Exploring Providence Part 3: Expectations for Members

May 4, 2025 Pastor Chris Oswald

Thesis Providence Community Church expects members to actively participate in worship, community, and ministry while embodying core values that prioritize humility, courage, celebration, truth, honesty, and freedom in Christ.

Series

Exploring Providence

Type

Topical

Tone

pastoraldidactic

Method

applicatory

What's in this sermon

The shape of the argument

42 units across exposition, application, illustration, theological claim, and conclusion. The pastor's argument is built from these moving parts.

Pastoral correction · unit #6

"The speaker provides concrete instruction for joining Base Camp, offering personal assistance and assuring members that their contact information will only be used for this purpose."

Doctrinal loci· 10 surfaced

Ecclesiology · 19 Ethics / Moral Theology · 14 Anthropology · 2 Bibliology · 2 Christology · 2 Doxology / Worship · 2 Pastoral Theology · 2 Sanctification · 2 Soteriology · 2 Pneumatology · 1

Bible citations· 5

1 Timothy 1:15 | John 13:1-17 | Romans 12:15 | Ephesians 4:15 | Ephesians 6:4

Illustrations· 2

hypothetical · unit #20 — The speaker illustrates what courage looks like in practical church life through two examples—requesting prayer when vulnerable and asking hard questions about others' marriages or parenting with care.
historical example · unit #25 — The speaker illustrates honesty-over-spin through the church's approach to fundraising for building expansion—communicating needs straightforwardly without manipulation or repeated emotional appeals.

Theological claims· 2

Every member at Providence is a minister called by God to use their time, talents, and treasures to build up the body of Christ, not merely to consume spiritual services. unit #2
Children's salvation is ultimately the sovereign work of God's grace through the Holy Spirit, while parents faithfully fulfill their calling to invest spiritually and present the gospel, trusting God to accomplish what only He can do. unit #37

Read it

Full transcript

19,549 characters 42 units ~22 min reading time Listen instead →

0 · The speaker introduces the church's commitment to financial transparency and integrity, noting that mortgage and payroll constitute approximately 50% of the budget, with detailed breakdowns available for members who want more information

All right. We can talk more after, but next up budget and finances. So we've got a slide. ! It's a bit of an eye chart, but just the purpose of this is to say that we will be transparent ! With our finances, with our spending, as you would like. So if you want to dig into this more, you can see our mortgage and payroll is like 50% of our budget, and then a variety of miscellaneous other things go into our budgetary process. But we'll just be transparent. Obviously, we want to operate with integrity as a church, financial integrity. And so that's there for you guys, if anyone's interested in seeing and talking more about this.

1 · The speaker outlines the church's global mission support, highlighting partnerships with pastors in the Middle East and Philippines, and mentioning recent pastoral training conducted through their denominational network

All right, next up, mission support. Mission support. So we do support a number of mission opportunities. We talked in the community, but also globally. We support pastors in other countries, like in the Middle East. And then also, Chris was just in the Philippines teaching through Sovereign Grace churches. He had the opportunity to go and to teach and provide pastoral equipping for a number of pastors in the Philippines. So that was a really great opportunity for him. And for us as a church to support him and go and do that, that was really cool. So we do support pastors in the Middle East, pastors in the Philippines, throughout the world, really, and through our partnership with our denomination.

2 · The speaker articulates a core theological distinctive of the church: the priesthood of all believers expressed as every-member ministry, rejecting consumeristic church models in favor of mutual ministry where all members both receive and give care

All right, last thing before we get into the expectations of minister, and this will conclude the first third of our class. I think we're doing decent on time. What's really important or distinctive about providence? Yes, reformed theology. Yes, continuationist pneumatology. Yes, complementarian values in the home and church. But what also is really distinctive or important about our church? We believe, and Chris talked about this in the sermon, every member is a minister. I remember is a minister in the sense that God has given all of us responsibility and time and talents and treasures to build up the rest of the body. So we are not, we not believe in a consumeristic approach to church. We believe that everyone is here, yes, to be fed. Yes, to be cared for. Yes, to be served. But also to care for and serve and minister to other people. So we believe that every member is a minister here at Providence.

