Burnt Hickory | Sermons: Recent Episodes
Burnt Hickory
Our mission is to reach everyone around us with the hope of Christ. We are a church founded on building strong families focused on impacting our community. We want to show and receive God’s love to those around us, and we live that out practically everyday. We strive to bring hope by meeting physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of everyone we come in contact with. We love fiercely—like a family, because everyone is included and our Father loves us all. We’re building biblical community by seeking God’s Word, believing in His promises, and applying what we learn everyday. Our hope is that you and your family find a home with us where you can learn, grow, live, and thrive in Christ Jesus. We’re a multi-generational church with something to offer everyone in your family. Join us for a Sunday morning worship service, and take the next step in your journey with us!
Just because we don’t clearly see God’s plan in this moment, it does not mean that He does not moving in an amazing way to save us. Sometimes, even when we don’t see God, He still wants us to stand for Him. We continue our sermon series called God’s Not Done With You, and we read from scripture about Esther. What we learn is that God is always working to position and prepare us to make a stand for Him, and He places wise people in our lives to show us His compassion and His plan. God see and blesses every act of obedience, and we are never out of His sight. Do you trust in God’s plan? Are there times when you feel like you are completely alone, and God is not with you? Do you have questions or need someone to pray with? Feel free to reach out, we’d love to answer any questions and take time to pray with you. You can take the next step in your faith journey by visiting burnthickory.com/next.
As we continue our sermon series called God’s not done with you, we dive into the story of Jonah. We learn that the discipline of God comes from His heart of love to draw us back to him, not to push us away. Sin starts with small decisions but ends with major disasters because it starts with us saying no to God and yes to our own desires. We also see that sin causes us to live as people we swore we would never be and our sin effects everyone around us. But the good news is that God loves us enough to provide a solution to our sin problem through His forgiveness and love. As you learn about Jonah’s sin in scripture, what takeaways resonate with you? How does your sin affect you and others around you? Have you placed your trust in Jesus to forgive you? As always, we’d love to connect with you, take time to pray and answer any questions you have. You can take the next step in your faith journey by visiting burnthickory.com/next.
God loves you, and He wants to give you peace, power, deliverance and hope. As we study Elijah’s story today in scripture, we see a road map to despair paved with emptiness, opposition, fearfulness, and loneliness. But also, we see in the bible that God will always provide just what we need, right when we need it. Our role as Christ followers is to trust in God’s provision and listen to Him. God gives us assurance of His power, presence, and love, and that is what defeats despair. Are you dealing with the battle of darkness? Do you feel like Elijah sometimes – in the pit of despair? Do you need to trust in God’s provision? Do you have questions about Jesus? We’d love to connect with you, answer any questions you have, and take time to pray with you over what you are going through in life. Reach out today! Also, you can always take the next step in your faith journey by visiting burnthickory.com/next
No matter the circumstance we find ourselves in today, God will be faithful. He is always working for our eternal good and his glory; therefore, we should boldly live with an eternal focus, not a sin-stained, limited, earthly perspective. As we continue our sermon series called God’s Not Done With You, we look in Genesis at the story of Joseph. What we can learn from this scripture is that even if it seems that all others have rejected you, even family, God hasn’t, and God is enough. Our true character is revealed in the choices we make under pressure, and when other believe the worst about you, it’s God that stand with and for you. Do you feel abandoned or betrayed by people? Are you putting your trust in the one who has your back? Do you need to ask Jesus to be your savior to be assured that you have ultimate victory? Then reach out today, we’d love to answer any questions you have and take time to pray with you. Take the next step in your faith journey by visiting burnthickory.com/next
When you are feeling like the world has ended, that things you’re striving for are falling apart, when it seems like all hope is lost, God’s not done with you. We look in scripture through this sermon series at the lives of people who have not been defined by their past, but God has shown that even in their failures, He’s not done in their lives. Today we look at Moses and see that God was not done with him, and that every person that is greatly used by God has had an encounter when they have had to listen to God. God speaks when we are humble and ready to listen to Him, and one simple word from God can literally change our whole life. As we listen and begin to trust God, we see that God can ensure our future no matter what our past looks like. Are you listening to God? Do you trust Him? Do you have questions about who God is? We’d love to connect with you and answer any questions you’ve got and spend time praying with you. Take the next step today by visiting burnthickory.com/next.
As we conclude our sermon series through Ephesians, we look at chapter 6 and the idea that our work matters to God. What we do for a vocation is ordained by God at creation before the fall – to work in relationship with each other, to meet needs, and to be fruitful and multiply. In modern times, we have separated the sacred from the secular, keeping work and Christina life distinct, when in reality, our vocation is our calling from God. As we seek God’s approval, we get to serve others through our interactions at work. Your eternal rewards are given by God based on your work here on earth, so your work matters to him. How are you using your job as your calling? Who do you do your job for? What’s your next step to wrap the secular into the sacred at work? If you’ve got questions, we’d love to connect with you, answer any questions you might have, and take time to pray with you – so reach out today. You can take the next step in your faith journey by visiting burnthickory.com/next.
In Ephesians chapter 5, we see the picture of what a family looks like that’s been changed by the gospel. Just as Christ saved us from darkness, we are to live as children of light in Him. When we read that wives should submit to their husbands, we know that it does not mean that a wife is not equal to her husband, or that she has to always agree with her husband. What it does imply is that a biblical marriage has honor for the husband’s Godly leadership and cooperate in helping through her gifts. When we see that husbands are to love their wives with a sacrificial, serving, faithful, caring, and sanctifying love. For those of us who are married, we know that having a healthy marriage takes work and patience. If you are struggling a little in your relationship, or are in a full-blown crisis, sign up for our marriage mentoring program - https://www.burnthickory.com/marriagementoring. If you have questions or want to take the next step in your faith journey, then reach out today – burnthickory.com/next.
We continue in our summer sermon series through Ephesians by looking at chapter 4 this week. We see that in discerning spiritual gifts that God has given us, we need to consider our affinity, ability, and the affirmation from others. Our gifts are the means in which we share the gospel. Because we have been changed through the gospel, we live with renewed minds, hearts, and souls for Christ. Charles Stanley puts it this way – “God's plan for enlarging His kingdom is so simple - one person telling another about the Savior. Yet we're busy and full of excuses. Just remember, someone's eternal destiny is at stake. The joy you'll have when you meet that person in heaven will far exceed any discomfort you felt in sharing the gospel.”
This week, we continue our sermon series through Ephesians as we look to chapter 3 verses 14-21. We know that an active prayer life is an essential part of Christian living, and Paul gives us a model prayer to follow and learn from in his letter to the Ephesians. We should pray with humility through gratitude of God’s provision and with confidence in him. We need to seek through prayer the fullness of God’s power and love and pray with great expectations for what He has and is doing. The passage ends with the benediction: now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. As always, we’d love to connect with you and answer any questions you have about faith and Jesus as well as pray with you. Reach out today or take the next step by visiting burnthickory.com/next.
This week, we continue our Ephesians sermon series, called Together in Him and for Him, by looking at the second chapter the Apostle Paul writes to the church in Ephesus. We learn that while sin is an action we commit, it is also a condition that we are born into. When we live like we are the God of our life, we replace living for God's glory inside His authority with living for our own glory by following our sinful desires. From this passage, we find that the four key elements of our salvation are the foundation of our salvation (grace) , the means of our salvation (faith), the effect of our salvation (good works), and the promise of our salvation (whatever God starts, He finishes). Faith is not a religious feeling; it is a belief that Jesus has done it all, it is all finished, and that salvation happens just like He said it would.
As we celebrate the fathers and father figures in our lives this week, we get to hear from a panel of dads and pastors give us godly wisdom for shepherding our families. God gives us as dads some scriptural commands to not exasperate our kids, but to bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Earthly fathers should be patterned and reflect God’s divine fatherhood, and the guide for all fathers should be to live in such a way that his children can see what God the Father is like. If you’ve got questions about Jesus, we’d love to connect with you and take time to answer those questions and pray with you – so reach out today. You can always take the next step in your faith journey by visiting burnthickory.com/next.
We continue in the second half of the first chapter in the book of Ephesians for our sermon series called Together in Him and for Him. Today we ask God to open our eyes to the hope that he has called us to, the riches of his glorious inheritance, and the incomparably great power that is available to us as Christians. As followers of Christ, our main purpose is to know and pursue God more and in this we need to realize that we are God’s greatest treasure now and forever more. Because we have biblical hope, we can trust with certainty that God treasures us, and we are not left abandoned. We learn from scripture that our faith in God and our love for others is a constant and continual litmus test of the condition of our souls. Do you have hope for eternity? Are there questions gnawing at your faith? Know that that’s perfectly normal, and we’d love to answer any questions you have and take time to pray with you. Reach out today, and you can take the next step in your faith journey by visiting burnthickory.com/next
We begin our summer sermon series through the book of Ephesians and dig into the idea that we are chosen and set apart, and just as the early church in Ephesus, we have a purpose for God. Pastor Brian covers the beginning of this rich New Testament letter, and we learn that we are chosen, adopted, redeemed, and marked and its all to the praise of the glory of God. This is the good news, that God has so richly blessed us and because of Christ, we have been shown grace. Our salvation is guaranteed, and our inheritance is secure in Christ, and our response is faithful praise. Do you have questions about redemption or grace? Do you want to know how to be assured of your eternal inheritance? We’d love to answer any questions you’ve got and take time to pray with you, so reach out today. As always, you can take the next step in your faith journey by visiting burnthickory.com/next.
It’s the beginning of Advent, a time to celebrate God with us through the birth of Jesus as we look towards Christmas. Pastor Matt will walk through scripture in this sermon series not only looking at the miraculous birth, but also how it affected those around Jesus and how it should affect us as believers today. We begin by looking at Joseph’s faith and how it was tested in his response from the angel of the Lord telling him to marry Mary as planned. We learn that sometimes, it’s God who shatters our dreams to give us better ones. We often don’t see or perceive the fact that God is working, and we need to trust in Him and His plan. We also learn that how we respond to God in a time of crisis reveals a lot about our walk with Him. What does it look like to completely trust in God’s plan for you? What does absolute obedience look like? It’s time to embrace worldly inconvenience for the sake of eternal blessings. Do you have questions about Jesus? Do you want someone to pray with? Do you need to take the next step in your faith journey? We’d love to connect with you – burnthickory.com/next
As a Christian, you’ve probably asked the question: how much good does prayer do? Today, as we conclude the Wisdom From The Master sermon series, we are going to explore what it means to pray persistently. We study in Luke as Jesus teaches us about knocking on the door of a friend and of the widow who kept asking for justice. When we pray desperately, boldly, persistently, and trustingly, we will see our prayers answered. And even when God is not answering, we must keep praying. We also learn that many times God answers our prayers by giving us what we would have asked for if we knew what He knows. What is it that you need to put back into your prayer life that you have just stopped praying? Are you frustrated at the ineffectiveness of your prayer life currently? What do you need to change? As always, we’d love to connect with you and take time to pray with you. You can reach out and take the next step – burnthickory.com/next
We look at one of the most well-known parables Jesus taught this week as we study wisdom from the master, the parable of the Good Samaritan. When we study Luke chapter 10, we see that an expert in the law, or a religious person, was trying to trip up Jesus and capture him in a battle of wits. What we see is the Maker of the Universe turning this simple question of “who is my neighbor” into a wonderful lesson for us as Christians. Many of the largest problems in our lives as believers are not gross iniquities, but gross interferences. We choose not to do anything for those in need. We see in this story that two religious people encounter the poor man on the road, but only the Samaritan stopped, saw him, and took action for him. We should see our world through the loving eyes of Jesus and take action for the vulnerable no matter what their circumstances are. What ways are you seeing or not seeing people around you through the loving eyes of Jesus? How can you take an action for someone vulnerable today? If you have questions or want to get connected and put your faith in action, then take the next step or reach out – burnthickory.com/next.
