Providence Church: Recent Episodes
Providence Church
Jesus is constantly telling his disciples how much it will cost them to follow Him. He tells them it will cost them everything, even their lives. Yet there is one thing he asks of his followers that may even be more costly than that- forgiveness. Exactly what do we mean when we talk about forgiveness? What does it entail? Is forgiveness even fair? What about that relationship? What if I don’t want to? What if they don’t deserve it? All these questions are complex and have a profound impact on the way we live our day-to-day lives. More than that, forgiveness gives us a chance to know God in ways we couldn’t without that experience. It may be costly, but it is God’s heart for his people.
What stops you from believing? Jesus calls out the Pharisees for their love of money and misuse of the law- two things meant to glorify God and point them to his grace. Instead, the Pharisees had made those things an end to themselves and missed God altogether. What about you? What have you misused, misunderstood, and misapplied to use it for your own means and missed God?
“Well done, good and faithful servant.” -or- “Good enough, moderately devoted church-goer.” We all say we want the first one, but most of us would probably be content with the second, especially if it means we get to live a more comfortable life here. In a parable that goes in a way you probably wouldn’t expect, Jesus teaches us how to pay attention to the things that matter the most and move on from the things that just aren’t that important.
By definition, things that are valuable will spur people on to pursue them. If it’s worth something, people will give up something else to acquire it. The challenge is determining just how much something is worth. What are you willing to give up to get it? Jesus tells us that God finds value in things that others might not. He pursues things that others might dismiss, let go, or ignore altogether. In that, Jesus teaches us much about God, ourselves, and the good news of the gospel.
Jesus never failed to draw a crowd. His teaching and his miracles attracted people far and wide. Yet every time his popularity seems to grow, he makes statements that thin the crowd and challenge their interest. He goes out of his way to say that following him isn’t easy- it has its cost. Of course, the opposite is true too- their is a cost to not following Jesus. You must decide which is greater.
When you have the right ticket, invitation, or all-access pass, you can find yourself in some places where you feel like you just don’t belong. As Jesus continues teaching on his way to Jerusalem, one of the things he makes clear is that there is an open invitation to anyone who would accept his offer. That invitation, though, often goes dismissed and ignored. Why is it that some respond to the invitation, while others have to go check on their oxen? Why is it that many are invited when so few were invited at the beginning? All of these things are why Jesus came and why we have an invitation to a party where we undoubtedly do not belong.
Once Jesus had set his course toward Jerusalem, He had plenty of chances to quit. A death threat from a conniving, dangerous ruler would deter most people, but Jesus doesn’t flinch. In fact, His resolve to move forward on his journey only seems to deepen. What is it that motivated Him to walk a path that He knew would likely end in His death? It’s the same thing that motivated Him to lament those who would not hear His voice and come to Him to sit under His wing of protection- His love.
What happens when our expectations don’t follow along with God’s plans? Can we adjust to the truth that God is teaching us when we’ve always believed something else? This was the situation some questioners of Jesus found themselves in as Jesus taught about the nature of the Kingdom of God. For all that the Jews believed about the Kingdom of God, yeast and a mustard seed would’ve been one of the last things they’d use to teach about the nature of the kingdom. Yet Jesus tells them that the kingdom, and those that will be in it, are likely very different than you might imagine.
Our culture rewards hustle. Hard work is seen as an essential quality in the people we want leading us and working for us. Busyness is the default mode for most. Yet the Bible teaches us of the need to slow down, stop, and rest. It’s even built into the structure of our weeks. So why do we find it so hard? And why do we do it so infrequently? The Jews had so misunderstood the purpose of the sabbath that they had turned the keeping of the sabbath into a job to do- exactly the opposite of it’s purpose. So what about us? Have we missed out on the sabbath? Do we still need it? Is it still commanded? Understanding the role of the sabbath teaches us much greater truths about the law, ourselves, and Jesus.
There are countless ways that we feel the brokenness of this world. Personal and heartbreaking, widespread and tragic- sin will always bring suffering and pain with it. So what do we do when we feel the effects of that sin- when the brokenness just keeps showing up? When Jesus is asked a question about this reality, his response is not one of consolation, but one of warning. What does his warning teach us about our own hearts and the eternity that stands before us?
Not all hospitality is created equal. Sometimes it’s about finger sandwiches and impeccable taste. Biblical hospitality, however, calls us to something much greater. When practiced faithfully, it becomes a soul-shaping practice that God uses to change us and sustain others…and it isn’t optional. (Note: Some elements of the message have been edited for privacy purposes).
The common paradigm for Christian living in this world is that we should “in, but not of” the world. Surely this is good advice; after all, Jesus used those very words when He prayed for his disciples in John 17. However, when you see that advice in action it often looks more like “us vs. them.” Is there a better way to describe our “way of being” in a culture that does not share our values or our God? A tweak in terminology may get us closer to what Jesus had in mind in John 17.
Peter Pan was convinced that the worst thing that could happen to you is that you would grow up. Walt Disney said that the trouble with the world is that people grow up. Jesus said that if you weren’t like a little child, you would never inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Yet Peter, Paul, and others are insistent that we mature and grow and stop acting like little children. Who did Jesus agree wit- Peter Pan and Walt Disney or His apostles? The paradox of following Jesus is that he seems to agree with both. How is that possible?
Contentment or restlessness? Which one does God call us to? The answer seems simple. Paul even tells us the secret to contentment and exhorts us to embrace that along with him. But is it really that simple? Was Paul really content? Or was he driven by something within him- a restlessness that sent him out on missionary journeys and enabled him to endure much suffering and persecution? The answer is in the rhythm between the two. It’s not either/or, it’s both/and.
Throughout the Bible, we are called to many things that seem to contradict each other- two callings that seem to tell us to do things that are exactly opposite. Fasting is a common religious practice for many and one that Jesus assumes his followers will do. Yet when asked about the practice, Jesus makes it clear that feasting is also expected for us in response to the joy of the presence of Jesus. So which is appropriate? Which is called for? The answer is, in rhythm, both are appropriate- even necessary responses to following a crucified messiah in a broken world.
The Christian life is full of paradoxes. In following Jesus, we can find instructions that tell us to do things that seem to be in complete contradiction to one another. So how do we do that? Is it about finding balance or is there another way forward for us as we follow Jesus? As we end the Advent season, we ask the question: Do we keep waiting on Jesus or do we pursue him? The answer is all about finding rhythm.
There’s nothing worse than being stuck in the middle. It can feel like all the important things are on either side of you while you’re stuck feeling like you’ve missed the good parts. Sometimes that’s how it can feel when we talk about Jesus. He isn’t here now, he’s coming one of these days, but doesn’t look like it’s today. And now we just sit reading old stories and hoping for new ones. Yet it’s those old stories that assure us that the new one is on the way. And it’s both stories that leave us, not stuck, but embracing the middle.
Music is one of, if not THE, biggest parts of the Christmas season. It helps us to not just pass the time as we listen to music, but it helps us to mark the time because it is specifically music for Christmas. In scripture, music is used throughout the Old and New Testaments to teach us to mark the time. So we sing Christmas carols to mark the first Advent and we look to the song of heaven in Revelation to anticipate the second advent of Jesus. And in the middle of it all, we have a prophecy that is stunning in it’s beauty…that God is singing and he’s singing a song over us.
We sit between two advents. This places us with a unique vantage point that theologians call the “already/not yet.” The season of Advent is designed to highlight the tension that arises from this unique vantage point. Has prophecy already been fulfilled or is our hope delayed? And if it is delayed, does it make our hearts sick as the writer of Proverbs teaches? Should the first coming of Jesus give us hope because he has come or despair because the Kingdom has not been established? The answer to these questions are all in understanding our unique vantage point of God’s working in history.
God’s people are a waiting people. That has been true since the prophecies that were delivered right after the fall. In the Old Testament, they were waiting on God’s promised deliverer- The Messiah. However, in the New Testament, Jesus has already come. If He has come, then are we still a waiting people? If so, what are we waiting for?
“Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in the morning, sailor take warning.” Simple saying rooted in simple observations. Yet for Jesus, it represents a powerful truth that should be a warning to us all.
Around Christmastime, there may be no more title synonymous with Jesus than, “The Prince of Peace.” We celebrate “Peace on earth, goodwill toward men.” Yet Jesus’s own words seem to contradict this. He tells us he did not come to bring peace, but division- to set this world ablaze. How do we reconcile these two things that are unambiguously proclaimed in the text?
Sometimes the most loving thing we can hear is not in the form of encouragement, but instead in the form of a warning. In dealing with the Pharisees, Jesus issues a warning that is really there for all of us to heed- this moment, this life, this world is temporary- we’d do well to prepare our hearts accordingly. On that day when the master returns, he will not chastise us but instead will don the clothing of a servant and care for us.
Fear is a core emotion that is universal to the human condition. Yet the Bible’s most frequent instruction to us is, “Don’t be afraid.” Unfortunately, the emotion of fear is not usually one we can just turn off on command. So how do we deal with fear? What happens when our fears seem to be inevitable realities? The answer is not that we stop being afraid, but instead that we fear rightly- namely that we don’t spend our lives afraid of the wrong things.
Who is church for? Is it a place where the rule followers and rule enforcers find a home? Is it a place where those that can’t seem to get life right are excluded and pushed away? Why is it that the rule followers can feel so comfortable in church while the rule breakers feel so excluded? After all, the church is the only organization in the world that requires us to confess that we are people that get it wrong and break the rules all the time! As Jesus confronts the rule followers and rule enforcers of his day, he doesn’t hold back. Just because we look like we have it altogether, doesn’t mean we actually do.