3 · The speaker explains the church's commitment to developing leaders across all spheres of life through structured programs including eldership qualification training, book studies, and discipleship huddles for both men and women

Second, we really value being a leadership factory. We want to build and invest and develop all the men and ladies that God gives us to be leaders. And again, leaders of themselves, leaders of their homes, leaders in the workplace, leaders in the church, leaders in the community. We want to be a leadership factory. And so we intentionally invest in the men and ladies in the church to be leaders. And so we're going through the or the eldership qualifications. We believe that's a way to build leaders. We have book studies for ladies, we were we have the discipleship huddles, the men and soon for the ladies to cultivate and develop leadership.

4 · The speaker affirms the church's commitment to supporting marriages and children through multiple channels—pulpit teaching, counseling, community groups, and discipleship huddles—while also expressing care for single members

All right, third marriage and parenting sport. We really, so we, we really value marriage. And we really value our children in this church. We dearly love our single folk and who aren't married or aren't married yet, or whatever God's calling you to. We also do really believe that we want to invest in and care for and bless the marriages in this church and the kiddos in this church. So we believe in giving marriage and parenting support, whether it be through the teaching from the pulpit, whether it be through, um, through personal counseling, whether it be through, um, community group ministry, whether it be through the huddles, we want to build strong, healthy marriages. And we want to, um, raise up our children to know and love and follow the Lord.

5 · The speaker describes Base Camp as a digital tool that facilitates ongoing community connection, enabling members to share prayer requests, practical needs, ministry opportunities, and organize teams for various church activities

So yeah, marriage and parenting support. And then fourth, um, which is kind of like an oddball, like base camp, you know, distinctive of our church, but I think it's a really neat little microcosm of what our church is like. It's just that we like to live in community with each other. And base camp is a way that we can stay connected, uh, in community with each other. Um, so base camp is an app, uh, that we just, that we utilize in our church. Um, and we've built a community, like an online community essentially, uh, using base camp. So you can see, uh, you get messages ranging from, um, we've got an Easter egg hunt coming up to hear some prayer requests for the church over the next month to, I need a new couch. Uh, does anyone have any spare couches or microwave or then we know how to paint houses real well. Like you can, you can post whatever on there. And then we have teams. So we have like the Johnson County, uh, evangelism team. We've got a parent youth group. Uh, so we've got a team for that. Um, really anything within the church that you can think of would most likely have a team on base camp, uh, that you can, that you can connect with people through.

6 · The speaker provides concrete instruction for joining Base Camp, offering personal assistance and assuring members that their contact information will only be used for this purpose

Uh, and so if you're, if you're not on base camp yet, or you're interested in being on base camp, uh, just come and talk to me, give me your email address. I won't use it for anything other than getting on base camp. Um, but, uh, we'll, we'll get you on base camp. We'll get you connected and I'll set you up so that you can follow along and you can start to see what's going on within the life of the church.

7 · The speaker summarizes the four distinctives just covered and checks with the class before transitioning to the main topic of member expectations

So regular connection to base camp. So every member minister, leadership factory, manager parenting support, regular connection through base camp, a couple of distinctives about province community church. All right. Are you guys good to move on to expectations? Cool.

8 · The speaker defines the first member expectation—regular attendance and passionate engagement in worship services—explaining that worship encompasses song, preaching, listening, and fellowship, and noting the church's strong post-service fellowship culture

All right. So expectations of member of province community. What do we expect? I got four things for you guys. Uh, first of all, worship services. We believe in the gathering of the saints, uh, to worship the Lord and glorify him because he's worthy. Uh, and we worship through song. We worship through the preaching of God's word and listening application to God's word. And we worship through our fellowship as a community. Um, so today we had to, you probably saw, we had to like tell people, you got to get out of the sanctuary. We're having a class today. We're having a class today. Um, because we love as a church, I mean, you guys know, it's just, there's a buzz after the church to fellowship and to talk and to connect. Um, so we, we really, um, believe that members should attend service regularly. And if you can't try to walk through, like why and try to understand why and try to help you guys and whoever is a member to be here, uh, on a Sunday morning, and then also, especially to engage sincerely and passionately.