This week during Missions Sunday, we get to hear from our mission partner Oleg as he shares what’s ben happening in Ukraine during the war. Even though trauma is everywhere around, and the future is so uncertain, people are sharing the gospel and ministering to emotional and physical needs. Learn about how Radooga Ministries is caring for children in the midst of war and turmoil. Special Guest: Oleg Vasilevsky.
We can only live wisely in the present through clear thinking about the future. This principle guides us through continuing our study through the book of Luke in our sermon series called Wisdom From The Master. This week we dive into Luke chapter 12 as we learn from Jesus what it means to be ready for his return. We need to keep our lamp burning and live as a faithful and active steward as we wait and watch. We also see what it means to not be faithful in stewarding what God has given us. Pastor Matt gives us 3 practical tools for ready living: to be aware of your calling, to be confident in Jesus’ return, and to be faithful to your charge. Learn about how you can be ready living and be found a faithful steward as Jesus has commanded us. As always, if you’ve got questions, we’d love to answer them and take time to pray with you. Take the next step in your faith journey today by reaching out – burnthickory.com/next.
Greed isn’t about our possessions, but a reflection of the fallen condition of our hearts. As we study wisdom from the master through Luke, we learn that it’s possible to appear to be living for Jesus but still be consumed by greed. Jesus teaches us to be on guard against all kids of greed, and that life does not consist in an abundance of possessions. Through this bible study, we learn the symptoms of greed as well as the biblical cure for greed. We should be reminded of the biggest gift of all which we’ve already been given, God’s grace. We would love to connect with you and answer any questions you may have. You can always take the next step in your faith journey, just reach out today – burnthickory.com/next
God’s heart is not for you just to attend church, its for you to belong to and be with the church. This week, we look at what it means to be a member of a church through the lens of scripture. The Greek word for church is Ekklesia, which derives from Ek – out of and Kaleo – to call, which translates to the called-out body. We are to live together as a called-out community. The bible shows us that God speaks to and through the church and we are the hope to the world as we carry the gospel. Not only is church important for you, but it also holds the power to impact the world and generations to come. Would you want to belong to a church made up of people with your current level of belonging? Are you actively belonging to a church? If not, plant yourself in a local church, and participate and belong. We’d love to connect with you and get you plugged into a local church near you or with us. Take the next step in discovering membership – burnthickory.com/next
What does it mean to be a true follower of Jesus? We dive into scripture as we continue our sermon series in Luke looking at the wisdom of the master. We study Jesus’ teachings about carrying our cross and following him in order to be his disciple. What does it mean to take up my cross? We see that our beliefs need to be inline with Jesus and our will has to be aligned with his. We have to fully embrace the great commission and we must accept Jesus’ mission as our own as we are called to follow him. What does a life of full surrender look like for you? Where are your beliefs and will in light of Jesus’ teachings and desires? Are you following Jesus for comfort or for the cross? As always, we’d love to connect with you and answer any questions you have, take time to pray with you, and help you take the next step in your faith journey – burnthickory.com/next
We continue our sermon series called Wisdom of the Master by looking at Luke 8 at the healing of the sick woman and the raising of Jairus’ daughter. In both of these stories, we see a parallel that no one is too messed up, unclean, or too insignificant to get Jesus’ attention. And conversely, no one is too good, powerful, or religious to need Jesus. From both sides of these principles, we see the gospel unfold through the Master. As we read scripture, we can be amazed and know we can never underestimate Jesus’ desire and love for us. Through His sacrifice and becoming sin on our behalf, we are saved. Is your life displaying what you truly believe about Jesus? Do you need to be healed and heard today? As always, we’d love to connect with you and answer any questions you might have and take time to pray with you. Take the next step today – burnthickory.com/next
Do you have a healthy fear and love for Jesus? That’s what we seek to answer as we look into the gospel of Luke at more wisdom from the master. We study chapter 8 when Jesus calms the raging storm and, in an instant, everything is calm. The disciples were struck with fear, not from the storm, but from the master who could calm it just with words. We examine our faith as we gather principles from Jesus like fear does not drive out love, and when we rightly fear Jesus, we have no need to fear anything else. Ask the question today: God, where is my faith? Are you full of fear and doubt? What reminders from today’s sermon are resonating with you? As always, we are here for you, and if you’ve got questions or want to take the next step, then reach out today – burnthickory.com/next
We continue on in the book of Luke as we discover more wisdom from the master in scripture. This week, we learn that our obedience is a response, that we keep God’s statutes and laws as a response of gratefulness to the grace that God has given us. We also see some indicators of grace in the lives of believers are uncontrollable passion for Jesus, radical acceptance of others, and tremendous generosity. As we look at the story of the sinful woman saved, the question is – when was the last time you wept over your grace covered sin and salvation? Great love flows from great forgiveness and our lives should reflect the great grace of the Father. What’s hindering you from responding with gratefulness to the grace that God has given us? What kind of grip does grace have on your life? As always, we’d love to pray with you and answer any questions you’ve got. Reach out today and take the next step – burnthickory.com/next
As we begin a new sermon series in the book of Luke, we look at the practical teachings of Jesus as wisdom from the master. Looking at Luke chapter 6, we see Jesus’ teaching on the fruit of the spirit, and we see what distinguishes a self-deceived religious person from a true follower of the master. They don’t bear good fruit, they don’t do what Jesus says, and their faith falls apart in the storms of life. Some of the main areas we see when we aren’t bearing fruit in our lives is in our relationships, finances, career, dreams, bible reading, and prayer. The key takeaway is found in the promise of God that when we fully embrace Jesus with our lives, He will keep us standing, even in the storms. Does your life show the evidence of God at work in you? Are you doing what Jesus says? What do you need to trust God with that you are holding on to and causing you to not bear fruit? As always, we’d love to answer any questions you have and pray with you. Reach out today – burnthickory.com/next
Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials because the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Sounds great, but why is it that God allows trials in our lives and doesn’t respond or remove them? That’s what Pastor Marty helps us consider today as we look through scripture. Having a right understanding of trials is the beginning of understanding why bad things happen to us. When we are tested, God first shows us His love, faithfulness, and power. Then God tests us to see the genuineness of our faith, and they are always about what we believe about God and how much we believe it. As we are tested and tried, we can understand that trials are necessary and bring grief. But they are also short and in turn, they make our faith genuine. A faith that is worth more than gold and brings glory and honor to God. What trials and tests are you going through? Are you allowing the trial to take your focus away from God? Are you angry with God about your situation? We’d love to connect with you, answer any questions, and pray with you. Reach out today – burnthickory.com/next
This week, we focus on building stronger relationships at Burnt Hickory with our special guest speaker Shawn Stoever. Just like being on an adventurous hike, in life we have to have a guide, we choose our partners for the journey, and we will find beauty on the way. In relationships, the world’s way is the wrong path leading to the need to control others, selfishness and pride, and being influenced by culture. Takin the wrong path leads to taking life too seriously, emptiness and exhaustion. We see in scripture that God’s way and His paths lead to listening and understanding, enjoyment of life, and intimate connections. When we follow God’s plan, we show selflessness and humility, we walk in truth, and we learn to give and share. God’s plan is really so much better than the worlds way in building our relationships. What are some ways to change the path your on with your spouse or other significant relationships? As always, we’d love to connect with you as you take the next step and answer any questions you have as well as pray with you. Reach out today – burnthickory.com/next Special Guest: Shawn Stoever.
This week in our sermon series Moving Forward, we’re looking at what it takes to read and understand the bible correctly. As a Christian, we read the bible, but we also must learn to love and study the bible too. We always need to answer the question of what does a passage say to its original audience and then ask what is the difference between the original audience and me. As we study, we learn to see the theological principles in the text and how the text fits in with the rest of the bible. As we learn to study the bible, the way to move forward is to apply the principles by living them out in our lives. As we live them out, we have the opportunity to share the bible through our walk too. If you’ve ever wondered how to study the bible, this sermon is a great tool to get you started. Are you consistently reading and studying the bible? What do you need to do to move forward in applying scripture to your life? As always, we’d love to answer any questions you might have and take time to pray with you. Reach out and take the next step today – BurntHickory.com/next
As we continue our sermon series Moving Forward, we focus on how personal and corporate prayer are a vital part of momentum in our lives as Christians. As we follow Jesus, the first thing we should do is pray, but usually it’s the last thing we think about. We see in Acts that the early church took prayer very seriously. They prayed regularly and with honesty. They prayed with balance but also specifically for needs. And we see that their prayer got results. Don’t know where to begin, just follow Jesus’ example in Matthew 6:9-13. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.” Is your prayer life powerful? Is it effective? How can you know that your prayers are making a difference? As always, we’d love to pray with you and answer any questions you have. Reach out today – burnthickory.com/next
As we continue to move forward, we look again to Joshua in scripture and the story of the city of Jericho. We learn that resistance to God’s word is a big deal, way bigger that we think, and that not fully submitting to God has serious consequences. Partial submission gives us a false sense of security and keeps the focus on us and not God. When we fully submit to God, it positions God in his rightful place, and produces greater intimacy with God. What are ways that you are not being fully submitted to God in your life? Are you missing God’s power in your life? Are you willing to do what it takes to fully submit to God today? As always, we’d love to connect with you, pray with you, and answer any questions you’ve got. Reach out today – burnthickory.com/next.
We begin our new sermon series Moving Forward, by looking at Joshua and the Israelites journey crossing over the Jordan river. God wants us to move forward on our journey, and we need to stand behind God and seek his holiness. We see in scripture that holiness always precedes God’s movement, and we have to be in continual pursuit of living set apart to accomplish what God has set before us. We also look forward to where God is taking us here at Burnt Hickory as we prepare, plan, and build for the future. As always, if you’ve got questions or want to take the next step, reach out today – burnthickory.com/next. We’d love to pray with you and help you move forward in your faith journey.
We explore the scriptures today as we look at what matters to God, and why it should matter to us. Pastor Chip shows us that often we try to make God about us and not about Himself, and when we do that, we don’t understand His character fully. We matter to God, and because of that, we need to stay faithful and act like we have been set free through Christ. We need to understand that we’re not a commodity, but a treasure for God, and our lives should reflect that we are loved. So, what matters to you? Are you living like you’re set free? If you’ve got questions or need someone to pray with, simply reach out – burnthickory.com/next, we’d love to connect with you.
Pastor Alan shares some characteristics of a church in deep water, not being in trouble, but following God’s commands to go deeper in following Him and fishing for men in a lost world. We see in scripture – Luke 5:1-11; that we need to have deep water experiences in our faith, and we need to have them more often. The greatest catch in the disciples’ careers ended in them abandoning everything and following Jesus. In the same manner, we need to abandon everything and follow Christ into deep waters. As always, if you’ve got questions, we’d love to connect with you to help you find answers and pray with you. Please reach out and take the next step in your faith journey – burnthickory.com/next.
Our Radiate Students just got back from their mission trip to Alaska, and Pastor Eli challenges us to have a broken heart for the lost. We learn that we need to live on mission, not just go on mission. That as we live out the daily rhythms of life, that we need to share the hope of Jesus to everyone with boldness. Take the example of our students and dig into scripture, be transformed, and reach out to those in our community who need hope.
