Burnt Hickory | Sermons

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 t...

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...

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 rea...

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 importan...

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 w...

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 sai...

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 t...

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 throu...

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...

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...

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...

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 i...

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 m...

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 t...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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 th...

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 t...

"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...

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...

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 big...