Holy Week 2025 | Resurrection Sunday | Kort Marley by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

Psalm 138 is the first of 8 songs written by David which appear as a set in the closing chapters of the Psalter. These Davidic psalms are followed by the final collection of S songs which all begin and end with the refrain: "Praise the lord!". These closing medleys swerve to reprise two central themes of the entire book - prayer, and praise. David'…

Holy Week 2025 | Good Friday | Ty Gaston by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

JUDGES | Who Will Lead Us? | Judges 10:10-18 | Kort Marley by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

Paul’s admonitions to the church in our passage are better understood in context of the issues arising in Corinth. Chapters 1-6 highlight particular problems including divisions in the body over superficial leadership preferences, worldly sexual norms corrupting the church, and frivolous legal cases between brothers in Christ. In addition to these …

JUDGES | Dishonoring Fathers | Judges 9:7-21 | Kort Marley by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

The open house of our passage stands in stark contrast to the temptation of the adulteress in chapter 7. In chapter 9 we receive an invitation to Lady Wisdom’s residence. Notice how she prepares her household for the occasion. Rather than the seductive couch coverings, Egyptian linens, myrrh/aloe/cinnamon perfumed bed of the temptress (7:16-17), Wi…

JUDGES | The Problem of Ambition | Judges 9:1-6 | Ty Gaston by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

To demonstrate the scope of wisdom's potential. "Lady Wisdom" appeals to creation itself as the evident and super-abundant fruit of wisdom applied. Furtherrnore she appeals to her relationship to Yahweh to illustrate the indispensable necessity ofwisdon1 for any successful endeavor. lfwisdo1n is intrinsic to the works of God Hi1nself, ho.vc ould an…

JUDGES | Three Follies | Judges 8:22-27 | David Lopez by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

As we have recently noted, the teaching of Proverbs regarding wisdom presumes the proper relationship between the spiritual and the material. We note as the chapter continues that legitimate political authority is established on wisdom. Even creation itself is established on wisdom, as is all enduring hope of human flourishing. Properly ordered aff…

JUDGES | God's Glory & Our Good | Judges 7:19-22 | Eric Rokohl by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

Psalm 137 is A song of lament, oath, & oracle. This is a Psalm acknowledging situations where it is excruciating to sing. The psalmist is in exile but his heart is in Zion. This is a song Nehemiah could sing as he wept in the courts of Artaxerxes’ Persian controlled Babylon. Nehemiah was a respected official who had the ear and the favor of an empe…

JUDGES | Call of Gideon | Judges 6:1-40 | Erik Ripley by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

Paul’s instructions continue according to the purpose statement of 1 Corinthians 7:35 to benefit the church, to promote good order, and to secure undivided devotion to the Lord…Referencing the letter he had received from the Corinthians, Paul addresses another issue of the day of spiritual & practical concern. What should a Christian do when the gr…

JUDGES | Why We Sing | Judges 5:1-31 by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

Unless you think femininity is appropriated exclusively to portray seductive temptation in the wisdom literature of Proverbs… Remember chapter 1:20-33 has introduced us to a different woman entirely and here again in chapter 8, we behold the female personification of wisdom. Lady Wisdom is the counterpart to the forbidden woman of chapter 7 and the…

JUDGES | Deborah's Story | Judges 4 by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

Solomon's instructions continue to unfold in the dramatic framework of chapter 7. We'veimagined our young man seated for a man-to-man talk across the mahogany desk in his wise father's 5th floorstudy. They have observed the busy streets of worldliness from their window vantage point. These two scenesare then followed by two more illustrating the oc…

JUDGES | Ehud & Shamgar | Judges 3:12-31 by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

Advent | Peacemaking Pt. I | Matthew 5:9 | Eric Rokohl by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

Dear Church | Mysterious, Victorious Resurrection | 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 | Kort Marley by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

Zeal | A Life of Zeal | John 2:13-22 | Kort Marley by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

Judges | The Fatal Flaw | Judges 1:1-3 | Ty Gaston by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

Dear Church | Final Greetings | 1 Corinthians 16:19-24 | Ty Gaston by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

Advent | Peacemaking Pt. II | 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 | Kort Marley by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

Zeal | Faith & Hope | Hebrews 12:1-2 | Kort Marley by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

Dear Church | Christian Hope | 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 | Erik Ripley by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

Dear Church | Giving Church | 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 | Kort Marley by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

