Table of Contents

Welcome

Our Covenant

FRIDAY – SEPTEMBER 6

SATURDAY – SEPTEMBER 7

MONDAY – SEPTEMBER 9

TUESDAY – SEPTEMBER 10

WEDNESDAY – SEPTEMBER 11

THURSDAY – SEPTEMBER 12

FRIDAY – SEPTEMBER 13

SATURDAY – SEPTEMBER 14

MONDAY – SEPTEMBER 16

TUESDAY – SEPTEMBER 17

WEDNESDAY – SEPTEMBER 18

THURSDAY – SEPTEMBER 19

FRIDAY – SEPTEMBER 20

SATURDAY – SEPTEMBER 21

MONDAY – SEPTEMBER 23

TUESDAY – SEPTEMBER 24

WEDNESDAY – SEPTEMBER 25

THURSDAY – SEPTEMBER 26

FRIDAY – SEPTEMBER 27

SATURDAY – SEPTEMBER 28

MONDAY – SEPTEMBER 30

TUESDAY – OCTOBER 1

WEDNESDAY – OCTOBER 2

THURSDAY – OCTOBER 3

FRIDAY – OCTOBER 4

SATURDAY – OCTOBER 5

ABOUT PROVIDENCE

Welcome

Dear Providence,

These five words, when strung together, should make us rejoice: God makes covenants with people!

This may seem rather unimpressive, but it is not. For when God makes a covenant with people, He promises to exert His strength to do good to that people even though they are undeserving of such kindness.

Consider this…after we broke fellowship with God, God responded to us by promising that a certain Man would be born of a woman who would reconcile God and man. Before His birth, we read of God making covenants with people such as Abraham and David. In each covenant, God promised grace, invited trust, and reminded them to hope in the One who would come. Then Jesus was born. After living a righteous life, Jesus died to pay for our sin. He was buried and then Jesus rose from the dead! In doing so, Jesus confirmed a new covenant that for those who would trust in Jesus alone, God would take away their sin, give them Jesus’ righteousness, and make them apart of His covenant people, the church.

For the next several weeks, we will be exploring the idea of living in a covenant relationship with God and with each other. This will culminate on October 6, Providence’s 35th anniversary, with a public affirmation of a church covenant.

This guide has been designed by Providence pastors and staff to help prepare our hearts for that day. The church covenant can be found on pages 4-7 of this guide. The first two devotions remind us of Creation and the Fall that made God’s covenants necessary. The remaining devotions are designed to familiarize each member with the biblical truths represented in each of the twelve points of our church covenant.

We hope this devotion guide will help each one of us to rejoice in what God has done and to respond to Him in faith as a covenant community. May God alone be glorified as He unifies the heart of His people!

In Christ,

Brian Frost

Our Covenant

As a church we exist to glorify God by introducing all peoples to Jesus Christ and growing them up to love and worship Him. Having been brought by God’s grace to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus, and having been baptized as Christians in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we the members of Providence Baptist Church affirm this covenant with one another for our good, and ultimately for God’s glory. Therefore, as members, together…

ONE

We will strive to grow in our knowledge of God and submit to the Word of God as the authority in our lives and in His church.

2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 3:18

TWO

We will seek to live loving, holy lives as we grow in Christ-like character.

1 Peter 1:14-16; Galatians 5:16-25

THREE

We will dedicate ourselves to live a life of worship before God, recognizing that all of life is lived out in His presence. We will seek to trust God and show His worth with our minds, our hearts, and our hands.

Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15-16

FOUR

We will gladly support the Church in its worship, teaching, ministry and discipline, and we will submit to its God-given leadership.

Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; Hebrews 13:17

FIVE

We will regularly observe baptism and participate in communion as we remember the past work of Christ on the cross, celebrate the present work of Christ at the Father’s right hand, and anticipate the future work of Christ in returning for His bride.

Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

SIX

We will uphold one another, along with the church’s leaders, ministries, and missionaries, in prayer.

James 5:16; Colossians 4:2

SEVEN

We will give cheerfully and regularly in the financial support of this church, its ministries and obligations.

Luke 12:32-34; 2 Corinthians 9:7-9

EIGHT

We will submit to one another out of devotion to Christ, allowing us to love one another, serve one another, encourage one another, share one another’s joys, bear each other’s burdens, and support one another in sickness and distress.

1 John 3:16-18; Philippians 2:3

NINE

We will seek the good of others by going to our neighborhoods and to the nations to show the love of Christ and share the truth of the gospel.

Matthew 28:19-20, Psalm 67:1-2

TEN

We will seek to pursue our unity in the Spirit by being patient with one another, by extending grace and forgiveness, and by being ready to seek reconciliation.

Ephesians 4:1-3, 32; Galatians 6:2

ELEVEN

We will protect our families and train our children to treasure Christ and seek His will for their lives through instructing and encouraging them in the Scriptures.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

TWELVE

We will seek to understand and exercise our spiritual gifts as we serve together as members of the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:1-27

Understanding our calling to walk in a manner worthy of Christ, it is our desire as members of Providence Baptist Church to work together in covenant community to present each one complete in Christ and fulfill our God-given calling by the power of the Holy Spirit.

FRIDAY – SEPTEMBER 6

God’s Original Design

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’”

Genesis 1:26

Have you ever wondered why God created the world? Seriously, God was perfectly happy through eternity past enjoying perfect fellowship among the Trinity. There is nothing God needed, nothing God lacked, and nothing that could be improved. So, why create anything at all? Much more, why create humanity? Isaiah tells us: Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. (Isaiah 43:7)

God created the world to function as a theater for His glory. We should think of the world as God’s grand stage where He shows and tells who He is. God created humanity to show His glory to people and through people—this is why we exist. God is gracious to share who He is.

As you read Genesis 1-2 notice that it pleases God to create people—he calls humanity the “very good” part of His creation. What you see in Genesis 1-2 is the way God intends for the relationship with humanity to be—one of face-to-face fellowship and intimacy. Sin keeps us from enjoying God in this way. Yet God’s purposes can never be hindered, and Revelation 21-22 tells us that God’s plan for humanity, to enjoy face-to-face fellowship with His people, will one day be a reality. The process of how God brings about this reality is a series of covenants—promises God makes to people to ensure His purposes are fulfilled and His glory is shown.

