Remembering Truth: In Community
Please tell me I am not the only one. How many of you out there have gotten a text from a friend, who you aren't feeling on solid ground with? You open your phone, your heart races, your mouth goes dry. You read their text as fast as you can, trying to get through all of it. And now, no matter how many times you re-read that text, analyze the...
Remembering Truth: In Community
Please tell me I am not the only one. How many of you out there have gotten a text from a friend, who you aren't feeling on solid ground with? You open your phone, your heart races, your mouth goes dry. You read their text as fast as you can,...
Stones of Remembrance
In 2008, my dad was diagnosed with cancer. It was not a very aggressive form of cancer, but hearing that someone I loved had the dreaded ‘c word’ was hard. Until that point, I had not been close to anyone with cancer, so I was fearful and uncertain of what would...
The Role of the Holy Spirit in Remembrance
We need reminders. We stick Post-it notes on our desks and refrigerators, write notes in our journals, and set alarms for important events or meetings. In fact, our iPhones are so smart that they dedicate an App for reminders (if you didn’t know that, you’re welcome)....
Take Care Lest you Forget
We are a forgetful people. Not just in misplacing our car keys or missing a meeting, but in something far more serious—we are spiritually forgetful. We are quick to forget God’s presence, power, and provision in our lives and quick to turn back to sin and our old way...
Think and Practice
”Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and...
Liturgy: Formation For the Gathered Church and Everyday Life
When we gather together in corporate worship on Sunday, the majority of faithful followers of Jesus understand the “why.” We gather to worship and give thanks to God for who he is and what he has accomplished for us in Christ Jesus. We gather to confess sin and to ...
The Joy of Anticipation
As the Advent season commences, there lies a beauty in the air, saturated not just with the anticipation of Christmas but with the deeper, more resounding anticipation of Christ’s return. This season invites us to dwell in anticipation—a theme woven throughout the...
The Church
Christian Community is Hard Work
As a staff member at Providence, Sunday mornings are often equal parts exciting and exhausting. I spend a large portion of my week preparing for our worship services, and seeing the entire congregation gathered together always makes the effort worth it. Between...
Open Door Policy
“I can’t do it. I can’t finish this for you and this is going to have to be my last day. I am really sorry.” These are not the words you want to hear from your contractor when you’re standing in the middle of a gutted kitchen. When we moved into our house, we found a...
Many Members, One Body
When was the last time you stopped to marvel at your hand? Have you ever stood in awe of the 27 bones and over 100 ligaments that God designed to work in complete harmony every second of every day to accomplish even the most simple of tasks? The intricate design of...
By This All People Will Know
“All I know is that you need love, and I’ve got a family.” If you recognize these lyrics, you might be a product of the 90’s. Audio Adrenaline had it right, though. The concept isn’t just nostalgic—it’s biblical. Scriptural Roots The idea that the church is a family...
Discipleship is More Than an Event
Note from the Editor: FOCUS Weekend begins March 1. As the student team prepares for a few days of intense discipleship, Grant Hoover explains the philosophy behind these events, specifically about what they can and can’t do. Discipleship is always happening, even in...
Holiness
Remembering Truth: In Community
Please tell me I am not the only one. How many of you out there have gotten a text from a friend, who you aren't feeling on solid ground with? You open your phone, your heart races, your mouth goes dry. You read their text as fast as you can, trying to get through all...
Stones of Remembrance
In 2008, my dad was diagnosed with cancer. It was not a very aggressive form of cancer, but hearing that someone I loved had the dreaded ‘c word’ was hard. Until that point, I had not been close to anyone with cancer, so I was fearful and uncertain of what would...
The Role of the Holy Spirit in Remembrance
We need reminders. We stick Post-it notes on our desks and refrigerators, write notes in our journals, and set alarms for important events or meetings. In fact, our iPhones are so smart that they dedicate an App for reminders (if you didn’t know that, you’re welcome)....
Take Care Lest you Forget
We are a forgetful people. Not just in misplacing our car keys or missing a meeting, but in something far more serious—we are spiritually forgetful. We are quick to forget God’s presence, power, and provision in our lives and quick to turn back to sin and our old way...
Think and Practice
”Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and...
Missions
Rescue the Perishing
Editor’s Note: This post was written on the ground last year, during a vision trip to a West Asian city. During the trip, team members prayer-walked the city and asked the Lord to rescue and redeem those who are perishing. “God is great! I bear witness that there is...
Out of Darkness and Into His Marvelous Light
Editor’s Note: Through the Entrusted & Sent initiative, Providence is partnering with IllumiNations and Pioneer Bible Translators to fund a translation of the New Testament in the Tenebre language. Tenebre is a pseudonym, used for the security of the people...
Bringing the Light to Those in Darkness
Do you remember what it was like to be afraid of the dark? I can still picture being in my childhood room at night, trying to fall asleep while the shadows of the unknown kept me awake. I would close my eyes tight or pull the covers over my head, attempting to shield...
The Story of New England Outreach
The Call To Go The awestruck assembly gazed up into the sky as a humble yet majestic figure ascended far above and was veiled from view. The air was marked by stunned silence. Before taking His heavenly throne, Jesus left His disciples with a daunting mission—to...
Witness to the War
In June of 1942, during the first year of WWII, there was a battle in the Pacific between the navies of the United States and Imperial Japan. The Battle of Midway was a unique battle because the opposing forces never got close enough to see each other. It was a...
Prayer
The Duty of Walking with Thanksgiving
A few months back I took my nine-year-old daughter on a date. Walking to the restaurant, I noticed she was trying to walk in sync with my steps. As she achieved her objective, she happily exclaimed: “Look Daddy, our steps are matching!” That heartwarming sentence got...
