Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 5: Of Providence
As we navigate through the complexities of life, the doctrine of God's providence offers us immense comfort and guidance. This is the theme of Chapter 5 of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF), a foundational document for churches in the Reformed tradition. As a congregation recently making our home in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, we are working through the Confession to get to know it better.
This chapter, titled "Of Providence," delves into understanding how God interacts with the world He has created. It is a complex topic, but the Westminster Confession helps us understand this concisely and is accessible to everyone, regardless of theological background.
Marked By Grace: Day 23
The Challenge of Wealth and the Possibility of Salvation
Scripture: Mark 10:17-31
Reflection:
This passage recounts the encounter between Jesus and the rich young man, highlighting the spiritual challenge of wealth. The man's inability to give up his possessions to follow Jesus illustrates how material wealth can hinder one’s relationship with God. Jesus' statement about the difficulty for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God shocks the disciples, leading to a discussion about salvation's human impossibility but divine possibility. This teaches us about reliance on God for salvation rather than on wealth or personal merit. The promise of rewards for those who have left everything for the sake of the Gospel underscores the value of spiritual over material riches.
Marked By Grace: Day 22
Marriage, Divorce, and Receiving the Kingdom Like a Child
Scripture: Mark 10:1-16
Reflection:
This passage begins with Jesus teaching on marriage and divorce, a response to the Pharisees’ testing question. Jesus emphasizes the sanctity of marriage, referring to the creation narrative to underscore God's original intent for marital union. The discussion on divorce highlights Jesus' commitment to the permanence of marriage and the seriousness of covenant relationships. The subsequent scene of Jesus blessing the children illustrates the value Jesus places on childlike faith and humility. These teachings challenge us to uphold marriage's sanctity and approach God's Kingdom with a childlike, humble heart.
Marked By Grace: Day 21
Understanding Jesus' Mission and True Greatness
Scripture: Mark 9:30-50
Reflection:
In this section of Mark, Jesus predicts His death and resurrection a second time, emphasizing the necessity of His suffering. The disciples struggle to understand and are afraid to ask for clarification, showing a gap between Jesus' mission and their expectations. The discourse on greatness in the Kingdom of God, where Jesus places a child among them, overturns worldly concepts of power and status, highlighting humility and service as key values. The teachings about causing others to sin and the metaphorical language about salt and fire challenge us to consider our influence on others and our commitment to living out the Gospel.
Marked By Grace: Day 20
Transfiguration, Faith, and Deliverance
Scripture: Mark 9:2-29
Reflection:
This passage in Mark narrates the Transfiguration of Jesus, His discussion on Elijah's return, the healing of a boy with an unclean spirit, and a lesson on faith and prayer. The Transfiguration reveals Jesus' divine glory, affirmed by the Father’s voice. This event strengthens the disciples' faith and understanding of Jesus' identity. The boy's healing demonstrates the disciples' limitations and the need for faith and prayer in confronting evil. Jesus' words, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer,” emphasize the power of faith and reliance on God
Devotions: The Vision of the Son of Man
Day 1: Encountering the Divine Majesty
Scripture Reading: Revelation 1:9-11
Devotion: As we continue through Revelation, consider the Apostle John, exiled on the island of Patmos, yet still profoundly connected to God through the Spirit. On the Lord's Day, he hears a voice commanding him to write a message to the churches. Reflect on how, even in isolation, John remained faithful and was entrusted with divine revelations.
March 3 Sermon: The Vision of the Son of Man
We've all had someone come to us with a story of something amazing that they've seen. Now some people experience, say, a rare phenomenon or an unlikely event, and it becomes something that they just have to tell other people about. It's something you just can't keep to yourself. You have to share, and actually the chances are that you've been on both sides of having to tell a story like this. I know that I have been and I will say that I find it to be just as hard to explain something amazing to someone as it is to understand something amazing that someone is telling you. I don't know about you, but when I'm telling people about something amazing, I find myself spitting out well, it was like this, but it wasn't quite like this. It was that, but it wasn't that right. I'm sure it doesn't make any sense to them, but I'm excited about it. It's something I need to share and I'm sure if you have ever been on the other side of me describing something in this way, you're just trying to keep track of what I'm saying. You're trying to picture in your mind, but you know that unless you see what I'm talking about yourself, you'll never fully be able to understand what it is that I'm trying to describe. Regardless of how well somebody describes something to you and regardless of how well you understand it, you can never really understand it unless you see it. But you do come away with something. You do know that what they saw was exceptional, maybe it was even amazing. That is easy to convey.