At the outset of this important series on covenants it’s important that we understand God’s original design (Genesis 1-2) and promise that it will be fulfilled (Revelation 21-22). God accomplishes His purposes, specifically of having a people to witness and bear His glory, through Jesus Christ. The application point for you today is to reflect on Jesus Christ. Do you trust Him for salvation and are therefore a part of His people? Or, have you been considering Him for some time but have yet to repent of your sins and live a life of radical dependence on Jesus? Be sure you know where you stand. The very concept of God pursuing us through covenant should lead us to pursue others. Think about family members and friends that need to hear the Gospel and become a part of this covenant family.

Father, help me to understand how You form a people to be Your own through Jesus. Please use this teaching series on “Covenants” to help me understand my salvation and what it means for me to be a part of Your mission to save the world through the witness of Your Church.

SATURDAY – SEPTEMBER 7

The Need For Grace

“She took of its fruit and ate, and she also have some to her husband who was with her, and he ate…Then the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this that you have done?’”

Genesis 3:6, 13

Genesis 3 tells how the first humans, Adam and Eve, were tempted to doubt God’s plan. Temptation is one thing, following through on it is another, and Adam and Eve did just that – the first humans sinned. Sin is disobeying God. God’s Word to us, especially as we have it in the Bible, is not a list of restrictions of good things that God is keeping from us. Instead, it is a clear explanation of the boundaries of life. Like the paint on a football field, God’s Word tells us what’s out of bounds and what progress looks like.

Adam and Eve were tempted to doubt the goodness and truthfulness of God’s Word. Ultimately, they were tempted to doubt the goodness and truthfulness of God Himself since God’s Word is an intimate expression of His character. As you read Genesis 3, notice that sin has consequences. God’s plan of enjoying a face-to-face relationship with humanity was changed – humanity, in sin, has to live outside the presence of God. God cannot and will not be in the presence of sin.

Notice that sin also causes a change in the basic details of life. Childbirth will now be a painful process, because of sin. Work will now involve sweat and pain, because of sin. Relationships will be dysfunctional in nearly every way, because of sin. Sin changes everything. Yet God, acting in grace, promises to send a deliverer to save us from our sins. The New Testament tells us about the fulfillment of that promise as Jesus lives, dies, and resurrects all to forgive people of their sins. Between the garden and Jesus are a series of covenants that tell about God’s unshakable commitment to have relationship with a people who He will show His glory to and show His glory through. Sin has altered the process, but God is committed to conquer sin through His promises – all of which reach fulfillment in Jesus.

Reflect on the process of sin bringing dysfunction to every relationship and process imaginable. Then, reflect on how God rights all the wrongs through the saving and restoring work of Jesus Christ.

Father, search my heart and show me areas where I am sinning and help me to trust Jesus more and more. Please protect this family of faith from sins that alter and destroy the relationships You intended for us to enjoy.

MONDAY – SEPTEMBER 9

COVENANT POINT ONE

We will strive to grow in our knowledge of God and submit to the Word of God as the authority in our lives and in His church.

2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 3:18

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17

We know God because He has chosen to reveal some of Himself to us. Part of who He is, He has revealed in creation. For example, we know that God is infinitely wise when we look up at the night sky and see all the stars that He has created and even named (Psalm 147:1-5). Only a power beyond our capabilities could do such a thing.

God has also revealed Himself more specifically through His Word. The 66 books of the Old and New Testament are not just academic. They represent something very personal that God has recorded for us to know His mind and heart. The Scriptures also give us a rule by which to measure our lives and be held accountable. They provide us with boundaries by which we can live holy lives and honor the God that has created us for His glory.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 informs us that God’s Word is breathed out by God himself and is therefore without error. We can rest assured that the Bible is a firm foundation on which to base our lives. It is practical and capable of speaking into every aspect of our lives from whom we marry, to where we live, to how we use the money and possessions that are entrusted to us.

As members of Providence Baptist Church, we should be known as people who prize the sufficiency of God’s Word. We should be faithful to read the Scriptures daily and talk about it often with our brothers and sisters in Christ. God’s Word, not the whims of culture, should be the prevailing influence that guides our choices. Is the word of God truly sufficient to guide us in our decisions both great and small? Do we prize it enough to spend time reading and thinking about it every day?

Father, please incline my heart to want to read the Scriptures. Help me to believe what You have said. Give me strength and wisdom to apply Your Word to my life. Help us as a church family never to sit over the Bible as its judge, but rather to sit under the Bible as its student.

TUESDAY – SEPTEMBER 10

COVENANT POINT ONE

We will strive to grow in our knowledge of God and submit to the Word of God as the authority in our lives and in His church.

2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 3:18

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

2 Peter 3:18

God wants us to know Him. Stop and think about that for a minute. The Creator and Ruler of the universe wants us to know Him. He has even gone to great lengths to make sure that we are capable of knowing Him. The main provision that we have for knowing Him is His word.

When we read passages like 2 Peter 3:18, we know that when He calls us to grow in the knowledge of Him, He is calling us to read and meditate on His Word. The Bible is a part of the conversation that God has with us His children. If we are not heeding His Word, it is the same as a child who is not listening to his parents. When, however, we study and meditate on His Word, we are able to understand Him better and “grow in the grace and knowledge of” Him.

How often do we catch ourselves wishing we could know what God is thinking or what He desires of us? Yet, if we would but open His Word and commit ourselves to applying it to every aspect of our lives, we would not be in doubt as to what God wants. He has spoken, but are we truly listening?

As members of Providence Baptist Church, we should be people who are growing in our understanding of who God is because we faithfully study and obey His word. We should be people who are confident in what God desires for us because we listen to Him in His Word. We should never have to suffer from doubting what God’s intentions are for us.

Are we as a church confident in what God desires of us? Are we growing in our understanding of who God is and what He intends for us? Are we a people known for our devotion to His Word?

Father, I thank You for giving us Your Word to guide and direct us through life. As we study Your Word, help us to see Your greatness and Your goodness. Help us as a church family to grow in our understanding of who You are and what You intend for us.

WEDNESDAY – SEPTEMBER 11

COVENANT POINT TWO

We will seek to live loving, holy lives as we grow in Christ-like character

1 Peter 1:14-16; Galatians 5:16-25

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”

1 Peter 1:14-16

Of all the adjectives that we aspire to very few of us get excited about being holy. The very word conjures up images of monks in brown robes, or paintings with bible characters who have halos over their heads. As believers today, we want to follow Christ but often we just don’t see being holy as something that is either desirable or even realistic.

It is impossible, however, to be people who honor God unless we seek personal holiness. Pursuing holiness is not something mystical. Holiness is simply setting yourself apart to be used by God in whatever way He choses. This means not following your natural inclinations but following God’s Word and His Holy Spirit in all things.

