Category: Weekly Thoughts

This Sunday the sermon is from Luke 2:1-20 – “But Mary…”. “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy …” – Luke 2:10

One famous Christmas carol goes like this, “Good Christian men, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice; now ye need not fear the grave: Jesus Christ was born to save.” Little wonder that the angels’ announcement to the shepherds says, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy.” Little wonder that the famous Apostle Paul proclaimed, “… our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” (2 Timothy 1:10) Now, because Christ has lived, died and was resurrected from the dead, we can join Paul in his taunt, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

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

This Sunday the sermon is from 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22- “Test Everything”.  “… but test everything; hold fast what is good.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Are you careful about your religious beliefs and practices? Who do you read? What do you know about the author of the book? Who do you listen to on the radio or television? What do you know about the television or radio preacher? Do you attend a church where the minister is committed to teaching you the Bible? Jesus Christ warned His followers about false christs and false prophets who would lead many astray (Matthew 24:4-5, 23-24). The Apostles of Christ issued the same sort of warnings (2 Corinthians 11:3-4; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1; Jude 3-4). We must “test everything”; We, like the Bereans, must “examine the Scriptures daily …”(Acts 17:11).

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

This Sunday the sermon is from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18- “Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart”.   “… give thanks in all circumstances …” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

How can we obey this seemingly impossible command? We have no problem giving thanks when God blesses us with health, wealth and peace. But we all struggle with giving thanks when illness or poverty or discord or disappointment come our way. Philippians 4:13 is helpful as we seek to obey this command – “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Christ comes to the aid of His people to strengthen them by His Spirit. As we read Scripture, as we learn to pray, as we ponder the great hymns of the Christian faith, as we build relationships with God’s people, God teaches us how to be thankful even in difficult circumstances. (See Acts 16:19-26; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; 1 Peter 1:3-9)

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

This Sunday the sermon is from 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15- “Attitudes Toward Church Leaders and One Another”. “Be at peace among yourselves.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:13

God often speaks to His people in His Word about peace. Jesus Himself addressed this when He stated, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9) The Apostle Paul reminded us, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12:18) And the writer of Hebrews also instructed us to, “Strive for peace with everyone, and for holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14) The God of Scripture is called “… the God of peace …” (Hebrews 13:20). So, let me ask, are we the “sons of God?” Do we “strive for peace with everyone?” Do we “… pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding?” (Romans 14:19)

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

This Sunday the sermon is from Proverbs 4: 20-23; Titus 2:11-12- “You Are What You Love”.    “… if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” – Philippians 4:8

God is concerned about our minds. He is concerned about our thought-life. We see this in Philippians 4:8. Here, Paul commands Christians to think about things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise. Romans 12:2 reminds us of this same concern, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Unfortunately, many distractions exist in this world which hinder us in this pursuit. May we, as Paul says, “… cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)

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

This Sunday the sermon is from Ephesians 5:13-16- “Seeing the Vortex: A Reformation Day Sermon”.  “Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” – Jeremiah 23:29

On October 31st, 1517, Martin Luther used a hammer to nail his “95 Theses” to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg, Germany. He had no intention of causing division within the Roman Catholic Church of the 16th Century. He only sought to address errors and abuses within the Church of his day and to bring reform through Holy Scripture. But God had a different design in this event. His word, through Luther, spread like fire to the surrounding regions in Germany; And His word, through Luther served as a hammer to shatter false teaching that had no basis in the Word of God. Every generation needs a Luther or men like him who courageously proclaim God’s Word in the church and in the world.

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

This Sunday the sermon is from 1 Thessalonians 5:4-11- “Living as Children of the Light”. “But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:4

Jesus Christ gave clear and helpful instruction to His disciples concerning His 2nd Coming. One example of this is found in chapters 24 and 25 of Matthew’s Gospel. He clearly prepared His disciples (and us) for this final event in human history. Therefore, Paul could state concerning the Thessalonians, “But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.” The instruction of Christ and the Apostle Paul shed light upon this momentous event and they had prepared accordingly. Are you prepared to meet the Lord in the air? Do you know Jesus Christ and are you living for Him

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

This Sunday the sermon is from 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3- “Understanding the Times”  “… and they will not escape.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:3

For believers in the Lord Jesus, the Bible is filled with great and precious promises concerning the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ and the end of the world. He will return visibly and in great power. He will gather all of those who have trusted in Him and take them to heaven. But, for unbelievers, the Bible warns them and threatens them. The Bible pleads with them to flee from the wrath to come (See 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Revelation 6:12-17). Trust in Christ today.

“For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
Sunday Service Streamed Live at 11:00 AM – YouTube.com – Keyword: Hickory Withe PCA

This Sunday the sermon is from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – “The Return of Jesus Christ”.  “Therefore encourage one another with these words.”  – 1 Thessalonians 4:18

What comes to mind initially when you think of eschatology or the Bible’s teaching on the end of the world? Some Christians engage in vigorous debate regarding the millennium or the 1,000-year reign of Christ. Some Christians become tired of the debate and thereby neglect to think on this doctrine as they should. Isn’t it interesting in our passage that Paul uses the doctrine in a very practical way? Apparently, some of the Thessalonian Christians were concerned over loved ones who had died. Where were they? Had they missed Christ’s return? Would they see their loved ones again? Paul answers these questions in verses 13-17. And he closes by telling them to encourage each other with the teaching (not debate one another!).

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

This Sunday the sermon is from 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 – “Concerning Brotherly Love”.  “… you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, …” – 1 Thessalonians 4:9

Christ told His disciples on the eve of His crucifixion – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35) In case you didn’t catch that, He sets before the disciples a very high standard – “… just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” How often we fail, as Christians, to practice what our Lord commands! We can be so selfish and self-centered! How we need to pray with Paul that we might “… know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge …”. (Ephesians 3:19)

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