Providence Community Church

The first word of II Samuel chapter 24 indicates a note of context and begs the question: “To what former occasion for the anger of the Lord does our author refer?” The clearest indication comes in the final verse of chapter 24 when it records: “...so the Lord responded to the plea for the land...”. This language is a direct parallel with the closing phrase of the Rizpah narrative (the subject of...

Joe Reed - Motherhood in the Worst of Times - 2 Samuel 21:1-14

Fred Cressman - Malawi Update - Mark 10:17-31

Called to Walk In Hope - Ephesians 5:22-33

Called to Walk in Wisdom - Ephesians 5:1-21 - Pastor Joe Reed

The Cost to Follow Christ

Longing for Eden - Stanley Clark

Called To Walk In Strength - Pastor Joe Reed - Ephesians 4:17-32

Called To Walk In Strength - Pastor Joe Reed - Ephesians 4:7-16

The idea of heaven is wildly popular these days. Our passage in Hebrews will enable us to discern whether various and delightful imaginations of the day dreamers in our time tend to be Biblically accurate or not. Even in the Christian community, the associations we have with eternal bliss may often prove self-absorbed, superficial, and distorted when we compare them to the heavens described in Heb...

Called To Walk In Unity - Pastor Joe Reed - Ephesians 4:1-6

Jesus' message to the Pharisees is laced with surprising, even shocking, ironies. The most learned of men in one sense, proved the most ignorant in another. Though they were most devout in many things, they were nevertheless obstinate with respect to the truth. The most careful and concerned experts in the minutia, detail, and nuance of Old Testament law are declared lawless by Christ! Those who s...

Agustus F. Tholuck summarized his thoughts on the value and virtues of Psalm 57 as follows: “A hard and ungrateful heart beholds even in prosperity only isolated drops of divine grace: but a grateful one like David's though chased by persecutors, and striking the harp in the gloom of the cave, looks upon the mercy and faithfulness of God as a mighty ocean, waving and heaving from the earth to the...

With literary genius, the author of Hebrews is succinctly stating his conclusions based on material he has already expounded at length even while he is introducing concepts he will develop as the letter/sermon unfolds. Comparing priests of respective orders: Levitical/Aaronic vs. Melchizedekian, our author summarizes with contrasts in verse 28. Law -vs.- Word of the oath, Appointed men -vs.- appoi...

Christ In Me - Stanley Clark

The fundamental error most prevalently on display among the religious of Jesus' day was hypocrisy. The most accurate description of the sin of hypocrisy in context is given in the prologue to the woes of Mat 23 in verse 36... “They preach, but do not practice”. The Pharisees and scribes made lip service to God, but in reality their religious devotion revolved around themselves. Furthermore, the na...

Mat 23:1-12 serves as a prologue to arguably the most scathing, thorough, and direct message of condemnation in all of the gospels. The preaching of the Kingdom of God would not be complete without these indicting words, however. For those with ears to hear, this magnifying glass of sovereign scrutiny placed over the common heart defects of so many through the ages, is a great mercy. Jesus expound...

Minted coins in the United States contain the phrase: “In God we trust” emblazoned next to images of important historical figures. This phrase has Biblical content and this sermon could serve to underscore that our Nation's motto need not be an empty phrase. The Biblical context of the confession of confidence: “In God we trust” harkens back to the great monarch/magistrate of the nation of Israel...

Our text today draws distinctions between the old order of the Levitical priesthood and the new order of Christ's High Priesthood. The superiority of Christ is reinforced as the general theme of Hebrews by particular examples here, especially as they relate to the Old Covenant ceremonial order eclipsed and transcended in the office and work of Christ. The unique aspects of Jesus' priesthood would...

The original question brought to Jesus in Mat 21 with respect to His authority triggers an exchange running all the way through chapter 22. The question asked by the chief priests and elders was: “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” In this chapter of Matthew's gospel Jesus does not answer the question directly, instead He deftly turns the tables of cros...

The Webster's definition of 'jujitsu' is: “An art of weaponless fighting employing holds, throws, and paralyzing blows to subdue or disable an opponent.” I cannot imagine a better description of the rhetorical prowess of Jesus Christ demonstrated in our text today as He confronts the culturally influential factions who sought actively and intensely to undermine Him at every turn in His ministry. T...

Psalm 55 is a three part song, sung three times daily, encapsulating three indispensable elements of prayer in crisis. Spurgeon in expounding the theme of Psalm 55 as a warrior's imprecation – or call for judgement – is quoted as follows: “There is justice in the universe, love itself demands it, pity to rebels against God, as such, is no virtue – we pray for them as creatures, we abhor them as en...

The theological significance of Melchizedek's unique priesthood has been anticipated in the context prior to this section of Hebrews. The specific Psalm 110 reference is first mentioned in 5:6 followed by verse 10, again referring to Christ's unique priesthood. 5:11 interrupts the exposition of this text, however, because the author has deemed it necessary to secure the attention of his audience....

The historical context and background of the book of Titus serves to provide a timeless application of ecclesiastical instruction for the church universal. Titus was a gentile convert. A first generation believer and direct disciple of the apostle Paul. A prototype church planter in a pagan context called to establish a multi-generational outpost of the Church of Jesus Christ on the tiny island of...