1 Peter 1:14-16 is clear that God expects us to be holy. He wants us to live lives of character that reflect His character. Doing whatever we want is not an option. That is worldliness and that is exactly what caused Jesus to have to die on the cross. Because He has paid that penalty and reconciled us to God, however, we have the power in Him to live lives that are holy.

As members of Providence Baptist Church, we should be known as people of character who are set apart to glorify God in everything that we do. For us there is no division of sacred and secular. All aspects of our lives are God’s for Him to do with, as He will. We don’t follow our natural desires but we submit them to God so that we can live in a way that is holy and pleasing to Him. Are we recognized as being people of character who are set apart for God’s glory?

Father, please help my heart to long to be holy, set apart for Your purposes. Help us as a church family to see that there is more joy in being near You than in being far from You. Fill me with Your Spirit and help me to grow in Christ-like character.

THURSDAY – SEPTEMBER 12

COVENANT POINT TWO

We will seek to live loving, holy lives as we grow in Christ-like character

1 Peter 1:14-16; Galatians 5:16-25

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

Galatians 5:16-18

How many times in popular culture do we hear it advised that we should just follow our hearts? On the surface that sounds very inspiring but the problem with such thinking is that it flies in the face of Scripture. In Jeremiah 17:9, we read that the heart is desperately wicked and in the following verse God says that it is He who searches the heart to “give every man according to his ways.”

The passage from Galatians 5 also confirms that our fleshly desires are at war with the desires that God gives us. The real struggle, therefore, comes from not obeying the heart or our natural desires but finding the grace from God to have holier and higher desires. Pursuing godly desires is what releases the power of the Hoy Spirit in us and makes us people of character.

This pursuit of having new and holy desires that builds godly character is no picnic. It is hard and without the grace of the Lord it is impossible. The comfort that we have, however, is that the Lord has already supplied everything we need to live godly lives (2 Peter 1:3). He did this in sending His only son Jesus to die on the cross.

As members of Providence Baptist Church, we should be pursuers of godliness who are not driven by our hearts but by His Spirit. We should also cheer one another on in this pursuit and lift one another up when one of us falls down. Are we the kind of people who pursue godly character and encourage each other in this pursuit?

God, would You help me to live a life of love. Fill me with Your Spirit today and allow the character of Christ to be seen in how I live my life. Give me new desires that are in line with Your desires. Give us, Your church, joy in being holy, set apart for Your purposes.

FRIDAY – SEPTEMBER 13

COVENANT POINT THREE

We will dedicate ourselves to live a life of worship before God, recognizing that all of life is lived out in His presence. We will seek to trust God and show His worth with our minds, our hearts, and our hands

Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15-16

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

Romans 12:1

Every day we make choices. We choose whether we are going to serve God or serve ourselves. In Romans 12:1, Paul is referring to our will. He is reminding us that God calls us to make a choice in the way that we live for Him. If we are truly going to live for Christ, our focus has to turn from living our lives to please ourselves into choosing to live our lives to please Him.

The Scripture goes on to tell us to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice.” Interestingly enough, this sacrifice He is referring to is a living sacrifice. Unlike previous sacrifices that required death, this sacrifice is supposed to stay alive and stay on the altar. The reason it is supposed to stay on the altar is because it is never ending.

When we offer up our bodies as a sacrifice, we put to death all of the garbage in our lives and we are made new. We are made clean. We are made holy. However, the holiness we bring to the altar is based on us choosing to live holy lives. Again, speaking of our will…we have to choose to live in holiness. Our will must be driven by the conviction in our hearts and our desire to please God.

Because of God’s grace and mercy, we not only have the privilege of bringing the sacrifice to Him, we have the privilege of being the sacrifice on the altar before the Lord. As we bring this sacrifice, we are bringing Him spiritual worship. We are sacrificing ourselves…sacrificing our will…sacrificing the “I want it my way” attitude of life and realizing that His ways are higher than our ways. To worship is to sacrifice. As we seek to be the men and women of God that He has called to be, let us live our lives on the altar of the Lord, surrendered and sold out to Christ.

Father, help me to choose to follow You and You alone today. My desire is to deny myself and worship You with my life and bring You the spiritual worship You desire!

SATURDAY – SEPTEMBER 14

COVENANT POINT THREE

We will dedicate ourselves to live a life of worship before God, recognizing that all of life is lived out in His presence. We will seek to trust God and show His worth with our minds, our hearts, and our hands

Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15-16

“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

Hebrews 13:15-16

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to continually offer praise to God. Praising God is not something that we do on Sunday for a few hours; it is continual. It is a lifestyle. God wants us to know how to say, “Praise the Lord,” no matter the circumstance. Oh, that we would be so captivated with His grace, His mercy, and His goodness and that the passion of our hearts would drive us to praise Him continually.

When we praise God, we have to be in love with Him. True praise comes from the heart, and the heart cannot lie. God sees our hearts and if we have a complaining spirit, praise cannot be alive in our hearts. Praise flows from a heart that has been brought to submission to God and to His Word. We must deal with our hearts before we can bring a sacrifice of praise to Him.

Paul goes on to speak about the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. To “acknowledge God’s name” means simply to openly declare the attributes of God. For example, out of our mouths we should be proclaiming that God is good and gracious and holy!

In verse 16, we are reminded that we are not to neglect doing good and that we are to share what we have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. This is pretty straight forward, telling us that we are to live our lives following Christ’s example; pleasing God out of our love for Him.

Matthew 20:28 tells us that “even as the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve.” We should desire to model Christ’s example in caring for others. We should always be alert to the needs of others and be willing to help them. Most importantly, when we are helping others, we must make sure that our hearts are in the right place.

Lord, please search my heart and show me how to praise You continually regardless of what is going on around me. Give me compassion in helping others and showing them Your love.

MONDAY – SEPTEMBER 16

COVENANT POINT FOUR

We will gladly support the Church in its worship, teaching, ministry and discipline, and we will submit to its God-given leadership.

Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; Hebrews 13:17

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

Acts 2:42

Acts 2:42-47 is an amazing picture of God’s church living in joyful covenant community fueled by the spiritual disciplines and leadership He provided. These redeemed people lived out their faith in ways counter cultural to the world around them. Unified by a common focus, they grew in Christ’s likeness through the teaching of the gospel whereby they experienced God doing wondrous things. The profound truth of the gospel and doctrinal teachings encouraged them to see each other through the grace and mercy of Christ’s love. This resulted in appreciation for each other’s gifts, talents and uniqueness. Common bonds of joyful faith and fellowship were lived out as they met regularly, not only in the church (the temple), but also in small home groups enjoying meals together. These weren’t just potluck dinners, but were rich times of covenant fellowship where they prayed together and reflected on Jesus through sharing the Lord’s Supper in intimate communion with Him and each other. Ministry flowed naturally out of this Christ-centered unity. Each other’s needs were recognized and met selflessly from the resources that God had made available among them. All of this fueled passionate worship of the living Savior. No wonder this church grew. Their vibrant and genuine faith was contagious as God used their transformed hearts to infect the community around them with His gospel.

