Month: May 2025

The sermon on Sunday, June 1, 2025, will be from Romans 15:30-33 – Tying Up Loose Ends: Greetings to Those in Rome. “Greet Prisca and Aquila, … who risked their necks for my life …” – Romans 16:3-4

The New Testament often provides ‘windows’ into the lives of 1st Century Christians. This ‘window’ into what Prisca and Aquila experienced is stunning. They faced martyrdom for the sake of Christ and for their brother in Christ, the Apostle Paul. Paul himself and Barnabas also, “risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 15:26). Paul penned these words, “For your sakes we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” (Romans 8:36). And yet, he was also able to confess, “…, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37).

Sunday Service Streamed Live at 11:00 AM – YouTube.com – Hickory Withe PCA

The sermon on Sunday, May 25, 2025, will be from Romans 15:30-33- Tying Up Loose Ends: “Let’s Strive Side-by-Side for the Faith of the Gospel  “… strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, …” – Romans 15:30

As Romans Chapter 15 closes, we might find ourselves speechless as we review the passion of the Apostle Paul to reach the world for Christ. Maybe even some of the same feelings of guilt overtake us as they do when our pastors encourage us to witness for Christ and we feel so inadequate. If such is true, I have good news for you, there is a place for you to begin to participate in the evangelism efforts of your local church – pray for your pastor and others who proclaim the gospel to the lost. I have more good news – the prayers of God’s people are THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF ANY EVANGELISTIC EFFORT! Evangelistic prayers are not ‘busy-work,’ they are ‘essential-work’ in any effort to reach the lost with the gospel. Notice Paul’s emphasis in his letters – Rom. 15:30-32; Eph. 6:18-20; 2 Thess. 3:1-5 – and PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!

Sunday Service Streamed Live at 11:00 AM – YouTube.com – Hickory Withe PCA

The sermon on Sunday, May 18, 2025, will be from Romans 15:22-29 “I Never Been to Spain”.  “… I will leave for Spain by way of you.” – Romans 15:28

Bible teachers and pastors often unearth ‘nuggets’ of truth tucked away in otherwise overlooked verses of Scripture. Such is the case in Romans 15, verses 24 and 28. We tend to say, “Neat, Paul wanted to take the gospel to Spain.” But look at verses 19 and 22. He had already planted churches north from Jerusalem and west to the eastern border of Italy. That comprises the entire northeastern region of the 1st Century Mediterranean world. Now, with his sights on Spain, he has plans to cover the northwestern region of the Mediterranean world. If successful in this plan, he would have established the Christian church in the entire northern Mediterranean coastal regions in 15-20 short years. Do we have an “as I go to Spain” vision for our church?

Sunday Service Streamed Live at 11:00 AM – YouTube.com – Hickory Withe PCA

The sermon on Sunday, May 11, 2025, will be from Psalm 121:1-8,  “A Mother’s Psalm”. “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” – Psalm 121:2

Americans love ‘rags-to-riches’ stories and ‘self-made’ men and women. Granted, one must admire those who are born into poverty, who receive an education or acquire job skills and who do well for themselves. But how many such people stop to think of who gave them minds, breath, and opportunities for advancement? How many of them realize that it is God who protects them from illness and injury thereby enabling them to do well? How many of them ponder Psalm 49:17, 20 – “For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him … Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.” Therefore, only help from the Lord will ransom one from the power of death (Psalm 49:20).

Sunday Service Streamed Live at 11:00 AM – YouTube.com – Hickory Withe PCA