Penknap Providence Church 2007 Anniversary

Basil Howlett

Today we marked the 198th anniversary of the Church with a special anniversary service. Our people were joined by friends from other congregations in the area to praise God and hear his Word read and proclaimed. The preacher was pastor Basil Howlett of Carey Baptist Church in Reading. I did a summer pastorate with Basil back in 1989 when he was the minister of Copse Road Evangelical Church in Clevedon. At the time I was a student at the London Theological Seminary. It was good to renew fellowship with Basil and hear him preach God's word.

His text was "Seeing that we have such a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession." (Hebrews 4:12). His main points were:

The Hebrew Christians were in danger of giving up on the Christian faith. The writer of the epistle reminds us that in Christ....

I. We have a great High Priest

1. He was God
2. He became man
3. What he was like - without sin
4. What he did - died for sinners
5. What he achieved - salvation from sin
6. Where he went - passed through the heavens
7. He is eternal with the power of an endless life

II. We have a gracious High Priest

So that we are not intimidated by his greatness, Christ's graciousness is also revealed. He is able to sympathise with our weaknesses (4:15). He feels for his suffering people and is able to help us in our trials and temptations.

III. Two words of application

1. Let us hold fast our confession (4:14)

2. Let us draw near to the throne of grace (4:16)

This bare outline cannot convey the warmth and power with which the preacher proclaimed his message. Our minds were stirred and our hearts moved by this exposition of the greatness of Jesus' high priestly ministry. The service was followed by a traditional "Chapel Tea" with lots of nice food and good fellowship.