So what can our church draw from this passage today? A key to this kind of church is noted in verse 42 where it says “they devoted themselves.” The power and truth were already available, but there was a choice that the revelation of the gospel inspired them to make. The Greek word translated as “devoted” means “persisting in.” In other words, they were engaged. Not just attending, they were steadfastly committed to God’s truth and what He was doing in their church. It was of primary importance in their lives. This is the kind of church life God designed and calls us to today.

Lord, may the power of the gospel reign freely in my heart such that it results in glad worship, a desire for applying the teaching of Your word regularly in my life, and humble servanthood in ministry in Your church.

TUESDAY – SEPTEMBER 17

COVENANT POINT FOUR

We will gladly support the Church in its worship, teaching, ministry and discipline, and we will submit to its God-given leadership.

Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; Hebrews 13:17

“Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

Hebrews 13:17

When a person joins God’s church, they submit to the authority of God’s Word. One result of that is submission to the church’s leaders. God has provided for the church’s leadership through both biblical principles and His calling of individuals to implement those principles. Hebrews 13:17 then instructs the church members to obey and submit to these leaders. However, it is not to be blind submission but a knowledgeable, caring and grateful submission because they are called to be shepherds over the congregation (see 1 Peter 5:2-3). These leaders will give an account to the Lord for how they provided such leadership and cared for the flock. So it is not a privileged position of power, but a responsible one of servant leadership.

The church’s authority over its members includes church discipline. This “discipline” involves every aspect of the church’s ministry to help its members address sin and pursue holy living. There is positive or “formative discipline” that involves instructive and encouraging aspects such as preaching, teaching, worship, prayer, Bible study, small group fellowship and service that help us to grow in truth and love. God has also provided for “corrective” or “restorative discipline” in the church. When we sin or disobey God’s commands, one way He addresses this is to call the church, out of love for us, to pursue and help guide us to right relationship with God and others. Restorative church discipline is not punitive but caring and takes place in the context of community. It involves warnings, admonishment, exhortation and other corrective actions intended to help the person address their sin. It is this genuine caring spirit of God through the church that is to give motivation to the disciplined person to repent and be restored to fellowship.

In 1 Corinthians 5, the Apostle Paul instructs and challenges the church to address a public and outrageous sin through church discipline. Such discipline is needed to protect the reputation of the church, keep Christ’s name from being dishonored, mitigate the temptation of others, and express genuine love to the offender.

Lord, as we understand the calling of those who lead our church, may we be grateful for their leadership, pray for their wisdom and submit to their authority, including their discipline – for Your glory, Jesus.

WEDNESDAY – SEPTEMBER 18

COVENANT POINT FIVE

We will regularly observe baptism and participate in communion as we remember the past work of Christ on the cross, celebrate the present work of Christ at the Father’s right hand, and anticipate the future work of Christ in returning for His bride.

Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20

After a person has responded to the Good News of Jesus in repentance and belief, he or she puts that inward reality on display through baptism. Their immersion in water represents both Jesus’ death and burial in the ground as well as their own death to sin and living apart from Him. Their rising again from the water testifies not only to the fact that they will live out their days in the newness of life with Jesus, but also that Jesus bodily rose from death after three days, and that those who are His will rise from death to eternal life in His Kingdom. This message is summed up beautifully in Romans 6:4, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” While the act of baptism has no magical power to wash away sin, it publicly symbolizes that which is an invisible reality for those who have put their faith in Jesus for salvation.

Since the observance of baptism stems from our Lord’s direct command in Matthew 28:20, we take it very seriously. Since baptism calls us to remember the reality of our own salvation, we observe it with great joy! We remember what Jesus has done at the cross and empty tomb, what He is doing within us, and what He will complete at the resurrection. First, we must experience what baptism represents by receiving salvation as a free gift of grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Then, as part of life as one of Christ’s disciples, we respond in loving obedience to Him by baptism.

God, thank You for the gift of salvation through Jesus that is put on display through baptism. Thank You for the forgiveness of sin that is available through the blood of Christ. I am so blessed and thankful to be forgiven. Help me to rejoice in seeing other new believers being baptized.

THURSDAY – SEPTEMBER 19

COVENANT POINT FIVE

We will regularly observe baptism and participate in communion as we remember the past work of Christ on the cross, celebrate the present work of Christ at the Father’s right hand, and anticipate the future work of Christ in returning for His bride.

Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Alongside baptism, communion holds a place of weighty importance for followers of Christ. The night before Jesus was crucified in our place for our sins, He celebrated the Jewish Passover meal with His disciples. After the usual meal, rich with symbolism calling to mind God’s rescue of His people from slavery in Egypt, Jesus turned the whole thing upside down by giving to His disciples a new symbolic meal: the bread, torn apart and broken in pieces represents the Savior’s own body that the next day would be hung on a cross to die. Likewise, the cup symbolized His very blood that would be spilled, securing a new covenant for those who repent of their sins and accept the free gift of salvation in Jesus. Additionally, the act of communion provides us with a second important symbol- since we all drink the same cup and eat from the same broken bread, we must recognize our connection to other Christians throughout the world, and throughout history. Finally, in Matthew 26:29, Jesus says of the cup, “I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” That final phrase adds yet another layer of meaning to communion, namely that in addition to calling us to remember Christ’s sacrifice in the past, we are also called to remember that Christ’s return with His kingdom is imminent.

In obedience to Jesus’ command, we regularly set aside special time to celebrate the Lord’s Table together as a church. First, we recognize that since the bread and cup are a symbol, they are reserved only for those who have already accepted Jesus as Lord. Secondly, when we participate in eating the bread and drinking the cup, we are mindful of the three aspects of its symbolism: we remember Jesus’ body that was torn and broken on the cross in our place for our sins; we remember that the church is one body, united by the same bread and cup; we eagerly anticipate Jesus’ kingdom, where we will trade crumbs of bread and symbolic sips for an eternal wedding feast celebration. Read Isaiah 25, especially verses 6-9 for a picture of what that celebration holds for us.

