Providence Community Church

Psalm 42 & 43 are a matching set. They are bound by adjacent location in the Psalter as well as by theme and the chorus/refrain: “Why are you cast down, O my soul.... Hope in God...”. Dark providences are those ominous valleys of death's shadow that serve our Lord's mysterious, yet glorious and sovereign purposes toward His own. Never were rod and staff so comforting to our Psalmist than in th...

The supremacy of Christ in the opening pages of Hebrews is demonstrated by a compounding case using Old Testament citations and their multifaceted fulfillment in our Lord. In chapter 2, the incarnation takes center stage as key to unlocking prophetic mysteries declared from ages prior. The author situates Christ as first person in 3 prophetic Old Testament texts. Two from David in the Psalms (8,22...

If a picture was ever worth infinite words... it would certainly be the snapshot of this moment in Christ’s earthly ministry. The significance of the Mount of Transfiguration event can only be understated by any post-canonical commentary. It seems this paramount scene of heavenly majesty was burned into the consciousness of the author of Hebrews as he exalts the Godhead in His matchless prologue (...

All of the surprising events recorded in Matthew's gospel have led up to setting the stage for this pivotal moment in Christ's ministry. Perhaps most surprising, and no doubt initially disheartening, for His followers would have been the widespread rejection of Christ nearly everywhere He travelled (His hometown, whole cities, people groups, the religious establishment, cultural centers). The tone...

While the teachings of Paul are technical and academic, they are also practical. An example of the practical application of such teachings can be found in Acts 17. Paul, himself, brilliantly demonstrates the truths, which he wrote down in Romans 1:18-23, as he preaches in the open air of a leading intellectual and cultural center of that day: Athens Greece. While standing in the midst of the Areop...

Extenuating circumstances have prevented the author of Ps 42 from experiencing the consolation, blessing, and privilege of corporate worship (the gathered assembly) at the temple/tabernacle rendezvous of divine favor. Psalms 120-134 are categorized as 'Songs of Ascent' they are joyful odes celebrating the pilgrimage to the temple mount for periodic worship. Ps 42 could be labeled as a Psalm of des...

Chapter 2 of Hebrews is a snap of the fingers in the face of the spiritually glazed eyes of a church in imminent danger. Calling their attention to what they have heard lest they drift away in a sea of self-deceived apostasy. Note the imagery contrast in Heb 6:19 “..we have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul...”. To whom much is given, much is required. In Mat 10:14-15, and 11:20-24,...

Luminescence: light created by virtue of that contained within the object itself. Ps 36:9 “for with You is the fountain of life, in Your light do we see light.” The Reformation itself could be summarily understood as redressing heretical answers to this question: “where does intellectual and spiritual light come from?” Is our mantra to be: “Sola Scriptura”, or is the source of illumination most fu...

Matthew's gospel closes with the command and commission to go make disciples of all nations, to baptize, and to teach them. Christ grounds this injunction with contextual weight by proclaiming His own authority (28:18). Thus we are to fulfill our missionary call as believers fully cognizant of and confidently grounded on the crown rights of our Lord and King, Jesus Christ. In light of these conclu...

Psalm 41 is a fitting song to follow Plasm 40. The preceding psalm's last verse “..as for me, I am poor and needy...” presents an appropriate introduction for the next hymn. This Psalm is the final installment in the first of five divisions in the Psalter. David's inspired pen expounds multidimensional revelation fitting for every age of redemptive history. In this marvelous poem, Christ appears l...

Although the author of Hebrews remains anonymous to the modern reader, its “ghostwriter” does not. The Holy Spirit's signature is all over this magnum opus. There is also the stunning influence of Ps 110 as if the Psalmist cowrote Hebrews. Some textual scholars have proposed that the book of Hebrews could well be a sermon where the preacher takes as his text, Psalm 110. Given the 13 references to...

Throughout the narrative in Mat 15 into 16, we can read between the lines of chronicle and observe the situational sovereignty in four details in this record. First, there is the matter of the ROUTE Jesus travels, second, the REPETITION of feeding thousands, third, the REGION (or setting) of the events, and fourth, the REACTIONS to Christ from those who interact with him in contrasting ways at thi...