There is no “middle road” in the life of faith. Our path cannot split the difference between God and the world. Either we are walking the path of wisdom or the path of wickedness. So what does it look like to follow the path of wisdom? Is it just a matter of being better? Of doing better? Psalm 1 paints the picture of a life rooted and delighting in God and his word. It is in this delight that we find the first steps along the path of wisdom, but the best news may be that ultimately we can’t do it at all.
Seeing is believing, at least that’s what we’re told. We all know it’s not quite that simple. Sometimes our eyes play tricks on us. Sometimes what we see is so unbelievable even when we see it, we hold our minds in disbelief. And sometimes it takes believing before you can see. When Jesus performed his miracles and taught the crowds, people saw and heard amazing things. Jesus’s warning to them was to be careful with how they responded to what they had seen.
The way we approach God and the language of prayer is often filled with much reverence, pomp, and circumstance. While the heart behind that approach is rooted in a high view of God and his majesty, Jesus’s own instructions about prayer look and sound very different. What happens when we approach God with pleading that borders on obnoxiousness? When we put aside all the niceties and just plead to be heard? According to Jesus, we are not dismissed or chastised, but instead, God responds like a Father who delights in giving good gifts to his children.
Jesus invites Mary and Martha into a deeper understanding of what it means to be a disciple. This encounter may have more to teach us about Jesus’ call to discipleship than how to have both active and contemplative faith.
The Good Samaritan ranks as one of the most well-known stories in all of scripture. The lessons it teaches are numerous and readily applicable to our world today, but its biggest lesson might be its most unexpected. In showing us a good neighbor, Jesus also teaches us the power a faith free from obligation, but full of grace and power.
There is only one place in all the gospels where we see something explicitly described as bringing joy to Jesus. A passage like that should get our attention and provoke joy in us too. Yet when we read Luke 10, it can lead to more confusion and debate than joy. What is it that made Jesus rejoice and why is it so hard for us to find the same joy in that thing that Jesus did?
Following Jesus can lead you to some unexpected places. For 72 of Jesus’s first followers, it put them out as “sheep among wolves.” Yet when they returned from their mission, they rejoiced in the power they had while out on mission. As followers of Jesus, how do we reconcile these two characterizations of our mission: one sounds vulnerable and scary, and the other sounds powerful and victorious. In Luke 11, Jesus helps us see the way the kingdom works and what are role must be as we follow him as disciples.
The Via Dolorosa (or Way of Suffering) in Jerusalem is one of the most visited parts of Jerusalem. It marks the path from Pilate's fortress to Golgotha and the tomb where Jesus was laid. People flock to this path in order to walk the way that Jesus did and perhaps, in some way, experience the suffering that Jesus suffered on our behalf. But that "way of suffering" wasn't always a forgone conclusion- at least not the disciples who often saw Jesus as a conquering hero, not a suffering servant. Why is the "way of suffering" such a big part of our faith and how do we live when it is much bigger than a tourist destination in Jerusalem?
When you watch a movie (or read a book), you can never replicate the first time you watch it. Once you know the entire plot line, you can’t unsee it or “unknow” it. This bit of information can either enhance or detract from your experience the next time you watch the movie or read the book. Knowing the ending necessarily impacts the way you read the story. This is true with the Bible too. Knowing the end of the story changes how we feel when we read the story. It also can make us blind to some of the more radical, jaw-dropping moments. Since we know so much more, they may not feel quite as big. In Luke 9, there are two jaw-dropping moments that happen and understanding them and where they fit in the story will help us to understand Jesus, His mission, and our place in the Kingdom of God.
Nothing can completely prepare you for the moment when you move from the driver's seat over to the passenger's seat so that your child can learn how to drive. It can be terrifying and no matter how good the student driver or the instructor there are sure to be moments where things don't go as smoothly as you might like. It's the nature of the transition. In Luke 9, Jesus begins a significant transition in his ministry where he will begin to hand over much of the work he has been doing, both the teaching and the miraculous will begin to be handled by the 12 apostles. As they are sent on mission for the first time, we hear Jesus's instructions and exhortations. When they return, Jesus has more for them to learn on their journey as disciples.
As Luke concludes this section of teaching, he gives us one more glimpse into the power and person of Jesus. He shows us just who Jesus is- a man full of power, but also a man that took the time to care for the forgotten and the outcast.
Packages have become a normal part of our everyday life, but receiving a package is still an event that can generate some excitement. So much so, that one of the most popular genres of videos on YouTube are "unboxing" videos. These are videos that simply show people opening boxes of items and showing what is in the box. Why is it that something as simple as opening a box can generate so much excitement and interest? There are many reasons one can point to, but often it boils down to one fundamental issue...Awe. As Jesus begins to give the disciples a deeper look at who He is, awe is what begins to overtake them...but not everyone. What is the difference by those that are in awe of Jesus and those that simply miss him?
Soil, seed, lampstands, and jars. What do those simple objects have to do with God's word? When Jesus uses parables, we would do well to listen and IF we do listen- he will speak. Time and time again we are told that if we seek God, we will find him. But the twin truth to that is that if we do not give our time and attention to him, then one day we'll find we can hear him no more.
Reading the stories of Jesus in the Book of Luke is compelling. Who wouldn't follow a man that taught with such power, healed the sick, and raised the dead? It's not every day (or ever) that someone like that comes along. Yet time and time again we see people reject Jesus. They walk away and even turn against him. Jesus helps his disciples to understand why this happens and how they should respond.
The filter with which we view the world can tell us a lot about our theology. What do we see when we see people? What do we see when we see Jesus? Do we see problems? Do we see theological riddles? Do we see the world as one big exercise in theological theory and we wait to see if ours plays out? That's how the Pharisees saw the world, others around them, and even Jesus. But how about us? What do we see when we see "sinners?" Ourselves? Jesus?
There are few people in history that had the confidence of John the Baptist. His belief in Jesus as the Messiah defined every action he took for his entire life. From his miraculous conception to his off-beat preaching and lifestyle, he knew his cousin was the One and he needed to prepare the way. However things didn't unfold quite like John had imagined and when he stayed in a jail cell, his doubts took over and he needed to be reminded of who Jesus was. So he asked. And Jesus answered. Because that's what Jesus does. He hears our cries and answers them. But how do we sustain when the answer is often very different from what we had hoped to hear? It's all about living for the right kingdom.
Different people have different things that pop into their minds when they think of the person of Jesus. Some see kind and compassionate. Some see authority and power. The gospel writers didn't have that dichotomy. For them, Jesus held and exercised all those characteristics and more. As Luke tells stories about who Jesus really is, he is quick to help us see that both authority and compassion are both essential to the character and nature of Jesus.
To judge or not to judge? That seems to be a popular question in our current cultural moment. When personal autonomy is the assumed right of every person, how are we to cast judgement on personal choices? Can we? Should we?
Take care how you build seems to be pretty straightforward advice. Yet that simple instruction contains a wealth of wisdom and implications. When the storms of life come (not if), how you began your building will determine it's outcome.
So often, we can become so focused on the final product, that we fail to pay attention to how we get there. All that really matters is whether or not we get what we’re looking for. For many of us, this is how we approach the Christian faith. Doesn’t matter how we get to the end result, so long as it “looks” like Christianity is “supposed to look.” When Jesus teaches us the way Christianity is supposed to work, it’s the source of our obedience that is what’s essential. Our nature drives our obedience and when we get that backward, all kinds of things can go wrong.
Jesus is known for pushing buttons, wise sayings, and challenging teachings. There may be no single instruction he gives us that tests our hearts and our faith more than this: Love your enemies. It goes against every inclination we have- from vengence to self-protection. Yet this teaching isn’t just an ethical consideration, it’s at the heart of our faith. Indeed, it’s our only basis for hope in this life and the next. For we are never more like God, than when we love our enemies.
Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die. A phrase built on an oxymoron but perfectly describes the spiritual home of so many. As Jesus teaches about the nature of the Kingdom of God in the Sermon on the Plain, what becomes painfully clear to even the most devout follower is this: Everybody wants the kingdom of God, but nobody really wants to live in it. Why? Because the values of the kingdom are painfully different than the values of our earthly kingdoms.
In order to build the best organization, you need the best personnel. Recruit well and win big. Great people make for great success. These are all wise maxims that we would do well to remember. Yet when Jesus selected his twelve apostles, they could not have been more ordinary. There was nothing special about them. Uneducated, untrained, mismatched, and without any real skill set that would lend itself to the establishment of a new kingdom. Yet this is who Jesus didn’t just welcome, but went and appointed to his team. What do we make of that? What does it say about us and the lives we are called to live today?
Walk the walk. That’s what a good Christian does. The failure of Christians to “walk the walk” has long been cited as a reason (maybe THE reason) that many won’t darken the doors of a church. But what if that’s not really the essence of our faith? What if that’s not really the reason that people have avoided church? What if there is something deeper and more pervasive? What if “walking the walk” really misses the point of Christianity altogether?
