Month: July 2023

The sermon is from Luke 15:1-10– “This Man Receives Sinners”.  “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” – Luke 15:2

The utterance of the Pharisees and scribes was dripping with scorn, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Unknowingly, however, they preached the Gospel! They promoted the good news of the kingdom of God! As the Apostle Paul declared, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” (1 Timothy 1:15). So, no one has fallen too far into sin! Paul, the foremost of sinners (See Galatians 1:11-16; Philippians 3:4-7), experienced the grace, mercy, and love of the Triune God – and so can you! (See Matthew 11:28-30).

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

The sermon is from Luke 14:25-35– “Crowd Control”.  “Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, ….” – Luke 14:25

Jesus, on several occasions, practiced “crowd control.” We see a record of this in Luke 14:25-35. We can also see that he does the same thing in John Chapter 6, verses 60-71. Church growth experts probably would not have him on their board of directors. But Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He “shoots straight” with his early disciples and he does the same with us. He knows that, “Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe ….” He prepares us for the reality of Christian difficulty and persecution. But the hymn quoted above goes on to say, “… round his standard ranging, victory is secure; for his truth unchanging makes the triumph sure.”

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

The sermon is from Luke 13:22-30 – “The Narrow Gate into the Narrow Way”.  “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” – Luke 13:23

How many people will be in heaven? Some may ask this question in a speculative sort of way. It is interesting in our passage that the preaching and teaching of Christ prompted the question. What in his preaching created such dim prospects for mankind? Notice verse 24, Christ states (and it is a commandment), “Strive to enter through the narrow door.” We are certainly reminded of Christ’s teaching in Matthew, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13-14). The wiser question is, “Will I be in heaven? Will YOU be in heaven?”

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

The sermon is from Luke 13:1-9– “When Sinners are Slain and Towers Fall”.  “… but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” – Luke 13:3, 5

Both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ began their ministries with a message of repentance (See Mark 1:4; 14-15). The Apostle Peter took the cue on the Day of Pentecost and concluded his sermon by saying, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins ….”(See Acts 2:38). So, the doctrine of repentance is an essential doctrine of the Christian faith. But what does it mean to repent? The Children’s Catechism states so clearly – “How do you repent of your sin? I must be sorry for my sin, and hate and forsake it.” And, then, the Catechism goes on to teach – “Why must you hate and forsake your sin? Because sin displeases God.” Modern preachers must mimic Christ and the Apostles by declaring, “… unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

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