Marked By Grace: Day 19
The Messiah Revealed and the Cost of Discipleship
Scripture: Mark 8:27-9:1
Reflection:
Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ in this pivotal passage. Jesus then teaches about His upcoming suffering, death, and resurrection, challenging common Messianic expectations. He further explains the cost of discipleship, calling His followers to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. This teaching starkly contrasts the worldly pursuit of gain with the eternal perspective of losing one’s life for Jesus’ sake. The passage concludes with a promise of the Kingdom of God coming with power, offering hope and eternal significance to the path of discipleship.
Marked By Grace: Day 18
Provision, Understanding, and Sight
Scripture: Mark 8:1-26
Reflection:
This passage in Mark encompasses the feeding of the four thousand, a discussion with the Pharisees demanding a sign, and the healing of a blind man at Bethsaida. The feeding of the four thousand is another powerful demonstration of Jesus’ compassion and ability to provide abundantly. The interaction with the Pharisees shows their lack of understanding and faith despite the signs already given. The gradual healing of the blind man is unique and may symbolize the progressive nature of spiritual understanding and enlightenment. This section invites us to trust in Jesus’ provision, seek deeper spiritual understanding, and rely on His power for spiritual and physical healing.
Marked By Grace: Day 17
Faith Beyond Boundaries and Healing for All
Scripture: Mark 7:24-37
Reflection:
In these narratives, Jesus extends His ministry beyond the Jewish community. The story of the Syrophoenician woman demonstrates her great faith and Jesus' willingness to bless those outside Israel. Her persistence and belief in Jesus' power to heal her daughter are remarkable. This encounter challenges traditional boundaries and shows the inclusivity of God's grace. Similarly, the healing of the deaf and mute man in the Decapolis region further illustrates Jesus’ compassion and power, reaching all people regardless of their background.
Marked By Grace: Day 16
The Heart of True Defilement
Scripture: Mark 7:1-23
Reflection:
In this passage, Jesus confronts the Pharisees and scribes about their strict adherence to traditions over God's commandments. He challenges the prevailing notion of ritual purity, emphasizing that defilement comes not from external sources but from within a person’s heart. Jesus lists various sins originating in the heart, highlighting the need for internal purity and transformation. This teaching calls us to examine our hearts and practices, considering whether we prioritize external rituals over the deeper, internal aspects of faith and obedience to God.
Marked By Grace: Day 15
Compassion, Provision, and Power
Scripture: Mark 6:30-56
Reflection:
This section of Mark narrates the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus walking on water, and the healing of many in Gennesaret. These events vividly display Jesus’ compassion, divine provision, and power. The feeding of the five thousand, with just five loaves and two fish, illustrates Jesus' ability to provide abundantly beyond human limitations. Jesus walking on water demonstrates His mastery over natural laws, offering reassurance of His presence amid life's "storms." The healings in Gennesaret further confirm His power and willingness to heal and restore.
Marked By Grace: Day 14
Rejection, Mission, and a Costly Banquet
Scripture: Mark 6:1-29
Reflection:
Mark 6:1-29 covers three significant events: Jesus' rejection in Nazareth, the sending out of the Twelve, and the account of John the Baptist's beheading. In Nazareth, Jesus faces skepticism and disbelief, highlighting the challenge of ministering to those familiar with our past. The sending out of the Twelve illustrates the importance of reliance on God and the urgency of the mission. John the Baptist's beheading is a stark reminder of the cost of prophetic ministry and standing up for truth. This section calls us to consider our reception of Jesus, our role in His mission, and the costs associated with faithful discipleship.