How would you describe the ministry of Jesus? What exactly did Jesus come to do? What were his methods for his ministry during his time on earth? We might fill in the blanks to that question in multiple ways, but I wonder how many of us would describe Jesus’s ministry in the way that Jesus did. In his own words, Jesus came “eating and drinking.” When pressed on why he did so much “eating and drinking,” Jesus said it’s the only that makes sense for him to do. Why? Because feasting is what you do when the bridegroom is here and it’s what we’re all destined to.
Friend or Foe? That was the question the Pharisees and religious gatekeepers were asking when Jesus’s popularity began to grow. Was he on their side or a threat to be eliminated? What should they do with this rabbi that was doing things they had never seen? We know from the gospels that the Pharisees would play the role of chief antagonist, but it didn’t always have to be that way. What if they had chosen to see Jesus differently? What if they had listened to his message?
LoveJeffCo is an initiative of Providence Church to love our community and support local ministries that are changing lives in Jefferson County and beyond. The ministry of Heard and Held is born from a time of deep grief and pain. In 2020, Sarah and Brendan Dunn were surprised to learn that they were expecting their first child. However, their joy would be replaced by sadness as they learned that Sarah had miscarried. In processing their grief, they began to hear from so many others that had also experienced that pain. As they heard other’s stories, they realized there was a need to help others that were enduring the same grief. From that, the ministry of “Heard and Held” was created. Listen as they discuss their story and the future of this new, needed ministry.
One of the unexpected benefits of being a part of a church isn’t what you get from it, but how essential you can become to making sure others get something from it. In God’s economy, sometimes the most essential aspect of our own faith is the power and persistence of the faith of others. When a paralyzed man had physical limitations that kept him from Jesus, it was his friend’s faith that brought him to Jesus’s feet. That lesson has a powerful lesson for all of us about the way faith, hope, and love work in the kingdom of God.
What do you want? Simple enough question, but often a complex answer. It is that question, though, that gets to the heart of discipleship. More than knowledge, discipleship is about desire. When a man “full of leprosy” approached Jesus, his request revealed his heart. What he wanted, even more than to be healed was to be made clean.
LoveJeffCo is an initiative of Providence Church to love our community and support local ministries that are changing lives in Jefferson County. One of our oldest and most significant partnerships is with Life Outreach Center. In this message, Director of LOC Cathy Gleeson shares her heart for the unborn and those that find themselves with unwanted or unexpected pregnancies. LOC is the frontline of ministry and serves a crucial role in sharing the gospel and supporting those that are most vulnerable.
Few things will get you dismissed quicker in many peoples minds than confessing you believe in angels or demons. Follow that up with believing in miracles and you’ll be put in the corner as someone that can happily be ignored. Yet Luke’s gospel is full of both. Demon possession, exorcisms, healings, raising people from the dead- that’s just a sampling of what Luke documents from those that were there. So what do we, western-enlightened people, think about things like this that can be so hard to believe? For starters, we focus on the same thing Luke does- that Jesus is all-powerful, yet unfailingly kind.
Music and singing has long been a part of Christian worship gatherings. But why do we sing when we gather together as believers? As we examine Paul’s exhortation of “singing to God with gratitude in your hearts” in Colossians 3:16, we will discuss the gift and role of music in our worship.
Jesus had them right where he wanted them. He had ministry momentum. He had a growing reputation. He had people talking. He had people ready to follow. All he needed to do is capitalize on the moment and he could’ve raised a following, funded his ministry, and set a course for revolution. Instead, he made everyone mad and just about got thrown off a cliff. Why would Jesus do this? Why waste this opportunity in front of his hometown crowd? It has everything to do with what Jesus came to do and what we’re called to follow.
When Jesus calls his disciples, he isn’t simply blessing their lives with his presence. He’s calling them to a life that looks, feels, and acts radically different than the life they’ve always lived. Often that calling will result in confusion, disagreement, and frustration. In Jesus’s calling of Peter, all of these things are present, but in the midst of all of that, Peter recognizes one core truth: Jesus loves me more than, I love me. And on that singular truth, all our hopes, plans, and ultimately or lives hang.
Christianity is full of too many rules- rules that are outdated and don’t make sense. At least that’s the narrative. When Jesus deals with Satan in the wilderness, what we learn is that it’s not about the rules. It was never about the rules. It’s about understanding, knowing, and worshipping God. In order for that to happen, we must see God correctly- for who he truly is. Jesus didn’t sin, but it wasn’t because he had more willpower than the rest of us. It’s because he knew the Father, and trusted the Father, more than the rest of us.
Jesus became a human, just like us. This tenant of Christianity is essential to understanding the life, mission, and accomplishment of Jesus. However, the fact that he took on flesh and dwelt among us is not the most important of what Jesus did- as though becoming like us was the high point of Jesus’s work. As important as his incarnation was, it’s all the ways that he’s not like us that we must understand if we truly want to understand who Jesus is and what he did.
Be baptized. Repent. Be generous. Don’t rely on your heritage. John the Baptist was a lot of things- but scared isn’t one of them. He didn’t hesitate and didn’t mince his words. His job was to prepare the people to hear the message of Jesus and he did that by proclaiming a message of repentance. For everyone. EVERYONE. Jesus may be for everyone, but so is the need for repentance. And so is the need for someone to tell them.
As you begin to age, things that seemed to be so normal can oftentimes feel elusive. Things that were commonplace become immensely valuable as they become increasingly rare. As Luke opens his gospel, he writes to help us to find one of those things that is increasingly rare- certainty. At times, life can feel like a fog has rolled in and things that used to be so easy, so clear, and so certain are now just a mist. Luke’s gospel can help us to sort through that fog and know where to take that next step.
As a new year begins, we take a few moments to reflect back on the year that was and the goals for 2023. As we look toward the new year, we let Anna and Simeon be our guides as to what a worthy, life-long pursuit really looks like. And we rejoice with them when their eyes finally see that long, hoped-for dream. What will your pursuit be in 2023? Will it be built around you or built around Him?
Sometimes you hear a story so much, you think it’s the only way that story could’ve ever happened. The people, places, and events are so familiar you can’t imagine it happening any other way. It’s only when we consider all the different ways things could’ve happened that we start to realize how amazing the true story is. Christmas is kind of like that. There are so many ways things could’ve gone differently- different ways people could’ve reacted, places things could’ve happened, people God could’ve used. Which is what makes the story of the shepherds so beautiful. They didn’t need to be there at all. The only reason they are there is because God chose to put them there- because he chose to incorporate them into the greatest story of all time. And that little insight tells us so much about how God has chosen to work in this world.
For many of us, we’ve heard the Christmas story so many times that it can be hard to remember just how unexpected and, frankly, unbelievable it all is. From the choice of an anonymous girl in a disrespected town, to the virgin birth of a Messiah, the story requires faith from those that believe. Yet our faith isn’t a blind one and as crazy as the Christmas story is, it’s not the most “unbelievable” story that scripture tells.
There are few things that run against our cultural moment than having to wait. Waiting is seen as the epitome of waste and at times, suffering. However, the Bible often shows us that waiting is exactly God’s strategy for teaching us a whole host of lessons- about Him, about us, and about what really matters. Advent is a strategic time built into the busiest and often most stressful weeks of our year. It teaches us that, even in the midst of the chaos, waiting might be the best thing we can do.
The right perspective is essential to right doctrine. If we get our view of God right, then our lives will flow from that truth. That’s Paul’s message in the final chapter of 1 Timothy. If you want to know how to live in the world, then set your mind on things above and the Glory of God. This will order your life in a way that reflects the goodness and mercy of God. It will result in a life of contentedness and thanksgiving, sanctification and worship, joy and celebration. These are the marks of a life that has been ordered around the love of God.
What do you do when the world has you surrounded? When people that are all around you and in your life do not share your values, faith, or way of living? How do you respond when the surrounding culture would rather you not even be there? These are questions that Christians in America are increasingly up against. The response to those questions, however, is anything but uniform and consistent. The Apostle Paul, though, gives us a picture of what it looks like to live in that kind of culture. And what is his primary strategy? As simple as it sounds, his main strategy is this: Go to church, be the church. It may not sound like much, but it’s the plan God has given us to not just survive in this world- but to change it.
The brokenness of this world is all around us in every sphere of our lives. We are constantly living in tension, if not all-out war with this reality. Paul recognizes the fight that we’re in and wants us to understand that while that fight rages here on earth, what happens here on earth is just a fraction of what really matters. In truth, our biggest priority shouldn’t revolve around the temporary things of this world, even the good things. Instead, we should set our hearts and minds on things much bigger, eternal things. And the church is central to that strategy.
John Maxwell states, "Everything rises and falls on leadership." It's a simple maxim with a host of questions and implications that follow. What criteria do we use to choose our leader? Or is it Leaders? Is a Pastor the default leader or someone else? What is the nature of that leadership? What is the makeup of that leader? Are we free to choose whom we’d like or are there restrictions, a design, a model? Are the leaders free to lead however they want or is there a design to that too? What exactly should church leadership look like, what are its tasks, and how should it lead?
Sometimes we read things in the Bible that can sound pretty shocking. They make us stop and kind of scratch our heads and wonder what we just read. 1 Timothy 2 ends in a passage just like that. The initial reading of this passage sounds like a way to put women in their place and that place is one of silence and childbirth. That's their job. But with a little more digging and contextualization, we see that Paul's goal was actually very different.
