How often are we using a distorted lens to interpret Scripture and our circumstances? More importantly, how can we know if we are seeing things clearly?...
This fall, as we walk through the Hall of Faith together, we invite you to join us in memorizing Hebrews 11. Over the next 11 weeks, our challenge is to memorize all 40 verses of this chapter. Our staff has compiled several tools and resources to help you rise to the challenge!...
Remind your students of who they are and what they are called to. Remind them of what school is for and pray that the Lord will use these reminders to create a fruitful year of life and ministry for your students!...
Why do we pray "in Jesus' name"? Maybe it’s important to ask ourselves, do we know what this phrase really means? Do we fully understand the meaning and power of these words? Do we think that God will hear us better if we say that we come to him in Jesus’ name?...
This trip not only fueled and stirred my affections for God and missions, but having the Providence church body commission us the Sunday before we left was a moment I will never forget. Being obedient to the call of missions embedded me even further into the heartbeat of Providence because I was a member who was sent....
Redemption Groups forced me to be honest with both God and myself, to ask Him the hard questions, and wait for a response....
The best part of Advent is not Advent itself, but what it points to...
In the middle of the holiday-hype and musician-lament, our church gets to be centered on the joy of singing biblical Advent songs. ...
It’s that time of year. Lights are going up, decorations are out, and Christmas movies are on TV. As we approach Christmas, the church enters into the celebration of Advent. But what is Advent? ...
Recently God has impressed one thought on my mind: Keep looking for joy, even in the mundane or the very difficult times. If all I’m doing in my current season is wishing for the next season, then I am missing so much joy and so many gifts which God has given me in the here and now....
This past week we started our new sermon series walking through the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5-7. I spent a considerable amount of time giving introductory remarks that I believe will help us as we navigate through Jesus’ most famous sermon....
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Making resolutions can be tough and keeping them past a few weeks can be even harder, but as Jonathan Edwards demonstrates, making resolutions can be a fruitful venture in seeking to be disciplined and self-controlled for the glory of God....
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Each year, our staff puts together a short list of our favorite books of the year. Not all of these books were released this year; in fact, many of them are a few years (or centuries) old, but we read them this year....
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A perennial favorite carol has been “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” My love for this song goes all the way back to childhood - watching Charlie Brown and the gang singing the carol, gathered around that magical scrawny little tree. (“I never thought it was such a bad little tree!”)...
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My favorite Christmas song is “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” I’ve heard a lot of versions of this song, but it’s hard to find a good one. You can sing the notes perfectly but miss all the emotion. This song expresses such deep longing for freedom that it’s almost impossible to sing without tears of joy and desperation. “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” helps us explore l...
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This year, we’ve found several great resources we recommend to help you celebrate the season of Advent and the birth of Christ. Check them out!...
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Two short-term mission teams returned from South Asia just a few weeks ago. We are so grateful for everyone who prayed for these trips (much was needed, and much was given), for those who helped support the team members for both teams financially (again much needed and much given), and for your support of Advance that is helping the word go out in a dark area of the world....
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The result of this election has left a wake of emotions throughout our country ranging from jubilation and hope to anger and despair. So how are we as followers of Christ to respond?...
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How are the Psalms instructive? They train me on how to come before the Lord honestly in all seasons of life, setting the foundation of my heart on the truth from His word....
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My kids beg me often to tell the story of the cactus. They love hearing about kid-sized Jeremy who was told that he couldn’t have a cactus from the neighborhood park. At the end of that story, we always talk about how it’s better to obey because parents don’t want to keep good things from their children, but because we want them to have the most fun possible....
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