Posts by Providence Church

We want you to know, brothers,about the grace of God that has beengiven among the churches of Macedonia,2for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy andtheir extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.3For they gaveaccording to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,4begging us earnestlyfor...

9Let love be genuine.Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.10Love one another with brotherly affection.Outdo one another in showing honor.11Do not be slothful in zeal,be fervent in spirit,serve the Lord.12Rejoice in hope,be patient in tribulation,be constant in prayer.13Contribute to the needs of the saints andseek to show hospitality. 14Bless those who persecute ...

14Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Forwhat partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Orwhat fellowship has light with darkness?15What accord has Christ with Belial?Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?16What agreement has the temple of God with idols? Forwe are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among...

17Therefore, if anyone isin Christ, he isa new creation.The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.18All this is from God,who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave usthe ministry of reconciliation;19that is, in Christ God was reconcilingthe world to himself,not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to usthe message of reconciliation.20T...

1.) Paul makes it his aim to please God (v 9). Who is someone you know who personifies this? What quality stands out most about their life? 2.) What are some characteristics of a life which would be pleasing to God? Of those characteristics, which one do you feel you exhibit most? Which one do you struggle with the most? 3.) As Christians, how does knowing that we ...

1) Paul was "afflicted...but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed" because of the power of God in his life. How has God's power carried you through difficult situations? 2) How has enduring through suffering helped to enhance your witness for Christ? How can your endurance through those trials b...

Discussion Questions How is the glory of God in the Old Covenant different from his glory in the New Covenant? What is the relationship between hope and boldness (v 12)? How can we have a stronger hope and greater boldness? How does this hope help us live courageous and unashamed lives for the gospel? What does it mean to be changed from "one degree of glory to anoth...

Discussion Questions Paul understood what it was like to feel inadequate ministering to others. Can you relate? If so, how do these verses speak into that? How are the Corinthians themselves a letter of recommendation for Paul? In your own life, who has modeled for you how to follow Christ? Who are your "letters", those you're investing in right now? How would...

October 31. For many, the day simply marks Halloween each year. But the world that we know today would simply not exist if not for what happened in Germany on October 31, 1517. On that day, a German monk named Martin Luther nailed his controversial Ninety-five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Because of what happened on that day, many Chri...

Discussion Questions What does it mean to be "the aroma of Christ" among those around us (2:15)? What two responses do people tend to have to this aroma (2:16)? How have you seen these very different responses to the gospel message from those around you? How important is it for us to have pure, sincere motives when ministering to other people (2:17)? How can...

Discussion Questions What evidences do you see in this passage of Paul's love for the Corinthians? Many times we must say hard truths to those we minister to. How does love for them impact the way we do that? What instructions does Paul give the Corinthians for the individual who has sinned (2:5-11)? What is the ultimate goal when disciplining someone for th...

Discussion Questions Consider some of the men and women God has used in your life to help you grow as a Christian. In what ways did they demonstrate integrity and Godly sincerity? When ministering to others, how important is it for them to see our sincerity? Do the people you're ministering to know that you care deeply for them? Part of why Paul could appeal to ...

Discussion Questions In this series of "Woes", what warnings are given to the Babylonians? What are they condemned for? Do you see any of these sinful tendencies in your own life? While directly applicable to the Babylonians of the day, these "woes" also apply to all who oppose God throughout history. According to Habakkuk 2:14, what is the eventual outcome of human hi...

Discussion Questions Though his circumstances had not changed, and though he was told the situation would only get worse for the time being, Habakkuk sings a song of praise to God. How do you think Habakkuk was able to do this? What shifted in his mind? In 3:3-7, Habakkuk reflects on how God helped his people in the past by delivering them from slavery in Egypt. How ...

Discussion Questions How was Habakkuk able to "rejoice in the Lord" even though his circumstances continued to get worse? What would your own version of these verses sound like? "Though ____ should happen/not happen, yet I will rejoice in the Lord." What would go in that blank for you? How can you "rejoice in the Lord" even if those undesirable circumstances come upon ...

Discussion Questions Paul had a resum that would have been quite impressive in certain circles. According to Philippians 3:4-6, what does that resum consist of? How does Paul identify himself to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 1:1-2? Why doesn't he list the things he had mentioned in Philippians 3:4-6? (See Philippians 3:7-14) Paul viewed himself in terms of his re...

Discussion Questions How have you seen God comfort you during a time of affliction? How has God used trials and afflictions in your life to make you look more like Jesus? How has God used trials and afflictions to equip you to minister to others? Who is he calling you to comfort right now? Questions for Preschool Q: How many persons are there in God?A: There are t...