God, make my life more mindful of the beautiful reality to which communion points, and use me to grow Your family and advance Your kingdom so that more and more people can know the joy that comes from Your gift of salvation.

FRIDAY – SEPTEMBER 20

COVENANT POINT SIX

We will uphold one another, along with the church’s leaders, ministries, and missionaries, in prayer.

James 5:16; Colossians 4:2

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

James 5:16

The reason why we pray is that we all are in desperate need of God. This passage beckons us as the church to pray for one another. The joy of prayer is not reserved solely for the pastors of Providence; rather each member is called to lift up the cares of others to God. When it says “the prayer of a righteous person has great power,” it is easy for us to believe that our prayers are not effective because we are not righteous like other people. The truth is that we are all sinners and those who believe in Jesus by His grace and His sacrifice are declared righteous. It is because of Jesus that we can and should approach the throne of God with confidence in our prayers for each other. Every Christian that prays has powerful prayer.

Our prayers for one another can take many shapes and forms, but it is essential that we are praying for each other. Sunday can be an incredibly busy day and our busyness can lead us to be forgetful in prayer. Whenever we are coming to Providence to worship God we should prepare our hearts and minds by praying that God would allow us to see a glimpse of His greatness. Our prayers should also be for others who will be gathering together with us to worship. We should pray for the pastor who will be opening the Word of God and that God would communicate His truth clearly through that pastor.

The opportunities to pray for others are not lacking; rather, our wisdom or desire to see those opportunities is. As you read this would you stop to pray, asking God to give you a passion to pray for others? Who do you know from Providence that you should you be praying for today?

Father, would You give me the wisdom to see those in need of prayer? Help me to slow down enough to pray. Help me to see and experience the power that is available in prayer. I ask that You would help us to be a church family that is fervent in praying to You.

SATURDAY – SEPTEMBER 21

COVENANT POINT SIX

We will uphold one another, along with the church’s leaders, ministries, and missionaries, in prayer.

James 5:16; Colossians 4:2

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”

Colossians 4:2

In this one verse Paul gives us three instructions as we pray. First, he says to continue steadfastly in prayer, which means we need to be consistent in it. The word in the Greek paints a picture of holding tight to something and never letting it go. Sadly our prayers for each other are often the first thing that we let go. The second command is to be watchful in our prayers. Being watchful in our prayers is broader than being physically alert when we pray. It means that believers should look for those things around us that we should be praying for. The last command here is that when we pray we need to be thankful in our prayers. Being thankful in our prayers will make sure that we do not forget the kindness God has already shown us. Thankfulness also helps to keep us from feeling offended if God does not immediately answer our prayers or if He does not answer our prayers the way that we desire.

We live in a very busy culture that is full of things that can often lead us away from praying for one another. There is always something else we could be doing and so we forget to pray. The reason that we often do not pray is because we think that there are not any consequences if we don’t pray. No one knows if we didn’t pray and we didn’t let anyone down, right? When we don’t pray there are negative consequences although many of them are spiritual and unseen. That is why the centrality of prayer for the church of Providence is critical for us to be effective for God’s kingdom!

If we used Colossians 4:2 as a template for our prayer lives, in which area would you need to grow most? Paul says to continue steadfastly in prayer and some of us need to take the first step and begin to pray regularly. All of us need to be looking for people (other than just ourselves) to pray for. Lastly, we need to praise and be thankful to the One who listens and answers our requests. Let us be a church of prayer!

Father, I confess that lesser things often distract me from praying. Would You help me to see the privilege in prayer? Would You incline my heart to be drawn to the peace that only comes through prayer? And would You help me to be faithful to pray for my church family? Thank You for making this gift of drawing close to You available through Jesus Christ.

MONDAY – SEPTEMBER 23

COVENANT POINT SEVEN

We will give cheerfully and regularly in the financial support of this church, its ministries and obligations.

Luke 12:32-34; 2 Corinthians 9:7-9

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Luke 12:32-34

God is a generous giver. He doesn’t have to give. Nobody can compel God to give. Yet, He gives. God is also a happy giver. “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” God actually takes pleasure in giving. God is also an excellent giver. He gives His best. God gave His Son to provide forgiveness of sin so that we could enter His Kingdom!

So what is our response to God’s generosity? Jesus said, “Fear not. Sell possessions. Give to the needy. Provide yourself treasures in heaven.” As recipients of His generosity we are to be generous, and in doing so, Jesus promised that we would be providing treasure in heaven that does not fail. Suppose you were a wealthy citizen of a country at war. If you received certain knowledge that your nation would lose its war and all your money would then be considered worthless, what would you do? If you were wise, you would exchange everything except that which is needed to survive the war’s end. As Christians, we know our dollars are of no value in heaven. We cannot take them with us. But we can exchange those dollars by investing in His kingdom while we are on earth. We do this by supporting His church, its ministries and obligations. As we invest in His church, we are investing in His kingdom.

Jesus knew His instructions regarding generosity would frighten us because He knew our possessions make us feel secure. This is why Jesus’ first command in this passage is “fear not”. We don’t have to fear as we give because God is a generous giver.

Being apart of a covenant community requires faith. Interestingly, our finances tell us a lot about our faith and our values. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” If someone looked at your finances, what would they conclude that you love Christ and desire to invest in His kingdom with every part of your life?

Father, would You help me to remember Your promise to never leave me or forsake me as I consider Your invitation to give? Help me to be generous with all that You have given to me. I ask that You would take away my fear and help me to invest in Your kingdom here on earth. Please help me to take a step of faith.

TUESDAY – SEPTEMBER 24

COVENANT POINT SEVEN

We will give cheerfully and regularly in the financial support of this church, its ministries and obligations.

Luke 12:32-34; 2 Corinthians 9:7-9

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, ‘He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’”

2 Corinthians 9:7-9

We are reminded here that our heart should receive a certain pleasure when giving towards His kingdom through His church. The reason, like every other Christian act, is connected to who God is and what God is doing. The first truth we learn is that God delights when we give cheerfully. We live in His world. His pleasure should move and comfort us. Here we learn that “God loves a cheerful giver.”

The second truth we learn is that God supplies those who give cheerfully. “God is able to make all grace abound to you…so that we may abound in every good work.” God loves to supply grace to the Christian giver who is looking to Him to provide! God never stops giving.