We conclude our sermon series on being Joyful Exiles with a special celebration looking forward to Independence Day tomorrow. As we consider living in freedom, Pastor Marty shows us in 1 Peter that God wants to deliver us from bondage and have us live in His freedom. God wants us to see the lies of Satan and understand that hardships are normal and also temporary, that God is there to handle our anxiety, and that He will save and restore us. We not only should be living in the freedom that is found in Christ, but we should also be striving to save the lost. What lies are you believing from the enemy? What truths do you need to dwell on in your life right now and believe? In light of your freedom in Christ, how will you celebrate? As always, if you’ve got questions, please reach out anytime and take the next step – burnthickory.com/next and we’d love to connect with you and pray with you.
As we continue to explore 1 Peter, we learn how to live with the end in sight. We see in scripture that the end of all things is near, and because of that, we need to be alert and sober minded. God’s desires need to be placed before ours and we need to love each other deeply while practicing caring hospitality. The real question is, if you knew Jesus was returning today, what would you change about how you are serving him right now? In light of the end being near, we don’t need to get mired down in depression, but strive even more to point all glory to God and serve him faithfully. John Piper says – “If you are most satisfied in family or job or fame or success or money or food or music or health or staying alive — if you are more satisfied in any of those than you are in God — then you diminish the glory of God, and you magnify the glory of what you’re most satisfied by. The Bible makes clear that we should live in order to display the supreme worth and beauty and glory of God. That’s our primary reason for existence.” Based on this, how is your love for others? What things do you need to change? Are you satisfied in God? As always, if you’ve got questions, you can reach out anytime – burnthickory.com/next. We’d love to connect with you, answer any questions and take time to pray with you.
Struggling in life is inevitable, but as Christians, we don’t have to be miserable when life gets hard. As we continue looking at 1 Peter, we see that we can find joy even in the hard times of life. Pastor Matt shows us that we can seek peace through being humble, compassionate, and by loving one another. We know that suffering is coming, and when we prepare for it and turn the suffering into a witness because Christ has already won, then we can find ultimate joy. What suffering in your life is robbing you of peace and joy? How does your mindset change when viewing that suffering in the light of Jesus’ victory over death? What do you need to change that will lead you to joy in the midst of suffering? If you’ve got questions or want to take the next step in your faith journey, then reach out to day – burnthickory.com/next. We’d love to pray with you and help you find joy in life.
As we explore more in 1Peter, we dig deeper into the Christian life and learn that we have to mature. We see in scripture that we should love the word of God, and that the word endures forever, it is good, and when we apply it to our lives, it gives us confidence. We also need to embrace our identity in Christ, because the 1Peter lays out that we are chosen, royalty, part of the priesthood, we are valued, and we are forgiven. And because that’s our identity, we live out our purpose through Jesus. Based on the identity laid out in scripture, how does that change your perspective? Are you anchored to the right foundation? Do you have questions or want someone to pray with? We’d love to connect with you and help you take the next step in your faith journey, just reach out – burnthickory.com/next
First Peter begins with – to the exiles scattered throughout the provinces who have been chosen. Peter is trying to encourage these fledgling Christians who are scattered to remain steadfast in the joy of Christ. Pastor Matt shows us that we too can live out joyfully even though we are exiles in this world. We should remember that God has chosen us, and He gives us a living hope. We walk out that living hope by being prepared, looking to Christ and not back to our past, being different, standing amazed and loving big. The real question is, is God just useful to you or is he beautiful to you? What do you continue to struggle with running back to that you need to ask God to forgive you for? Are you walking in living hope? What is robbing you of your joy in remembering that God has chosen you? If you’ve got questions or need someone to pray with, then reach out – burnthickory.com/next. We’d love to connect with you and help you find your next step in your faith journey.
We really need to consider what it means to be a follower of Jesus, and to be like him. Jesus was betrayed, doubted, persecuted, had no social life, spent 40 days fasting in prayer, and was crucified. We have to ask ourselves; do we really want to be like Jesus? What we focus on develops in our lives, and if we are relying on the one who has given us life to the fullest, everything else will be added to us. The bible shows us that we shouldn’t be anxious because it weighs us down, but to life by faith, not sight. When we put the truth above our feelings, we are inside of God’s order for our lives. Are you allowing your feelings to dictate what is truth in your life? Are you dealing with anxiety that’s weighing you down? Do you have questions about who Jesus is and what it means to walk by faith? Then reach out today – burnthickory.com/next. We’d love to answer any questions and pray with you.
Most people don’t even know where Haggai is in the bible, but this short scripture offers a lot of wisdom and instruction for life. Living sacrificially is a counter cultural way of life, but it’s the life we are called to by the Spirit. But the extent or size of that sacrifice isn’t an indication of God’s acceptance, it’s more about our intentions and placing God’s pleasure above the desire for our own. The sacrifice has to actually cost us something. The prerequisite for receiving the blessings of God is that we have to become the people of God, and when we seek Him first, He will add to us. What does a life of sacrifice look like? How are you living in light of this? What are some things that you are placing above God that you need to reprioritize? As always, we’d love to connect with you, answer any questions, and pray with you – just reach out today! Burnthickory.com/next
Understanding God’s will for our lives might seem complicated, but it might be because we are not interpreting our involvement correctly. Perhaps we are not supposed to find God’s will because it was never hidden, and our role is just to walk in it faithfully. We can be aware of walking in God’s will through remembering God’s mercies and through resisting conforming to culture in our thoughts and actions. We also see in scripture that we are to give our life entirely to God and choose to think differently that the world. As we study the bible, we see a blueprint for our lives that lays out being in God’s will. We follow him, remain in him, and he will always be with us. When is the last time you really spent time thinking about God’s mercies? Have you decided to give yourself entirely to God? If you’ve got questions, we’d love to connect with you, talk about what it means to live a life inside of God’s will, and pray with you. You can always reach out through burnthickory.com/next.
We celebrate mothers and mother figures today on this special Sunday, and we dive into scripture to see some principles from women in the bible like Deborah. God calls and equips both men and women for leadership in his kingdom. We also see that women can lead and flourish inside of God’s design for our lives. God does his greatest work through simple acts of obedience, and he never needs our ability, just our availability. God has a specific call for your life, and the greatest temptation is not to do evil, but to sit back and do nothing. Are you aware of God’s calling for you life? Are you making yourself available and willing to do his will? Are you consistently being obedient? As always, if you’ve got questions or want to talk or pray with someone, just reach out – burnthickory.com/next.
Transitions in life are hard. They’re full of turbulence and it may seem that we are going through them alone. But we see through studying the bible today, that God does not always lead us to places that are convenient or comfortable, and that he also delivers us as we rely on him. It’s Senior Sunday, and we get to celebrate our high school seniors as they take the next big step in their lives. Pastor Eli charges them, and us, that our past does not define us, and as we look back, we should see God’s goodness, his promises, and his protection. We can see that our future is bright, when the light of the world is leading the way. Are you relying on God in the middle of the turbulence of transition? Are you allowing your past to define your future? Take time to pray and ask God to show you his promises and protection in your past and trust him for your deliverance. If you’ve got questions or need prayer through a season of life, then reach out – burnthickory.com/next. We’d love to answer any questions and take time to pray with you.
Once you become a Christian, life isn’t perfect. Everyone still has questions and struggles and luckily, God loves us through our struggles in our faith. As we look into scripture today, we can learn that even when we can’t see God’s hand, we can trust his heart because we remember what God is like. His character is always the same, and he is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love. We can remember what He has done in the world and for us through his Son. As we wrestle with faith, we should ask God to strengthen our ability to believe, because He is a good father. Are you struggling with your faith? You are not alone, and we are a faith community who will walk with you through the hard moments in life with you. If you’ve got questions and want to connect with someone, them reach out – burnthickory.com/next. We’d love to answer any questions you have and take time to pray with you.
Jesus is alive, he is alive indeed! Why is this such an amazing thing to celebrate in these modern times? The simplicity of this is the truth of the gospel, and its life changing. The resurrection of Jesus is of first importance, it was physically real, and it is for us. If Jesus had not raised from the dead, then our faith would be rendered of no use. His death was an actual event that happened in history. And we know it is for us because the resurrection provides forgiveness for our past, transforms us in the present, and secures us for the future. Because Jesus is alive, we have hope, faith, salvation, and assurance. Do you trust Jesus? Have you given your heart to him? Is the power of the resurrection transforming you? If you’ve got any questions about Jesus and the resurrection, we would love to connect with you, answer questions, and pray with you. You can always take the next step here – burnthickory.com/next
Our guest preacher, Dr. Johnny Hunt, teaches through 1 Corinthians 1:17-25, and we get to dig into the reason behind our hope. Dr. Hunt teaches us that the cross is the heart of the gospel, and the central theme of Gods plan in our salvation. We see all over scripture that the message of the cross is dynamic, and the wisdom of God is demonstrated through that message. The gospel is foolish to someone who has not been saved and does not believe, but as we personally share the gospel, God gives us the message and the power for the person to hear the wisdom. Our changed life and our story are a powerful part of God’s plan. Jesus came to deal with our sin issue, and no matter the situation you’re in and the time we live in, the answer is still the cross. Special Guest: Dr. Johnny Hunt.
Today, Pastor Chip preaches on the power of the name of Jesus, and how our life as a Christian is worked out because Christ has made us alive. Religion is doing, but the gospel is living in Christ, it’s not about what you do, it’s about why you do what you do. We see throughout scripture that salvation is found only in Christ, and there is no other name given to us where we can be saved. This hope of glory is Christ in you, not Christ and you. Billy Graham puts it this way – “Being a Christian in more that just an instantaneous conversion – it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more like Christ.” We are also to stand on the truth of the Gospel and proclaim the name of Jesus, because there is no other name above Him. Are you continuing to grow more like Christ? Are you connected with Jesus? Or has your faith not moved more than just that instantaneous conversion? We encourage you to find a community of believers who can hold you accountable and walk with you in the process of growing more like Christ. One of the best ways to find this community is to join a LifeGroup, where people in the same stage of life as you can do just that – encourage and grow together in faith. Check out our LifeGroups here - www.burnthickory.com/lifegroups. And as always, if you’ve got questions or need prayer, reach out anytime by taking the next step - www.burnthickory.com/next.
DNOW – short for Disciple Now, is an intensive weekend for middle and high school students to gather together for amazing worship, in depth bible studies, competitive recreation, and bonding fellowship. This year was an amazing weekend, and it spills over into Sunday morning with our DNOW guest speaker, Ryan Fontenot leading us in how to reach Gen Z for Jesus and how to keep them on the path towards growing deeper in their relationship with Him. Ryan teaches us that we must invest, include, invite, inspire, introduce, and intercede for the next generation of students before they are lost. Special Guest: Ryan Fontenot.
