Category: Weekly Thoughts

The sermon on Sunday, August 10, 2025, will be from 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 – Suffering for His Name’s Sake. “If I must boast, …” – 2 Corinthians 11:30

According to Paul’s teaching elsewhere, boasting is prohibited in the life of the Christian (Romans 3:27-28; Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation from beginning to end is all of grace and Christians must avoid boasting as they would the plague. But in our verse above, Paul must reluctantly boast about his untold sufferings for Christ and the gospel. We read these verses (11:22-33) and recoil in disbelief – “How was he able to endure these sufferings?” Well, he persevered by the grace Christ abundantly supplied and so shall we (12:7-10).

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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.

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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!

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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.

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The sermon on Sunday, June 29, 2025, will be from 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 – Our Extremity and God’s Opportunity. “But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” – 2 Corinthians 1:9

Someone has wisely stated, “There are no atheists in foxholes.” Some critics make fun of ‘foxhole prayers.’ But at least the soldier prayed. I think we would be surprised to know just how ready the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is to answer the prayers of the desperate and the destitute. A very wise Scottish Presbyterian minister, Thomas Boston wrote, “Our extremity is God’s opportunity.” (See Ephesians 3:20-21)

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The sermon on Sunday, June 22, 2025, will be from 2 Corinthians 1:1-7 – The God of All Comfort. “… the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, …”  -2 Corinthians 1:1-7

Conscientious preachers and pastors struggle to present to their congregations an accurate description of the Triune God. Some lean toward an emphasis upon God’s severity – his holiness, majesty, righteousness, and wrath. Others lean in the direction of his kindness – his love, grace, mercy, and patience. Scripture assists us greatly; faithful pastors should emphasize both of these attributes, “Note then the kindness and severity of God: ….” (Romans 11:22). In 2 Corinthians 1:3, Paul focuses upon his kindness, and aren’t we glad? He is, “The Father of mercies and God of all comfort ….”

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

The sermon on Sunday, June 15, 2025, will be from Romans 16:25-27 – Doctrine and Doxology. “… to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.” – Romans 16:27

At Hickory Withe Presbyterian Church, we began our studies of Romans in February of 2019; we completed the first 8 chapters in March of 2020; we took an extended break from April of 2020 until April of 2024; we resumed our studies in May of 2024 starting in chapter 9; and we will conclude these studies this Sunday, June 15th with our 94th sermon from this majestic letter – ‘The Constitution of Christianity.’ First, I give thanks to God for allowing me to finish what I started. Next, I give thanks for the HWPC congregation and for their love for the Scriptures and for the Savior who has revealed himself to them through these studies. Finally, let me close these sermons like Paul concluded this exhilarating letter, “… to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.”

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

The sermon on Sunday, June 8, 2025, will be from Romans 16:17-20 – Tying Up Loose Ends: WATCH OUT! “I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.” – Romans 16:22

Studying the Scripture is like digging for buried treasure. It requires mental ‘sweat equity,’ but the reward for one’s labor is priceless. Such is the case in Romans 16:22. Paul had an ‘amanuensis’ named Tertius. He served as Paul’s secretary; he wrote the letter of Romans as Paul dictated it. Think of the majestic doctrines of Romans concerning justification, sanctification, adoption, glorification, and God’s sovereign purposes in our world. Think of the privilege to hear these teachings directly from the mouth of the Apostle Paul. Think of the privilege and responsibility that is ours to “take up and read.”

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