How are we meant to live in a world that does not share our values, convictions, and beliefs? This is not a new question. In fact, most of the New Testament epistles are centered around the answer to that question. Consistently, Paul's answer to this question does not look or sound like the answers many give today. The unexpected instructions for Paul in 1 Timothy 2 begin with prayer and an aligning of our hearts to what God wants- that all would be saved. That idea, that God wants all to be saved, has provided theological debate for millennia, but more importantly, it is an extraordinary statement about the nature and character of God.
In Paul's first letter to Timothy, Paul claims to be the foremost of sinners. While this quote might not grab our attention nowadays, it would have been a remarkable thing for Paul to say, a Pharisee among Pharisees. In this quote, Paul shows us the amazing truth that Christ opened his eyes to - that we are all alike in our sin - Jew, Gentile, Samaritan, Barbarian - and in need of a Savior.
What do you do when you look up and it seems like you're surrounded by a world that doesn't want you here? What happens when you try to build a gospel foundation and everyone tries to knock it down? How do you live, work, and minister in a culture that just wants you to go away? As Paul instructs Timothy, the goal is not to tear down everything that surrounds you, but to minister to them in love. While that may be the last thing we want to do, it's exactly what the world needs.
God is at work. Seems like a simple enough statement, but given the right circumstances over a long enough time- it's a statement even the most devout follower may begin to doubt. Or perhaps if we believe he's at work, we may believe that His work is far from something we actually desire- but instead fear. The testimony of Judges, Ruth, and the entire OT is one of a God that is always working a plan- often slowly and in places we would not look, but always working. The story of the NT is that rescue plan being put into action. Make no mistake about it- we want an Old Testament God and a New Testament God too. In both Old and New, it is the same God working the same plan that guides us through our darkest moments and deepest pains.
Sometimes we understand words and concepts even without being able to define them. They are simply things that we engage in or see every day, but don't give much thought to. The idea of redemption is one of those things that we all instinctively know but probably can't put words to. The idea of redemption has roots in our faith too, but much like our regular understanding of redemption- it can be hard to put words to that one too. When Ruth asked Boaz to be her "redeemer," it can leave us a little confused, but Boaz knew exactly what it meant- and what it would cost. Jesus, too, knew what redemption would cost, and he not only covered our debt, he purchased for his own.
It's rare that you come across someone in scripture that seems to really have it all together. The Bible is full of flawed heroes. However, the book of Ruth gives us a picture of two people, one woman and one man, that really seem to get it all right. They provide us a road map for what big, bold faith looks like and how it acts. While Ruth's actions, planned by Naomi, are very risky, they are rooted in faith in the God of Israel. And that's why Ruth isn't afraid to ask big things of Boaz- because he too is rooted in that same bold faith.
Good advice is always nice. It can help us find our way or sort through all kinds of problems. The only thing is, good advice still leaves one big issue- we have to apply it. We still have to go out and do the thing we've been advised on. Far better for us is good news- an announcement of something that has already been done. Chandler Rowlen with RUF, our local missions partner, shows the difference between those two things is filled with exasperation, exhaustion, and eventually hopelessness. But the Gospel (i.e. literally the good news) is the remedy for a world full of good (and bad) advice.
Certain questions never go away. Throughout every generation, these questions constantly resurface with a variety of answers and schools of thought. When thinking through theology, the question of God's sovereignty and human responsibility is a classic debate that has entertained theologians for centuries. The answer to that question comes in many forms and the Book of Ruth shows us that these two things aren't set in opposition to one another. In fact, they are beautifully connected. Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi all show how God intends for our work to be a part of his plan.
The brokenness of this world can feel overwhelming. When surrounded by sickness, death, suffering, and violence, it can be easy to think there is no light left in this world. This is the book of Judges and it's exactly how Naomi felt in the opening chapter of the Book of Ruth. Three women widowed and alone is enough to make anyone bitter and angry- like Naomi was. But when the darkness seems to overwhelm and threatend to undo us, is when even the faintest flicker of light shines the brightest. As we move from Judges to Ruth, we see that flame start to light up the night and we can know that the darkness has not overcome.
They say never meet your heroes, they'll always let you down. Samson might be the epitome of that phrase. A man born with a purpose and gifted with nearly superhuman strength, Samson never quite lived up to what he should've been. He had it all, but was so far from God he never really came close to being the savior he was born to be. His life was a wasted one- at least it almost was. In his final moments, Samson was still able to see (even without his eyes) what God wanted of him. Once again, God shows how he is not limited by our sin and failure, but works in and through them.
Sometimes a story is too good to be true. Reality has a way of showing us the darkness of the world and preventing us from believing the best. No one would confuse the story of Jephthah of being too good, but it almost was. It could've been. It should've been. Which is really the whole point. A broken, tragic story that was so close to being the story God intends to write. The one that is there for all of us. The question is, will it be your story?
Sometimes in our rush to get what we want, we don't really pay attention to what it is we're getting. We rush to fill our need with something we think will solve the problem. Unfortunately, when we rush to fill that void, our solution is worse than the problem. So it is with the wanna be king- Abimelech. His story teaches us to be careful what we wish for and more importantly, how God has provided what we really need.
As Americans, we're taught from childhood that independence is a good and powerful thing. We celebrate it every Fourth of July. We read about it in our history books. It's part of who we are. While that may be a great thing for a country, we shouldn't be so quick to assume that is the best thing for us as people. In fact, our path to wholeness is found when we embrace our weakness and dependence upon God.
Sometimes it seems impossible to know what God wants of us. Other times it seems so easy we don't trust our discernment. When God called Gideon, he almost couldn't believe what was happening. He needed to know for sure. He needed certainty. Is that how God works? Is that how faith works? Gideon's story gives us a peek at our own hearts and how God uses flawed people.
Strong female leadership or weak, cowardly male? Maybe both? Maybe neither? The story of Deborah, Barak, and Jael is one that has a lot of unexpected twists and turns. From a female judge to the bloody victory of a housewife, this story shows us that God often uses the unexpected to accomplish the necessary. What are we to learn from a story like this? What does it teach us about leadership and the way God works?
Violent, dark, depressing, graphic, crass. Welcome to the book of Judges. We begin our look at the judges of Israel with one of the strangest and most graphic stories in all of scripture- the story of the judge and assassin Ehud. What does a left-handed assassin have to teach a people so far removed from this violent and graphic period in Israel's history? More than you might think.
What we want, what we ask for, or what we really need? We like to pretend those three things are all the same. It's clear, though, that what we want and what we truly need don't always work out to be the same thing- which often leads us to ask for the wrong things. Jesus sees past our own short-sightedness and can meet our short-term and most importantly our greatest needs.
Life is all about perspective, isn’t it? What seems like an insurmountable challenge to one person might be a walk in the park to another. Though bumps and valleys are rarely fun, we just might find with a little perspective that God interrupts our easy walk down the wide path with mountains meant to make us look up.
We are taught to believe what we see and question everything else. Is that really the right way to view things though? When Elisha's young apprentice fears for the impending attack from the surrounding forces, Elisha reminds him that the truest thing about their lives isn't what they can see, but the things they can't.
Wealth, fame, power, success, honor- you name it, Namaan had it. Unfortunately, he had one other thing too- leprosy. When a young slave girls suggests he go to his enemies God for relief, Namaan is desperate enough to try it. After learning some hard lessons about humility and how God works, Namaan finds healing- and the reality of the one, true God. Namaan's desperation, healing, and eventual return to his home teach us much about God, our own story, and our suffering.
Do you believe in miracles? If you spend much time in the bible, especially the lives of Elijah and Elisha, you'll have to answer that question. Unfortunately, talk of miracles quickly spins into arguments about whether miracles still happen today and what even constitutes a miracle. The far more important question is about what these miracles teach us. What does God want to show us in these stories and these events? The answer to that will help us to answer all those other questions.
Sometimes stories in the Bible can leave us scratching our heads and asking, "What just happened?" The end of Elijah's ministry and the beginning of Elisha's ministry is full of stories that can seem flat-out strange. Some of those stories give us no explanation or means of understanding what is going one, but some give us an insight to how God works and what he intends to do through Elisha. From both Elijah and Elisha's ministries, we must see that God is not limited by what makes sense to us or even how we might have done it. Instead, we must learn from a God that does things on his own terms for his own purposes in his own way.
There are two different, often conflicting views of life. One believes that we can write our own story and decide what our "verse" will be that we contribute to the world (see Walt Whitman). The other says we have no control of "who lives, who dies, who tells our story." (See Lin Manuel Miranda). Who is right? What would you want your contribution to be? What story do you want your life to tell? What happens if your story is forgotten or told differently than you'd want? All these questions are at the heart of a bible story about truth, injustice, oppression, and the sovereignty of God- and some of the stories might just surprise you.
Oftentimes in life we don't recognize the things that we need the most. We go through our lives thinking about the temporary, the urgent, and the things we "feel" like we need. The things that are truly most important are left in the background or completely unnoticed. Fortunately, God did not wait on us to realize our need before he sought to meet it. We may not even know what a priest did in the Kingdom of God, but it's exactly what we needed and God provided it at exactly the right time- when we weren't even asking for one.
Jesus almost never lives up to our expectations. That tells us more about our shortcomings than it does about his mission. Time and time again in the gospels, Jesus does things the disciples simply never saw coming. The story of the Good Samaritan is a story that makes a Samaritan the hero when just a few verses before, the disciples wanted to destroy a Samaritan village with fire from Heaven. Like the disciples, and like Elijah before them, we simply don't/can't understand all that God is doing. That's true in our own lives, but it was revealed most clearly as Jesus made his way to the cross. It's there that we learn to live our lives according to the way of the cross, a path we'd never choose for ourselves.