9 · The speaker reinforces that worship is both duty and delight, referencing previous teaching and emphasizing sincere, passionate engagement across all worship activities

Um, so Chris talked about like, it's our job to worship the Lord. And it's also our joy to worship the Lord and to engage, um, to engage sincerely and passionately in, in singing, in listening, in applying, in fellowshiping. Uh, so we, those are some expectations for the worship services.

10 · The speaker presents the second member expectation—participation in small groups where mutual ministry occurs—and offers to provide specific information about available groups after the class

Um, second, small groups or community groups. We really encourage you guys to get involved, find a small group, find a community group to be a part of serve and be served, serve and be served at community group. Um, to get to community group and I can, uh, afterwards I can give you the information about all the different community groups. We can talk about, um, you know, where they meet, when they meet the specifics of logistics we can talk about right offline. Um, but let's, let's connect on that. If you're not in a community group yet.

11 · The speaker outlines the third expectation—active ministry involvement in one to three areas—listing several options and highlighting that service provides both connection opportunities and the joy of contributing to the church's mission

All right. Third, ministry involvement, super encourage you guys to find one or two, maybe three ministries to dig in, get involved in and serve. We have AV, we have security, we have children's ministry. We have this evangelism team. We've got parent youth group, like find a ministry that you can serve and, uh, and be served through. And it's just a great way, like serving in the church is just a great way to connect with other people, meet other people. In addition to adding value and serving the Lord and, and bless this church, it's just a great way to meet other people and get connected.

12 · The speaker reiterates and personalizes the ministry involvement expectation, directly exhorting members to identify and engage in specific service opportunities

Um, so I would, if you remember, really encourage you strongly on one or two, maybe three ministries to get involved in and serve and contribute in that way.

13 · The speaker presents the fourth expectation—faithful financial stewardship through tithing and generous giving—connecting it to ministry support, gospel advancement, and God's promise to bless givers, while pointing to additional resources for further study

And then fourth, uh, financial stewardship. Uh, we encourage, we encourage all of our members as a church to tithe, uh, to give your first fruits, uh, to the Lord, to give generously, to give sacrificially, and to give joyfully to the church. Uh, because by doing that, it will support the work of ministry. It will support, um, the gospel being preached. It will support the Bible being learned and applied and just the kingdom of God expanding. Uh, and so we really, and then also just the value of giving, uh, that God will bless you, um, in doing. So there's a million reasons we can talk about. We got books on the bookshelf, um, talking about, about, about giving and about, um, sacrificial, generous, joyful giving. Um, but yeah, encourage our members as a starting point to tithe.

14 · The speaker acknowledges that tithing principles require nuance and individual consideration, particularly in cases of financial hardship, while maintaining it as the baseline expectation

Um, and we can talk about what that means and the implications of that and, um, and exceptions to that, like, like, you know, excessive debt and things like that. Um, but that's really where the starting point where we'd, we'd start out with.

15 · The speaker concludes the four expectations section, invites questions, and prepares to transition to the values section

So those are expectations of a member. Any questions on that? Good. All right.

16 · The speaker introduces the church's core values section, framing these as the distinctive shaping virtues that define the congregation's character and priorities

Then attitude, attitudes of a member of Providence. Um, so you can find this on the website, but these are really some of the, the core values of our church as a, as a local body. What do we, what makes us distinctive in terms of our values, um, our shaping virtues? Where, where do we really like to emphasize?

17 · The speaker presents the first core value—humility over pride—using Paul's self-description to illustrate the posture of recognizing one's sinfulness while marveling at salvation and refusing to let grace become commonplace

So we like to emphasize humility over pride, humility over pride. Um, so Paul says, I'm the greatest sinner. Cause I'm the foremost of sinners, but I have the greatest savior. That's what we want to operate out of in this church. Being aware that thank God, I think God, like that we're saved. We don't ever want to lose that whenever that become familiar to us. That's humility.

