Providence Community Church

The advent of the fall of man from a state of innocence to a state of guilt is followed immediately by a reckoning. Man must answer to his creator for his stewardship of the realm (or lack there of). Man and wife dread this occasion and frantically seek refuge apart from the presence of God and quickly discover there is no such thing! What is man to do? He cannot stand in the presence of God and h...

Since I can remember, the Evangelical church in America has been interested in revival. There has been a steady drum beat for a widespread move of God in our land for sometime. Revival speaks to a calling back to life that which has grown cold, stagnated, corrupted, or died. In Biblical contexts revival is a reordering of lives and affections according to the terms of covenant by the power of the...

The Ominous opening words of Genesis chapter 3 (“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made...”) signal a dramatic shift in the record. What soon follows is an entirely new reality for the nature and destiny of man and his progeny with absolutely devastating implications. The Scottish Puritan Thomas Boston expounds four categories of the human expe...

Matthew 19:3-6... When questioned about what is permissible in marriage, Jesus Himself could not have been more clear as to the foundation of the marriage union and the authoritative word on these matters. He responds: “Have you not read?...” with reference to the authoritative Word of God. He continues: “He who created them from the beginning...” with reference to the sovereign will of God exerci...

Chapter 2 of Genesis continues to lay out the blueprint for the architecture of reality. Concepts absolutely foundational to the relationship of the Creator to His creatures are presented in condensed form. These 'theme seeds' planted in Genesis unfold throughout the record of scripture as special revelation expands and expounds these integral structures of our understanding gradually through the...

The rich covenant history of the people of God provides the background and occasion for this song. This would no doubt have been a favorite song of worshipping pilgrims enjoying the protection and favor of the Lord as they approach step by step, the temple on Zion's hill. Psalm 84 joins the Psalms of ascent (120-123) in theme – music to accompany the journey up to the tabernacle or temple. Three f...

atthew Henry says of Paul: “In preaching the gospel, the apostle sought to bring persons to obedience, not of men, but of God. But Paul would not attempt to alter the doctrine of Christ, either to gain their favor, or to avoid their fury. In so important a matter, we must not fear the frowns of men, not seek their favor, by using words of Men's wisdom”. Barnes comments further: “He (Paul) derived...

Just as categories are provided from the first days of creation differentiating creatures from one another according to their kinds, so it is with the record of Biblical history following creation. The calling of man and his record of faithfulness or lack thereof is clearly accounted for in the unfolding historical record. The need for salvation and a savior to intervene becomes more and more appa...

In our text today, the record of events on the 6th day of creation continue. More detail of God's creative work on this day is recorded than any of the others as the creation week reaches a glorious crescendo with the creation and calling of man himself. So significant is the work of God in relationship to humanity that Gen 1:26 signals a shift in theme that will remain for the duration of the ent...

Psalm 83 concludes this section of the Psalms written by Asaph. He closes His hymnal with a divine call to arms against his enemies, and therefore the enemies of God. Asaph is not shy in invoking the judgements of God. He understands the multi-faceted glory of the Lord is demonstrated in decisive victory over His foes as well as through acts of merciful salvation. Asaph feels the threat and fear n...

In the providence of God, a group of false teachers in the Galatia region provide a test case for the church which served to reveal Gospel non-negotiables. Given the 1st century lay of the land culturally and the dynamic of the Jewish to Christian trajectory of the church, it is easy to see how the teachings of the Galatian imposter apostles would be attractive to many of these new Christians. The...

Within the creation narrative of scripture, we have infinitely more than a journalist's first person observations of a historical event. We are beholding, in the first pages of Genesis, the definitive building blocks of reality itself. The nature of material existence as it relates to the nature of God. Just as Genesis one stands in contradiction to life origin theories that ascribe sovereignty to...

Acts introduces the church age with the spread of the gospel and a flurry of Holy Spirit activity. Luke makes it clear to us from page one of the New Testament church that the work of salvation in the hearts of the elect is a supernatural event. God alone receives the due glory for the amazing conversion testimonies of His people from the first sermons of His Spirit filled apostles to the echos of...

In Psalm 82 – albeit in song form – Asaph assumes the role of preacher to the state. This role of the clergyman is rarely practiced these days. Why?, we should ask. Generally it seems reasonable to conclude this is because the government has become an idol. Modern man is a state worshipper in most cases. There is no sermon appropriate to preach to one's god after all. A closer analysis may reveal...

Guest Speaker John Lawry

Unbelievers often seek to downplay the Old Testament/New Testament connection, sometimes claiming that messianic prophecies of the Old Testament are misreads from a biased Christian understanding. While this may be common, I think a betting man would be safe wagering large amounts of money that very few of these anti-Christ voices have seriously contended with the book of Hebrews. Hebrews is astou...

Today's worship text (Psalm 148) details the appropriate response upon realizing the glory of God revealed in the account of Genesis one and subsequently evident all across the universe of His majestic works. Verse one describes a fitting sanctuary for this expression of worship – the heavens, in the heights, while verse 7 adds 'the earth'. Verses 2-3 identify those who ought to give Him praise, a...

The creation of the universe – as with all the works of God – is a revelatory act. Intrinsic to its purpose, the record of the Bible's opening pages informs, instructs, and displays the manifold glory of God. The unique status of men and angels among all created beings allows us the capacity to behold and appreciate this revelation. None of the works of God are merely a means to an end, nothing re...

Asaph opens Psalm 80 with an event signaled by trumpets illustrating the great privilege and promises attending the people of God if only they turn again unto Him. Asaph continues in this framework for Psalm 81. Again, an event signaled by trumpets is recalled. Here we note Numbers 29 as Asaph finds occasion for his song with the feast of trumpets – followed by the Day of Atonement – concluding wi...

What makes a great leader? Why are certain figures of historical importance celebrated for their leadership? What character traits and qualifications will we look for in our political candidates next election cycle? Questions like this – as common as the are – illustrate a preoccupation with the concept of leadership prevalent in our culture. In the confessing church, book titles to this effect al...

It is easy to forget how important the account of creation is to the believer. Many professing Christians hold to wildly divergent views of the interpretation of Genesis, primarily because of “scientific findings” and the cultural incredulity of our day. In light of the confusion, it becomes important to revisit the first book of the Bible and to do so realizing the weight greater scripture itself...

A 'reader' is a book written for instruction and practice in reading elsewhere on a particular subject. A sort of user manual for a topic of interest. In our case today, in summarizing and concluding our study of Nahum, we consider Habakkuk 2 as a reader for the judgments of God. In this passage, as God answers the complaints of the prophet, He provides reference points to posture the believing re...

Psalm 80 is among the Psalms of Asaph that can be classified as a community lament. A song of sadness and loss yet offered to a savior capable and merciful. Ultimately Asaph places his hope for restoration in one man at Yahweh's right hand. Spurgeon reminds us of the historic plight of peoples through history: “Nations rise or fall largely through the instrumentality of individuals; by a Napoleon...

A fitting conclusion to a paradigm expounding expert treatise on the glories of the gospel of Jesus Christ comes to us by way of benediction in Hebrews 13. This concluding prayer of blessing summarizes and proclaims central themes throughout the letter/sermon. This pattern is not uncommon in divine revelation. Compare the closing words of Hebrew's author with those of Paul in Romans 16:25-27. The...

The threat of war at the gates of their flagship city would have been dismissed out of hand by the average Assyrian when Nahum was writing his prophecy. After all, Ninevite armies had pushed the front lines of conflict out to the extremities of the empire fighting neighboring countries on their own lands rather than Assyrian territory. Luke records the parable Jesus proclaimed of the rich fool (12...