Month: July 2025

The sermon on Sunday, August 3, 2025, will be from 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 – A Faultless Ministry.   “… as having nothing, yet possessing everything.” – 2 Corinthians 6:10

Serving Christ in his church as a lay-leader or a minister may require one to face conundrums. Certain situations may not make sense. In 2 Corinthians Chapter 6, we see that Paul endured these sorts of dilemmas (6:8-10) and we must expect them too in the 21st Century. Yet, in the ‘trough’ of suffering, he discovered the sufficiency of the grace of Christ. The same grace awaits us when we commit our ways to the Lord Jesus (Psalm 37:3-7)

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

The sermon on Sunday, July 27, 2025, will be from 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 – Crooked Sticks and Straight Lines.  “… treasure in jars of clay …” – 2 Corinthians 4:7

Back in the days of ‘cold, hard cash’, people stored their life’s savings in unlikely places. $100 bills wound up in freezers, between box-springs and mattresses, and in out-houses! Well, under these ‘new covenant’ days, God has hidden his gospel treasure in an unlikely place – “… in jars of clay, …”. What is Paul communicating with the metaphor? He is highlighting the fragility of the ‘jars’ (Christian ministers and witnesses) and the inestimable value of the ‘treasure’ (the gospel of Christ). Really?? Would God the Father Almighty (who has the hosts of heaven at his disposal) use redeemed sinners to assist in announcing his eternal purpose in Christ to the nations? Paul would say, “Yes!! That is exactly right!!” Ponder the profundity of this and view yourself as a jar of clay which contains eternal riches for the benefit of spiritually bankrupt human beings all around you.

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

The sermon on Sunday, July 20, 2025, will be from 2 Corinthians 4:1-6, The Light Shining in the Darkness. “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.” – 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

The best lessons often begin with a simple question, so, let me ask, “How did the Apostle Paul persevere in the work of Christian ministry?” If you wonder why I ask this question, read 2 Corinthians 11:22-33 and call me in the morning! Paul faced overwhelming opposition, persecution, and suffering as he followed the Lord Jesus and answered his call to preach the gospel to the nations with a “Yes.” The verse above gives us the answer to our question; he refers back to the ministry of the new covenant in 2 Corinthians Chapter 3. The Spirit of the living God through the gospel redeems fallen humanity and writes the law of God upon human hearts transforming sinners into saints (2 Cor. 3:2-3) and translating fallen men and women from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of God (Col. 1:13-14). This work of God is the greatest thing happening in the world. So, “We do not lose heart!”

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

The sermon on Sunday, July 13, 2025, will be from 2 Corinthians 3:1-11, The Glory of the New Covenant. “… [God] has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant …” – 2 Corinthians 3:6

Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper with these words, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22:20). So, Christ’s teaching on the evening before his death highlighted the importance of the new covenant (Jer. 31:31-34). Most Presbyterians believe that there is one covenant of grace in the Bible (Gen. 3:15) and this one covenant of grace is ‘differently administered in the time of the law, and in the time of the gospel.’ The Mosaic law pointed forward to the coming of the ‘Mediator’ of the covenant of grace; the gospel causes us to look back in human history to the fulfillment of this one covenant of grace through the life, death, and resurrection of the One Mediator between God and man – the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5-6). Salvation is by grace … enjoy!

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

The sermon on Sunday, July 6, 2025, will be from 2 Corinthians 2:12-17, Ministering the Gospel Triumphantly.   “… Christ always leads us in triumphal procession …” – 2 Corinthians 2:12-17

Gospel ministers and lay Christians who share the gospel are always led in triumph in Christ. You say, “How can that be? Many reject the gospel message they proclaim.” Well, first, the Holy Spirit in 2 Corinthians 2:14 promises success to those who faithfully share their faith in Christ. Furthermore, God also promises in Isaiah 55:11, “… so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Success is guaranteed when we preach, teach, and share the gospel of Christ.

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