18 · The speaker continues developing humility, adding the dimension of considering others' needs as significant as one's own, illustrated by Jesus washing the disciples' feet, before transitioning to the second value of courage over cowardice

And then considering others needs as significant as our own, um, serving a Jesus wash the disciples feet. We are here to serve other people and serve the members of our church. Um, so humility over pride, courage over cowardice, courage over cowardice.

19 · The speaker presents courage over cowardice as essential for kingdom expansion, framing it as the willingness to push through fear in order to actively pursue God's purposes

Um, we, as a church, we love to do things. I mean, you heard the sermon today. We love to do things for the Lord. We want to pursue, um, the expansion of God's kingdom in and through our church. So we, to do that, we need to be courageous. We need to sometimes push through fear, uh, push through cowardice. And we need to, uh, all of us need to apply and live in courage.

20 · The speaker illustrates what courage looks like in practical church life through two examples—requesting prayer when vulnerable and asking hard questions about others' marriages or parenting with care

And sometimes courage is, uh, guys, I need prayer for this. Or sometimes courage is, um, Hey, have you noticed that? Like, like how are things going in your marriage or in your parenting and asking what could be a sensitive or hard question, but caring and loving.

21 · The speaker presents the third value—celebration over envy—using Base Camp interactions as evidence of the church's culture of genuine rejoicing when members experience good things, actively fighting against envious responses

So it takes courage to live as a Christian. And we believe courage over cowardice. Third celebration over envy celebration over envy. Um, we love, to celebrate when things go well for people. Like if you're on base camp and someone has a kid, you're going to get notifications for like the next three days because everyone's going to be like, yes, what a beautiful child. So happy for you, thrilled for you. Um, you'll see that on base camp. We celebrate that when people get married, uh, when people get a job, a new job or a job promotion, we will celebrate that. And we, we certainly will fight against envy or, or anything like that. We don't, we don't want that. We want to be happy for people. We want to rejoice when things go well for people.

22 · The speaker connects celebration-over-envy to the biblical pattern of empathetic community before introducing the fourth value—facts over feelings—rooted in the Bible's authority as God's truth

Um, we want to weep with those who weep and we're, and rejoice with those who rejoice. So we, we believe that here, Providence, uh, fourth facts over feelings, facts over feelings. We talked about the Bible is God's truth.

23 · The speaker develops facts-over-feelings by contrasting the Bible's unchanging truth with the fickleness of human emotions, establishing Scripture as the reliable standard for understanding God, salvation, and life

The Bible is God's truth. So we want to know and apply and, and live the Bible. Our feelings, you guys know, like feelings can be fickle. We can feel one way and then five minutes later, another way, whatever. The Bible is God's truth. The Bible is God's standard. What's true about God, salvation, and life. So we want to, we want to live the facts of this world, which is what's in the Bible.

24 · The speaker introduces the fifth value—honesty over spin—framing it as straightforward, truthful communication without manipulation

All right. Fifth, honesty versus spin. Um, at a church, we will say what we mean and mean what we say. We'll say what we mean when we say,

25 · The speaker illustrates honesty-over-spin through the church's approach to fundraising for building expansion—communicating needs straightforwardly without manipulation or repeated emotional appeals

I think a great example of this is how, especially Chris has handled, uh, our, our building expansion and kind of capital campaign. We're not up here every week saying, you know, guys like we need more money or anything like that. We'll just tell you once in a while, straight up, we want to expand and it's going to take this much money to do it and pray about it. We're not going to try to manipulate. We're not going to try to spin anything. We'll just be honest with you guys.