Both today and in Christ's day, the Gospel truth, when rightly divided and declared, tends to hit the hearer suddenly and devastatingly, startling them as they are looking the other way. Often we are like confident pedestrians stepping into a busy street looking only one direction.... we are shocked when we feel the sucker-punch to the sinful nature “...You, oh king are the man”. The account of Je...

David's writing gloriously and miraculously transcends his experience as we listen to the epic themes of redemption soaring above temporal constraints in music composed first in heaven and echoed through the lyrics of Israel's typological king. The author of Hebrews recognized the prophetic weight of Ps 40 in Heb 10. This New Testament confirmation of messianic foreknowledge is striking in its tim...

In anticipation of our tendency with modern ears, to distinguish ourselves self-righteously from the first century Pharisee... let us pray for ears to hear. Consider the difference in audience reaction when these words were first spoken as Matthew Henry insightfully notes: “ The Pharisees were offended, but kept it to themselves: hating to be reformed, they hated to be informed: but the disciples,...

In the providence of God documented in the Gospels, it is not just the progressive, positive affirmation of Christ's followers that provides clarity for the reader – but also the offense of the pharisees. The occasion of conflict again in Matthew sheds light on the dynamics of Christ's kingdom and authority against the backdrop of imposters. The applications of this interchange scream from the pag...

This message chronicles the testimony of the witnesses of Christ's words and works. We find onlookers progressively processing the implications of Jesus' identity revealed through gospel events until the half way point in Matthew's gospel. This sermon takes a few steps back by way of overview highlighting the discoveries of the identity of Jesus by His followers that occur incrementally through Hi...

This Psalm finds its surprising historic and musical situation in the hymnal of Jeduthun. I Chron 16:41-43 & II Chron 5:12 remind us of the worship leading commission represented in this title. Jeduthun and company were called to glorify the Lord in song specifically extolling the steadfast love of the Lord. The staggering riches implied in such a theme are demonstrated in this song. Ps 39 pro...

The author of Hebrews warns again the devastating and damning implications of suffering anything of the created realm to usurp so much as a square inch of Christ's throne. Even the idea of angels themselves sharing the glory of Christ would certainly undermine the church and its calling in relationship to their Lord and Savior. The church in every age must stand on and for the unwavering, uncompro...

The Exodus events of Israel’s history provide definitive covenantal imagery, concepts, and language intrinsic to the redemptive themes of scripture. Exodus 12 is a landmark chapter for the people of God declaring the significance of these events with a recalibration of the calendar, inaugural feasts, and generational commandments. Here the paschal lamb is revealed as a memorial forever. Thus, it i...

Prospectus: 'a statement or situation that forecasts the nature of something else'. As we apply the narrative/imperative continuity test to the events following the kingdom comparisons discourse (#3)... We discover a foreshadowing in events and miracles of Gospel truth that Jesus does not expressly reveal until Mat 16:21 “...Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer...

Inspired by this Psalm Spurgeon observes: “What a horrible creature man appears to be to his own consciousness when his depravity and vileness are fully opened up by the Law of God, applied by the Holy Spirit.” Psalm 38 holds our feet to the fire of chief concern addressing our basic maladies – our actual, fundamental problem. This ode of unmitigated brokenness provides a model of penitence, contr...

Where should we begin when addressing a church dangerously drifting from the anchor of its faith? The author of Hebrews answers this question with his prologue, a densely saturated juggernaut of spiritual, epistemological, and didactic priority. This prescription for apostate tendencies begins, expounds, and concludes with the supremacy of Christ. The church then, as today, was tempted to embrace...

Upon considering in three stage escalation, the amplitude of the Kingdom of Heaven, we are prepared to asses its value via the Hidden Treasure / Pearl of Great Price parables. The greater context of Matthew's gospel further informs us of the personal implications of Kingdom treasure. As Calvin duly notes: “The excellence of the heavenly life is not perceived, indeed, by the sense of the flesh; and...