Providence Community Church

Our working summary of faith gleaned from this great chapter has been: “believing in and acting on the promises and power of God.” In light of the examples featured for us in this section of Hebrews 11 (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses' parents, and Moses himself) let us consider our own lives. Do we, as Christians, affirm God's covenantal promises reaching far beyond our own lifespan? Do we s...

Christian Leadership In Conflict (Joe Reed) - Philemon

A well known Christmas hymn echoes... “Jesus, Lord at Thy birth...”. Our text today reminds us that just as striking as beholding the Lordship and sovereignty of Christ in His incarnation as a helpless babe, so it can be said of His work on Calvary as well. That is to say: “Jesus, Lord at Thy death”. Immediately upon the finished work on the cross, while Jesus still hung lifeless on that humiliati...

In Matthew's account of the cross, Jesus lifts His voice only twice. These utterances are recorded in our passage today. The last sound we hear is a loud cry piercing the premature darkness as He yields up His spirit – sovereignly offering up His own body as our once-for-all sacrifice. Apart from this final moment we have only four words spoken by our Lord from the cross to consider from Matthew:...

Last sermon we noted the structure of Psalm 68 indicating its connection to the Ark of the Covenant. Verse one is a citation of Moses' commencement prayer from Numbers 10:35. Verse 17 indicates the destination of the ark procession declaring: “Sinai is now in the sanctuary”. Verse 18 then signals a shift to an 'ark' to come... David prophecies: “You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in...

Three things must be kept in mind to appreciate the power and depth of Psalm 68. First: the significance of its author: King David. David as a type of the reigning Christ provides a royal perspective from the vantage point of his throne in Israel. Second: The significance and centrality of the ark of the covenant to the progress and plight of the people of God in the tabernacle age. Third: the sym...

Commenting on Hebrews 11:16, Matthew Henry writes: “...God is not ashamed to be called their God: such is His condescension, such is His love to them; therefore let them never be ashamed of being called His people...”. One might add several other attitudes alongside 'ashamed', given the calling of faith and its great extremes expounded in scripture and experienced in every age. Perhaps we could ad...

Suspense and anguish build dramatically as we read Matthew's account of Jesus' sufferings unto death. It is as if he desires for you, the reader, to sense something of the horror he and his fellow disciples experienced during the darkest chapter of the gospel: The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. There is some irony in his writing as he has already in formed us that he and his com...

The significance of these moments in our text today have been universally affirmed by the Christian church through the ages as generations have confessed that Christ “...suffered under Pontius Pilate...” on His way to “...crucifixion, death, and burial...” (Apostle's Creed). As we behold the record of these events, it is stunning to view the sovereign hand of God accomplishing redemption by such a...

In Numbers 6:24-26, the Lord instructs Moses to equip the high priest Aaron and his sons with words of blessing and benediction for the people of God. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace”. This triune prayer assured the people that the blessings of God would follow those who...

The contextually powerful lineup of great faith illuminating examples given to us in Hebrews 11 is especially appreciated as one considers the events recorded in Genesis 10 and 11 between the account of Noah and Abraham. In Gen 11, the post-flood society came together with one voice saying: “Come let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ours...

The Completing Joy of Fellowship - Pastor Joe Reed - 1 John 1:1-7

The claims of Christ were in conflict with the claims of the leaders of His day, particularly and especially the chief priests and elders of the people who took counsel together intending to destroy Him (v:1). Their intentions are behind Jesus' trial and the progression of events mentioned in verse one is picked up in verse 11 and following. Prompted by a question as to His kingship by governor Pi...

Psalm 66 is a striking example of the grand and glorious expectations of the Psalms. While Gospel mechanics understood at this time were relegated to type and shadow withing national boundaries more or less, songs like Psalm 66 prophetically anticipate worship far surpassing the ceremonial services of ethnic Israel at the time. The Psalmist envisions and proclaims a future where the glory of the L...

After thoroughly emphasizing the great dangers of falling away from one's professed faith, the author of Hebrews now turns his attention to explaining and illustrating faith itself. This lengthy and beautifully poetic treatise follows on the heals of citations from Habakuk 2:3-4 in chapter 10:37-38 of Hebrews. The context of the Old Testament prophet's complaint in this passage is applicable to th...

The book of Titus contains a recurring theme that could perhaps be summarized by reworking a too common Christian cliché. Instead of: “ Christianity is a relationship, not a religion”, Paul’s epistle emphasizes the point that Christianity is a relationship that begets true religion. Paul has already instructed Titus concerning your average Cretan and quasi-Christian false teacher (1:16) “They pro...

As we noticed in the context of Peter's denial of Christ, the dichotomies between the lines throughout the betrayal, trial, arrest, and execution of Christ are striking. (27:1) When morning arrives, ALL the chief priests and elders of the people took council against Jesus to put Him to death – while the night before it was all they could do to get two witnesses to agree on a charge against Him and...

Luke's gospel provides supernatural 'behind the scenes' perspective on these moments featured in all four gospels. As to the denial of Peter – we learn that this event had been the topic of prior discussion in the spiritual realm. Much like the prologue of Job which provides a window into the sovereign decree of God, we discover in the case of Peter, discussions that included negotiations attempte...

A casebook contains a collection of records illustrating specific instances used for reference and instruction normally in fields of study such as medicine or law. In this sense Psalm 65 serves as something of a casebook for worship. Verse one is a proclamation that praise and fulfilled vows are due to Elohim in Zion. Verses 2-13 are a documentation reinforcing or justifying this statement. A case...

How often do any of us sit down with physical pen and paper to compose a letter and actually send it to someone? In spite of our modern conveniences, this activity is relatively uncommon these days. Imagine a different era of history where paper was extremely expensive, there was no postal service other than your two legs or those of a trusted comrade willing to risk life and limb to deliver your...

Paul's prayer in the Colossian prologue explores and applies the glorious transformational possibilities for believers predicated upon the glory of Christ. Our recent message from this passage expounded verses 15-20. In these verses the apostle magnifies our Lord astounding the reader with the breadth of Christ's pedigree from His pre-incarnate glory to His glory secured through incarnation. Thus,...

The significance of the events we read of today is underscored in many ways throughout the text. One example is the detail and frequency of the gospel record. All three gospels once again spotlight these agonizing events in our Savior's life and ministry. (Mk 14:53-72, Like 22:54-71, Jn 18:13-27). Considering John's account as an example, we discover a prophetic detail governing this event and sum...

Psalm 64 expands the application value of perennially comforting truths celebrated in Psalm 27, where David asks himself rhetorically “Whom shall I fear?”. In spite of the surrounding encampments of enemy armies, if the Lord remains his light and salvation, fear of his own destruction is a laughable proposition. This is a personally consoling meditation for this war weary poet as he resolves to re...

Perhaps the most familiar pictures of Christ in our culture, broadly speaking, are the traditional associations of Jesus with Christmas time. The manager scene is magical and tender, the kings, shepherds, and various characters of the nativity lend themselves to great costumes for kids plays. Strains of “Away in a Manger” or “Silent Night” sound great when the lights are low and the fire is bright...

The contextual emphasis of this chapter of Jesus' journey to the cross could not be more clear (56) “ all this has taken place that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Even passages from the Psalter come alive in the narrative as we see their main character assailed with the afflictions immortalized in the songs of the synagogs. In Psalm 88:8,18 The repeated refrain had foretold: “...