26 · The speaker extends honesty-over-spin beyond institutional communication to interpersonal relationships, describing it as caring, truth-speaking confrontation within established relationships that seeks to help rather than judge

Um, that's just one example of how we sought to approach this value of honesty over spin, but also it's like, we'll be honest with each other and we'll say, Hey, like it looks like you could be struggling in this area. How can I pray for you? What do you, what kind of insight can I provide? How can I help you? We'll be forthright, um, in a caring, speak the truth and love with each other. Obviously within the context of relationships and getting to know each other and, um, things like that, but honesty over spin

27 · The speaker presents the sixth value—freedom over guilt—rejecting manipulative guilt tactics in favor of helping people make decisions from informed conscience under Scripture's authority, operating in Christian freedom rather than false obligation

and then freedom over guilt. Uh, again, we will not guilt you. We don't believe in the church about manipulation through guilt, guilt you into doing something that you don't want to believe or want to do. Uh, we want everyone to live, um, within the realm of God's word and, uh, thinking through their conscience and what would God have someone to do? Uh, so we really want to let people operate out of a spirit of freedom, um, within under the Lord, as opposed to a spirit of guilt. Does that make sense? Okay.

28 · The speaker concludes the values section, checks for questions, and transitions to the practical application section showing how these values manifest in church life

Yeah. Good. All right, good. Those are the values. Any questions or anything on, on those values? I think so. Okay. Yeah. Good. All right. So how do these values play out in the church?

29 · The speaker introduces the first practical expression of the values—functioning followers—emphasizing that personal pursuit of God through His Word is foundational to all church ministry, both giving and receiving

So, um, five ways these values play out. We've got functioning followers. This is very much in line with what we've talked about a lot already today. Um, we want to pursue the Lord personally, pursue the Lord personally. The best thing that we can all do to help build up this church is to pursue our relationship with the Lord personally and grow in our love for God, grow in our love for his word, grow in our application of his word. Uh, so we want to pursue the Lord personally, be a functioning follower of Christ, and then come to minister and be ministered to in all activities.

30 · The speaker reinforces that all church activities involve reciprocal ministry while maintaining Christ-following as the fundamental identity and calling

So whatever we do, we want to be here to minister to people, be ministered to by people, um, and, uh, and be a functioning follower. We want to, we really want to follow Christ in this church.

31 · The speaker presents the second practical expression—unified community—connecting it to celebration-over-envy and defining it negatively (no gossip) and positively (desiring everyone's flourishing in all spheres of life)

Um, second, when we unified, we talked about celebration over envy. Uh, we want to be unified as a church. So we do not, we do not tolerate gossip in the community. We're not, we want to hold ourselves to a standard where we don't gossip about people. Um, we, we really desire to see all people flourish. Your profits. We want everyone here to flourish in the relationship with the Lord. And then within the church, within the workplace, everywhere, we want everyone to flourish. We want to be happy for each other. And again, fight against envy, celebration over envy. So we're going to be united, unified as a church.

32 · The speaker presents the third practical expression—prayer for leadership—with vulnerable self-disclosure about leaders' need for grace, acknowledging their ongoing battle against sin and need for wisdom in shepherding the church

Third, uh, we, we would like all of our members to pray, uh, for the leaders of the church. Uh, God knows we need it. You know, like the leaders of the church, we are, um, we've worked hard, I would say to, to know and love the Lord, but we are sinners, sinful guys that need God's grace just like everyone else and the enemies, the world, the flesh, the devil, leaders of the church, the church, the church, the church, the church, the church. Uh, and to, and to grow in godliness and to have wisdom for leading the church. For sure. We ask people to pray for the leaders of this church.

33 · The speaker provides practical instruction for how members can access prayer requests and contribute their own through the church's Base Camp platform

And, um, we do post, uh, monthly post prayer requests for the church on base camp. If you get on base camp, uh, on the Providence HQ section, there's a place where you can, you can see prayer requests for the church, uh, and you can post your own prayer requests.

34 · The speaker introduces the fourth practical expression—family leadership—clarifying the complementarian framework where marriage is partnership but men bear special responsibility for leading their families well

All right. And then fourth, um, fourth way that our values play out is really encourage people, especially, uh, the men who have a family, uh, to be leading their family. Well, but yes, marriage is total partnership between husband and wife, but we do, uh, call on the men and put an emphasis on the men, uh, to be leading their families. Well, and what does that look like?