Marked By Grace: Day 13
Faith in Desperation and Faith in Silence
Scripture: Mark 5:21-43
Reflection:
This passage intertwines the stories of Jairus, a synagogue ruler, and a woman suffering from a bleeding disorder. Both exhibit profound faith in desperate situations. Jairus, a man of status, humbles himself before Jesus, pleading for his daughter's life. The woman, in contrast, approaches Jesus in silence, believing that merely touching His garment will heal her. Jesus responds to faith in action and silence, highlighting His accessibility to all, regardless of social standing. The woman's healing and raising of Jairus's daughter demonstrate Jesus' power over illness and death and His compassion.
Devotions: Freed By His Blood
Day 1: The Supremacy of Jesus Christ
Reading: Revelation 1:4-5
Devotional: Today, we meditate on the authority and comfort Jesus brings as our supreme Lord. In these verses, John introduces us to the majestic nature of Christ's rule. Reflect on how the description of Jesus as the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth encourages you amidst your trials. Consider how Jesus' victory over death offers you hope and assurance.
February 25 Sermon: Freed By His Blood
book is to consistently have in front of you that the point, the focus of the book is Jesus. That is what we're going to be focusing on as we go through this final book in Holy Scripture, and if we didn't get a sense of the supremacy of Jesus in those first three verses last week, we absolutely and most certainly see that idea in what we have read this morning. These five verses absolutely show us the supremacy of Jesus, they show us His authority, they show us the point here is that Jesus is Lord, that he has authority, that he is over all things and that he is at the center of the book of Revelation. The purpose of this book, as we talked about last week, is to bring comfort to the people of God. They are going to be facing persecution, and so John writes this letter to these seven churches in Asia, as we will see here in just a minute, to let them know what is coming. They should expect persecution, but he is speaking words of comfort and words of victory to these churches.
Marked By Grace: Day 12
Power Over Demons and the Impact of Transformation
Scripture: Mark 5:1-20
Reflection:
This passage describes the dramatic encounter between Jesus and a man possessed by a legion of demons. Jesus’ authority over the demons is unquestionable, as He commands them and grants their request to enter a herd of pigs. This event powerfully demonstrates Christ's supremacy over evil forces. The transformation of the man is profound — from a tormented outcast to a composed individual sitting at Jesus’ feet. His subsequent mission to share his story in the Decapolis shows the impact of a personal encounter with Jesus and the power of testimony.
Marked By Grace: Day 11
Faith in the Midst of the Storm
Scripture: Mark 4:35-41
Reflection:
In this passage, Jesus and His disciples encounter a fierce storm while crossing the Sea of Galilee. The terrified disciples wake Jesus, who calms the storm with His command. This event powerfully illustrates Jesus’ authority over nature and challenges us to reflect on our faith and trust in Him during life's storms. The disciples’ fear and Jesus' question, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” prompts us to consider how we respond to crises and difficulties. Are we overwhelmed by fear, or do we trust Jesus' power and presence?
Marked By Grace: Day 10
The Kingdom of God Revealed in Parables
Scripture: Mark 4:21-34
Reflection:
This section of Mark contains several parables, each revealing aspects of the Kingdom of God. The parable of the lamp under a basket teaches that the truth of the Gospel is meant to be revealed and shared, not hidden. The parable of the growing seed illustrates the mysterious, inherent power of God’s word to grow and bear fruit. The parable of the mustard seed emphasizes the Kingdom of God's humble beginnings and expansive, transformative growth. These teachings invite us to consider our role in sharing and nurturing the Gospel and trust in God's Kingdom's surprising and powerful growth.
Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 4: Creation
As a congregation recently aligned with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, we will continue working through the Westminster Confession of Faith on this blog. I hope this will deepen your understanding of our faith's theological foundations. The Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms are cornerstone documents embodying the rich theological heritage of the Reformed faith. Today, we focus on Chapter 4 of the Westminster Confession of Faith, which discusses God’s creative work.