The third truth we learn is that God commends those who give cheerfully. “He has distributed freely, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” It is easy to assume Paul is referring to God’s generosity and His enduring righteousness. God is generous and righteous, but that is not Paul’s point. This verse is a drawn from Psalm 112, a Psalm that describes a person who fears God. In Psalm 112:4, we learn that a godly man is gracious, merciful, and righteous even when life seems dark. In Psalm 112:7, we learn that a godly man is not afraid of bad news because He trusts in the Lord and not in His stuff. And then in Psalm 112:9, we learn what a godly man does when everyone is gripped by bad news. “He distributes freely; he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” This is the part of Psalm 112 that Paul quotes in our text. Paul is saying that God commends the righteousness of a Christian who trusts in Him enough to give generously when everyone else is seized by bad news!

Now is our opportunity to show that we love God more than we love stuff; that we’re looking for a city with foundations whose architect and maker is God.

Father, I want to trust You. Help me to remember that You love generosity; that You provide for my needs; and that You commend those who give generously. I give You my life. Use it and all that You have given me to honor the name of Jesus.

WEDNESDAY – SEPTEMBER 25

COVENANT POINT EIGHT

We will submit to one another out of devotion to Christ, allowing us to love one another, serve one another, encourage one another, share one another’s joys, bear each other’s burdens, and support one another in sickness and distress.

1 John 3:16-18; Philippians 2:3

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth.”

1 John 3:16-18

John says we can know love by looking to Jesus and His sacrifice. He laid down His life for us. Often when we talk of the death of Christ we talk about the sins of the Sanhedrin or the High Priest; or we contemplate Jesus’ death at the hands of Pilate and the Romans. But John reminds us that Christ freely laid down His life. It was not taken from Him. He gave it, for our sake. This passage ought to bring to mind Jesus’ own words in the tenth chapter of the gospel of John, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” Jesus’ life was not taken from Him. He freely gave it as payment for the debt of the sins that you and I could not pay. Using Jesus as the standard, John charges us (the church) to live with the same mindset. Don’t just speak a good game of love, live it.

One of the markers of the early church was that they met one another’s needs, gladly giving what they had for the sake of their brothers and sisters (Acts 2). What would it look like if as a whole church we embraced this kind of radical display of love? It happens in pockets of our body, but imagine what it would be like if we knew each other so well that we easily recognized others needs and joyful met those needs even at personal expense. That kind of love would get the world’s attention! (John 13:35).

Would you commit to engage in meaningful community with others in the Providence body and look for tangible ways to love one another like Jesus loves us?

Father, would You give me a tender heart towards the people that You place in my path and in my church family. Would You provide me opportunities today to show love and compassion to those who are in need? Would You then give me courage to love them as You have loved me?

THURSDAY – SEPTEMBER 26

COVENANT POINT EIGHT

We will submit to one another out of devotion to Christ, allowing us to love one another, serve one another, encourage one another, share one another’s joys, bear each other’s burdens, and support one another in sickness and distress.

1 John 3:16-18; Philippians 2:3

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

Philippians 2:3

This passage in theory seems easy to follow. And yet, by our actions we often show our inability to live this way. We guard our individual time, our individual resources, and our personal affections jealously. And to make matters worse, our culture encourages us and praises us for looking out for number one. One telltale sign of this problem is our individual possessiveness of the things that we have acquired.

But Paul reminds us that is not what Christ demonstrated by his own life or expected of those who followed Him. And that is exactly what he is saying to the Church at Philippi. Paul isn’t just admonishing us to love and serve one another, he is driving home this point by reminding us that we are to live this way because Jesus lived this way (read on in Philippians 2:5-8). If we claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, and proclaim the Risen Savior as our Lord then we should live as He lived. We should find delight in seeking to outdo one another in showing honor (Romans 12:10).

One of the ways our love is best demonstrated is how we selflessly serve another. As individuals this may mean the shedding of personal preferences for the sake of others in our family, our circle of influence, and our church. It might mean sacrificially giving something of value for the sake of others; our time, resources, possessions. When we learn to consider the needs of others, our perspective on life changes; what we deem as most important, what we see as valuable.

Today will you look to the needs of others (perhaps before you own) as an expression of the love of Christ? And will you find satisfaction in glorifying our Savior by serving others sacrificially? This is not a natural way to live because of our sin nature, so we must cultivate a heart that looks for the interest of others. What are some ways that you can live sacrificially today, or this week?

Father, I confess to You that I often look out for my own interests and preferences. I ask You to forgive me for how my selfishness causes me to ignore the needs of others. I ask that You would fill me with Your Spirit and enable me to put aside my own desires and to pursue the good of others. I cannot do this without You. Help me serve another person at their need today.

FRIDAY – SEPTEMBER 27

COVENANT POINT NINE

We will seek the good of others by going to our neighborhoods and to the nations to show the love of Christ and share the truth of the gospel.

Matthew 28:19-20, Psalm 67:1-2

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20

We exist to glorify God by introducing all peoples to Jesus Christ and growing them up to love and worship Him. Sound familiar! This is our mission. This is not necessarily what we do but who we are. Jesus is seeking and saving the lost. (Luke 19:10) This is what Jesus did when He was on the earth and this is what He continues to do through His church. We are a people on a mission with God to introduce all people to His Son, Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 says, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” What an incredible text. God makes His appeal to a lost world through us. We have the mission of God and the message about Jesus and both are clear. The gospel, the good news of Jesus’ death for our sins, burial, and resurrection, is for all people.

Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Go make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them everything Jesus has commanded.” However, the resource to accomplish this great task given by God is found in verses 18 and 21, which says respectively that all authority has been given to Jesus and He is with us to the end of the age. This is how we accomplish this great task; we don’t, but He does through us because He has the power and He is with us.

As we covenant together to spur one another on to share the gospel, take comfort that it is God who saves as we speak. Evangelism can be a big word and a scary word, but having a biblical perspective on what it is and is not could make a huge difference in our everyday participation in the mission of God. J. I. Packer says, “Evangelizing…is not simply a matter of teaching, and instructing, and imparting information to the mind. There is more to it than that. Evangelism includes the endeavor to elicit a response to the truth taught. It is communication with a view to conversion. It is a matter, not merely of informing, but also of inviting!” Let us pray for boldness, opportunities, and wisdom as we seek to share the gospel with others.

Father, I thank You for saving me. Thank You for forgiving me of my sin. You are God and You are good. Please give me opportunities today to share the good news about Jesus. When those opportunities arise, would You give me boldness to speak and wisdom to know what to say?

SATURDAY – SEPTEMBER 28

COVENANT POINT NINE

We will seek the good of others by going to our neighborhoods and to the nations to show the love of Christ and share the truth of the gospel.

Matthew 28:19-20, Psalm 67:1-2

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us – so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.”