35 · The speaker defines family leadership practically—having vision for the family's spiritual development, initiating marital devotions, and fostering connection through Scripture reading, prayer, and intentional conversation

Um, you look at a lot of things, but have a vision for your family. What is God calling you to? What are your family strengths, weaknesses, area of opportunity? Um, where, where does God want you to take your family in terms of spiritual development and growth? We want men to be leading and have a vision for your family, uh, marital and family devotions. We encourage couples to read God's word together and pray together and talk and go to the coffee shop and, you know, and connect and talk about what's going on in your lives and administer to one another. Um, especially for the men to be initiating that and leading that, uh, we feel strongly about that.

36 · The speaker adds parenting as the third dimension of family leadership, specifically the responsibility to raise children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, maintaining the emphasis on male leadership while acknowledging it's a joint parenting task

And then bringing children up in the discipline and instruction to the Lord. So we call it, we, we really want to, uh, call on, um, obviously couples together, but a special little emphasis or not little, but emphasis on men. We lead in their family, bring the children up in the discipline instruction to the Lord, raising children up to know and love God.

37 · The speaker introduces a crucial theological qualification—children's salvation is ultimately God's sovereign work through the Holy Spirit, while parents' responsibility is to faithfully present the gospel and create conditions for God to work, using the metaphor of holding up a lightning rod

Yes. It's a work of God's grace. The work of God's grace. Our kids won't be saved apart from the work of the Holy Spirit and their lives. We want to, God calls us to invest in them spiritually and hand them the lightning rod of the gospel, which hopefully, you know, God's lightning strikes and God saves them.

38 · The speaker offers personal availability for deeper conversation and practical help applying family leadership principles, demonstrating pastoral accessibility and care for individual circumstances

So, um, we call on men to lead their families, have a vision, uh, lead in marital family devotions, bring up their children to discipline instruction to the Lord and any of this stuff. You want to grab coffee, talk, we can explain, uh, and help you apply all this stuff. We have to do that. There's any areas.

39 · The speaker presents the fifth practical expression—viewing church as a gift—grounding it in Christ's blood shed to form both the universal and local church, calling for ongoing gratitude and wonder at the privilege of mutual ministry

So, and then fifth, um, fifth attitude of a, you know, kind of attitudes applied or values applied will be viewing church as a gift. Viewing church as a gift. Um, we are so blessed. Christ shed his blood for us to form this church. And yes, the church universal, but then also this specific church. We're so blessed. And we love, we have wonderful people in this church. And we are so blessed to get to minister to be ministered by people in this church. Church is a gift. We never want to lose that. Mentality. That, that attitude. That we are just blessed and grateful for this church. The church is a gift.

40 · The speaker provides a specific resource for further learning on church membership attitudes, encouraging members to take a free copy from the church library and emphasizing the book's value for cultivating gratitude for the church

Uh, it was a wonderful book, uh, called I'm a church member. I just got taught by this guy, Tom Rainer. Uh, so if you want to learn more about that kind of, you know, church attitude, I totally encourage you. I think there's, there are copies on the book shelf over there. Just grab a copy of any of those books, grab them, take them. We want to see them disappear and we'll replenish the book shelf with more book. You don't have to buy them or anything like that. They're just there for, for us as a church. But that one, uh, I'm a church member, uh, is especially a good one for thinking about church being a gift. I'm being grateful for, for church.

41 · The speaker concludes the membership class session

Thank you.

Where this fits

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May 4 · This sermon

Exploring Providence Part 3: Expectations for Members

Providence Community Church expects members to actively participate in worship, community, and ministry while embodying core values that prioritize humility, courage, celebration, truth, honesty, and freedom in Christ.

Take it further

Discuss · apply · pray

Small groups

6 discussion questions

Chris said that every member at Providence is a minister, not a consumer. What's the difference between those two postures, and where do you…

Daily readings

5-day reading plan

This week, we meditate on what it means to be a functioning member of Providence—a person called to minister, shaped by gospel virtues, and entrusted with the stewardship of time, talents, and treasure.

Prayer

Prayer for Members Called to Minister

Father, we adore you for calling us not as consumers of spiritual goods but as ministers of the gospel, each one gifted and stationed by you…

Family table

What Does a Member Actually Do?

