Providence Baptist Chapel

What a truth, despite being said in scorn, that "Christ receives sinners". Satan's greatest lie, that will keep most people outside of Christ, without hope and without heaven is "heaven is only for good people". Praise God that Christ still receives those who acknowledge themselves as sinners.

The word of God highlights several so-called "subtle" sins which it gives surprising prominence to, such as ingratitude. Paul saw it as a causal sin in his masterful description of the decline of pagan humanity, preceding a sobering list of 20 others we might consider worse. What is ingratitude? How does it lead to other sins? In what ways are we vulnerable to falling to it? How can we seek the opposite positive virtue?

Coming to faith in Christ necessarily involves a crisis. We need to come to an end of ourselves and fully believe the word of Christ. The healing of the Nobleman's son powerfully illustrates the reality of conversion, as he went forward believing Christ had healed his son and given new life.

Violent anger can start with an inner bitterness and resentment. But soon it will progress. In the life of a believer it means the rejection of the Sovereignty of God. It is damaging, destructive and will distance our relationship with others. What forms does anger take and how are we to put-off and mortify this subtle sin?

Do we have zeal for the Lord and for His truth and glory? Zeal means heat and jealousy for God's glory. A willingness to promote and to defend His truth. Some have no zeal, others have a wrong kind of zeal. What is real zeal and how can we cultivate it?

The cry of all creation is that the Creator should come, the bride of Christ, His church calls for him to return. All who are thirsty can come to Christ, whosoever will may come, and take of the water of life freely. What is this water of life?

Selfishness is the root of all sin. This is the #1 sin on Paul's list given to Timothy and is a mark of the perilous times of the last age, before Christ returns. What is selfishness, how might we unknowingly be selfish, and how can we learn from the selflessness of Christ?

What does God take pleasure in? Surely not in poor sinners like us? Yet, despite all our failings & weaknesses, the Psalmist tells us that the Lord takes pleasure in His church & people. He will beautify the meek with His salvation. What a gracious God we have.

When the Apostle John wrote to his dearly beloved friend Gaius, he commended him for walking in the truth, which brought him immense joy. Gaius was distinguished by his openness and hospitality to outsiders, highlighting a stark contrast to Diotrephes. This illustrates the vast difference between spiritual prosperity and backsliding. We explore seven signs of spiritual decline compared to seven signs of spiritual health.

Thomas' name stands as a by-word for unbelief in Christ. He would not believe unless Christ appeared to him, personally and allowed him to see and touch His wounds. Yet, the words of Christ were enough to bring him to own Christ as "his Lord and His God".

The Apostle Paul does not take for granted that all his readers have been raised to new life in Christ. He states, "If ye then be risen with Christ." Christ's resurrection is the basis of new life for Christians. If we have been raised with Him there will be a new power and new purity evident.

Some passed by, some were spectators only, some engaged and others stood by the cross of Christ. Jerusalem was swollen with pilgrims, as many as 200,000 became ear and eyewitnesses to Christ's death. What is your reaction to the cross? Do not pass by without first considering the immense significance of His death.

Paul concludes his letter to a church experiencing great persecution. He gives 20 exhortations, exhorting them to rejoice, pray and give thanks. There are no carve-outs or exceptions. This 3-legged stool for Christian living is always, without ceasing and in everything.

As Christ concludes His teaching on how we are to speak to the Father in prayer, we find a wonderful summary of the mindset of every believer. It is not my life, my power and glory, but The Lord's kingdom, power and glory we seek and desire when we pray and in our lives.

Christ's love for His people on the cross is undoubtedly the defining action of human history. For those who believe, Christ and His love have a lasting, transformational impact on us. Does the love of Christ motivate, constrain, and compel you?

The word "Amen" is unique, being used in Hebrew, Greek, & many other languages, appearing 50x in the Bible. What does it mean, and how does the Bible instruct us in its usage? What were the early church practices of the congregation saying "Amen," & how did the Reformers view its significance? We explore 12 impacts of the fervent use of the word "Amen" by a congregation.

Being tempted does not equate to sinning. However, the flesh, the world, and the Devil seek to lure us into sin, violating God's holy laws. It's no surprise that the Saviour teaches us to seek God's help so that we do not succumb to Satan's traps, and when the Tempter approaches, we will be empowered to resist him. This is the battleground.

Before the global flood the thoughts of humanity were "only evil continually". God was rightly grieved. Yet, despite the necessity of judgement, He gave grace to Noah. His great master plan of salvation was launched and the Lord shut Noah in. We are either shut in or shut out of Christ.

We note the vital importance of spiritual training. This lifelong endeavour calls for wisdom from the One who expertly trains all His children. We explore what training a child means, identify applications and insights from God's Word. We acknowledge our need for God's help, for perspective, patience, and the assurance of His promise to guide and lead us in this essential pursuit.

Oh, the love and kindness of God, as He seeks to draw lost sinners to Himself for cleansing and forgiveness from sin. In one verse, four colours are used to depict very simply, yet graphically, our natural state and the transformation of the Gospel within us.

Christ meets our deepest need. The weight of our sin is a significant debt continually increasing. Before Christ can erase this debt, through His atoning work on the cross, we must first confess our sins. Only then can we experience pardon, forgiveness, and true peace.

