Some times it's the stuff of every day life that can make the best illustrations. Jesus did this a lot- especially in his parables. In Matthew 13, Jesus looks to the farmer for some pictures of what it looks like to be part of his kingdom. Where are you in this picture? How do you make sure you're where you need to be?

Ever feel like taking a day off? We all do. The Christian life doesn't really allow for that though- because our enemy doesn't take one off either. Neither passivity, nor neutrality are options in response to Jesus. In two seemingly unrelated texts, Jesus lays out the truths for us that our allegiance to him is moment-by-moment and nothing (not even family) can surpass it.

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me." That may be the biggest lie children have ever been taught. The sentiment is nice, but we all know that words have power. Sometimes we can miss out on just how powerful they are. What do your words say about you?

When you read the Bible, there are many verses that stand out for a variety of reasons. There are a handful that get our attention because they are particularly terrifying. Perhaps none as terrifying as the idea that there might be a sin that is outside the reach of God's forgiveness. Is there an unforgivable sin? If so, what is it and how do we make sure we don't commit it? Or is that even the right question?

Working on a Sunday? Mowing your yard? Eating at a good fast food restaurant? The Sabbath is an issue that has been debated since Jesus's day. Just what did Jesus have to say about it? His answer is less about the details of our Sundays (or Saturdays) and more about the gospel itself.

The pursuit of a dream is a core part of who we are. Sometimes that dream can become something bigger than life. When our dreams and the pursuit of those dreams begin to define us, we must stop and consider where we find our true identity. Nick Reveiz shares a a part of his own story and how God changed his path along the way. Through Nick's story we can learn a lot about our own hearts and our own battles.

Part of faith is knowing how to wrestle with the questions that will inevitably come. Sometimes they are a nudge and sometimes they can overwhelm us. What do you do when there seems to be no answers? When life has taken you to a place you didn't expect? In those times, there is no magic formula to erase our doubt. Instead, we have to move our focus from ourselves and our questions and instead latch on to the Gospel- the good news that is the heart of the Christian faith. In the midst of a world full of questions, the anchor of the Gospel will hold.

John the Baptist is about as radically committed to the cause of Jesus as you'll find anywhere in history. Yet even he had moments where he just wasn't sure. What does that mean for us? What does it look like to struggle with doubt and fight for faith? We spend a couple of weeks looking at the ideas of doubt, faith, and the mystery in between the two.

As 2016 begins, Providence sits in a crucial position in our history. Where will we go? What will we do? Scripture gives us compelling pictures of what a church can do in a community. We want to be a church that loves our community and is loved by our community. This Sunday we launch our #LoveJeffCo initiative, built around making our community a better place to live and ultimately for the spread of God's kingdom. Listen to the vision and come be a part.

Whether you think New Year's resolutions are cliche or not, it's hard to deny the power of an empty calendar. 2016 sits before us waiting to be lived. One year from now you'll be looking back on those empty days. What will you see? Will those days matter at all? Will you make those days count for progress? Will those days stretch into eternity? At Providence, we want 2016 to be the year that changed everything- both now and forever...and we want you to be a part.