Micaiah comes and goes in the Biblical story so fast he’s easy to miss. But while we don’t know that much about the prophet, his time in the limelight of 1 Kings 22 leaves a lasting impression. Caught between a hard truth and the notorious Ahab, King of Israel, it’s impossible not to put ourselves in Micaiah’s shoes when we read his story. Will we choose the truth or what is popular? The stakes are just as high today as they were then.
There are few things that hurt more than when someone else is chosen over you. No matter the ways we try to rationalize or minimize the sting, it's never fun to be that person. It's made even worse when you've done everything right, and you should be the right choice. How do we handle it when God is the one that moves on to the next guy; when someone else's life seems to get all the blessings and we get little if anything? It's a bitter pill to swallow, but a necessary lesson for us all to learn.
Sometimes life can drive us to a breaking point. We can give, and strive, and work, and scheme, only to feel like we're going nowhere. It can be enough to make us ask the question, "What's the point?" Elijah was there. He had done everything right, yet no one seemed to listen. When Elijah was ready to quit, God didn't walk away. In fact, God pursued him. Not only that, God spoke to him. Not only that, God spoke to him in a tender, intimate way. It may not have been what Elijah was looking for, but it was exactly what Elijah needed.
Rain, fire, dueling gods, kings, and prophets. This story has it all. At its essence though, it's a picture of the very same battle we all have raging in our own hearts. We dance to appease our false gods only to hear silence. Elijah's challenge is pointed squarely at us- will we choose a God that hears us or gods that respond in silence? Will we follow gods that demand our performance? Or taste and see that God is good? Whichever we choose, Elijah is clear, we must choose.
God's provision often comes from places we would never expect. And while we may not no where to look for it, we do know what he looks for in us. The Widow at Zarephath was an unexpected source of provision for Elijah, just as Elijah was an unexpected source for the widow. But for both of them, God made it clear, He wanted them to show their complete faith in Him. When they had given all of themselves, God gave them everything they needed.
A nobody from nowhere. That's the man that would become the most significant prophet since Moses and until Jesus. What is it about this guy Elijah that would prompt God to use him as a figure for hope during centuries of silence? We get a peak of what he is all about in the very first verse that introduces him. We see this nobody from nowhere is ready to draw battle lines with anyone- so long as he can stand on the word of God.
Big moments capture our attention and our emotion. We spend our lives fretting over these big moments, but it's only when we reflect back on our lives that we realize it's the moments we didn't even know were happening that really set the tone for what our lives become. We would do well to examine those moments mindfully. However, an examined life is not the sum total of the Christian life- God's faithfulness insures our lives are more than just a sum total of our moments.
After a long, hard trip, there's nothing quite as sweet as a homecoming. Finally reaching the destination that you have long for and struggled to find, to be home is the sweetest satisfaction we can know. The tragedy, though, is that some will never know this feeling. They assume that this journey, this place, is all there is. That home is really a destination that we can never quite find. As Peter tells us, we should weigh our choices and our assumptions carefully because on that final day- it will make all the difference.
There are few things more dangerous than an enemy from inside the camp- a double agent. Double agents know all the secrets of both sides. They know the lingo, what motivates, what agitates, and what creates a sense of comfort. They are incredibly dangerous because they know how to manipulate trust and manipulate our desires. Peter wants to warn us of this danger from within the church. False teachers come in many shapes and sizes, but what's common to them all is their end. Peter does not mince words and loudly sounds our warning. We would do well to listen.
When life begins to get a little rocky and the waves start to pound all around us, it can be easy for us to feel unsteady, unsafe, and a bit seasick. When that happens, what we desperately need is something that will allow us to steady the ship amidst the waves. Peter's teaching can help us to do this. In pointing us to his own experiences with Jesus as well as the writings of the prophets, he can give us what we need to sustain the pounding of the waves and keep us sailing to our destination.
Sometimes the Christian life feels like we don't quite have all the right ingredients- like we've chosen a complicated recipe that we can quite make according to plan. In order to get something on the table, we substitute ingredients and kind of guess at what the end product is supposed to be. The end result is often a far cry from what the recipe really called for. According to Peter, though, we have everything we need for life and godliness. Part of that is our own need to "make every effort" in applying Peter's teachings.
The Christian life is absurd if you live it the way the Bible teaches. As Peter finishes his exhortation to various churches about to suffer, his teaching is incomprehensible to anyone that is apart from Christ. But in Christ, his exhortation is the only thing that can give us hope. An exhortation to endure and to do it alongside others is the call of the church, and it is a call that will be worth it in the end.
The beginning of a new year provides us with an opportunity to consider the previous year, rejoice in the successes, and learn from the failures. There is a lot of value in reflecting on the previous twelve months. However, the beauty of the gospel is that whatever the last year (or more) has been, today is a new day, a new beginning. God is always in the business of doing new things, and the invitation is open to be a part of what he is doing.
When Jesus came, he came on a mission, in part, to bring us joy. When he dies, he prays for his disciples that they would have his joy, but also that they would be among those that bring that joy to others. We have been given the same mission that Jesus came with- a mission of joy, and we are ambassadors of that joy.
As we gather on Christmas Eve, we reflect on the night Jesus was born and the why Jesus came. We consider his teaching and his mission, which he tells us was all about (remarkably) our joy.
As the days rapidly countdown to Christmas Day, the waiting to celebrate is almost over. Soon gifts will be opened, meals shared, and memories created all around the world. For now, though, we wait. There's something about that- the waiting- that seems to be a baked into all the things we love the most. It also happens to be a big part of the things we dread the most. Why does God make us wait? What do we have to endure pain, suffering, and darkness? There may be a lot of reasons God chooses to work this way that will never know, but we do know one reason why- joy. Whatever else waiting does to us, in the end, it is often the most important tool God uses to increase our joy- and there are no shortcuts.
Tidings of comfort and joy- There are few things more "Christmasy" than that. Yet when we read the actual Christmas story, there is almost no comfort and joy can be hard to find. So how did these two ideas become so deeply associated with Christmas? After all, in a broken world, isn't it dismissive and calloused to sing about "comfort and joy" or "joy to the world?" To answer that question, you have to know that the Christmas story is just one chapter in a much bigger story.
The songs we sing at Christmas teach us a lot about what we're looking for during this season. The theme of "joy" is one that is prominent in our songs, but how did we get there? What is it in the stories that teach us how to be joyful? Surprising little in these familiar Christmas stories provokes joy, but when you look at the fuller story- the source of our joy becomes much clearer.
Follow the leader is a simple game. The leader does something, everyone else should do the same. Simple. Yet when Jesus is our leader- the last thing we really want to do is play that game. Because following the leader, when the leader is Jesus, means following him into some very hard places. The beauty of the gospel, though, is that He gives us a safe place to hide in the midst of the path that He walked.
Suffering is disorienting. Persecution can make you doubt what you know is true. Our instinct is to fight back or run away from the things that harm us. However, Peter calls us to a different way. In an unexpected (and often unwanted) set of instructions, Peter tells us the way forward is through careful, strategic submission. While this idea feels unnatural and unhelpful, a quick study of Peter's life and Jesus's teaching show us why this is such a powerful position- even when it doesn't feel that way.
Submission is a word that makes us all bristle. Start talking about gender and marital relationships and the idea of submission and you have a recipe for a fight. Is this inevitable? Do we have to choose between some outdated model of marriage or a modern definition that seems to dismiss the bible as an authority? Careful study of Peter's words and the people he is writing to can help open up our understanding of what he intended for the wives in the churches then as well as how we should live today.
As Christians, how are we to position ourselves to an outside world? There is no shortage of culture wars to fight or causes to support, but what is our role? As Peter gives instruction to the Christians undergoing persecution, his advice might surprise many. His advice is not to look for a battle to fight, but for feet to wash. Why? Because that's exactly what Jesus did.
By asking “who touched me?”, Jesus invites us in to admit who we truly are and to enter into a life-changing relationship with Him instead of a superficial one. He sees into our shame, isolation, and desperation and gives us new names - sons and daughters of the King.
You might not think you have much in common with the priests we encounter in the Bible. Offering incense, sacrificing animals, and serving in a temple rarely resonate with Christians today - and for good reason. But if Jesus is our Great High Priest (and He is) and if we’re called to be like Jesus (we are) then we need to know what it means to be priestly as we go throughout this life.
Why do we study theology? Why does Peter spend so much time laying out the details of our salvation? For Peter, salvation is not some abstract theological idea. It is the foundation for how we live our lives. Our salvation should lead to lives that are full of hope and living out the truth of the theology we confess.
The Christian faith gets a reputation as being uptight, stodgy, and boring. In an effort to "fix" this problem, American Christianity has turned to Nashville record labels and marketing agencies to rebrand our faith. As a result, we have walked away from the deep wells God has provided for us to drink from. As Peter considers our faith, he doesn't see something boring or something that needs to be fixed, but instead, he sees something that makes even the angels marvel.
Sometimes church words can be confusing. We use words and assume their meaning, but we don't always mean the same thing when we use those words. Peter takes a concept that we talk about a lot- salvation- and defines it for us. Not only that, but he also teaches us why it is so important that we know the depth of this great salvation that we have been given.