This card invites your family to think concretely about what it means to be part of a church — not as a consumer, but as someone who belongs…

Couples

Members Called to Build

What did you hear this morning about what it means to be a functioning member of this church — and where do you sense the Spirit inviting yo…

Memorize

1 Timothy 1:15

This verse anchors the sermon's core value of honesty over spin—the church exists because we are sinners saved by grace, not because we are righteous. Every member's identity as a minister flows from this foundational reality: we are the redeemed, called to serve not from strength but from the mercy we have received.

Memory verse this week

1 Timothy 1:15

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

Why this verse: This verse anchors the sermon's core value of honesty over spin—the church exists because we are sinners saved by grace, not because we are righteous. Every member's identity as a minister flows from this foundational reality: we are the redeemed, called to serve not from strength but from the mercy we have received.

Draft · pending review

Sunday-evening family table

What Does a Member Actually Do?

For the parent

This card invites your family to think concretely about what it means to be part of a church — not as a consumer, but as someone who belongs and participates. Listen for your kids' assumptions about what church is *for*, and gently correct them toward the truth that every person in the room has work to do.

Chris said that every single person at Providence — including kids — is a minister. That means you have a job to do here, not just a service to attend. What's one thing you could do this week — something small, something you actually have time for — that would help someone else in our church family? It could be noticing someone who looks lonely, helping set up chairs, praying for a friend, or inviting someone to sit with you. What's your one thing?

Works for ages 7+ — younger kids need help thinking of concrete actions, but the basic premise (you belong here and have something to give) is solid even for first-graders

Draft · pending review

Daily readings · Monday–Friday

5-day reading plan

Monday 1 Timothy 1:15

Paul opens his letter by establishing his own identity: 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost.' This is not humility theatre; it is the foundation of all ministry. We are ministers precisely because we have been saved by grace, not because we have earned a title or status. Your calling to minister flows from the cross, not from your competence.

Tuesday John 13:1-17

Jesus washes the disciples' feet—the work of a slave—and then tells them to do the same for one another. This is not about literal foot-washing; it is about the posture of a functioning member. Humility is not self-deprecation; it is the willingness to do the necessary, unglamorous work that builds up the body. Pride asks, 'Who will serve me?' Humility asks, 'Whom can I serve?'

Wednesday Romans 12:15

Paul's command cuts against our cultural instinct: envy sees another's joy as a threat to our own worth. But a functioning member of Providence grieves with the grieving and rejoices with the rejoicing without calculating how their gain affects us. This is the freedom Christ gives—to be genuinely happy for your brother's promotion, your sister's answered prayer, without the poison of comparison.

Thursday Ephesians 4:15

Speaking truth in love does not mean softening hard words until they're unrecognizable. It means speaking what is *actually* true, grounded in reality, delivered with affection for the hearer's good. A functioning member of Providence refuses both the brutalism of truth without love *and* the sentimentality of love without truth. We are a people committed to reality.

Friday Ephesians 6:4

Paul charges fathers to raise children 'in the discipline and instruction of the Lord'—a call to active, intentional spiritual investment. Yet the salvation of your child remains God's sovereign work. You do not save them; you present Christ to them faithfully, week after week, year after year, and trust the Holy Spirit to accomplish what only He can do. Your faithfulness meets His grace.

Draft · pending review

Small-group discussion

6 questions for your group this week

Chris said that every member at Providence is a minister, not a consumer. What's the difference between those two postures, and where do you find yourself operating more naturally in the life of the church right now?

→ Can you name one specific way—time, talent, or treasure—that you're currently using to build up the body, and one way you sense you're still approaching the church as a consumer?
The sermon listed six core values that shape Providence: humility over pride, courage over cowardice, celebration over envy, facts over feelings, honesty over spin, and freedom over guilt. Which of these six do you most need to grow in, and why does that particular virtue feel difficult for you?
Read John 13:1-17 together. Jesus washes his disciples' feet as an act of leadership. How does this passage redefine what Chris means by 'expecting members to actively participate'—what are we actually participating in?