We conclude the sermon series on Jonah today by looking at chapter 4 and the final scenes of Jonah’s heart. The fish has spit him back on land, he has proclaimed the gospel, people have repented and been saved, and now Jonah is angry. As we study the conversation between Jonah and God, we see that Jonah’s heart is idolatrous and ignorant. He has built his identity on something other that God, and has a desire opposed to God’s will. Can we not do the same thing in our own lives? Tim Keller puts it this way – “You are never father from God that when you are close to God and say no.” From the study in Chapter 3 we saw that God delights in mercy not in justice, and now we see that he gives Jonah a new heart even in his own idolatrous and ignorant anger. Are you Jonah or Nineveh? Are there places in your life that you are saying no to God? Has your heart set its desire on and are you building your identity on something other that God? You can be brought back and restored no matter how angry or how far you have run from God. Repent and ask God for a new heart and find your true identity in what He has created you and called you to be. You can always reach out with any questions or to take the next step – Burnthickory.com/next
As we study the third chapter in Jonah, we see Jonah come to terms with his calling, and finally obey God in proclaiming the gospel to the Ninevites. We also see how our role and mission of evangelism defines us as God’s people and how urgently people around us need to hear the good news of Jesus. We also learn that God does not delight in judgement, but in mercy, and because of this, we see a people saved from their sins. We know that salvation comes from the Lord, but do you realize that faith comes only from hearing the word of God? We see it over and over in scripture, that we are to speak the word of God into our lives and the lives of those around us every day. This is what builds faith and a faith community. You may have joined the lost coin challenge a few weeks ago, or are participating in 321 Serve this month, but these are just starting points to beginning a missional lifestyle and seeking opportunities to evangelize and be involved personally in peoples lives in our community. Take time and answer these questions: How can I speak the word of God into people’s lives this week? How can I specifically pray for others in my life that need Jesus? As always, if you’ve got questions about who Jesus is and how to begin your faith journey, then reach out today – burnthickory.com/next. We would love to talk with you and answer any questions as well as pray with you.
We dive deeper into Jonah this week by looking at Chapter 2 as we see the storm that overwhelmed Jonah and now, he’s in the belly of the fish seeking repentance. We can also gather through scripture that God uses storms in our lives for protection, perfecting, and correcting. Being stuck inside the fist for three days, Jonah started to pray. He thought he had been abandoned and banished from God’s sight. Have you ever been swallowed by a storm in life and feel that you are forgotten by God? What we can learn from Jonah’s deep repentance is that you are not forgotten, life is meaningless without God at the center of it, and idols will never fulfil us and will always leave us empty. Salvation always comes only from the Lord, and we see that Jonah was spit out onto dry land.
We kick off our next sermon series called Runaway Prophet this week, and we’re going to be diving into the book of Jonah. As we study the bible, and specifically in the story of Jonah, we can learn lessons from the run – the disobedience of Jonah to God’s call. We see that rebellion is simply saying no to God. We learn that not every open door is from God, and our disobedience will always affect others in our life. Many times, God sends storms to break us from our self-reliance. These may seem like hard lessons to hear, but obedience to God is a very serious matter to him, and as we grow more Christlike, our reliance on God should grow too. Our sinful desires are tempting, and if we choose them, we are sinning, and the only real savior is Jesus. Our hope is found in Jesus because of his mercy and grace, and as we deny ourselves and our sinful desires, we grow stronger in our faith. What areas of your life are you running from God? Are you in the midst of a storm? Are you going to be thrown overboard? What do you need to repent of to be obedient and reliant on God? Take time to pray and ask God to show you how you are being disobedient to him and ask Jesus to forgive your disobedience. God’s plan for you is so much better than your sinful desire and his deliverance is full of mercy. So, stop running away, repent, and run towards God today! If you’ve got questions about Jesus and being obedient to God, we’d love to talk with you and pray with you. Reach out and take the next step today – burnthickory.com/next
We conclude this sermon series studying the parables of Jesus with pastor Marty teaching through Luke 15 on the parable of the lost sheep and coin. The framework to view this parable through is the truth that Jesus is keenly aware of people’s loneliness, and he is willing to go to great lengths to save those who are lost. We as believers should be less concerned with our religion, and more concerned with seeing the lost found. As the world becomes more dark, our temptation is to become more religious. This goes against what Jesus is teaching, that we, now more than ever, need to become more like him and see the lost like never before. Our job as Christians in daily life should not be pointing to ourselves in boast, but listening and loving others and pointing them to Christ. Do you feel conviction for the lost, or conviction about your lack of concern for the lost? Are you constantly aware of the loneliness and sadness in people around you? Have you gotten out of your comfort zone and talked to someone about Jesus lately? What a reminder for us, that salvation is just a point in the journey, but evangelism is a process, and we get to be a part of it as God works in peoples lives. Take time to participate in the lost coin challenge, and as you seek for him to do something in you, he will do something through you. As always, reach out if you’ve got any questions or want to take the next step in your faith journey – burnthickory.com/next
We come to the parable of the lost or prodigal son this week in our study of the parables of Jesus. As we look deeper in Luke chapter 15 during this bible study, we see that the elements of sin are a desire for independence and instant gratification. This son breaks his father’s heart by asking for his inheritance early and leaving home. What Jesus shows us in this parable is the love of a father that reflects our Holy Father, one who loves us even when we break his heart and wander in darkness. His love is so great for us when we are brought home that he wraps His arms around us and gives us gifts of grace. He makes us new. What a great parallel to how God loves us no matter where we are, and the extravagance of that love is way more than our sin. What stands out to you in this passage? Where are you, wandering in darkness or in the father’s house? Has He rescued you and made you new? We would love to pray with you or talk about who Jesus is and answer any questions you have. We believe in walking through life together, so if you aren’t part of a faith community, then reach out today – we’d love to get you plugged in so that you can grow closer to Christ alongside others. BurntHickory.com/next
The parable from scripture that we look at this week is found in Matthew chapter 21, where Jesus teaches us about a vineyard owner who rents his field to some farmers. The farmers beat and kill the owners’ servants who’ve come to collect what’s owed him. Then they kill his son. But before we judge the sins of these people in the past, we need to realize that we are not beyond sin. The history of human depravity should not make us feel proud and smug, but should make us live in constant humble repentance, begging to God that our heart can march in another direction. The truth is that God has provided our heart with all that we need to trust and serve Him, and most of our unbelief is really just willful refection of God. The root of our rejection comes from our desire to be in control, and God’s grace towards a lost heart is merciful, but won’t last forever. Just like the vineyard owner who has sent warning after warning, God is mercifully warning us about willfully rejecting Him in our hearts. Are you listening to the warning? Has this sermon caused you to consider God’s warning about sin in your heart? Do you want to know how to take the next step and not be lost? We would love to pray with you or answer any questions you have about Jesus and what He has done for you. Reach out today – burnthickory.com/next
This week, we dig deeper into Matthew looking at the parables that Jesus taught that relay huge truths to our lives as Christians. Today we look at the difference between sheep and goats, and the distinction that Jesus warns us in being a lukewarm believer. Is it enough to read the bible, attend church, and avoid the “big sins”? Who will go to heaven? When should you start living for Jesus? Pastor Matt poses some important questions from this bible study that need serious consideration about where you stand in eternity. Signs of being a lukewarm Christian include not really wanting to be saved from sin, only the consequences of sin, not sharing your faith with people around you, and thinking about life here on earth much more than eternity. Do any of these seem familiar? Are you afraid that you are living a lukewarm life? Begin today by asking Jesus to be the savior of your life and start living for him now. We would love to celebrate your decision to follow Christ, and talk with you more about your next step, so reach out today – burnthickory.com/next
There are times in your life that you might ask the question, God, why did you let this happen to me? Does life just not seem fair? How are we supposed to by happy in an unfair life? Well, if God gave us what we deserved, we’d be doomed from the start. God has called us to trust in his goodness and promises, no matter what our circumstances in life look like. We need to reflect on our relationship with God and find any places where we are bitter because we feel he has withheld some blessing, or when we are jealous of the good things that others have. This actually robs us of our happiness. Do you get angry when God doesn’t answer your prayers the way you think he should? Or do you feel uncertain about where you stand with God. Then this shows that we are not trusting in God’s promises. When we do trust him, our bitterness, jealousy, anger, and insecurity is replaced with gratitude, contentment, peace, and assurance. Do you feel like life is unfair, or are dealing with understanding why you are going through tough times if God is so loving? God will always have you, so never give up. Then take time to reach out today, we’d love to pray with you and help you shift your insecurity to assurance through trusting in God. We want you to live a happy life, one of gratitude, filled with peace, and grateful to God for his promises – burnthickory.com/next
When we truly value something, we ascribe a cost which is related to what we will give up for it. We see in Matthew 13 a parable taught by Jesus about discovering the true worth of salvation and how that will revalue every area of our life. We see in scripture in this parable about a pearl and a treasure in a field, that the gospel is hidden in simplicity and in ordinary believers, and that gospel attracts us with a promise of greater and eternal joy. But in this simplicity, we see that the gospel requires us to leave everything else. We must have no rivals and no refusals, and we will end with no regrets. God is not upset with you because you want to be happy. He's upset for you because he knows that your happiness and joy will only come through him. He knows that's the only thing that will last. When we say that God is a jealous God, he's not jealous because he's insecure. He just knows that he's the only one that can make our lives truly happy. He knows he's the only one that can bring us true joy. The rest of the things in our lives are just fleeting. What things are you valuing more than the gospel? In what ways are you complicating the gospel? Are you willing to have no rivals and no refusals? What you might be feeling is conviction, fear, or even anxiousness. We would love to pray with you and walk along side you in your faith journey. You can reach out today to find out more about who Jesus is, how to be forgiven of sin, and how to live out your faith – burnthickory.com./next
We begin a sermon study on the parables of Jesus in the bible with the intention to understand, interpret, and apply the things Jesus taught directly into our lives today. Many times, we can learn truth from these parables, but Jesus also hid meanings inside his teachings, and we have to understand the intentions behind this scripture. Today we look at Matthew 13:1-23, the parable of the Sower. We can learn from this bible study that understanding truth is a gift of the Holy Spirit, and it’s a matter of the heart as well as the head. We also see four types of hearts, the hard, shallow, divided, and the open heart. The hard heart is distracted, the shallow doesn’t follow through. The divided heart is concerned with life, and the open heart represents one who understands and does what the word of God says. The real question is which soil are you? If you feel that you have been blocked from scriptural and godly truth because of unwillingness to change of by cherishing sin, then let us pray with you. Maybe today is the day you take the next step in your faith journey, and choose to accept Jesus as your savior, we’d love to walk along side you, celebrate your decision, and find a place for you to walk out your faith – reach out today – burnthickory.com/next
According to research, most churchgoers don’t know what the great commission is. As Christians, we are called to be true disciples, who make disciples. During this bible study, Pastor Alan shows us in Matthew 28 what Jesus says about our great commandment which we are commissioned to fulfil. Jesus tells us to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. His promise is that He will always be with us, even to the end of the age. As we teach and love people, we want them to also love the Lord, live the word, serve the body, to ultimately live missionally. The purpose of the great commission of Jesus to believers and the church never ends or changes: make disciples, always going baptizing, and teaching. Are you fulfilling the great commission in the daily rhythms of life? Maybe this sermon has kindled a passion or disciple making, or you have more questions about being a disciple. We would love to connect with you, and answer any questions you have, and provide opportunities for you to make disciples – reach out to us today! Burnthickory.com
We conclude our study of Isiah 9:6 with the final description of the coming King Jesus with Him fulfilling the prophecy of being the Prince of Peace. Sar in Hebrew means Jesus is the Lord, the chief, the general, and the one in charge of everything. Shalom means rest, tranquility, wholeness and completeness. The peace that Christ brings to us is a peace with God the Father, within ourselves, and with others. Real peace that we encounter in scripture is not absent of pain or problems, it’s when we abide with Jesus that we find true peace. This sermon series has not only covered the prophecy of Jesus being the wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, and prince of peace; but we hope that you have encountered how Jesus can be each of these in your life right now. If you’ve got questions about who Jesus is, or how to find peace, please reach out – burnthickory.com/next, we’d love to answer any questions and pray with you today.
