Christian Formation

Do our bodies really matter? Doesn’t God mostly just care about our souls getting to heaven? In this episode we seek to explore a Biblical theology of our physical bodies. Why did God create us with a body? What does it mean to have fallen bodies? How does Jesus redeem our bodies? And what should we expect for our glorified bodies? Resources The Logic of the Body by Dr. Matthew LaPine Embodied Sou...

In this episode we seek to give relatively short answers to some big questions we’ve received over the fall of 2025. Resources Books Christ and Culture by H. Richard Niebuhr Center Church by Timothy Keller Podcast Episodes 142 - Should children sit through "big church"? 292 - Why Parent Commissioning? 164 - Creation (Genesis 1) 304 - Baptism Q&A Politics 250 - Our Public Posture 251...

Today, we’re discussing what Christians confess about God the Son through the Nicene Creed—who he is, what he’s done, and what he’s doing right now for our salvation. In this episode, we ask and answer questions like: What is the nature of God the Son? What is the importance of different aspects of Christ’s work from incarnation to salvation to Ascension to 2nd coming  What happens if we miss each...

In this episode, we discuss the following questions submitted by our listeners: Does baptism save you? When should someone be rebaptized? If someone was baptized as a believer but wasn’t fully immersed in water, are they baptized? What if a believer feels as though they've grown in their understanding of the gospel since being baptized? What if someone isn’t sure they fully believed at the ti...

In this episode, we continue our conversation around sin, humanity, and salvation. Last week we looked at the 4 states of mankind in relation to sin and salvation. This week we look closer at what sin actually is. Is it nature ? Is it merely our actions ? And how does understanding sin better help us understand salvation ? Resources Used Definition of Sin Connect With Us providenceomaha.org | Inst...

In this episode, we explore one of St. Augustine’s most influential theological frameworks: the Four States of Man . From humanity’s original harmony in Eden to the tension-filled struggle after the Fall, Augustine explains our different nature in relation to sin.  Join us as we break down each state— able to sin , not able not to sin , able not to sin , and not able to sin —and unpack what they r...

How do we behold and see the beauty in Advent when we talk about the same aspects of it each year? How do we not get tired of the tradition? This episode seeks to help listeners find the beauty in Advent, year after year. Resources Episodes 118 - Why Christians Should Practice Advent 162 - Why Celebrating Advent Helps You Books Advent  by Tish Harrison Warren Articles The Gospel Coalition Article...

In this episode, we hear from one of Providence's partners about his own salvation story and how God transformed his heart to desire to reach unreached people groups around the world. We pray that no matter the call God has on your life, you see the need to preach the Good News to those around the world, especially those in unreached places. Connect With Us providenceomaha.org | Instagram | F...

In this episode, we address our foundational question for this mini-series: What does baptism have to do with church membership?   Should baptism be a requirement for membership? Are baptism and church membership two distinct commitments, or are they linked in the life of the church? How should Christians think of the connection between the two?  Join us as we explore how Christians can think bibl...

In this episode, we take a closer look at the claim that church history overwhelmingly supports a paedobaptist view. We find that while it’s true that infant baptism became the predominant practice for many centuries, the historical picture isn’t quite so straightforward.  What did Christians throughout history believe was happening in infant baptism?  How did the earliest believers, those in the...

In this episode, we explore the covenantal argument for baptism.  Throughout Scripture, God makes covenants with His people, and baptism is often viewed as the sign of initiation into that covenant relationship. But how do these two ideas connect? How does a biblical understanding of God’s covenants shape the way we think about baptism?  We’ll argue that, based on our relationship with God under t...

What is baptism? This episode seeks to dive into the different views on baptism in Christianity, and then highlight the reformed view we believe at Providence Church. The goal of this episode is to help you understand the different views as well as have humility and charity towards other Christian views.  Resources 090 - Believer's Baptism (with Bobby Jamieson) 089 - Infant Baptism (with Kyle...

In this episode, we continue our posture of discovery, tracing the theme of water throughout the New Testament to shape our understanding of baptism today. Rather than ending with a concrete definition, we’ll reflect on key moments that provide more insight into what baptism is specifically as we see it in the New Testament. We talk about hard questions like, "Does baptism save you?" and...

