Burnt Hickory | Sermons

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 concern...

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...

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 h...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 w...

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 ther...

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, th...

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 cr...

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 separa...

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 stu...

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 So...

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 wellbe...

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...

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...

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. H...

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 sc...

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 shou...

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...

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 t...

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...

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 g...