In a world marked with suffering and brokenness, how are we to live? What's the path forward for a Christian, when that path is fraught with pain and persecution? Peter answers those questions with resounding confidence in the Gospel. Each part of that Gospel serves to sustain and empower us, even when we are collapsing and powerless. In his opening words, a simple greeting, he shows us the work of the Trinity and the hope of our election.
We've spent the summer talking about the things we do when we gather as a church. We finish this series by asking the question, "To what end?" What's the purpose of all of these things? Why are we gathered together in the first place? It is the glory of God and the worship of the only one worthy that draws us together. It is why we sing, study, pray, and gather.
Ten years ago Providence Church gathered in the middle school auditorium and we asked this question, "Can These Bones Live?" Our answer then was the same as Ezekiel's: "God, you know." Ten years later we are celebrating Providence's 10th birthday. We look back on the questions we asked on that Sunday ten years ago and find that while much has changed, much is still the same.
Do you have something in your life that you're just not good at, but you know you should probably be better? You can't explain why you're so bad, you just know that it probably shouldn't be that way? That feeling is almost universally shared by Christians when it comes to the topic of prayer. Why aren't we better at something that is so amazing? Why aren't we experts at this incredible gift we've been given? Why isn't something so extraordinary a higher priority for us? That's true of many Christians, and unfortunately, that's true of the church too.
Sometimes the church world can overcomplicate things. We create theories, argue about semantics, and obsess over the wrong things. I think that this is especially true when we talk about the idea of spiritual gifts. We approach the idea of spiritual gifts around a central idea- what "thing" do I have that God has given me? But when Paul talks about spiritual gifts, his question is what "thing" can you do to serve others? It's more about what we give than what we have. It's about ministry, not talent. It's about asking a very simple question, "How can I help?"
Note: There is a regrettable gap in the audio of about 3 minutes due to a technical difficulty.
Christians have long made bold statements about God. Perhaps the most audacious claim Christians make is not only that there IS a God, but that we can know him. Through the person of Jesus Christ, the testimony of Scripture, and revelation from the Holy Spirit we believe that we can know God. Not only that we can know him, but we can have a personal, intimate relationship with him. That is indeed a bold claim, but it's at the heart of all we do at Providence.
Flour. Water. Juice. Ordinary objects found all over the world throughout all of history. How is it that these simple, ordinary objects come to share an extraordinary story? In God's economy, this is how he works. It's how he's always worked. He takes the simple, ordinary things- like us- and uses them to put His grace and glory on display.
Friends gathered. A meal on the table. Laughter shared. Stories told. This is the setting for the best parts of our lives for thousands of years. Why is it that a meal can bring friends and even enemies together? What is it about a shared meal that can bind our hearts together? As Christians, we believe that a meal is at the heart of our faith. Friends gathered, a meal shared, and the greatest story ever told- that is the Lord's Supper.
It seems strange to make people do something when they want to be a part of the church. Why require something that is so foreign to our culture's way of doing things? While baptism may be an "odd" practice to many outside observers. It's a powerful reminder to those of us that have placed our faith in Christ- we were once in grave danger, buried and without hope, until Christ rescued us. It is that story that we rehearse every time someone gets baptized.
Why do we have church anyway? What are we doing gathering together on a Sunday morning for a church service in the first place? If we're going to explore the "why" behind what we do, the answer to this question is fundamental to everything else that follows. Why "have church?" Or is that even the right way to ask that question?
Church is a funny thing. What we do when we gather is an odd thing to those unfamiliar or uninitiated. Even though our practices may be unfamiliar to an outside world, that doesn't mean they aren't right, necessary, and helpful. Unfortunately, many Christians, even those that have grown up in the church, don't really understand why we do the things we do. As we launch a new series, we seek to ask the question: "What are the roots of the practices of the church?" As we answer those questions, we will become even more "rooted" in our faith. As we begin, we discuss the root of all that we do- the why behind all of it- Jesus Christ.
We all love a good story. We especially love the story of the underdog, the triumph of the human spirit, and the satisfaction of overcoming odds stacked against the hero. Nehemiah is set up to tell just that story. However, the story doesn't end at the moment of triumph and celebration. It keeps going one more chapter and that chapter is a remarkable collapse from the heights of the nation's return from exile. Why not stop at the high point? Why keep telling the story? It's because the story was never about Israel or Nehemiah. It's a story about God, His faithfulness, and our need for something that is better than our failures.
What happens when God's people come together? What does it look like to worship, learn, pray, and repent together? There are many factors in determining what a gathering of the church looks like. Nehemiah gives us a look at one of significant moment in the life of Israel as they complete the wall and then gather to hear Ezra's reading of the law. Their actions can give us insight into what our own gatherings should look like and the joy that is found when we do them well.
Our culture is built for distraction. The more effective you are at distraction, the more successful your business will be. Yet the pattern set forward by Nehemiah and Jesus is one of laser focus on the task at hand. How does Nehemiah fight against distraction? What does it look like for us to pick our "wall" and then determine that we are doing "a great work and cannot come down?"
Sometimes things we take for granted to be true aren't quite what we were led to believe. We can repeat things we've always assumed or that our culture has deemed to be true, but that doesn't mean the Bible agrees with those assumptions. Leadership is one of those things. Authority, power, money, position, title- these are all things we associate with leadership, but if we are to follow the Biblical model, we must reset our assumptions. According to the Bible, leadership looks more like death than power, suffering than ruling, and serving than authority.
At some point, we will all deal with it. Some feel the weight of it daily. For some it comes from others, for some it comes from themselves. How do we respond when we feel the weight of discouragement and hear the mockery of our enemies? What do we do when we feel overwhelmed and overmatched? When we are tempted to believe that the task is too big or our abilities to meager, we can look at Nehemiah's response as a pattern to follow. What does Nehemiah do? He prays, commits it all to God, and then simply gets back to work.
Has God ever called you out of your comfort zone to do something "crazy?" Nehemiah would say so. And what we do in those moments says a lot about our trust in God. Often it feels like the gap between calling and going can be a million miles wide. Are we being unfaithful if we don't immediately jump into action? Maybe. Maybe not. There's often more behind obeying God's call than just the first steps.
Part of being a Christian is to notice when things "aren't how they're supposed to be." We look around and we see the brokenness that this world has been subjected to. Sometimes that's personal, sometimes it's distant, but it's always there. But then what? What do we do with that feeling and that reality? The tendency of most of us is to distract ourselves and get our minds on something else. But Nehemiah couldn't do that. His recognition that things weren't how they should be, turned into a burden- and that burden would become his calling.
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”- Augustine
Since our first exile from the Garden of Eden, we have been looking for home. All of humanity works from this fundamental base desire. Everyone may try different roads to get back home, but apart from Christ we are doomed to be a people that are always traveling, but never make it home. Which is what makes the final chapters of the Bible such a relief and our grand hope, because there we finally make it home. The garden destroyed in Genesis becomes the garden restored in Revelation. The end of the story is the promise that, through Jesus, we can finally make it home.
Jesus knows. Those two words are packed full of meaning and comfort for us today. He knows what it's like to live in this world and all of its false promises. He knows what it's like to long for home, only to be stuck in a place where nothing is at should be. He knows what it's like to deal with suffering, pain, and betrayal. Jesus knows. He knows because he entered into our reality broken by the fall in the Garden of Eden. And it is his faithfulness in the Garden of Gethsemane that gives us hope that all of those things broken by the first garden, will be made right in the second.
Is this it? That's the question that, at some point, we all will ask ourselves. As we work so hard and pursue so many different things, what we inevitably find out is that they don't deliver. As we make our way through this world and realize that this world isn't all we think it could be or should be, that question will begin to echo in our minds with increasing frequency. We know this question and the people of Israel new it too- especially when it came to the leadership from their kings. Time and time again they are let down and left asking the question- "Is this it?"
What we long for teaches us something about ourselves. When all of humanity shares that same longing, we can begin to understand even deeper truths about how we are created. In the opening chapters of the Bible, the stage is set for all of humanity in its idyllic home, only to be cast from that home as a result of sin. Since that moment of exile, the world has been searching for a way to return to Eden. That constant, unending search has left us "haunted by home."
God's word is "living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword" (Heb 4:12). At Providence, we believe that is true, but we also acknowledge that sometimes it is very hard. As the book of Ezra ends, we see the difficult, human cost of sin and repentance. As we learn the truth of God's word, we also deal with how we are to respond when we don't always understand or agree with what we read. Far from a crisis of faith, the difficulty of applying and understanding God's word is an opportunity to deepen our faith in Him and His word.
Who are the most influential figures in the Old Testament? If you were to ask the average church-goer, they probably wouldn't put Ezra in their top 10. However, Ezra's influence as the "second giver" of the law is remarkable in its signifcance. Some would even call him a "Second Moses." What makes Ezra so important and unique in this moment? We could point to several different markers, but perhaps chief is his life passion- to learn, do, and teach the law to Israel. We can learn a lot from Ezra, especially about what our lives should look like.
God works in mysterious ways. We know this to be true. While they may be mysterious, they're also remarkably consistent. The pattern that emerges from scripture is that God is always working against expectations and the seemingly self-evident. The book of Esther is a testimony to a God that chooses to work in ways we would not expect and to turn our assumptions on their head.
What does God ask of us? It's a heavy question that can set our heads spinning and our hearts sinking. As Esther is faced with this question, she has to consider a past that has been tainted and a future that seems to be secure. To do what God seems to be asking would bring both her past and her future into question. Yet what God asks of us is not limited by our past, nor do our future plans alter his demands. What God asks for each of us is faithfulness today.
