This past Sunday we had the privilege of having Rev. Doug Hart preach from Psalm 110.

Last week, the Presbyterian Church in America’s 51st General Assembly took place in Richmond, Virginia.

Charlie Nave, a ruling elder on Providence’s temporary session, wrote a helpful recap for our congregation to share the highlights and most important takeaways from this year’s General Assembly:

In verses 17-25, Paul outlines for Timothy what the church’s relationship is supposed to look like towards the godly elders who lead them. And so, Paul’s instructions break down into three parts: first, Paul says good elders should be honored (vv. 17-18), but secondly, that doesn’t mean elders are above church discipline (vv. 19-21), which lastly, reiterates a point he made earlier - that choosing elders is a serious task (vv. 22-25).

The longer days and flexibility of summertime provide a great opportunity for extra reading.

Summer is also an opportune time to get out of your normal genres and dive into books outside of your comfort zone, like biographies or classics.

With that in mind, I’ve rounded up some faith-based books for summer reading. This selection includes both books I’ve recently read and those I hope to read this summer.

I’ve organized them into four categories: contemporary, biographics, classics, and children.

This past Sunday, we had the privilege of having Rev. Taylor King preach from 1 John 2:28-3:3.

In 1 Timothy 5:1-16, Paul is giving Timothy advice on how to pastorally handle the various relationships and circumstances within the family of God. Particularly how to say hard things to the various demographics within the church, and to care for the growing ministry towards widows within the Ephesian church.

In 1 Timothy 4:6-16, Paul gives a lot of personal instruction to his young protege Timothy. As a young pastor and minister, Timothy needed some advice on how to remain faithful in the face of challenges.

In verses 6-16, we see that in order to be a faithful servant of Christ, you must be nourished on sound doctrine (vv. 6-8), reject false teaching (vv. 7-10), and embrace God’s Word as the foundation for all true doctrine (vv. 11-16).

Paul told Timothy in chapter 1 to, “charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine…”

And so after laying out the qualifications for elders and deacons, and sharing the mystery of godliness, he’s now returning to the subject of false teaching.

In this passage Paul both warns against false teaching and then gives its remedy.

Your family’s greatest need is your unwavering commitment to God’s Word and your own personal holiness. Our church’s greatest need is your personal holiness.

And Jesus Christ is the well that you and I must return to over and over and over again. The same message that saves us is the very basis for our godliness.

Beginning next Sunday, May 19th, 2024, the particularization process – the process of becoming a “particular church” in the eyes of our presbytery and denomination – will begin.

The Presbyterian Church in America is known to do things “decently and in order,” so naturally the particularization process is thorough. Below is a breakdown and timeline of what the members of Providence can anticipate as we ordain our first elders and deacons.

We’re all called to serve and love one another, but those who are called to the office of deacon have a unique opportunity to beautifully reflect the love of their Savior.

Service is how Christ demonstrated his love for the church and service to the church is how deacons demonstrate their love for Christ.

The church desperately needs good godly men to lead Christ’s church. Selecting men to step into these roles isn’t a flippant task; the very livelihood of our church depends on it.

We need men who will faithfully shepherd, care for, and tend our flock.

Because in order for Providence to reach its full potential for Christ’s kingdom we need godly men to lead us. It’s what our church needs, but it’s what every church needs, isn’t it?

The moment you begin to debate, quarrel, or argue with God’s word is when the Bible no longer becomes your only rule for faith and practice. In fact, Paul draws a straight line from public worship to gospel fidelity.

It’s only when we submit to God’s Word in all of its parts can we then boldly proclaim, “there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all…”

There are many reasons that someone might think twice before jumping into a church plant: it involves more risk, it requires more work, there aren’t as many programs, it isn’t established.

But according to the people of Providence, there are 6 important reasons why believers should consider being a part of a new church.

Here’s the danger you and I must reflect on today: When sin and its effects are downplayed, ignored, or minimized, the grace and mercy of God is downplayed, ignored, and minimized.

We speak honestly about sin because we believe in the transformative power of the gospel!

This Sunday we had the privilege of having Rev. Doug Hart preach from 1 Timothy 1:1-11.

If someone was to ask you how Christ’s resurrection is impacting your life right now, what would you say? Even for the seasoned Christian it’s a difficult question.

Well, that’s precisely the question that Peter answers for us in our passage. We learn from 1 Peter 1:3-9 that Christians can have great hope (v. 3), security (vv. 4-7), and assurance (vv. 8-9) in life because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

As Christian parents, we are called to train up our children, point them to Christ, and lead them in serving the Lord.

And while we are to do this when we walk by the way, when we lie down, and when we rise (Deuteronomy 6:7), one of the best, most important ways for parents to disciple their children and raise them up in the Lord is to include them in the corporate worship of God’s people.

Jesus is the King, but what we see in Zechariah 9:9-10 is that Jesus’ Kingship and Kingdom was not established by the tip of the sword, but rather through the humility of the cross.

The Christian’s whole life should be lived in worship to the Lord.

But using “all of life is worship” as a guiding theological principle has raised an interesting question in today’s modern world:

If all of life is worship – eating, drinking, working, talking, driving, sleeping – do you have to go to church? After all, can’t you worship Him from the comfort of your home just as easily as you can in the pew?

All of life is worship and yet at the same time, the church is foundational to our worship as Christians.