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone went to their own town to register. So, Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So, they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
We continue our study of Isiah 9:6 about the coming messiah Jesus, and we see that He is not just our Wonderful Counselor, Might God, but also our eternal and Everlasting Father. Jesus has no beginning or end. In John, we read that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Then in John 1:14 “Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” He is truly everlasting, and his character never changes. He is described as our father because he gives us life, provides for our needs, cares deeply for us, and he has promised and will never walk out on us. This is the good news, the gospel, that Jesus gives us forgiveness from sin because of his sacrifice on the cross. Our faith in him begins when we believe and receive him as God with us. That makes Jesus the best father, the Everlasting Father. Do you know that Everlasting Father? Have you accepted Jesus as your savior? Do you need to consider your response to his fatherly love? We’d love to answer any questions and take time to pray with you – reach out to us today – burnthickory.com/next.
We continue our Christmas season sermon series by looking at the next name for Christ listed in Isiah 9:6 at the prophecy of His birth – Mighty God. Jesus is has fulfilled the prophecy given in the old testament and Colossians 1:17 tells us He is before all things and His power holds all things together. He is creator of all things as He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Jesus has defeated Satan and conquered death all in order to give us heavenly resurrection. And finally, He has also promised that He will return and has prepared a place for us. As we live out our faith and read the bible, we learn how to trust in God. Scripture both Old and New Testament points to Jesus as our mighty God. The gospel or good news is that we can believe trust Him to redeem us because of who He is. Do you trust in the mighty God for rescue and resurrection? Maybe you have more questions about who Jesus is. We’d love to answer questions and pray with you, just reach out – burnthickory.com/next
Christmas is such a beautiful time for Christians, because we celebrate the birth of Jesus, Immanuel who is God with Us. As we make our way through the Christmas season, we are going to explore each of the names of Jesus as His birth was foretold in Isaiah. This week, we start with Wonderful Counselor. The root of all our problems is our separation from God. Since Adam and Eve, we have been separated from Him through sin, and the solution comes in knowing God and knowing Him rightly. A wonderful counselor is one who is beyond understanding but advises, too wonderful for words, but makes things known. Begin your faith journey of getting to know Him rightly by being honest with Him, ask for healing, listen to His guidance, and do whatever He says to do. Do you know Jesus as your savior? Have you trusted Him as your wonderful counselor? If not, please reach out, we’d love to pray with you and share the hope of Jesus with you this Christmas season. Burnthickory.com/next
How does God speak to us? We hear this a lot, but what does it mean to hear from God? How do we know what God’s will is for our lives? Well, for Christians, we hear God through His word and through His spirit. We also can hear God though Godly people, the church, and through our circumstances. We have to be actively involved to hear and is starts with submission to God’s will. During our bible study today, we’re going to explore the different ways we can hear from God, and how to discern His voice from our own opinions. We also learn that our ability to hear from God will never out pace our submission to God. Have you fully submitted to God? Do you have more questions about how to hear from God? Please reach out, we’d love to hear from you, answer any questions you have, or pray with you – BurntHickory.com/next
We read in Romans chapter 8 that if God is for us, who can be against us, but what implications does that mean for us as Christians? When we can full grasp that God is actually for us, then our life will look very different because of our confidence in Him. It leads us to worship, lifts us up from discouragement, and emboldens us for the mission that He has set for us. God did not spare His own Son, but gave Him us for us all. His great gift shows His graciousness in giving. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins has paid all our debts, and He is the only one that can condemn us because He is the one who gave us freedom and sustains our freedom. No one or thing can separate us from the love of Jesus. The freedom from condemnation should be the foundation for our joy and thankfulness as Christians. Do you want freedom from sin and condemnation? Do you have confidence in Jesus as your savior? God loves you, and He wants you to experience peace and an abundant and eternal life. We are not able to bridge the gap between us and God through our good behavior, and luckily God has provided the way through Jesus. If you’ve got questions, please reach out, we’d love to answer any questions and pray with you further – www.burnthickory.com/next
When Jesus speaks of faith in the bible, he says that children have an incredible faith, and we would do good to mimic it. We see throughout scripture that children have a special place in God’s heart, especially for those who are vulnerable. As a Christian, we are to seek private purity and public charity. Our acts should not publicly show that we are concerned with ourselves, but with the wellbeing of others. Rescuing hurting children is not just a charity for us to support, it’s a rescue mission for all of the church. And that action of rescue begins with compassion. Have you considered standing in for the vulnerable and being the voice for the voiceless? Join us by participating in the ONE ministry - https://www.burnthickory.com/one/ and meet one need, encourage one child, and together we can be one family. You can also sponsor a child in Kenya or Guatemala through one of our missions’ partners - https://www.burnthickory.com/missions/sponsorship-guatemala--kenya/. Special Guest: Peter Abungu.
This week, we get to hear from one of our church plant partners from Wisconsin – Jesse Beernink, as we focus on what it means to be on mission as a church. Everyone needs salvation, and it requires the power of God to happen. We get to participate in sharing the good news of salvation through Jesus and that should overwhelmingly and joyfully overflow from us as Christians. Jesse shows us in Romans chapters 1-3 how to live an overflowing life that will bring joy and purpose as we draw closer to Jesus. The more we draw in, the more our sense of urgency to share the gospel will become and the clearer the answer will be to why we should evangelize. Yes, God asks us to share our faith with strangers, but more importantly, He asks us to share His hope and salvation with friends and family. Even if we don’t travel to another country and preach, we are all called to be missionaries. Have you shared the good news of salvation through Jesus’ death and resurrection lately? Is the sense of urgency burning in your heart for all the lost people who don’t know the love and hope of God? Then join us as we make sharing our faith a priority in our lives to reach those who are lost with the saving knowledge of Jesus. As always, we’d love to answer any questions or help you take the next step in your faith journey – burnthickory.com/next Special Guest: Jesse Beernink.
As we continue our sermon series called We Are, we look at Matthew 28 to see what God’s expectations are for us as the church. We are to be disciples, and disciples hear and obey the Word of God as well as worship Him with our lives and priorities. This is to say that we are to read the bible and obey what God’s will is through the scripture. We show our love and devotion by how we prioritize our life and what fruit is coming from our obedience. Jesus tells us that we will be known by our love. We read in scripture as we study that we are to submit to the absolute authority of Jesus and that we are to make disciples in return. Our great commission from Jesus is to take the hope of the good news the gospel to every place near and far. When we trust that God is always with us, we can take comfort that we are being the church, not just attending church. What is your life showing through your priorities? Are you being obedient to His word? Take time this week and pray that God will show you what areas of your life that you are not worshiping Him. Do you have questions about who Jesus is or why being a part of a church is important? Then reach out, we’d love to talk with you, answer any questions, and even pray for you – burnthickory.com/next
As we continue our sermon series called, We Are, we look at why we are dedicated to marriages here at Burnt Hickory. Our guest speaker, Ted Lowe, leads us through an informative lesson, as we explore the power of our words not just in marriage, but in all our relationships. Our words can be used to elevate or tear down, and careless words can stab like a sword, but wise words can heal over time. Healing those around us with words will take time, but it’s God’s plan for how we build and maintain our marriage relationship. Also, not speaking and using words can be just as detrimental as using words unwisely. If we take time to apply these ideas, it can lead to healing the hurt with our spouse and it’s the beginning of the success to a happy marriage, a successful marriage. We’ve all had a situation where we allowed our circumstances to affect our words, and we regret what we’ve said. And the wonderful news is that we can bring healing over time with wise words by slowing down and putting others ahead of us. Are there words you’ve used in haste with someone that you now regret? Take time today to begin to make amends with them through statements like, I was wrong, I’m sorry, and I’m proud of you. These simple statements can be the beginning of the healing power of God working in someone’s life who you have stabbed with careless words. There is wisdom in motivational words that are intentionally said to support and build up the person you’re communicating with and there’s a lot of power in those words. As always, you can reach out with any questions about this bible study specifically or what it means to be a Christ follower – www.burnthickory.com/next Special Guest: Ted Lowe.
Why is it important to be a member of a local church? Well, its biblical and beneficial. God’s heart is not for us to just attend church, but to belong and be the church. As we study the bible today in Matthew chapter 16, we see that Jesus calls out His followers, and begins the church. The English word for church is derived from the Greek Ekklesia which means the called-out body. Further on in scripture, we see that there is no such thing in the New Testament as a believer that exists independently as one who is not fully active in a local church. Our connection with a faith family is what sets Christianity apart from religion. Pastor Matt teaches us in this sermon, that God speaks to the church, God speaks through the church, and as the church, we are the hope of the world. Church is not just a place to attend, it’s a place to participate and belong, and it holds the power to impact the world and generations to come. Maybe it’s time for you to be planted in a local church and begin the active process of belonging and participating in the work God has planned and show the world hope and share His grace. Psalms 92:12-13 says that “the righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” If you’re looking for a church to belong to, or have questions, please take the next step and reach out to us. We’d love to answer any questions you have, and help you get connected to be called out. Burnthickory.com/next
We begin a new sermon series called We Are, where we are going to look at our personal and corporate role as the church. We begin by looking at what our identity is, and why it’s a constant fight happening for it. To have a proper view, we must define our identity based on How Christ sees us. We are fully accepted, eternally valuable, totally forgiven, and fully capable. As the church, people should see us as distinct because we are the royal priesthood, set apart, and we are God’s special possession. Christ gave His life as a ransom to save us from the justice due us because of sin, and He is much better that we deserve because He made us acceptable to God. Our life and identity should reflect Him and since we are His chosen people, we are to live for Him. Being a Christian should be an action, not a description of how we live. You might ask, why do people go to church, and we would answer that it is our purpose in life. Its who we are, our identity, not a building. As we study the bible in this series, we are going to define our identity, explain how to live for Jesus, and what our mission to reach the lost is. Stay tuned for next week when we’ll dive deeper into our role as the church. If you want to take the next step and become a part of the church officially, we would love to talk to you about what membership looks like and how to make a commitment. BurntHickory.com/next
This week, as we wrap up our sermon series called Little Letters Big Truths, we explore Titus. High School Pastor Eli breaks down some big truths around leadership and biblical teaching. Not only do we see what to be warry about wit false teachers, but we also learn how discipleship brings biblical maturity. Discipleship is the process of committing yourself to be a student of Jesus, to follow Him and continually grow towards being more like Him. As we look in Titus, we see that there is an order to this process, and it takes time to grow. As we become more Christ-like, we are to be obedient and kind, and always be thankful by remembering our old condition. When we look back, it builds gratitude, humility, and faith. Our hope comes not from our ability or decisions in life, but from Jesus’ finished work on the cross and from His righteousness. Maybe you want to take next step in your discipleship path but are unsure what that is. Do you have a question that’s bugging you about following Jesus? We’d love to help, reach out at www.burnthickory.com/next.
We explore the small letter of Jude from the bible today, and we discover big truths in how to live as Christ wants us to. Pastor Matt shares timeless challenges in walking out our faith in Jesus. We are to fight for the faith, to understand that God loves us, but also judges us, and we are to constantly evaluate where we are in faith. Through this bible study, we also are to be knowledgeable of the words of God, watchful of our surroundings, careful of the traps of sin, and we are to be courageous in faith. In our self-evaluation, we should look at our words, actions, and lifestyle and ask if they match our direction of faith. Are we walking with Jesus in our beliefs? Maybe this has inspired you to evaluate your faith, and you’ve got questions. Have you stopped walking with Jesus because you’ve stopped being watchful and courageous? Does your lifestyle indicate a growing faith? If you need someone to talk and pray with you, then reach out – burnthickory.com/next – we’d love to answer any questions and encourage you to fight for your faith.