In this episode, we continue our posture of discovery, tracing the theme of water throughout the Gospels to shape our understanding of baptism today. Rather than ending with a concrete definition, we’ll reflect on key moments that provide more insight into what baptism is specifically as we see it in the gospels. Whether you're new to the Bible or a seasoned theologian, join us as we dive int...

What if baptism didn’t begin in the New Testament? What if the waters of creation, the flood, the Red Sea, the Jordan River, and more have been telling a deeper story all along? In this episode, we take a posture of discovery, tracing the theme of water throughout the Old Testament to discover how the Old Testament shapes our understanding of baptism today. Rather than ending with a concrete defin...

When various churches focus on the infant (infant baptism, baby dedication, and so on), why does Providence instead focus on commissioning the parents? This episode seeks to explain Parent Commissioning at Providence—what it is, who it’s for, why we do it, and how it impacts the church. RESOURCES Knowing God Podcast, Episode 41 (infant baptism) 089 - Infant Baptism (with Kyle McClellan) 090 - Beli...

When we think of justice, we often think of fairness, punishment, or legal systems, but what does God’s justice actually look like? And why is it good news, not just for the world, but for each of us personally? In this episode, we take a deep dive into a biblical look at God’s justice. We explore how God's justice through Christ is beautiful, a blessing to us, and a reminder of how we should...

Why does a 1700-year-old statement of faith still matter today? The Nicene Creed isn’t just something we recite on Sundays; it’s a bold declaration that has shaped Christian belief for centuries. In this episode, we unpack the rich theology behind the Creed, exploring what it tells us about God, Christ, and his church—and why it’s still vital for every Christian today. Whether you're new to t...

1700 years ago, a Christian council was held that defined the church from that point forward. Does this meeting of Christian bishops matter today? What were they fighting over? Why is it astonishing that what they said is still affirmed by all Christians everywhere this many years later? In this episode, we seek to show a quick history and the overall importance of the Nicene Creed. Resources The...

Jesus emphasized living in His Kingdom, Paul highlights justification by faith, James tells us faith alone won’t save us. So which one was right? Do we see three different gospel messages? In this episode, we explore how some passages seem to contradict each other, and how Christians should seek to reconcile these issues in the Bible. We believe the Scriptures are a united story about one cohesive...

In this episode, we invite Dr. Patrick Schreiner to discuss how to understand Paul’s use of the law in Galatians.  How should Christians today think about the law? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Patrick Schreiner to explore Paul’s often misunderstood view of the law in his letter to the Galatians. In the Old Testament, the law is described as a gift, delighting the soul (Psalm 1), sweeter th...

In this episode, we invite Dr. Gregory Lanier to discuss the New Perspectives on Paul (NPP)—what the view is, its historical context, and its implications for understanding the book of Galatians. What are the New Perspectives on Paul? Should Christians today be open to a fresh look at Paul’s theology, specifically around "justification"? What are the dangers of this belief system? And ho...

How can Paul’s letter to the Galatians 2000 years ago impact our church today? What’s the letter all about? What does it teach us? And what is our hope for spending the fall in Galatians at Providence?  Join us as we kick off season 12 together answering these questions and providing an inside look to our fall sermon series. Resources Doctrines of Grace 093 - Doctrines of Grace / Calvinism 094 - T...

This is our last repost episode of the summer! In this episode, Andrew and Ravyn introduce the topic of and definition of fencing the Lord's table during Communion. What is fencing the table? Why is fencing the table an act of love? How do we practically fence the table on Sundays? Tune in for discussions over these questions and more. Additional Resources Sermons Sermon on the Mount :: The H...

We finish our Trinity series by answering your questions. We dive into questions like, "How does the Trinity shape the way we pray?" "Did God the Father create creation?" and others. Join us as we ask these questions and deepen our understanding of who God is as Triune. Connect With Us providenceomaha.org | Instagram | Facebook Email Us formation@providenceomaha.org