John 13:1-17

→ What would it look like for you to lead in your small group, your family, or your workplace the way Jesus leads here—from a posture of service rather than authority?
Chris emphasized that the church operates on transparency—in finances, in leadership decisions, in how the vision is cast. Why do you think transparency matters so much for a church that wants to shape its members toward 'facts over feelings' and 'honesty over spin'?
The sermon connected faithful family leadership to church health. Read Ephesians 6:4—what does 'bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord' actually require of a parent, and where does that collide with the cultural messages your kids are receiving about what they should want?

Ephesians 6:4

→ How would the other core values—humility, courage, celebration, facts, honesty, freedom—help you shepherd your children toward faith rather than just rule-keeping?
If someone asked you this week why you're part of Providence Community Church—not just any church, but this one—what would you say? What has this community actually done or become that makes membership feel like a gift rather than an obligation?

Draft · pending review

Pray together this week

Prayer for Members Called to Minister

Father, we adore you for calling us not as consumers of spiritual goods but as ministers of the gospel, each one gifted and stationed by your Spirit to build up the body of Christ. You have made us responsible stewards of our time, our talents, and our treasures—not for our own advancement, but for the sake of your kingdom and the strengthening of this church. We thank you that every member here has been given work to do in your vineyard.

We confess that we often come to church asking what we can get rather than asking what we can give. We shrink from the calling to minister because we doubt our gifts, or we serve with hidden motives of recognition rather than love. We hold our resources loosely in some seasons and grip them tightly in others, failing to steward them as you have entrusted them. Forgive us for the pride that whispers we are too small to matter, and for the cowardice that keeps us from stepping into the work you have prepared for us (Ephesians 4:15-16).

We rejoice that in Christ you have already made us sufficient—not by our own adequacy, but by his. You have given us the Holy Spirit as our teacher and our courage (John 13:1-17). The gospel frees us from the need to perform for approval or hide in shame. In Christ, we are your workmanship, created for good works that you prepared beforehand for us to walk in.

Grant us the humility to serve without needing credit, the courage to step into our callings even when we feel inadequate, and the honesty to acknowledge both our limitations and our gifts. Help us attend faithfully to worship and community, to invest in small groups where we know and are known, to give generously from what you have given us, and to lead our families well as the primary place we practice the gospel. Teach us to see this church not as a vendor of religious services, but as a gift—a covenant people called to walk together toward Christ.

We commit ourselves to participate actively in this body, to speak truth in love, to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep, and to pray for those you have called to lead us. To you be all glory and honor, both now and forever.

Draft · pending review

Couples · three questions over coffee

Members Called to Build

What did you hear this morning about what it means to be a functioning member of this church — and where do you sense the Spirit inviting you to step into that calling more fully?
As a couple, where are we already serving together in the life of Providence, and where might we be called to give more of our time, talents, or treasure in the months ahead?
How can we pray for one another this week to help each other live out these expectations — humility, courage, honesty, and freedom in Christ — in our daily lives and in our marriage?

Draft · pending review

Where this was preached

About the church

Providence Community Church

Lenexa, KS
Sundays · 10:00 AM
About us · What we believe

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# Providence Community Church

A church preaching expository sermons through the books of the Bible.

## Sermons
- [The Cross of Christ and its Cosmic Consequences (2025-04-19)](/ProvidenceLenexa/sermons/2025/04/the-cross-of-christ-and-its-cosmic-consequences)
- [Four Common Objections to the Christian Faith (John 18:1-20:31, 2025-04-20)](/ProvidenceLenexa/sermons/2025/04/four-common-objections-to-the-christian-faith)
- [The Wisdom of God in the Cross (John 19:1-42, 2025-04-27)](/ProvidenceLenexa/sermons/2025/04/the-wisdom-of-god-in-the-cross)
- [Exploring Providence Part 3: Expectations for Members (2025-05-04)](/ProvidenceLenexa/sermons/2025/05/exploring-providence-part-3-expectations-for)

## About
- [About the church](/about)
- [Plan a visit](/visit)

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