Even though 3 John is a very small book of the bible, we can extract some applicable truth on how we should live. We see a tale of two men’s hearts, and it gives us a chance to ponder on how we affect those around us. We are to be gracious, strong in spirit and show the truth through our life just like Gaius. We are to refuse to be like Diotrephes and be unhospitable and unwelcoming. As a believer, Christianity shouldn’t just be a label, it changes who we are and how we live. As Spurgeon wrote – “The goal of any believer’s life is for there to be an exact correspondence between his creed and his conduct.” In other words, our life should match our faith, the love that Jesus has shown us should be the love we show to others. What things in your life don’t match up with your beliefs? Is there a something that you need to ask God to help you with so that your actions can match what you believe? Take some time and examine your life and pray over these areas. God grants wisdom as we seek Him, so spend time seeking His will for your life and He will empower you to live exactly what you believe. If you need help with prayer or want to take the next step in your faith journey, then reach out, we’d love to pray with you or answer any questions – burnthickory.com/next
This week, we turn our attention to 2 John as we continue to look at small books of the bible that contain big truths for our lives. We see in scripture some foundational truths such as the bible is the authority and word of God, and that the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and the resurrection is enough. We must truly repent and invite Jesus into our life to be saved, and we are to live out the great commission that Jesus gives u sin Matthew 28. There’s a lot of big truths that really mold how we are to live as Christians found in this bible study today. Have you made a decision to follow Jesus, but have not repented? Do you want to know how to live out the great commission? We’d love to answer any questions and pray with you. Reach out to us – burnthickory.com/next
We begin a new sermon series where we explore tiny books in the bible that carry big truths. Take Philemon, where seemingly the bible is condoning slavery, and it may seem like a weird book to include in the New Testament. Well, the term bondservant in this instance of the Bible is not what we in America things of as a slave. Rather than proclaiming a seemingly powerless political mandate, Jesus ultimately shows it is only the power of the gospel that could conquer evil systems such as slavery, and we see that God’s desire is for all of Philemons’ to become radically generous in their participation in the mission of God. What are some specific things you could change in the area of your giving and serving? What kind of generosity is your faith demanding? If you’ve got questions or want to know more about Jesus, then connect with us – burnthickory.com/next
As we continue our sermon series called Ignite, where we look at instances of fire in scripture, we look into Exodus Chapter 13, where we see the Israelites being led through the desert by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. What we can take away from this bible study is that God is the sole maker of our way, and the holder of our salvation. Even when we don’t see the end in sight, even when we cannot understand our circumstances, even when we feel we’ve been left stranded, God is always faithful, and His promises always come to be. He is faithful to lead us where He wants us to go because we are His. God’s way is eternally better than ours, and He puts us in the right place, the right way, and at the right time. Do you feel stranded and left in the dark? Are you dealing with understanding God’s timing in life? Then take a minute to reach out to us through burnthickory.com/next
We often try to shape God into our image of what we think He should be instead of understanding that we are created in His image. This gives us a distorted comprehension of how sin effects our lives every day, and we rebel against the only thing that can truly satisfy our soul – God Himself. This week during our Ignite Sermon Series, Pastor Matt brings us to Exodus chapter 32, where we see the Israelites who have been brought out of Egypt, start to grow restless and start to look for things to worship other than God because they didn’t feel satisfied. We do this in modern times, we build idols that take the place of God – when we place importance of things, people, and circumstances above God in importance. A lot of times, our idols are revealed to us when we are stressed and in turmoil, but we have to remember that God is the only thing that will satisfy. What we see in scripture today is that we should never treat sin as if it will not have consequences, and we need to be running away from sin rather than drifting towards it. Are you creeping towards sin? Have you built idols that are trying to satisfy the need of worship in your life? Would you like someone to talk with or pray with you today? Then reach out to us – burnthickory.com/next, we’d love to answer any questions and pray with you.
Today we explore Isaiah Chapter 6 as we continue to look for examples of fire throughout the bible and we study the passage where Isaiah is brought before the Lord, and his lips are cleansed by a hot coal. We see that God’s holiness affects us in that we are to be separated and set apart as a reflection of Him. We also learn that holiness magnifies our corruption and mandates our purification. When we boast about our accomplishments of faith, we lose sight of God’s holiness. What is it that you see as a strength that God needs control of in your life? In the bible, later on in Isaiah, we see that it’s the voice of God that calls us out - to be set apart and no longer be unclean. In this sermon, pastor Matt preaches about what it means to have faith and be purified from sin, because God is holy, and we need to know that we are to be holy too. Are you standing before a holy God with unclean lips? Do you need to be saved? Has God’s holiness motivated your commission in life? If you’ve got questions, please reach out, we’d love to pray with you - BurntHickory.com/next
As we explore places in scripture that contain fire, we come across the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who were thrown into the fiery furnace. God never asks us to put faith in our ability, and it’s not focused on our desires or outcome when dealing with difficulties in life. He reminds us in Philippians and James that our faith is placed in His ability and His promises. We too often try to treat God like a genie, who’ll grant our wishes, and we see in this bible study that God works according to His will. Conversely our trust in Him is not dependent on God granting every request we make, but it’s founded in His eternal steadfastness and truth. Let’s face it, when life is tough, God will not always prevent us from being in the fire, but He will preserve and grow us through the fire. Are you going through a fire right now in your life? Does it seem that you are stranded and alone? Then reach out, we’d love to pray with you and help you see that God is with you in the midst. BurntHickory.com/next
We begin our new sermon series called Ignite by exploring places where we see fire in scripture. Fire can represent many things, and this week, we are looking in Exodus 3 where Moses encountered the burning bush, a tree literally engulfed in flames, but not ever burning up. Just as God physically spoke to Moses through that burning bush, we can learn that while God's presence is personal, His holiness deserves our undivided worship. We are also reminded in that fire that God’s timing is not our timing, and as we hone our patience, we should not grow weary waiting on God because our desire to follow Him should be what’s ignited in us as we grow as Christians. The question for you is, are you positioned in your everyday rhythms of life to experience God? He is patient with us, not wanting us to perish, but to come to repentance. Take time to pray this week that God will ignite in you a desire to follow Him. Do you have questions about who Jesus is, or why salvation from sin is so important? Then feel free to reach out, we’d love to answer any questions and pray with you – burnthickory.com/next
This week as we conclude the sermon on the mount, we reflect on Jesus’ closing to his sermon delivered in Matthew 7:13-29. We see that we have an ultimate decision to acknowledge Jesus as Lord of our life, or to reject him. Either the path that is straight and narrow, or the wide one that leads to destruction and to a very real eternity in hell. As we look that the fork in the road, we see in scripture that we need to choose wisely our influences and set our foundation on Jesus. You see, we can know Jesus, but until He knows us, we are lost. We can look past this harsh reality in scripture and see it as a wonderful offering of salvation, all we have to do is believe. Are there influences in your life that are not pointing you to Christ? Are you comparing the things you are being taught against biblical truth? Do you know, profess, and believe in Jesus being the Lord of your life? Reach out to us today with any questions, we’d love to talk to you about accepting Jesus as your savior – burnthickory.com/next.
The golden rule might seem like a great command to follow, but its not actually in the bible. As we study further in the sermon on the mount in Matthew, we see that Jesus does give us reminders, challenges, and encouragements to follow that will help us actually live according to Him. Jesus encourages us to pray persistently, and to knock, and the door will be open. Pastor Matt shows us that our prayer life is just that, a life, not a one and done activity. As we study the bible, we see also that not every prayer request is always answered, because only God knows how to give far better that we know how to ask. Take heart, God cares, has unlimited resources, and delights in blessing us as His children when we ask, seek, and knock. What things are you struggling with in prayer, and what things should you be more persistent in? We would love the chance to pray with you, so feel free to call our prayer hotline at 770-590-0372.
Judge not, lest you be judged. Maybe you’ve seen this passage in Matthew 7, but do you really understand what Jesus is telling us here in the sermon on the mount? We as Christians are called to judge rightly, but there are some clear reminders in scripture that there is order and reasoning behind why. A majority of non-Christians see us as “judgmental” because we have not focused on restoration, we’ve just focused on being right. By no means is the bible directing believers not to call sin for what it is, sin, but it is also directing us to do it with the right attitude and motive. Pastor Matt digs further into the sermon on the mount this week as we look at Jesus’ teachings regarding dealing with our own sin before we are to help others deal with theirs. If we are in the mindset of being judgmental, then we are not fulfilling God’s will for us, and we should stop and think about how we are interacting with people, especially those who don’t have faith. Do you have questions about who Jesus is and why the bible says you can be saved if you believe in Him? Then great, take a minute to connect with us, we’d love to answer your questions and help you take the next step in your faith journey – burnthickory.com/next
As Christians, Jesus calls us in Matthew 6:25 to not worry about life. This at first, might seem like a platitude, but there are some spiritual implications involved when we worry. Pastor Chip explores Jesus’ words in the sermon on the mount regarding our circumstances and how we should control our thoughts, actions, and feelings. Concern is when we are in control of our thoughts and worrying is when the circumstances we are in control our thoughts. This may seem a subtle difference, but we learn that this shows distrust in the promises and power of God to be in control of our life. When we don’t trust God, we are trying to take His place as Lord of our life. Luckily there are ways to combat worrying like through prayer and practicing trusting in God. Are you struggling with controlling your thoughts and worrying about circumstances in life? Do you need someone to pray with or answer questions about this week’s sermon? Then reach out to us, we’d love to pray with you today – burnthickory.com/next
In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus instructs us not to store up treasures on earth, but to store them in heaven, where they can’t be destroyed or stolen. What does this passage mean, and how do we store treasures in heaven? Pastor Matt takes us further in the sermon on the mount, where we explore Jesus’ words about what we value and our foundational choices as we live kingdom lives. The things that we adore in our hearts are what we treasure, and its an indication of what we value above our relationship with God. We also see in this bible study that our eye is the window to the soul, and its also the window between the internal and external life. When we choose God over our possessions, then God is our master, not the things we want, because the issue is not what we have, but what and who controls us. If we treasure earthly possessions, then they possess us, and God is not the King of our hearts. This may seem like a slant on wealth, but it isn’t. Being rich is not a sin, it’s letting the love of our earthly treasures take place in our lives over God that is a sin. What treasures are you storing up here on earth that are possessing and controlling you? If you want to take the next step and ask God for forgiveness and to change your heart, then great! We’d love to answer any questions or pray along with you – burnthickroy.com/next
In the sermon on the mount in Matthew 6, Jesus gives his disciples a model prayer to follow because they asked him. Jesus shares that we aren’t to pray like hypocrites as others see or hear, but that it’s a personal time between us and God the Father. What we learn through this passage is that prayer is not a way for us to use God to get what we want, or a way to impress God through our faith and actions, but a way for us to be transformed instead. If we follow Jesus’ example of prayer, we are promised that God will hear us. The elements that make us the model prayer as we see in scripture are passionate adoration of God, complete submission to His will, wholehearted petitioning for the things we actually need, and an obedient response of forgiveness. Al Mohler puts it this way - "Our prayers reveal our deepest convictions about God, about ourselves, and about the world around us. Every word we utter in prayer, every idea and concept that we form as we pray, and every emotion that flows out of our heart is a reflection of what we believe about God and about the gospel of Christ.” If you want to grow deeper in your relationship with Jesus, or have questions about prayer, then please reach out to us, we’d love to connect with you. Burnthickory.com/next
The purpose of the sermon on the mount was Jesus challenging us as believers to fully live pursuing the Kingdom of Heaven, and not the temporary kingdom of this world. He did this by showing us in scripture, that it’s a heart matter, not about checking lists or following the law and commandments perfectly. Pastor Marty takes us further into the sermon on the mount in Matthew chapter 5, verses 17-20 and show us that we are in need of a new heart. One that Jesus gives us. Our salvation comes because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross, and through our faith in Him as savior. Some of the principles we learn today center around all scripture being inspired by God – as in breathed out by Him through men, and that every word of scripture is meant to lead us to Jesus. If you have questions about who Jesus is, and why He is so important, then make sure you reach out and let us know. We’d love to help you discover hope in God and find your purpose in this life. - https://www.burnthickory.com/next-steps/accept-jesus-christ/
As we dive deeper in the sermon on the mount, Pastor Eli takes us through Matthew 5:13-16. We learn that salt is both a preservative and seasoning, but it was also used as a medicinal purifier and was valuable as currency. As we live out our lives, we are to effect and affect people around us for Christ just as salt was a part of culture. Light dispels darkness and exposes hidden sin. Light also brings sustaining life, so our life should reflect these attributes of Jesus as well. Jesus also wants our identity to be rooted in Him, and as we see in this passage, how we live matters a lot. We are called to be a bright light in a dark place, and we are to be useful and bring flavor like salt to those around us. Our courage, hopefulness, cheerfulness, and kindness should impact everyone we come in contact with. If you have questions about how Jesus can save you today, or what your next step is in your faith, then reach out to us at www.burnthickory.com/next.