Have you ever considered how much easier your life would be if you had a narrator to follow you around and help you correctly interpret everything that's happening around you? Life isn't like that though. We don't get to know why certain things happen or what the end result will be. This often puts us in a place where it can be hard to know what to do in the midst of life's every shifting chaos. As the book of Esther opens, we are given the events that unfold that seem to have no connection to the rest of the Bible's story. However, we know that even in these events, God is working his plan.
What does it mean to be blessed by God? Is it material possessions? Good health? Great influence? What if none of those things are, in and of themselves, markers of God's blessing? God's blessing has much more to do with His faithfulness to us and to His covenant with His people, than it does these outward markers. The blessing of God is marked less by what he gives us and more by how he draws us. Central to that purpose is his patience, goodness, and relentless pursuit of us. In that pursuit, there are times that our greatest blessings can be found in our deepest hour of need.
In a world gone mad, how do Christians navigate? Compromise is always on the table and one Satan is comfortable to offer. Fighting and endless conflict seems to be our only choice. The problem with both of these options is that they are the terms offered by outside forces. What God calls us to is defined less by what happens outside of us and more by who he has redeemed us to be.
The long-awaited moment had come. The priests were gathered in their robes, the people sang loudly, the trumpets blew, and the old men...wept with sorrow. Huh? It's not the response we would anticipate. Why would this moment of celebration and triumph be mixed with sorrow and lament? The answer to that question teaches us about the role of the temple, Jesus's mission on earth, the church, and our future.
If we're honest, the Bible can be boring sometimes. It's okay to say that. It's not there to entertain us. Even when it's boring, it can still teach us a lot. In Ezra 2, we have a long list of names that return from the Exile and we don't much about any of them, but God does. He knows them all. He knows everything about them. No one is invisible to God. He sees us all and knows us all. Even more than that, we all matter to God. If people matter to God, they should matter to us too.
The history of Ancient Israel seems like a pretty far removed topic in our current world fraught with turmoil. As it turns out, there's a lot that we can learn from the Old Testament teachings about this people's history. As we kick off a new series, we consider the sovereignty of God, His will for our life, and our own relationship to our nation. What does it look like to trust God when home seems so far away?
As we kick off a new year at Providence, we consider the role of New Year's resolutions. Is there a point? Are they helpful? Are they just a joke? It is helpful to remember that as we embark on this new year, that ultimately we are not recreating ourselves or. Instead we the scriptures tell us that God is making all things new- and we are a part of that restoration and renewal. So as we seek to fight our sin, we remember that it is God that is working on us, in us, and through us.
As 2020 comes to a close, we eagerly await the start of a new year, perhaps unlike ever before. This week affords us the rare opportunity to consider what we have learned and what God has done in an old year while preparing our hearts for what God has called us to in a new year. The dual nature of that vision (looking back and looking forward) is a familiar position for us as Christians. We are often called to reflect on what God has done through his birth, life, death, and resurrection. As we reflect, those historical truths are meant to propel us forward to a life of faith, hope, and holiness.
Princess Jasmine was bored with her royal life. She needed a change. So she decided to disguise herself as one of the peasants outside the palace walls. She left the palace and walked among the people- until she needed her royal privileges back. The movie Aladdin can teach us a lot about Christmas if we're willing to listen. And what doesn't happen in the story will tell us even more.
Christians, and really all humans, suffer from a massive problem that is almost impossible to fix. We think we know God and have some idea what he is like, but the problem is our map is not to scale. We have something in our heads, but the mental picture we have simply doesn't compare to the reality of who God is. As we conclude our series on the attributes of God, we reflect on what we've learned about God, how glorious He is, and how woefully incomplete our perception is. We give thanks for God's word that enables us to know anything at all and celebrate the beauty of this God in coming to our world.
What is it that keeps us from making an impact? What stops us from being used in the ways that God wants to use us? Often it's because we don't really understand what God has done for us through Christ. We mistake our sins for debts to repays and Jesus's sacrifice as a gift we must earn. But the gift is free and the sin is forgiven and in that truth, we find our reason for serving.
God loves you. That is a familiar refrain for most of us. So familiar it has all but lost its power, but it is a profound truth we cannot take for granted. He did not have to love us, to pursue us, or to engage with us at all. In spite of this, he chose to know us intimately and pursue us in love. There is nothing in us that would merit this or that would draw him to us. Yet he loves the unlovely and calls us to love him as we should.
The angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. Who will win? The one that promises fun or the one that calls for self-restraint? This is, to many of our minds, the essence of self-control. The biblical picture though is much different. Less about self-denial, the bible talks more about our pursuit of what is good and holy. Self-control is about taking hold of what is most beneficial to us and most glorifying to God.
When you think about who God is and how you'd describe him, gentleness is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. After all, we hear so much about God being angry and punishing humanity. Yet when you begin to search scripture, God's gentleness is easy to spot. When Jesus describes himself he says that he is "gentle and lowly." What can we learn from a God that is fully justified to be harsh, yet chooses to be gentle? How can we be empowered by the Spirit to do the same?
When we talk about God's attributes, it can be easy to skip over the ones that seem harsh or difficult. Scripture is clear that anger is part of how God deals with us in our sin, and we need not be afraid to talk about it. After all, anger is a part of love- the two are a package deal. What we have to understand is what drives God's anger. Once we understand that, we must ask what we are to do with our own anger.
God is good, all the time. We know this to be true, but do we even know what it means? All God does flows from the fountain of his goodness. We are then called to reflect that goodness that is shown to us to those that are around us. How are we called to show goodness to others? The new testament gives us a peek into the lives of a few men that can help us understand what it means to be good.
We all want to be happy. So why does the Bible feel the need to command us to be happy? So much so that it is the most often repeated command in all of scripture. If we want it, then why do we need to be told to have it? According to scripture, it's because our joy sensor is broken. We look for joy in things that don't sustain- things that should point us to a bigger, better source of joy. So the Bible repeats the refrain for us to rejoice as a beacon to the true source of deeper, greater joy.
Somewhere along the way, the church has chosen to celebrate traits that we don't see celebrated the same way in scripture. We celebrate people that are adventurous, full of bravado, confrontational, self-assured, and dogmatic. In contrast, we tend to downplay the things the bible deems to be important. In our current cultural climate, this is especially true when we talk about the simple act of being kind. More than being nice, being kind involves both a disposition and the accompanying action. As with each of these fruits of the Spirit, we do not find our ability to be kind from ourselves, but in the power of the Spirit and the kindness of God himself.
What does a successful life look like? Our culture bombards us with pictures of a life well-lived. Does the bible give us a vision for a successful life too? If so, what does it look like? Our answer is rooted first in the nature of God and the pattern given to us by Jesus. As it turns out, the culture's picture looks very different than the one we find in the bible.
Do you cringe every time you read that “love is patient?” Patience is certainly easier to receive than it is to give. That’s why they call it a virtue. Truly, there are few things more important (and more difficult) for our lives than being patient. Hard as it may be, a closer look at the Bible reveals the connection between our patience with the smallest of things to the very character of our Creator.
Peace. In a world full of chaos, there may be nothing as elusive as peace. We yearn for peace in our surrounding world, but it is the inner peace that we really need. Peace with God and the Peace of God are truly our greatest needs. The world will always have trouble, but Jesus tells us that he leaves us His peace. As we reflect on God's peace, we are reminded of the beauty that the Spirit can give us that very same peace.
Taking our first steps is full of frustrations, bumps, and bruises, but those first steps are essential to learn to walk and grow. So it is with following Jesus. We are commanded to "walk in the Spirit." Those steps can often be clumsy and uncoordinated, but one step after another we can eventually find ourselves "keeping in step with the Spirit." That keeping in step, a close following of the Spirit's leading, is the heart of being a Christian, and fruit it bears is what we call "the fruit of the Spirit."
Not all days are created equal. Some days pass with little importance, but there are other days that will have a lasting impact. As Paul pleads in his letter to the Galatians for the church to wake up and realize how they've missed Jesus. We too at Providence must recognize that the days are critical, and we are in danger of drifting away and missing what God would have for us in the remainder of 2020. Will we drift? Or will we stand firm?
The story on 2020 is not finished. What's our role in the rest of this year? What story will we tell? When the blind man gained his sight for the first time, he only had one story that he could tell- "I was blind, now I'm not, and that guy Jesus did it." No matter the chaos, no matter the challenges- his story is our story too. As we move forward in this year, this is our story to tell to anyone that will listen.
What happens when life turns to chaos and our comfort zone evaporates? Where do we go? What do we do? How do we respond? 2020 has been the terrifying merry-go-round that just won't stop, but we've still got 5 months to go. So now what? Where will we go and what will we do with those 5 months? Our commitment hasn't changed from the first month...we're still "All In." Are you?
It has been said that the only thing in our lives that is constant is change. Every aspect of our life is subject to the forces of change: politics, health, trends, relationships, and the list could continue forever. This is why the doctrine of God's immutability- that God does not change- is such a resting place for us. As the world continues to shift about us, we cry out along with the Psalmist that God is "our rock." He is unchanging and always the same. He does not evolve or grow. He does not adapt or become "more perfect." He is what He has always been and will be what He has always been.
