What kind of a church is Providence Church?

We are a church in concert with the Southern Baptist Convention at the national level and the Southern Baptists of Texas at the state level, partnering for the sake of missions and other efforts to reach out to the world in the name of Christ. Theologically we embrace the principles of the Protestant Reformation. Our beliefs could be considered Reformed and we are part of FIRE, The Fellowship of Independent Reformed Evangelicals.

When does Providence Church meet?

Sunday School at 9:15 AM, Worship Service at 10:30 AM, and Wednesday Prayer Meeting at 7:00 PM. On the first Sunday of the month we hold the Lord’s Supper followed by a fellowship meal after the morning service.

What is the main worship service like?

We have a blended service with an assortment of the great hymns of the faith as well as some newer songs. A mini-orchestra aids us as we sing. We will at times have responsive readings and on occasion recite the Apostles’ Creed together. The sermon is expository, typically going through a book of the Bible.

How is Providence Church governed?

Providence Church is led by a group of elders, but ultimate authority resides with the congregation under Christ. The congregation elects elders and empowers them with the governing of the church. The deacons are more in charge of the physical needs of the church.

What does Providence Church offer for children?

We offer Sunday School classes from 1s and 2s through 6th grade using God-centered curriculum. For children ages 3–2nd grade there is Children’s Church during the sermon. We have nursery care at all Sunday services.

What is the dress code at Providence Church?

There is no particular dress code. On Sunday mornings you’d find folks in attire ranging from jeans to suits or nice dresses. Come as you are!

How does membership work at Providence Church?

After attending a new members class, those who have experienced a believer’s baptism by immersion and submitted a signed church covenant are put forward by the elders for a congregational vote at one of our quarterly members meetings.

Following the Forerunner to Death

Eric HartmanMarch 8, 2026Matthew 17:9-13

Part of Exposition of Matthew

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Sermon Text

Matthew 17:9–13

9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

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Scripture references

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Malachi 4Mal.42:37 7:12 13:54
“Malachi 4”
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The Great Day of the Lord

4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts.

4 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.

5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Malachi 3Mal.33:41
“Malachi 3”
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3:1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.

5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.

Robbing God

6 “For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.

13 “Your words have been hard against me, says the LORD. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ 14 You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the LORD of hosts? 15 And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’”

The Book of Remembrance

16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. 17 “They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 18 Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Matthew 3Matt.34:51
“Matthew 3”
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John the Baptist Prepares the Way

3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

  “The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
  ‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
    make his paths straight.’”

4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Matthew 11Matt.119:16 12:21 12:46
“Matthew 11”
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Messengers from John the Baptist

11:1 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,

  “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
    who will prepare your way before you.’

11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,

17   “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
    we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

Woe to Unrepentant Cities

20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest

25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
John 21John.12113:40
“John 121”
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Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples

21:1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus and Peter

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Jesus and the Beloved Apostle

20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Malachi 4Mal.3113:54
“Malachi 31”
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The Great Day of the Lord

4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts.

4 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.

5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Outline

Jesus answers the disciples' question about Elijah by revealing that John the Baptist already came in the spirit and power of Elijah but was rejected, and just as the religious leaders missed the forerunner, so they will also kill the Son of Man, making faith in Christ the only escape from destruction.

IThe disciples' question reflects a scribal expectation that Elijah must come before the Messiah and the Day of the Lord.0:00Mal.4.5-Mal.4.6
- •The scribes correctly understood from Malachi that Elijah must come first.0:05Mal.4.5
- •The Day of the Lord is a day of judgment and potential utter destruction, not merely the overthrow of Israel's oppressors.0:29Mal.4.5-Mal.4.6
- •This expectation leads the disciples to ask in Matthew 17:10 how the Messiah can have come if Elijah has not.1:42Matt.17.10
IIJesus answers that Elijah has already come, but the leaders did not recognize him.2:05Matt.17.11-Matt.17.12
- •Jesus confirms the scribes' reading: Elijah does come and will restore all things.2:29Matt.17.11
- •Jesus reveals that Elijah has already come, was unrecognized, and was treated with hostility.2:47Matt.17.12
- •This seems to conflict with John 1:21, where John the Baptist denies being Elijah literally.3:16John.1.21
IIIJohn the Baptist is the typological fulfillment of Elijah, coming in his spirit and power to prepare the way for the Lord.4:00Matt.3.1-Matt.3.12
- •John's ministry mirrored Elijah's: he lived in the wilderness, wore camel's hair, and preached repentance.4:55Matt.3.1-Matt.3.12
- •This generation rejected both John the Baptist and Jesus, exposing the hardness of the religious leaders.8:26Matt.11.18-Matt.11.19
- •Jesus identifies John as the promised forerunner and declares that none born of women is greater than he.9:20Matt.11.9-Matt.11.11
- •Luke 1:16-17 confirms John would go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah.10:58Luke.1.16-Luke.1.17
- •John is not a reincarnation of Elijah but his typological fulfillment; Elijah points forward to John.12:36Matt.11.14
IVThe scribes' failure to recognize fulfilled prophecy warns us to be humble, especially in eschatology.14:05Matt.17.12
- •The scribes were expert copyists and students of Scripture, yet they missed the fulfillment standing before them.14:42
- ➜We must be humble and tentative in speculative areas of prophecy, recognizing that certainty does not always equal truth.15:55
- 🌿A writer counsels: camp on what is certain, hold tentatively what is reasonable, and refrain from insisting on what is merely speculative.16:43
VJust as the forerunner suffered, so the Son of Man will certainly suffer at the hands of the same leaders.17:05Matt.17.12-Matt.17.13
- •Jesus explicitly forecasts that the Son of Man will suffer persecution and death as Elijah did.17:18Matt.17.12-Matt.17.13
- •This follows his earlier prediction in Matthew 16:21 that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and rise again.17:41Matt.16.21
- •While the transfiguration was to be kept secret, Christ's death, burial, and resurrection must be openly proclaimed.18:13
·Conclusion19:19
The preacher closes by presenting the gospel: Jesus is fully God and fully man, lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay for the sins of others, was buried, rose again, and ascended to the Father's right hand. Those who trust in him are saved from wrath and adopted into God's family.
Call to response: Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, recognize him as the Messiah, and embrace him so that you will be saved from utter destruction and live forever with him.

Daily devotionals

Six short readings (Monday–Saturday) walking the week after this sermon. Released one each morning.

MondayThey Did Not Recognize Him· preview · public on 2026-03-09Matthew 17:12
TuesdayMore Than a Warm Welcome· preview · public on 2026-03-10Matthew 3:7
WednesdayThe Real Problem· preview · public on 2026-03-11Matthew 3:2
ThursdayHe Follows the Forerunner· preview · public on 2026-03-12Matthew 17:12-13
FridayCertainty and Truth· preview · public on 2026-03-13Matthew 11:15
SaturdayThe Fire He Faced· preview · public on 2026-03-14Matthew 3:11-12