What does it mean to be blessed, meek, merciful, or righteous? How are we supposed to be happy in life? We study in scripture as Jesus taught next to the Sea of Galilee, He laid out a set of a challenges that each come with a promise. These are known as the beatitudes. Happiness begins when we see our emptiness and receive God’s fullness. To be broken hearted and meek may seem like a disadvantage, but as we mourn, we are promised comfort and we’ll see the kingdom of God. These beatitudes are also a way to measure how we are reflecting God’s glory, as well as a flashlight to bring vision to our lives. We are excited to be digging into the sermon on the mount beyond just the beatitudes, so make sure you tune in next Sunday.
It’s a special Sunday at Burnt Hickory where we get to celebrate our relationship with Peter, our mission partner from Kenya, as well as surprise him with a financial gift that will establish our footprint for generations in Kibera. Burnt Hickory has been generously giving towards the Kenya Ministry Center, and God has blessed that gift in the form of being able to purchase the land, build the center, and even furnish this church plant and missions headquarters in Kenya. Our mission partner in Kibera Kenya, Peter, shares about the heart of compassion and why we should care for everyone. We see as Jesus’ example that compassion moves us to action and puts motion to our feelings. The slums of Kibera Kenya are the perfect place to live out the gospel by feeding the hungry, preaching the truth, mentoring pastors, discipling the youth, and pointing people to the hope that is found in Jesus Christ. We at Burnt Hickory are funding the Kenya Ministry Center building project, and we are excited to continue to make an impact in Africa. You can be a part of what we are doing by supporting the Kenya Ministry Center too - https://www.burnthickory.com/missions/#kenya Special Guest: Peter Abungu.
As we celebrate our mothers and mother figures this Sunday, pastor Matt takes a few minutes to discuss the wonder and wisdom of motherhood with a few godly women of Burnt Hickory. We also can learn about faith practically lived out by studying Hannah in 1 Samuel 10. We see that our children are not our own, but they are God’s, and our job as parents is to unfold what He has made. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Proverbs 31:30-31.
Pastor Chip picks up the story of Elijah after the great showdown on the mountain, when God showed His power. Elijah’s life is threatened by one of Jezebel’s messengers, and Elijah becomes afraid and runs away to hide and even asks God to end his life. We see how a strong faith can be shipwrecked by not relying on God. We learn today that we should hold on to the promises of God, the hope that He has placed in us, and rely on the finished work of Jesus. Do you have hope based on God’s promises for you personally? If not, then reach out, we’d love to answer any questions and pray with you – burnthickory.com/next 1 Kings 19:1-9 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 7 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.
We are always worshiping something; you can’t turn it off. The real question to consider is “what” are you worshiping? As we dig into 1 Kings, we see that people where worshiping false gods and idols, and Pastor Matt shows us that in reality, we aren’t that different. Our idols look different than in the days of Elijah, but we are still trying to replace God’s rightful place in our hearts with objects, ideas, and people. These idols are never fully reachable, and they're constantly upping the stakes of how to reach them and eventually push us toward self-destruction. What things are in place of God in your heart? Call out to God in prayer and begin the act of repentance. If you’ve got questions or need to talk with a pastor, then check out our next steps here – www.burnthickory.com/next
You may never know how one small obedient act will impact eternity. The widow in 1 Kings is a perfect example of God’s plan in action as a part of a larger narrative. We learn today, that when we trust God and give Him our all, we grow personally, and it paves the way for others to come to faith also. Maybe you’ve never trusted God’s plan or are in a place where His timing doesn’t make sense to you. Don’t worry, its perfectly normal to have questions. We’d love to answer them, so feel free to reach out and ask here - pastor@burnthickory.com or take the next step with us here - https://www.burnthickory.com/next-steps/accept-jesus-christ/
Baptism is the public symbol that you are believing in Jesus, receiving His saving work as your own, and publicly declaring to others that you are His follower. As we look at scripture today, Pastor Matt shows us a few misconceptions about baptism, and why it’s a crucial part of faith in Jesus. Maybe you want to be saved today and follow Jesus. Maybe you have been saved, and you want to continue in obedience and be baptized. Then great, take the next step with us today – www.burnthickory.com/next
You might wonder why Christians talk so much about “the resurrection”. It might be confusing to understand the significance of Jesus’ death on our lives today. Why should we have hope today? If you’ve thought these things before, then you are in good company. Pastor Matt shows us the significance of the resurrection and what it can mean to you personally. What we want is for you to understand that Jesus’ death was a sacrifice for your sins, and that His resurrection is of personal importance. That one act of God forgives your past, transforms your present, and secures your future. If you’ve got questions about Jesus or want someone to pray with you, then take the next step here – burnthickory.com/next – we’d love to connect with you.
DNOW was a powerful experience for our Radiate Students, and we get to hear from guest speaker Chris who led them over the weekend in bible studies. He talks to us about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, and charges us to take our walk and relationship with Him deeper. We want to show and receive God’s love to those around us, and we live that out practically everyday. We strive to bring hope by meeting physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of everyone we come in contact with. We love fiercely—like a family, because everyone is included and our Father loves us all. We’re building biblical community by seeking God’s Word, believing in His promises, and applying what we learn everyday. Our hope is that you and your family find a home with us where you can learn, grow, live, and thrive in Christ Jesus. We’re a multi-generational church with something to offer everyone in your family. Join us for an online or on-campus Sunday morning worship service, and take the next step in your journey with us! Special Guest: Chris Lovell.
It’s a time for reflection on Jesus’ sacrifice and the implications of our redemption in view of history. Are you forgiven of your sins? Do you know that Jesus is Lord of your life? If you aren’t sure, then take the next step and reach out. We would love to help you explore a relationship with a heavenly father who has the power to forgive you and save you from eternal judgement. Burnthickory.com/next
Is there anything that would keep you from giving your heart to Jesus right now? Do you want to know more about what it means to have faith and be saved? Then take the next step with us and ask any question you’d like – burnthickory.com/next
Pastor Matt show us through Judas’s story that there is a big difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Jesus. We learn that Satan actively pursues those who show interest in Jesus, and if we are not in relationship with Christ, we are vulnerable, even before those closest to us notice. Jesus wants a relationship with us so that we might be saved. Do you have questions, or would like to talk to someone about what being in relationship with Jesus means? Then great! Take the next step and visit burnthickory.com/next or text “next” to 678-506-2462 to get answers. Luke 6:12-16: 12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
A.W. Tozer puts it this way when speaking about easy believe-ism, “I want some of your blood for the forgiveness of my sins, but I don’t have any intention of following you or obeying you, and now if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to get on with my life.” Take time to examine your walk with Jesus today. Does this ring a little true? Then we challenge you to take the next step and be fully committed to Jesus.
Pastor Matt points out that when we follow Jesus at a distance, mask our identity to fit in with the crowd we are approaching denying Christ. But it’s not fatal when we fall toward Jesus. Can people look at you and know that you have been with Jesus? Maybe you’ve slipped into not placing your full identity in Jesus or you have questions about what it means to follow Him. Take the next step and reach out to one of our pastors - https://www.burnthickory.com/next Matt. 16:13-19 13 “…Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matt 16:21-23 21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Luke 22:31-34 31“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.
We see in Ephesians 4 - “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” This shows s that truth is supremely important, but so is the way to deliver that truth. John 13:21-25 21 …Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” 22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” 25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” John 18:15-17 15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in. 17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.” John 19:25-27 25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
Pastor Matt shous us that we also don’t need all the answers, especially to answer Jesus’ call, lead others to Him, or to even meet people’s needs in His name. Don’t let your lack of knowledge stand in the way of walking in faith and obedience.
This week we see that not only do we see that the twelve disciples are ordinary, we also learn just as they faced opposition, we will too. Satan attempts to convince us that our shortcomings make us useless to Jesus. John MacArther puts it this way - “God chooses the humble, the lowly, the meek and the weak so that there is never any question about the source of power when their lives change the world." We also see the journey all disciples of Christ make is a never-ending circle that brings our focus back to Jesus and draws people along with us in growing closer to Him. 1. We are introduced to Jesus 2. We are called to an intimate relationship with Jesus 3. We are taught the principles of Godly living 4. We are mentored in living the life of a servant of Jesus 5. We are transformed by the Holy Spirit 6. We are sent to engage in the mission of Jesus
3 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to [a]ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Special Guest: Thomas Hamond.
As God holds all human life as His workmanship and as reflecting His image, it should be sacred to us. We also see in scripture that we are formed with this image from inside our mother's womb. The goal of exploring this in scripture is not to condemn anyone, but to show how we should reflect God's view of humanity, and learn that everyone is precious. John 1:4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Gen. 2:7 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Eph. 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ps. 139:13-14 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Gen. 1:25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Gen. 1:26-27 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Our service to the King must be centered around some counter cultural truths: That Jesus is the only savior worth following, that Jesus is the only pure example of what glorifies God, and that Jesus calls us to get of the throne of self-advancement and become a true servant. In God's kingdom, the standard of greatness is measured in service, not in authority or in accomplishment. We see this throughout Mark as well as in Philippians... Phil. 2:1-8 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Mark 10:43-45 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
We've got to create a new narrative for this new year. In order to control that narrative, God has to be a part of it. If you walk into 2021 already defeated, there's no way that you're going to walk out of it victorious. It's going to be just like last year. And if you've already wrote the narrative, it's going to be a bad year. We must begin it knowing that we have the opportunity to change the story that we're going to tell. Because of a God that loves us, we have the opportunity to change the narrative for 2021. In Second Corinthians chapter 10, verses three through five it says this, for that we live in the world, we do not wage war, as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive, every thought, to make it obedient to Christ. Scripture tells us that that we are victorious because of Christ. Therefore the chapter and the circumstances that we're going through, no matter how good or bad, they are, they're just a chapter. They're not the end. Join us this year by making a new start for 2021 and believing in Christ and his promises that He is victorious.