Dear Church | Fatherly Instruction | 1 Corinthians 16:5-18 | Kort Marley by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

Advent | Prince of Peace | Isaiah 9:6-7 | Kort Marley by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

Advent | Peace with God and Man | Romans 5:1 | Kort Marley by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

Stand Alone | A Reoriented Heart | Jonah 4:1-4 | Ty Gaston by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

Zeal | Hopeful Zeal | Romans 15:4-13 | Kort Marley by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

Zeal | Christian Love | 1 John 5:1-5 | Kort Marley by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

JUDGES | Othniel | Judges 3:7-11 | Eric Rokohl by Providence Community ChurchΑπό τον Providence Community Church

This Psalm's responsive refrain is echoed 26 times. With every verse we are reminded and called to confess:" His (Yahweh's steadfast love endures forever". Perhaps the most obvious message from Ps 136 is ironically the most often discounted: the relationship between the sovereignty of God demonstrated in His awesome acts and His eternal steadfast l…

The vision for Gospel Reconstruction in Corinth continues with blueprints equipping thechurch for the Christian life in greater society. We understand from Paul's teaching that Christ bas come to rebuildand reconcile individuals and institutions in his image and Christians are called to faithfully, patiently endeavor todo the same. Paul's letters i…

We might consider chapter 7 of Proverbs from the perspective of four scenes in a movie. The first, I imagine unfolding in a 5th floor study of a man whose wisdom has increased with age. The devoted father sits across a mahogany desk from his son with well worn spines of his library books standing at attention on the shelves behind him. “As you grow…

A useful device in case-law literature is sometimes called “citing the minimal case”. The idea is to demonstrate the application of the law in a situation of minor significance. By implication then the reader understands that this law would surely apply in principle to any situation of greater importance. The purpose of this device is to efficientl…

Psalm 135 publishes a command to worship Yahweh and chronicles occasions for worship from nature, history, and covenant. Echoing themes from Ps 134, Ps 135 opens reprising a call to worship extending firstly to those with priestly duties commissioned to serve the Lord in His house (temple). The song continues by recounting & extolling works of the …

Από τον Reggie Fredricks

In Philippians chapter 2, Paul encourages the church to be united in the faith. He instructs the church to remain humble, using Christ as his primary example. He then encourages the church to work out their salvation, without grumbling, but with joy amidst a crooked and twisted generation.Από τον Gene Engisch

John's gospel introduces Jesus by way of His pre-incarnate glory in the first 18 verses typicallyreferred to as "The Prologue of John". (This was our text for last week's sermon entitled: "Introducing Jesus"). Theintroduction of Jesus in John continues by way of testimony in verses that follow. The message of the book and John'sintentions in writin…

How do the Gospel writers introduce Jesus? The question of where to begin recounting the world's greatest narrative with an eternal back story would be a daunting task indeed. All 4 gospels begin in different ways providing a multi-faceted perspective on the greatest eventsI n history. The Gospel authors were keenly aware of the significance of the…

In Romans chapter 5, verses 6-11, the apostle Paul expounds on the atonement. The condition we were in, how we are reconciled, and justified through Christ. Gods love for us is such that while we were still enemies of God, he sent his Son to take the punishment we deserve, that we might be reconciled to him.…

In I Cor chapter 7, Paul continues with his teaching strategy introduced in chapter 6. Adding to the phrases: All things are lawful for me• & the phrase: -Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food', Paul addresses a 3rd popular notion of the day denoted by the phrase 'It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman· (7: …

Our passage today introduces another unique feature which will resurface later in the book of Proverbs. The ascending numerical device of verse 16 is a feature of Wisdom Literature & Hebrew poetry. The 6 followed by 7 reference is designed to emphasize that the author's point Is strengthened by the frequency of examples, the number of which exceeds…

The first half of Proverbs chapter 6 contrasts the ambitions of the wise with the efforts of the wicked. The student of wisdom will work to reinforce a stable and virtuous vision for life while the fool uses corruption as leverage to benefit himself at the expense of others and God's design for relationships. Proverbs 6 contains perhaps the 10th 'M…

Ps 134 is a fitting conclusion & crescendo to the Songs of Ascent summarizing central themes of this catalogue in the Psalter. In the context of temple worship at the time of authorship, Psalm 134 serves as an appropriate salutation and benediction. In its historical context, the people wave “goodbye” to the priests returning to their various vocat…