Psalm 67:1-2

Being on mission with God not only includes reaching our neighbors with the gospel but also the nations. The mission is clear and the message is Jesus. In Psalm 67 the Psalmist prays that God’s salvation may be known among all nations.

As we ask God to bless Providence, it is never with the intentions that His blessing would stop with us. We simply want to be a means to the gospel going to all nations. As God graciously chooses to bless Providence we desire to extend that grace we have received to nations who have never even heard of Jesus. We want to be Kingdom minded. As His face shines on Providence our prayer is that His ways would be made known on the earth and His saving power that comes through the gospel would be made known among the nations.

Yes it is true; the light that shines the brightest at home shines the farthest away. We desire to reach our city with the gospel but we are also passionate about reaching the nations with the hope of the gospel. God’s passion for the nations has helped shape the mission of our church in many ways. As noted in our mission statement, we desire to glorify God by introducing all peoples to Jesus. That’s right, all peoples. This is our calling and this is our joy.

When over two billion people have never heard the name of Jesus, we have a weighty task set before us, and yet with His power that includes all authority and His promise that He will never leave nor forsake us, we believe we can reach all peoples with the hope of the gospel.

Romans 9:14-15 says, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” Do you have beautiful feet according the Lord? In what ways are you involved in bringing the gospel to other nations? Would you consider giving to missions, praying for missionaries, or getting a passport and going on a short-term mission trip this year?

Father, thank You for blessing us as a church family. Thank You allowing us to have a Bible in our language. Thank You for allowing us to have heard the good news of Jesus. Give me a heart for those who have never heard the gospel. Help me to know how I can be involved in the Your mission to bring salvation to all nations.

MONDAY – SEPTEMBER 30

COVENANT POINT TEN

We will seek to pursue our unity in the Spirit by being patient with one another, by extending grace and forgiveness, and by being ready to seek reconciliation.

Ephesians 4:1-3, 32; Galatians 6:2

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Ephesians 4:1-3

At the very center of the Christian life is the Gospel, the Good News that Jesus has traded places with us. He died on the cross in our place, for our sins, so that He could give us eternal life and right standing with God. This wondrous, unbelievable extravagant gift assumes a heartbreaking truth: everyone, including you, is a sinner, with a selfish heart that deserves nothing from God but just punishment forever. In light of this truth, unity among the church is only possible by humbly seeking forgiveness and restoration of a good relationship when we sin against God and other people. Consider this command for living well together: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving on another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). The fuel that drives our unity is nothing less than remembering how Jesus suffered all the darkness of evil in order to forgive us. As with every discipline of the Christian life, legalism and “trying harder” do nothing for us, while truly seeing and savoring Jesus empowers us to become more like Him.

The Scripture passages above, from Ephesians, show us how to live as forgiven sinners in the midst of a community of people with hearts just like ours. How do we walk worthily of the call Jesus has given us? We show gentleness, patience, love, and unity in the face of possible divisions by humbly remembering that we have been shown these same things on a massive scale by Jesus. When we sin, let us run to the truth of 1 John 1:9, that says if we confess our sin God is both faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, since Jesus has paid our debt in full. Daily, remind yourself of Jesus’ relentless pursuit of you, and let that fuel your consistent pursuit of unity among your brothers and sisters in the family of faith.

Father, remind me of the grace You have shown me in Jesus so that I can be repentant when I sin against You and others for the sake of the unity of Your body, the Church. Please overcome the areas of my life where I am only concerned with myself. Help Jesus to be the greatest treasure in my life and help me to look away from myself and to the needs of others.

TUESDAY – OCTOBER 1

COVENANT POINT TEN

We will seek to pursue our unity in the Spirit by being patient with one another, by extending grace and forgiveness, and by being ready to seek reconciliation.

Ephesians 4:1-3, 32; Galatians 6:2

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:2

The Church is a strange group of people! We come from different cultural backgrounds, different races, different economic and social statuses; there is only one common thread binding us all together as one body, and His name is Jesus. The apostle Peter describes the Church like this:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the Excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. – 1 Peter 2:9,10

At the heart of this passage, in the midst of describing God’s mercy, we see that the mission statement of the Church is to proclaim the Excellencies of Jesus. Part of making much of Jesus means bearing one another’s burdens. This fulfills the “law of Christ,” so beautifully summed up in John 13:34 and 35, where Jesus Himself says, “A new commandment I give to you that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” We pursue reconciliation, and meet each other’s physical and spiritual needs, because it demonstrates to the world what Jesus offers to them. Our life together is a powerful witness to the difference Jesus makes in the lives of needy sinners.

As God’s chosen people, everything we do and say should be motivated by a heart that wants to proclaim the glory of King Jesus. For this reason, we should remind ourselves that we were once far from God, but God has brought us near out of sheer love for us. Not only should we pursue unity with one another, we should give our lives to helping one another in areas of need. Consider the areas of need around the family of faith and in your close relationships where you may be able to help meet areas of need. Providence Baptist Church is a people who show grace and love because God has first loved us.

Father, as someone who has been brought in to Your family by grace alone through faith in Jesus, help me pursue true unity with the rest of the church by showing them the same love You have shown me. Please show me areas of need around this family of faith and give me wisdom as to how You’ve designed me to meet those needs.

WEDNESDAY – OCTOBER 2

COVENANT POINT ELEVEN

We will protect our families and train our children to treasure Christ and seek His will for their lives through instructing and encouraging them in the Scriptures.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

One of the most familiar passages concerning family worship is Deuteronomy 6:4-9, which is known as The Shema. The word shema in Hebrew means hear, and as this passage begins, this is exactly what the nation of Israel was encouraged to do. They are being called to listen with open ears to a foundational truth, and this is a truth that they must not forget; that the God they serve is one God. He is a unified God. He is fulfilled in Himself and for this very reason they were called to worship Him. And as they worshiped the One God, they were called to worship Him with everything they had; with all of their heart, all of their soul and all of their might.

As the family of faith here at Providence, our call to worship is the same today. As we seek to raise up a generation that will treasure Christ above all, we must remember to instill in them the most basic of biblical truths. Just as God Himself instructed His people so many years ago, we must continue to instruct the next generation today to remember that they serve the One true God, and that He alone is worthy to be worshiped and deserves to be worshiped with all of their hearts, souls and might. As we teach and model these truths for the next generation it allows them to understand that it is only by full heart devotion to the One true God that we find protection and can know His will and His ways. The beauty of this passage is not that God gives us a list of things we must do, but that He allows us to see the heart the He desires as we seek to train and invest in the next generation.

