Month: October 2024

The sermon is from be Romans 12: 9-13–”Serve the Lord Admirably”.  “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” – Romans 12:11

Paul’s rapid-fire commands in Romans 12:9-13 take one’s breath away. There are 13 of them in only 5 verses. He summons Christians to love, abhor, hold fast, love, outdo, be zealous, be fervent, serve, rejoice, be patient, be constant, contribute, and seek. Do you recoil from this list and say, “Impossible!! I am sinful and weak. I can never measure up to these expectations!” Well, there is good news for you; someone did measure up; his name is Jesus Christ and he grants his perfect righteousness to those who trust him alone for salvation. Now, clothed in his righteousness, believers can trust him to work in them “… both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Phil, 2:12). He will “lift their drooping hands and strengthen their weak knees” (Heb. 12:12) as they present themselves to him as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1).

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

The sermon is from Romans 12:3-8 –“Gifted to Serve Christ and His Body”. “For in it [i.e. the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed …” – Romans 1:17

In the early 1500s, a German monk began to ponder just one phrase in Romans 1:17 and that phrase was “the righteousness of God.” He had always been terrified of this concept; he would tremble over the implications of this divine attribute. God was morally perfect and the monk knew that he was not. But, as he read, studied, and taught Romans, he came to a different understanding of the phrase. He came to see that Paul was actually describing a “gift” of divine righteousness that is credited to sinners who by faith alone, trust Christ alone for salvation (Romans 3:21-26; 4:1-8; 5:15-21). The monk’s name was Martin Luther and his re-discovery of the doctrine of justification by faith alone sparked what is known as “The Protestant Reformation.” Let me invite you to come to Hickory Withe Presbyterian Church this Sunday at 6:00 PM. The worship service will uplift you and the sermon on “Justification by Faith Alone” will instruct and edify you.

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

The sermon is from Romans 12:1-2 – “Now, What?” “Do not be conformed … but be transformed …” – Romans 12:2

The Bible teaches that sin no longer reigns in Christians (Romans 6:1-23), but the Bible also teaches that sin does remain in Christians (Romans 7:14-25). Romans 12:2 reminds us of the world’s efforts to conform us and to shape us into its mold. The Christian, now indwelt by the Holy Spirit, is summoned to resist these pressures which wage war without and within. An old hymn, if sung as a prayer, might aid us in the struggle, “O let me feel thee near me, the world is ever near; I see the sights that dazzle, the tempting sounds I hear: my foes are ever near me, around me and within; but, Jesus, draw thou nearer, and shield my soul from sin.” (Trinity Hymnal #654 – O Jesus, I Have Promised)

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

The sermon is from Romans 11:33-36- “Sola Deo Gloria”.  “How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” -Romans 11:33

Someone in the 16th Century asked the Protestant Reformer, John Calvin, “What was God doing before he created the world?” To which Calvin replied, “He was preparing hell for the curious.” Now, Calvin wasn’t discouraging scientific inquiry, but he was admonishing us to exercise caution in our study of Scripture and not to go beyond what God has revealed in his Word. Moses provides perspective for the humble study of God’s Word, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of the law.” (Deut. 29:29)

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

The sermon is from Romans 11:25-32 – “Israel’s Future Salvation”.  “… in this way all Israel will be saved, …” – Romans 11:26

In Romans Chapters 9, 10, and 11, Paul explains a great conundrum in the First Century. Israel’s promised Messiah came to earth and the nation en masse rejected him. He came to his “own” and his own did not receive him (John 1:11). How can one explain this tragedy? Well, Paul, in 3 chapters demonstrates that this turn of events was a part of God’s sovereign plan in human and redemptive history; and he also predicts a day when Israel’s fortunes will be reversed. Listen to Romans 11:26, when, “The Deliverer comes from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob; ….” Let us long for that day.

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