Pastor Alan opens scripture and shows us that we can take heart, and trust in God because His word, His nature, and His promises are unchanging and true. We are commanded to not look to our own understanding, comprehension, discernment, or insight, but to God’s. “Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord but serve the Lord with all your heart. Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart." – 1 Samuel 12:20 As we learn to surrender and trust in God’s will, we can learn to walk in His ways – the way Psalms 119:105 says – “Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Do you trust God as provider, healer, and sustainer? Have you surrendered to Him? If not, then take the next step and reach out – burnthickory.com/next
Remember the anticipation as a child of what gifts would await us on Christmas morning or the heartwarming thoughts of spending time with family and friends? This time of year might being memories flooding back to us. Think about a gift you received from someone who knows you better than you know yourself, or getting something that was your hearts desire. What is the ultimate gift? Maybe Christmas is a hard time for you. The burdens, unmet expectations, and even abusive and toxic experiences might leave you wondering why celebrate anything? Your hope is gone, and it's tough even just to function and get through the holiday without breaking down. No matter your circumstance, as a Christian, we get to look forward in celebration of Christmas, not for the worldly gifts, but for the greatest gift, God with us. Christ was born. God became man. That may seem like a weird thing to celebrate, but in light of what God's plan is - it's worth responding to. Christ became man so that He could bear our sins on a cross as our punishment, and died in our place - to save us. He takes the penalty of our sins and our punishment away, and all you have to do is believe and accept Him as lord of your life. Christmas is the perfect time of year to stop and consider what is there to be hopeful in this world. Especially in an ever changing and dark day we live in right now. What brings hope for life? What do we have to look forward to? If you have nothing to hope for, then take time to listen to this message, about Jesus Christ and what He has done. He wants you to be saved. He died for your sin. You can call our prayer hotline - 770-590-0372, or reach out by taking the next step - https://www.burnthickory.com/next. Someone will reach out to you.
Not only was myrrh used in biblical times for a perfume, it was also a painkiller. Remember in Mark 15:23 when Christ is hanging on the cross, the roman guards offer myrrh, and He didn’t take it. He wanted to take the punishment meant for us and he died feeling the full measure of our sin. More significant, myrrh was used to prepare dead bodies for burial - it was known as the death spice. Later in John chapter 19, we see Joseph of Arimathea ask Pilate for Christ's body so that it could be wrapped and anointed for burial. It's a beautiful foreshadowing of Christ’s death on the cross as substitute for us, by bestowing Him with the death spice at His birth.
Frankincense it was a standard tool of worship used it in sacrifice for the priest. It represents the priest who was the middleman between God and man as being set apart for service. Frankincense was also used to present a pleasing odor to God, and it symbolized the people obedience in worship. As we look to why the Maji presented this to Christ, we see that He is our priest, our go between, our mediator to God the father on our behalf. The Maji knew the Jesus was the ultimate high priest as foretold in scripture. You can accept Jesus today as your savior by taking the next step - burnthickory.com/next
When we read of the account of the birth of Christ in the bible, we see that it was not a silent night, and there were not just 3 wise men from the orient seeking Him. We see that these Maji are seeking the King of Kings to worship Him. In the same manner, we are not the same after our encounter with Christ. We must recognize His call as King, and bestow Him with worthy gifts, our best!
We see in Philippians that Paul's telling the church, in these remarkably awful times that we have right now, the way everyone is going to see Christ is through your gentleness and your grace. It's through the gentle grace that God has given us that we reciprocate that to everybody else. It's God through us. What are our social media interactions showing those around us? It's almost like we have this arrogant notion that if we can kind of clean ourselves up good enough in the sight of the Lord, then maybe we can run from the bad stuff in this world. Paul's telling us in scripture to come to God with a grateful attitude, and that's something so key for our relationship with Him. Our goal as Christians is not to avoid or eliminate unpleasant and tough circumstances, but to renew our minds, trust in God's goodness, and stay positive.
Church is not an event. A church is not a necessarily a location. The church is the group of redeemed people that God wants to speak to and through, and as a result of that, the church is the hope of the world. Church should be a refuge for broken, a place to find healing, and learn of the promises of God. We enable that by linking our lives intentionally together and we strive to be known. If you are looking for a church to call home, to be known and loved, to be taught and find refuge, then consider joining Burnt Hickory. Take the next step and discover what membership looks like – www.burnthickory.com/next
Church is not a spectator sport. It is unlike anything else that you do on this planet, and something that God has called us to belong to put roots down in and be an active part, Its different than just attending an event. We are the Ekklesia - called out by God to band together as one people group under one purpose. We are also to be sanctified - cleansed and given a new start and to be made holy. Not onlyl forgiven, but separated for His purpose. In Matthew 16:18 Jesus said, " And I tell you that you Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." Jesus not only started the church, He also loves it, and it's really hard to call yourself a Jesus follower and not be planted, rooted, and belonging to his church. Take the next step with us today, reach out and discover membership here at Burnt Hickory - www.burnthickory.com/next
Matt Wilson from Compassion International takes the time to show us how we as Christians can make an impact on the future generation by caring for vulnerable children. We also can assist families who are redeeming hope by fostering and adopting. Take the next step with us by sponsoring a child, financially supporting a foster family, or consider adoption. Find out more information at - https://www.burnthickory.com/one/ Special Guests: Matt Carter and Matt Wilson.
How do we advance the gospel in the context of today? It's relationships. It's relationships. It's relationships. Every person that names the name of Jesus, wherever your foot falls tomorrow as you wake up to start your routine; school, work, you know, neighborhood, that's wherever your foot falls, that's mission. The primary instrument is you God's hand is upon you and He leads us by His Spirit. God's vision for your life is uniquely personal, and He's wired you for relationships. He's called you into mission and it is uniquely personal, to every individual. Not everybody is called to cross an ocean, but everybody in this room is called to advance the gospel. Are you willing to respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and say, yes, and whatever it costs, you will lay it on the line and sacrifice and go, demands obedience? The willingness to turn your back on, maybe what you want to do with a heart that says, Yes, Lord, I will follow, I will do what you call me into. Special Guest: Mike Taylor.
Why is God not hurrying in His judgment? Because God doesn't have to hurry, He's already there. You don't have to hurry to a place that you're already in. In God wanting people to come to repentance, He is tarrying in His return. You wait in your return. God doesn't desire anyone to fail, He doesn't want us to fall. He wants us to come to repentance in Him. It should affect us even more knowing that His judgment is coming. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." He's saying, hey, there is another kingdom, seek that kingdom. That's what holy living looks like. That's what holy life looks like.
We talk most often about the things that mean most to us. You ever met somebody that just stepped into a new relationship and they just won't shut up about it? How about somebody that got a new house or a new car? You can always tell a lot about a person through what they speak about the most. Peter says true believers speak of Christ, speak to Christ, speak what he has done, and what he's going to do. Are you living a counterfeit life? Based on the message today, what is your next step to live as a true believer?
"For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of His Majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying this is My Son in whom I love and with Him I am well pleased. We ourselves heard this voice that came from the heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain." Peter looks at the believers all around him and he says I know there's a lot of noise, I know there's a lot going on. I know a lot is happening, but if you're setting your minds in a direction to live a godly life then you're setting your minds to live a life of legacy. People that have a problem with certain parts of the Bible are always the people that are not living that part of the Bible. They're taking their context, and they're taking their life and then they're beginning to filter that into the Bible. That's the wrong direction. It never goes that way. The Bible always is the truth and filters to our life therefore college students, when you decide to move in with your boyfriend, girlfriend, when you decide to get drunk every night of the weekend and when you decide to sleep around and do whatever you want to listen, the Bible is still the Bible and you're wrong. You're wrong. If you want to be a disciple of Jesus, trust the Word of God. And when you trust the Word of God, it changes you.
Jesus gives us divine power, generosity, promises and an inheritance with an escape from the world's corruption. He has called us as servants, which means that He is Lord, we are not, and what He asks of us is of supreme importance. It may seem overwhelming, but He has also equipped our faith by giving us faith filled goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, Godliness, mutual affection and love. We reach this point beyond the middle of the road when we totally rely on Jesus for His peace and presence.
Jesus said, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” That is a characteristic of disciples of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10 says, "For though we live in this world, we don't wage war as the world does." The weapons we fight with, they're not the weapons of the world. If you're so caught up in worldly wars that are going on, you're going to miss the bigger picture. On the contrary, what we fight with, we have divine power, not temporary worldly power, divine power to do what? To demolish strongholds.
Our perspective of the bigness of God is often overshadowed by our prideful look at ourselves. We see everything around us and assume God's place as lord over our life. When we learn to see God's transcendence, we see things in the correct order of importance. A right view of the transcendence of God elevates our reverence to God. Isaiah 55:8 & 9 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the Earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts." The God of the Bible is no abstract deity that is removed from and uninterested in His creation. The Bible is the story of God's involvement with His creation, and particularly with the people in it.
We want to show and receive God’s love to those around us, and we live that out practically everyday. We strive to bring hope by meeting physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of everyone we come in contact with. We love fiercely—like a family, because everyone is included and our Father loves us all. We’re building biblical community by seeking God’s Word, believing in His promises, and applying what we learn everyday. Our hope is that you and your family find a home with us where you can learn, grow, live, and thrive in Christ Jesus. We’re a multi-generational church with something to offer everyone in your family. Join us for an online or on-campus Sunday morning worship service, and take the next step in your journey with us!
Pastor Matt walks through Matthew 17 as we explore the impact of our personal encounter with Jesus.
We are looking at the last non-biblical statement today, one that's attributed to St. Francis - "Preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words." Today, we learn that this statement is not only false, but it incorrectly shapes how we share the gospel with the lost. It places emphasis on us doing good works instead of the truth that Christ has saved us from sin. As Christians, we should reshape this phrase to "Share the gospel, always with words, and live a life that strives to back it up."
"I thank you that I'm not like the rest of these people." Now before you start judging, you've probably said this before, at least in your mind. Satan wants us to believe that our spiritual transformation and our faith walk are more dependent upon us and our behavior rather than completely on God's mercy. The other side of the coin is the desperation that we fall in when we don't meet the mark. As we dig deeper, we see both sides of pride and desperation in the scripture, and we learn that Christ's completed work on the cross abolishes both these viewpoints.
This morning, Pastor Matt shows us the difference between proverbs and promises in scripture, and he helps us understand that the power of salvation is up to God alone. When training up children, there is no biblical promise for the outcome - it's up to God in dealing with each individual through the Holy Spirit speaking directly to them that prompts the realization and the need for a relationship with Christ. _Our job as parents is not to produce good kids. Your job on this earth is to show them and to teach them the love of who Jesus is. And how they turn out, here it is, let me take the pressure off of you, it's not up to you. There's some of you out there with adult children right now that are just not walking with Jesus. And you've been living in the shame for a really long time blaming yourself that you messed your kid up. But can I tell you something? Could you have done it differently? Yeah. Could you have done it better? Probably. Is it your fault? No. It's not your fault. Why? Because this is not a promise. It's a proverb. _
God's not punishing us so that we can receive justice. That's what he's already done through Jesus. The aim of God sent consequences of forgiven sin are to demonstrate the exceedingly evilness of sin, just to show us that, hey sin stings, sin is evil. And it's not just a get out of jail free card. Did I blow it? Yeah! But I know that my Maker, the Creators of the heaven and earth, He has made me whole. He wants to make you whole. He doesn't want to leave you in the bottom. He wants you to see that it's him. In fact, look at the cry of David's heart he takes us to school on what we should be praying and crying if we want God to get us out of the pit. He says, "Create in me, a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me." He begs God to make him pure, he begs God to make him new. He begs God to fully restore the power and the presence of his relationship in his life. That should be our prayer this week to get us out of the pit.
When our happiness is based on your circumstances, we are at the mercy of the season of life we find ourselves in and we will never be sucessful at removing all the obsticals in the way of joy. This is why its crucial to have our anchor point outside of ourselves and place our roots in who Jesus is. Oh God, I have tasted thy goodness and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I'm painfully conscious of my need for further grace and I'm ashamed of my lack of desire, oh God. And I want to want thee. I long to be filled with longing. My thirst to be made thirsty or still. God give me the grace to rise up and follow thee.