Power and Control: two things that this world is hell-bent on acquiring. We long for it. If we have it, we feel that we can dictate our desired outcome for situations in our life. When we have that ability, then we can feel safe and secure. Yet only God has full control of our lives and the power to bring things about. Where does that leave us? Why are we so consumed with pursuing something we'll never get? For starters, we rest in the reality that God's omnipotence is infinitely better than any power we may be able to muster.
God knows everything. Everything that was, that is, and that will be. God knows the number of ants in the world and the hairs on your head, and God knows you. He knows everything about you. Does that truth comfort you or terrify you? Apart from Christ, that is the most terrifying reality we can be faced with. However, in Christ, it is one of the most comforting things we can ever know.
Does God get lonely? Did God create us so that he could have some company and enjoy the presence of some new friends? No, God is not in need of us. If we were to all deny his existence, he would not be missing anything. Unlike us, he does not need anything outside of himself in order to continue to exist. He is all that He needs. That reality is one that can give us confidence that our God is truly worthy of worship.
We are a people divided within ourselves. We often find ourselves trying stuck between a rock and a hard place. Our decisions are not clear, and our desires often conflicting. It can lead us to be hasty, inconsistent, passive, and timid. God is none of these. He is simple- not made of parts. All that God is, God is all the time. This idea is central to understanding the way in which God's attributes work together. They do not work against one another, but in perfect harmony together.
How do you even begin to talk about God? In his very nature, he is incomprehensible. It is folly to believe we can truly know and understand the fullness of God. Yet, God has revealed parts of himself to us in his word, and we would be truly foolish if we did not learn from what he has revealed. As we begin our study on the attributes of God, we begin by echoing the same confession as Job- that we are truly contemplating "things too wonderful" for us.
As America once again deals with national unrest and racial tensions, we take time to see what the bible teaches us about the Christian's role in these times. Paul's letter to a fellow church leader about the return of a former slave gives us insight into the heart of the Christian faith. At the core of our faith is the deep need for reconciliation. That reconciliation begins with the sinner's reconciliation to God, but the overflow of that is a relentless pursuit of reconciliation in the lives of those around us.
Paul had spent his entire life preparing for a future that would never come. Paul might be the best example in all of scripture of someone that received a massive curveball in his life. He had trained, studied, and disciplined himself to be an elite pharisee. He was the most dedicated of the dedicated. Yet that day on the road to Damascus, everything changed for Paul. He went from a man brimming with confidence in his abilities and achievements to a man that had his eyes opened to the utter lack of confidence he had before God. Paul's life was wrecked, but in the same moment, it was saved.
When life gives us a curveball, it can feel like our lives are falling apart. From our perspective, they might be. Our ability to control the situation and the narrative can be disorienting. For King David, this happened to him far more often than he would've liked by some of the people you'd least expect- his own children. Yet when David's life seemed the most out of control and the most disorienting, that is when David would find his rest elsewhere- not in his ability to control it, but instead in God's promises.
In life, sometimes our emotions can get the best of us. At times, those emotions can be warranted based on what we have observed, but sometimes those emotions are rooted not in facts, but in ignorance. When David tried to return the Ark of the Covenant to its proper place, David had one of those moments when one of his men, Uzzah, was struck dead for trying to steady the Ark as it fell. David was furious, but that was because he was ignorant of just how much he needed God's grace. Later though, once his eyes had been opened, he was dancing because God let him walk just six small steps.
A picture is worth 1000 words. If that's true, then what's a "live photo" worth? Or a movie? While a picture can tell us a lot, it can also be misleading and limiting. So much so that, Satan can love to live in the snapshots. He loves to make us either feel great about ourselves (when the snapshot looks good) or hate ourselves (when the snapshot is painful and messy). The call from the good news of the Gospel is to remember that God works in full-fledged, well developed, profound stories. And the story of the gospel is where we find our hope and our humility.
In baseball, Curveballs are two things- a.) unexpected and b.) meant to make things harder. In the bible, there are all kinds of stories about unexpected things happening to people, and often times that makes things harder. However the overall story of the bible is very unexpected, but it has the opposite effect. The story of the bible is an unexpected, unmerited action that results in overwhelmingly good news. As we begin a few weeks looking at the life of King David, we can see how sometimes the unexpected is, in fact, a very welcome thing. And what makes this so unexpected is because we have done so little to deserve it.
Have you ever signed up for something only to find once you got there, it was nothing like you had expected? We all have experiences where we thought we knew what we were getting ourselves into only to find that perhaps what we got was more than we had bargained for. The disciples probably know that feeling well. At every turn, it seems like they are confused and bewildered by the things Jesus does and says. If you're a follower of Jesus, you can probably relate. The reality is we don't know what Jesus will call us to- but we do know that he's in control and our task is to follow him where ever he leads.
When you can't see life's changes coming, it can be hard to know how to react. Funny thing is, sometimes we say we didn't see it coming, but we probably should've. For the disciples, the crucifixion of Jesus was something they never saw coming, but they probably should've. It wrecked their world, but Jesus told them it was coming. So it is with us. Trials and pain always catch us by surprise, but Jesus told us that was coming too. What does the crucifixion tell us about what we should expect as Christians? And even more importantly, what does the resurrection tell us?
What happens when we get a curveball thrown to us in our lives? The book of Ruth is the story of how two women dealt with some massive changes they never saw coming. It's the story of bitterness and pain. It's the story of providence and sovereignty. Sometimes we can see what God is doing. Sometimes we can't see it at all. How do we push on in life when everything seems to fall apart.
What would it mean for us if we could just have a little warning about what was about to happen? Just a little heads up to know that something was about to happen. A little preparation could take us a long way. Unfortunately in life, we don't really get that warning- at least not about specifics. All we are given is the command to follow God where ever he goes. So what does that look like? What happens when we don't listen to that warning?
As we have our first ever "online gathering," we consider what Christianity has to say to a world reeling from the impacts of sickness and disease. Should we shrink back fearful of disease and wondering where God is in all of this? Or does our theology offer answers for this moment? What do we say to sickness, disease, and suffering? The Christian faith is ready for this moment. Not only do we have answers, we offer hope.
What is a Christian response to a time of national crisis? How should we care for ourselves, our family, and our neighbor? These are questions that confront us today, but they have been addressed by Christians throughout church history. More importantly, the Bible is full of wisdom and guidance for our lives in the midst of crisis.
If you had to come up with your top 3 strategies for fighting sin, what would you list? What are your best tips for someone struggling with sin? For your own sin? Surprisingly the lists we come up with aren’t always the same one the BIble comes up with. John tells us he’s writing his letter “so that we might not sin.” So what are his tips? What does he tell us to do? Here’s a hint: it’s more about what’s been done than what we do.
God is light. It’s a deceptively simple sentence. In just 3 words, John manages to convey a wealth of imagery that carries all the way back to the opening verses of Genesis. What does he mean by this? Is it good news for us? Intended to comfort and assure us? Or is it a warning to us? John unpacks the weight of this biblical truth.
“You can’t beat the real thing.” That was the marketing slogan that helped Coca-Cola rebound from one of the most notable marketing blunders in recent memory. In an effort to regain slipping market share, they had launched “New Coke.” In doing so, they had left what made people love them in the first place. The letter of 1 John is a plea from John not leave the truth of the gospel- to hold on to the real thing.
Sometimes the most dangerous things are not the things that look scary at all. Sometimes it’s the things that look normal that can cause the most damage. Satan works against us in so many different ways and one of his chief methods is by imitating the good things God has given us. However, Satan’s imitations are never as good as God’s creations. How can we tell the difference between real and fake? Counterfeit and genuine? Imitation and true creation? Knowing can make all the difference.
Right vs. Wrong. Good vs Evil. Righteous vs. Unrighteous. Truth vs. Lie. Real vs. Fake. Is it ok to make judgments like these? If so, who gets to make them? Our culture loves to play both sides of this. On one hand, there is no such thing as truth and absolutes. On the other, you must line up to the culture’s beliefs as though they were absolutes. Our task is to find out how a biblical worldview informs these things. As we begin our series in the Letters of John, what becomes clear is that he isn’t afraid to declare truth from a lie, and we shouldn’t be either.
For so long, the peak of wise advice has been that in order to be happy, what we need is to find balance in our lives. If we can find that magical balance point, all will be well. While the intent of this advice may come from a sincere place, it simply isn’t biblical. The biblical picture is one of total and unreserved commitment- to be “All In.” As we conclude our series, our challenge is to follow the command of Jesus and forsake all else as we pursue Him.
As we continue to look at what it means to be “All In” at Providence, we are challenged to be a people looking to make disciples. This begins with our own personal lives and extends into the many opportunities available through Providence- locally, nationally, and internationally. This Sunday we talk about the various mission opportunities we have and make a major announcement about our newest opportunity in New York City.
The mission statement of Providence is to Make, Grow, and Unleash disciples of Jesus. But when it comes to the children God has placed in our care we rarely emphasize the Unleashing. Students in middle and high school are getting critically close to that important time of their lives, and we as a church have important roles to play in helping them Grow to meet those challenges. Student minister Chris Hodge shares how Providence Students aims to partner with parents so that when a student is Unleashed to their next phase of life, they do so rooted in the gospel and as committed disciple of Jesus.
Our time is short, our opportunities limited, but we rarely feel the weight of this. At Providence, we want to be aware of the opportunity we have with our kids. We want to partner with parents to make sure we all make the most of the time we have to invest in our kids. This week Jessica Willings teaches us about the value of a single gumball.