Month: September 2022

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

This Sunday the sermon is from 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 – “Abstain from Sexual Sin”.  “For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:7

God has not called His children to be “holier than thou” in their attitudes or to be a “holy-roller” in their behavior. But He has called His people to be holy in the way they think and live. What does this mean? To be holy means that one is being sanctified; He is being conformed into the image of Christ in the way he thinks and the way he lives (Romans 8:29; 1 John 2:4-6). This process begins with the new birth. It is the gift of God’s grace and the work of God’s Spirit. And the process continues until the believer dies or Christ returns (Philippians 1:6).

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

This Sunday the sermon is from 1 Thessalonians 4:1-3 – “The Ethics of the Christian Life”.  “For this is the will of God, your sanctification …” – 1 Thessalonians 4:3

Do you want to know God’s will for your life? Often Christians want to know the will of God concerning life’s major decisions. They want to know “the will of God” concerning education, or marriage, or vocation. They ask, “Where should I go to school? Whom should I marry? What job should I take?” But, in this passage, Paul focuses upon something else. He clearly states that our sanctification is God’s will for us. God wants us to grow in holiness and in likeness to Christ. As we do, God will bring clarity and direction for these other questions related to His will for us.

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

This Sunday the sermon is from 1 Thessalonians 2:17- 3:13 – “The Real World of Gospel Ministry”.  “… we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction …” – 1 Thessalonians 3:4

The Apostle Paul prepared 1st Century Christians for suffering. He essentially reminded them of His Savior’s words – “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) A famous hymn asks – “Is this vile world a friend to grace, to help me on to God?” And, Jesus warns and at the same time encourages His disciples with these words from John 16:33 – “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

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