As the family of faith at Providence, let us live daily for the one true God and serve Him with full heart devotion. Let us pray that God would allow these truths to penetrate the hearts of the next generation.

Father, we praise You for You are God, and there is no other. We thank You for revealing Yourself to us so that we can know You and worship You. Would You continue to open our eyes to Your greatness? Would You also enable the next generation here at Providence to see that You are great and that in worshiping You is their good? We praise You today!

THURSDAY – OCTOBER 3

COVENANT POINT ELEVEN

We will protect our families and train our children to treasure Christ and seek His will for their lives through instructing and encouraging them in the Scriptures.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the door posts of your house and on your gates.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

As we move from understanding why we are to serve the one true God with all of our heart, soul and might, we are told in the remainder of this passage how this should look in our homes. As we left off yesterday, we see God desiring a changed nature in our heart that allows us to practice the rest of this passage. As we see in passages like 1 Samuel 16:7, Isaiah 1, and many others, strictly seeking to please God based on our actions alone does nothing to help us become shaped into the image of His Son. The entire purpose of the first part of this passage is to remind us that it is because God is the One, True God that we should serve Him alone with all that we have.

As we learn that truth about God’s character it will define how we structure our day-to-day life. Just as we see here in Deuteronomy 6, as the nation of Israel served God from the depths of their being, it would lead to discussing this relationship in every aspect of their life, most specifically in the home. As the people worshiped God, there would be no stopping the spill over as they sat, as they rose, as they walked and as they talked in their homes. It would become so much a part of who they were that it would be fashioned on the very door post of their lives. In order for this kind of passion to be passed on to the next generation, we must understand that it begins with us as adults first.

As the family of faith at Providence let us live passionately in our pursuit of Christ, so that the next generation will observe in our lives the joy of the Lord and the overflow of God’s grace.

Father, we confess to You that our love for You is often half-hearted. Our thoughts, desires, and actions bear witness that we are often distracted from loving You. As a result, we know that we have forfeited much joy and peace, and we have dishonored You. Please forgive us. Renew my heart today to love and fear Your name. Allow my love for You to spill out into my home and my relationships. Please help me today to show the next generation that You are worthy!

FRIDAY – OCTOBER 4

COVENANT POINT TWELVE

We will seek to understand and exercise our spiritual gifts as we serve together as members of the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:1-27

“But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.”

1 Corinthians 12:18-20

On January 20, 1961, the newly elected president, John F. Kennedy, challenged America with these words, “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” When it comes to choosing a local church, the tendency of many Christians is to look for a church where the preaching style, children’s ministry, music style, or program offerings meet their perceived needs or expectations. Paul’s perspective on how individual Christians end up in a local church is a radical and necessary paradigm shift for us to reflect on. He would paraphrase Kennedy’s memorable words something like this: “And so, my fellow Christians: ask not what your local church can do for you- ask what you can do for your local church.”

If we ask this question, then an understanding and exercise of our spiritual gifts is vital. In 1 Corinthians 12, we learn that God does not want His children to be uninformed about their spiritual gifts (verse 1). We also learn that God gives spiritual gifts to every Christian and places each Christian in a local church (verses 11, 18, 24 ) so that their spiritual gifts can help that local church accomplish what God is calling that congregation to uniquely contribute to His Kingdom in this world (verse 7). Paul teaches that every believer is necessary to this process. (verses 14-27; Ephesians 4:16).

If a spiritually gifted Christian does not understand his spiritual gifting and exercise it in the life and work of this congregation, the congregation is hindered in doing the work God has for it to do. If we are not aware of and using our spiritual gifts as we participate in the life and work of Providence Baptist Church, we am hindering our church from being fully obedient to the work God has given us to do. In what ways is your giftedness being utilized at Providence?

Father, I thank You that You have made me to be a needed part in the body of Christ at Providence. Thank You for giving me interests and giftedness to serve Your body. Help me to identify the ways You desire for me to contribute within my church family. Use me as You wish. Open my eyes to the areas of the church that You would have me serve.

SATURDAY – OCTOBER 5

COVENANT POINT TWELVE

We will seek to understand and exercise our spiritual gifts as we serve together as members of the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:1-27

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”

1 Corinthians 12:4-7

There is confusion in our day, as there was in Paul’s, concerning the subject of Spiritual Gifts. Thankfully, God has given us clear direction. First, the various lists and discussions of Spiritual Gifts in the New Testament would suggest that the lists are representative and not exhaustive.

In addition, many responsibilities necessary to the life and work of a local church do not correspond to the gifts listed or discussed in the New Testament. There is no indication, for example, of a Spiritual Gift of Nursery Worker. The sign over the Nursery room door, “We shall not all sleep, but we will all be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51), describes one of the functions of a Nursery worker without indicating the Spiritual Gift required! In this case, and many others, one simply volunteers and trusts that the resources of Heaven needed at the time will be given so they may serve well.

We learn that God gives, by the Holy Spirit, unusual effectiveness (Spiritual Gifts) to each Christian so that they can contribute meaningfully and effectively to the work of His Kingdom in and through their local church. Often as we volunteer to give leadership or serve in an area of Providence’s life and work, we find ourselves trusting our Father to enable us to contribute in a way that is beyond our comfort level. At other times we may see a correlation between our spiritual gifting and the needs we are making ourselves available to meet. In both cases, God is honored as we serve. We will be most effective when we are aware of our spiritual gifting and we are making ourselves available in areas of service or responsibility that call for that gifting. At other times, we just trust God, volunteer, and change the diapers.

Note: Discerning and actually experiencing serving in the area of our spiritual giftedness is important, strategic, and fulfilling. But, there is something more important and foundational in God’s eyes – love is to be our motivation in any aspect of our Christian pilgrimage including our service (reflect on 1 Corinthians 12:3-13:3, 13). Exercising our Spiritual Gifts devoid of God enabled love will not be beneficial to God’s church.

Father, I thank You that You have equipped me with spiritual gifts to serve Your church. Help me to be humble to serve my church family where needed. Please fill me with a genuine sacrificial love for You and Your people as I serve. I entrust my life to Your Spirit’s leading and thank You for the privilege of serving Your people.

ABOUT PROVIDENCE

As a church we exist to glorify God by introducing all peoples to Jesus Christ and growing them up to love and worship Him. Having been brought by God’s grace to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus, and having been baptized as Christians in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we the members of Providence Baptist Church affirm this covenant with one another for our good, and ultimately for God’s glory.

6339 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27612

919.326.3000

www.pray.org