Romans cont... Read More
Bob Hoekstra

Exceedingly Great and Precious Promises

By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises... And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." (2 Peter 1:4 and Matthew 4:19) As we have seen, faith is the proper response to the promises of God. Let us now return to individual consideration of God's ... Read More
Bob Hoekstra

God Dwelling with the Humble and Contrite

For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." (Isaiah 57:15) God delights in pouring out His grace ... Read More
Bob Hoekstra

God's Promises and God's Rest

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believ... Read More

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