Set Your Face Toward Jerusalem During Lent
We’ve just finished a season of fasting as a church body, and you may be thinking about continuing to fast through Lent this year. While our three weeks of corporate prayer and fasting during Depend have been meaningful as we seek God’s will for the growth of our...
4 Things That Have Changed How I Pray
So, how’s your prayer life? Real talk. How rich is your time with God in prayer? Let me give you a few snapshots of what my prayer life can often look like on any given day. Does any of this sound familiar? When I’m having my quiet time early in the morning, I often...
Lord, Teach Us To Pray
Growing up I did not have much of a prayer life. I saw prayer and other disciplines as things that I was supposed to do for God to be okay with me. It was not until I went to college that I learned God doesn’t need our prayers but actually delights in us coming to Him...
Why Corporate Prayer Matters
Over the past few weeks, I have been slowly walking through the book of Deuteronomy. Reading the ninth chapter, I was struck by how often God’s message to his people is counterintuitive to modern sensibilities. Chapter 9 brings us to the brink of a major...
The Bible
Why Study Judges?
This spring, our Women’s Bible Study will be in the book of Judges. This book is familiar to us in parts and pieces; many of us know the stories of Deborah, Gideon, and Samson. But few of us know how those stories fit together in the book of Judges. We rarely stop to...
Don’t Reduce Your Relationship With God to a Checklist
This past Sunday, we looked at a shocking scene in Luke 4 where the people who knew Jesus best became the very first to attempt to kill him. They weren’t people from various walks of life with different worldviews. They were devout Jews in their own synagogue. They...
Understanding Differences in the New Testament Genealogies
This past Sunday we looked the genealogy of Jesus as presented in Luke’s gospel. But Luke wasn’t the only writer to list out Jesus’ genealogy. Matthew did so as well in his gospel. And when we compare those two lists of names, there are differences between them. Some...
Understanding the Gospel of Luke
This weekend, we’re kicking off our new message series in the Gospel of Luke. We began the first chapter as we journeyed through Advent together in December. As we continue, we will see a beautiful account of Jesus’ ministry unfold. Walking through Luke’s gospel...
Parenthood
Encouragement For The Imperfect Father
Like so many dads, I will never forget the first time I held my son. I had dreamed of the moment for so long. I had always wondered what it would feel like to finally meet Caleb. Then, suddenly, a nurse wrapped up my baby boy, handed him over to me, and exclaimed,...
It Takes a Village
Gospel. Community. Mission. You don’t have to be a certain age to participate in this beautifully simple mission of Providence Church. In fact, Jesus indicated the church is most vibrant and complete when all ages are pursuing Him (Matthew 19:14). During child...
How to Talk to Your Kids About Gender Identity
“Fires will be kindled to testify that two and two make four. Swords will be drawn to prove that leaves are green in summer.” These words, written by G.K. Chesterton in 1905, may have seemed extreme at the time. However they have certainly, whether intentionally or...
Everyday Discipleship with Teenagers
“Change starts with a conversation.” I heard this phrase a few years ago at church camp and it has stuck with me ever since. You never know what conversations will come up throughout the day or where a conversation may lead. Some conversations we walk away from...
Discipling Kids in the Daily Rhythms of Life
In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus gives these final words to his disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” You might be wondering why I would...
Community
Glorifying God on the Sidelines
My stomach is in knots, my legs are jittery, and it’s taking a significant amount of self-control to not yell like my life depends on it. Did I mention I’m on the sidelines at a soccer game? And the players are four years old? And one of them is my child? Navigating...
Responding Well When Others Are Struggling
In November 2017, I began walking a long road of sanctification, beginning with the exposure of my sin and followed by years of suffering the consequences. I struggled with alcohol - and will likely always struggle, apart from Christ’s strength - and was very far from...
What Has Jesus Done?
Whenever you see Isaiah Shultz around church, at work, or hanging out with his friends, you’ll notice his bracelet. It has a simple question inscribed on it - “What has Jesus done?” The bracelet was a gift from his close friend and roommate, marking a pivotal moment...
You Play an Important Role in the Church
“I’m not sure that I have a spiritual gift.” A friend told me this over coffee one evening - the kind of confession that comes from believing that you’re the only one who feels this way. I’m not sure she’s alone, though. It’s a common experience - to question what...
2 Corinthians: The Focused Church
This fall, we start a new sermon series on the book of 2 Corinthians. Context is always helpful in preparing for a new book study, so we've compiled some resources to provide background. Paul established the church in Corinth on his second missionary journey, staying...
Worship
Liturgy: Formation For the Gathered Church and Everyday Life
When we gather together in corporate worship on Sunday, the majority of faithful followers of Jesus understand the “why.” We gather to worship and give thanks to God for who he is and what he has accomplished for us in Christ Jesus. We gather to confess sin and to ...
The Resounding Witness of a Quiet Life
When was the last time you experienced quiet? For most of us, our daily lives are anything but quiet. We live in a world of non-stop noise, information, entertainment, and distraction. We move at breakneck speeds from one thing to the next, seldom allowing a moment...
Work is Worship
Why do you work? I’d never considered the question until a comment from my son forced me to reflect. I frequently find myself barrelling through our house tidying or opening my laptop to crank out email responses as if it’s a race. My son interrupted one of these...
The Slow Work of Spiritual Disciplines
When I began this paint-by-number I worked for several hours only to be discouraged by how blank the canvas looked at the end of those hours. While I’d spent hours tediously mixing colors and painting tiny details, it looked as if I’d done very little work....
Suffering
As humans we are ever seeking to make meaning of the world around us. Moments of pain and suffering are no different. We tell ourselves that if we can make sense of why something is happening, we can endure it. As followers of Jesus we may be tempted to believe that...