In the final chapters of Zechariah, we see Christ in all His glory as the Saviour who will return to earth. The certainty of Christ's first coming foretold and its reality, assures us of the same certainty for His return as King and Judge of all the earth. We have a certain hope and can anticipate His glorious return.

The Lord Jesus Christ's earthly ministry can be summed up by one phrase: "that you may believe." This theme is a cornerstone throughout John's Gospel, where the word "believe" is used 99 times. We reflect on the purpose and intention behind Christ's ministry. His great desire was for us to place our faith and trust in Him.

The 4th petition of the Lord's Prayer provides insight into our true needs. Christ encourages us to rely on Him for daily. Aware of our constant neediness, we approach a loving God who delights to give and possesses infinite resources. We are called to live in a spirit of gratitude, extending generosity to others.

Zechariah speaks of a time in the Gospel age, when the Spirit will be poured out in greater measure. When because of earnest prayer, the Spirit will soften hearts. Then they will look on Christ who they have pierced and mourn for Him. We live in such days and need to be devoted to such prayer.

In an uncertain world, without God, human beings inevitably fear many things. The Apostle Paul, quoting the Psalms, says "there is no fear of God before their eyes". Our problem is that we do not fear God. When we fear God only, all other fears will diminish.

In the 3rd petition in the Lord's Prayer, we come to the central issue. Do we desire our will, which is often selfish, self-promoting and short-term, or the timeless perfect will of God? We explore what the "will of God" means and how to abandon our own will by following Christ's example.

An encouragement for earnest prayer, in the midst of difficutlies and trials. The Lord promises His people through Ezekiel that He will bring blessing upon them. The blessing will come as showers upon the dry ground, and the trees and the earth will yield great fruit.

Christ is unique. He's the only mediator between God and man and the incomparable Saviour. He alone can save from sin, and reconcile us to our Creator God. He alone made such unique claims, and gave the compelling evidence to show their validity.

In the second petition of the Lord's Prayer we are taught to pray to the One who is the King everlasting. Our God is the great and glorious King. He is King of Kings, with the highest crown and largest kingdom. He has many heirs but no successors. He rules the will and affections of all His people. This is the One we come to.

Using rich symbolism and prophetic language, Zechariah 11 tells us of the nature of God's judgment and the promise of a true and gracious Shepherd who will care for His flock. The coming Christ is compared with the many false messiahs and cruel leaders. Then in a remarkable prophesy, the betrayal and rejection of the True Shepherd by Judas, is unmistakably foretold in vivid detail.

Life can be so unpredictable, joys and sorrows, beautiful blessings and distressing difficulties can come unexpectedly, as with the Shunamite woman. Dreams and plans can change in an instant. We all know this to be true. So how can we find peace amid such turbulence? How can we say and know "It is well with my soul?"

Christ's teaching on prayer emphasized the vital importance of God's glory and honour. He instructed His disciples to set God apart, hallow His name, and lift Him up. True believers will be compelled to seek ways to exalt and glorify God in their lives. We explore various ways in which we should honour God and seek His glory in all aspects of our lives.

Often in Jesus' earthly ministry He commanded an action which seemed impossible. He told a dead man to come forth, the deaf to hear and the lame to walk. Yet, this is exactly what happens in a conversion. He calls us to repent and believe, something we cannot do until and unless He gives a felt need, an inner desire and the power to follow Him.

By praying "as children to our Heavenly Father", we will cultivate deeper dependence and trust in Him based on His character. We will develop in genuine and heartfelt prayer, rooted in humility, honesty, gratitude, and joy. Our Heavenly Father desires a loving and close relationship with us. We may come to Him with confidence, in faith.

In this study we see how the Lord, through Zechariah, unveils His perfect plan for His people in remarkable detail. He foretells the coming of Christ the King, described as "just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon a colt." God assures His people, saying, "I will strengthen them in the Lord." These encouraging words foreshadow both Christ's first coming and offer hope for us as we await His glorious return.

King Herod's life teaches us how the denial of God has so many destructive consequences. Despite his power and authority, he succumbed to moral compromise, driven a desire to please others, resulting in the cruel beheading of John the Baptist. Rejecting God not only distorts our understanding of right and wrong but often leads to a life marked by irrational decisions and a disconnection from truth. Turning away from our Creator leads to chaos and emptiness. Turning to Christ brings abundant life and joy.

Only Christ can teach us how to pray aright. We must learn and re-learn so many lessons about prayer. Matthew 6 uses the word "Father" more than any other. We explore why God is the best Father and consider 7 valuable lessons the phrase "Our Father" reveals, to deepen our understanding and relationship with Him.

Having returned to Jerusalem, then heeded the encouraging words given to Zechariah in 8-night visions, a question arose. Should they continue to mark past events with mourning and fasting. The Lord teaches the people that fasts were to be turned to cheerful feasts, and joy and gladness was to replace mourning.

Among all the challenging cases the Lord Jesus Christ encountered, the demoniac of Gadara stands out as one of the most distressing. However, after encountering Christ, he was "clothed and in his right mind." What a difference conversion makes. Through Christ alone we are given clothing, and He only can enable us to think rightly.

Just as a heartbeat signifies life on a heart monitor, genuine prayer serves as a hallmark of a true believer. However, Christ makes a clear distinction between those who pray with selfish motives, for the sake of being noticed and those who find a secret place, and obtain real communion with God, in prayer.