Category: Weekly Thoughts

The sermon on Sunday, December 28, 2025, will be 2 Timothy 4:9-18 -The Apostle Paul: Beginning and Ending in Glory.  “To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” – 2 Timothy 4:18

A very popular Protestant catechism begins with this question, “What is the chief end of man?” Then, the question is answered, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” The Apostle Paul’s Christian life began and ended with an emphasis upon the glory of God. Certainly, this was true when he was converted on the Damascus Road (Acts 9). He was blind and anorexic for three days due to his encounter with the exalted and living Christ. And in some of the last words he penned (from a Roman prison cell facing execution), he returns to this theme – “To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” How about you? Have you discovered man’s chief end? When you do, you will be well on your way to the eternal enjoyment of God.

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

The sermon on Sunday, December 21, 2025, will be Ephesians 1:15-23 – The Birth of the Head of the Church. “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, …” – Ephesians 1:22

Most of us have heard that ‘nature abhors a vacuum,’ but the same is true regarding authority in the world and in the church. ‘Church government’ sounds cold and mechanical for a ‘spiritual’ kingdom; but anyone who has participated in a church for any length of time knows that there must be a clear understanding of who is the head of the church and how his authority is exercised in this, the most wonderful institution on earth. Paul states in no uncertain terms that Christ is King and Head of the Church. This, of course, is the good news of Christmas, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)

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

The sermon on Sunday, December 14, 2025, will be Colossians 1:15-20 – Asleep in Bethlehem, Yet Ruling the World. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” -Colossians 1:15

The popular Christian apologist of the 20th Century in Britain, C. S. Lewis, coined an idea that some have called a ‘trilemma.’ In Mere Christianity, Lewis posits that the New Testament leaves one with three options concerning the Person of Christ. Either he was a lunatic, a liar, or he was Lord. Later philosophers have criticized Lewis’s ‘trilemma,’ but in my opinion, he was correct. Jesus Christ, while on earth, asked his followers, “Who do you say that I am?” He is still asking that question today through his Word and by his Spirit. So, what about you? Do you think he was a lunatic? Or, a liar? Or, do you believe he was/is the Lord of heaven and earth?

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

The sermon on Sunday, December 7, 2025, will be Romans 9:1-5 – God Over All in Bethlehem’s Manger. “… Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.”  – Romans 9:5

In my intermediate Greek class in seminary, my professor required me and his other students to write an exegetical paper on the divinity of Jesus Christ. That is, the Lord Jesus Christ is God in human flesh; he is One Person, but he possesses both a divine and human nature. We were required to exegete every New Testament passage which affirms the Deity of Christ. Quite frankly, this was one of my most memorable assignments during my seminary days. Now, some may reject this New Testament claim, but it is a claim nonetheless, “Christ is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.” Is this the Christ you worship?

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

The sermon on Sunday, November 30, 2025, will be from Acts 9:1-22 – And Suddenly a  Light from Heaven. “… and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.” – Acts 9:3

In Luke’s birth narrative (Luke 2:8-9), we read that the ‘glory of the Lord’ shone around the shepherds in a field as they were keeping watch over their flocks by night. They were told not to fear because the angel attending the glory was bringing them good news of great joy. Saul of Tarsus saw the same glory in a post-resurrection appearance of Christ and Christ’s boldest foe became his greatest ambassador. Paul’s insight into the Person and Work of Christ is exceedingly helpful for believers in the 21st Century. Come and visit Hickory Withe Presbyterian Church this Advent Season as we consider the theme ‘Pauline Christology.’

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

The sermon on Sunday, November 23, 2025, will be from Revelation 3:1-6, Dead Church Walking. “Wake up …” – Revelation 3:2

Receiving general anesthesia is beneficial for the patient and the surgeon. The patient sleeps through a painful procedure and the surgeon is able to perform surgery. But ‘spiritual anesthesia’ is a tool in the devil’s hands. Men and women sleep spiritually when they hear sermons designed for their soul’s salvation. Hypocrites, those “… having a reputation of being alive, but are dead,” snooze as calls to repentance proceed from their minister’s mouth. So, our very loving, but serious-minded Lord Jesus issues the simple, two-word summons, “Wake up!”

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

The sermon on Sunday, November 16, 2025, will be from Revelation 2:18-28 – The Church which Tolerated Jezebel.  “… you tolerate that woman Jezebel, …” – Revelation 2:20

Tolerance is a commendable quality in a human being, but not always. The church in Thyatira was tolerating a wicked, self-designated prophetess named ‘Jezebel.’ The name reminds us of the wife of king Ahab in the Old Testament. She murdered the Lord’s prophets (1 Kgs. 18:4). She epitomized evil. She is remembered at some level today – how many parents do you know who have named their daughters ‘Jezebel?’ Christ’s treatment of her is anything but tolerant (Rev. 2:22-23). Likewise, today, false prophetesses still abound. Do not tolerate them!

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

The sermon on Sunday, November 9, 2025, will be from Psalm 130, A Prayer from the Depths. ”And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” – Psalm 130:8

Many Christians have not comprehended the wonder and assurance of Psalm 130. They live as if the redemption they have in Christ is not plentiful (Psalm 130:7). Therefore, they live with feelings of guilt, thinking that their redemption is partial. They have not fully digested Psalm 130:8 when it states, “And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” A tremendous old hymn states, “Bold shall I stand in thy great day; for who aught to my charge shall lay? Fully absolved through these I am from sin and fear, from guilt and shame.” That, … is a plentiful redemption!

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

The sermon on Sunday, November 2, 2025, will be from 2 Peter:1-19, The Light of the Gospel. … a lamp shining in a dark place …” – 2 Peter 1:19

Recently, I took my granddaughter on a walk in the woods late one afternoon. As the sun began to set, I told her, “You always want to be out of the woods before the sun goes down. The woods will get real dark and scary.” Likewise, we live in a sin-darkened world, but the light of Christ shines into the darkness through his holy Word. It, indeed, “… is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.” (Psalm 119:105)

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

The sermon on Sunday, October 26, 2025, will be from Revelation 2:12-17 – Holding Fast Before Satan’s Throne.  “To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna …” – Revelation 2:17

The Bible teaches the preservation and the perseverance of the saints. First, the Triune God preserves his people; he begins the good work in them and brings it to completion until the day of Christ (Philippians 1:6). And, his people persevere; through the strength Christ gives them by his Spirit, they ‘deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow their Lord.’ They conquer and by grace they receive their eternal reward.

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