Discussion Questions Habakkuk asks God "How Long?" and "Why?" What is going on in Habakkuk's world? What does he see in his society that troubles him? From Habakkuk's perspective, what does it seem like God's reaction is to all this? (See also Psalms 10:1; 22:1-2; 44:23-24; 74:1; 88:14) When in your own life has God felt distant and disinterested? How do you respond i...

Discussion Questions What was Habakkuk's original complaint (1:2-4)? How did God respond (1:5-11)? What does Habakkuk complain about now (1:12-17)? How did God's response intensify Habakkuk's confusion and frustration? As Habakkuk prepares his second complaint, he rehearses many of God's names and attributes (1:12-13). Why is it important to remind ourselves of what Go...

On occasion, the Providence staff likes to take time to make recommendations for things we've been reading, watching, and listening to. Below are some recommendations we hope will be a blessing to you in this season!...

Good morning, Providence family! This morning is our last Worship at Home service in this format - starting next Sunday, June 14, our 11:00 worship service will be live streamed to YouTube, Facebook, and our website. This morning's sermon from Afshin reminds us of the gospel and its implications for the church's response to the tension that's present all around us....

Good morning, Providence family! This morning as we worship at home, we're excited to welcome a guest preacher, David Mathis. David serves as a senior teacher and executive editor at Desiring God and is a pastor at Cities Church in St. Paul, MN. David and his wife planned to join us in person this summer, but he's graciously shifted his plans and is joining us by video thi...

Happy Sunday, Providence! This morning we're excited to welcome a guest preacher - Jamin Roller, lead pastor of Citizens Church (formerly The Village Church Plano). Jamin's encouragement to seek Jesus is a message you don't want to miss. Before his sermon, Logan and Kelly are leading us in worship and Afshin has an important update from the church....

It's time to worship at home! If these Sunday mornings are growing more difficult - the kids are going crazy during worship at home or you've grown weary of worshipping alone - this morning's service is for you. Be encouraged through Afshin's sermon, Don't Grow Weary: Sowing Towards a Good Harvest, and sing with joy as we praise Jesus, the Lord of all....

Happy Sunday, friends and family - and happy Mother's Day! This morning Logan Walter and Kelly Joseph are leading us in worship as we sing to our marvelous Savior. Afshin's sermon from 2 Timothy is an encouragement to all the mothers among us as well as a reminder to each one of us of the legacy and influence of sincere faith....

Providence family, this morning we're celebrating our 15th anniversary! In this morning's worship service, we're marking God's faithfulness to us over the past 15 years. Logan Walter and Taylor Deutsch are leading us in worship and Afshin's sermon from Joshua 3-4 reminds us of God's call on our lives and his faithfulness to us every step of the way....

All you need for worship at home on Sunday, April 26! Logan Walter and Kayley Bacon are leading us in worship and Afshin's bringing a timely sermon from Romans 8 - reminding us that because of God's work through Christ, we are more than conquerors! Find all this and more resources for your worship at home....

Does your family have a rhythm of worship? Do you set time aside to worship the Lord as a family on a day-by-day basis? Today's resources will help you get started, and sustain, a rhythm of family worship! ...

All you need for worship at home on Sunday, April 19! You'll find worship video from our own worship team, Providence elder Weyland Glenn's sermon on John 16, and more resources to equip you for your worship at home....

Do your daily routines lead to greater worship of Jesus or greater worship of the world? In today's blog, we explore how the gospel of Jesus Christ should shape the way we use our time! ...

Thank you for joining us for worship at home on Easter Sunday! You'll find worship video from our own worship team, Pastor Afshin's sermon on Hebrews 13:20-21, and more resources to equip you for your worship at home....

Join in worship at home on Good Friday as we remember and reflect on the death of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice on the cross....

All you need for worship at home on Sunday, April 5! You'll find worship video from our own worship team, Afshin's sermon on Hebrews 13:17-18, 22-25, and more resources to equip you for your worship at home....

All you need for worship at home on Sunday, March 29! You'll find worship video from our own worship team, Afshin's sermon on Hebrews 13:7-16, and more resources to equip you for your worship at home....

Resources for your worship at home on Sunday, March 22. We're returning to our study of the book of Hebrews, "Jesus Above All," and this week we're studying Hebrews 13:1-6....

Resources for your worship at home on Sunday, March 15...

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....

Construction (as part of the Advance Initiative) is nearly completed, and we want to prepare you for all the changes you'll see soon! Take a look at the map to learn more. ...

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....

As a church staff, we work to equip and encourage one another with resources that help focus our lives on the gospel and teach us more of what it means to follow Christ. We've compiled a list of the books each of us has found most helpful in 2015 which we hope are helpful for you as well....