Burnt Hickory | Sermons

What does it really mean to follow Jesus? Through John Chapter 1, verses 35-51, we discover how Jesus's first disciples responded to His call - not with perfect understanding, but with willing hearts. This message explores how Jesus meets us in our questions, knows us completely, and invites us into authentic relationship.

In the Gospel of John, belief is more than just acknowledging the truth—it’s about placing complete trust in Jesus, committing to His purpose, and letting your actions reflect His love. Through powerful passages like John 20:30-31 and Colossians 1:15-21, we will explore who Jesus is: the eternal Word, Creator of all things, and the Light that conquers darkness. Join us as we unpack the transformat...

This Christmas message explores the profound truth that the birth of Christ is the ultimate expression of God's love. Through Mary's extraordinary encounter with God, Pastor Matt Petty reveals five transformative truths about divine love: • God's love knows us intimately - even a humble teenage girl in Nazareth • His power manifests in unexpected ways - turning ordinary moments into divine appoint...

What if hope wasn't just a wishful feeling but an unbreakable promise? In a world filled with uncertainty, disappointment, and constant change, there's a hope that goes beyond temporary circumstances—a hope that truly lasts. This morning, we'll explore a hope that transcends wishful thinking, stretching beyond the season and far greater than fleeting optimism. This message reveals hope isn't about...

What does it truly mean to love God with everything you are? Beyond surface-level emotions and routine actions, there's a profound invitation to a love that transforms everything. Join us as we hear from our dear mission partner, Peter Abungu, as he explores the depths of loving God completely—with our heart, soul, and strength. This sermon isn't just a talk—it's a heartfelt exploration of what it...

What does it mean to truly live out your faith? Missions Sunday invites us to reflect on the picture of heaven painted in Revelation 7—a great multitude from every nation and tongue, united in worship before the throne of God. This vision challenges us to live as people redeemed by His grace, to praise Him for the victory that’s already ours, and to share His eternal love with a world longing for...

What happens when we truly see God for who He is? In this message, we explore the powerful moment of Jesus' transfiguration in Matthew 17 and how it reveals two foundational truths about God's nature: His transcendence and His immanence. God’s transcendence reminds us of His majesty and holiness, elevating our reverence for Him. At the same time, His immanence brings us close, showing His intimate...

What happens when God speaks? Do we stop to listen, or do we rush past His voice in the noise of life? Today, we'll explore Matthew 17:1-8, where Peter, James, and John experience the awe-inspiring transfiguration of Jesus. As they witness His glory, God interrupts their moment with a profound command: "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" Through this passage,...

Do we prioritize time alone with Jesus, or let the noise of life pull us away? This week, we dive into the transformative power of personal, intentional moments with God. Through the story of Jesus leading His disciples to Mount Tabor, we see that true strength for public witness starts in private surrender. Jesus calls us to set aside distractions and seek Him, allowing these private encounters t...

What does it mean to truly follow Jesus? In today’s message, "Come and Die," we dive into Jesus’ powerful words from Luke 9:23-25, where He invites us to surrender our lives fully to Him. This call to "deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Me" is both a challenge and an invitation into a life transformed by faith. Jesus doesn’t just ask us to believe; He invites us to live fully surr...

When life feels uncertain, and challenges press in, where do we turn? Today’s message in our Faith in Action series explores James 5:13-18 to reveal the power of prayer—how faith-fueled prayers bring healing, forgiveness, and transformation. Through questions on prayer, faith, and confession, we discover why God listens to prayers rooted in trust and humility, and how confession opens us to His he...

What does patience look like in your life? In today’s message from the book of James, we dive into the profound connection between faith and patience. We explore how Godly patience is not just about waiting, but about trusting—looking back on God's faithfulness, looking forward to His promises, and looking up for His strength. Through the examples of the farmer, the prophets, and the life of Job,...

We want to Today, we dive into a vital question: Are we truly living in line with God's will? In this message, we explore what it means to have an active, ongoing commitment to do the will of God. As we reflect on the teachings of James, we'll unpack the four common attitudes people have toward God's will—ignoring it, denying it, disobeying it, or faithfully doing it. We’ll also consider what God’...

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 applyin...

Fear is a gift from God. It can propel us forward and lead us to act. But what about the times when fear paralyzes us? This morning, as we hear from our Student Pastor, Chip Paul, we’ll explore the tension between faith and fear. It’s easy to let fear take over and guide our lives, but God's promises remind us that we are never alone, that He is our God, and that He will strengthen and uphold us....

Your words hold incredible power! They can uplift, guide, and praise—but they can also harm, deceive, and destroy. As we dive deeper into the book of James, we’ll uncover one of our greatest tools: the tongue. Just like a small rudder steering a massive ship, our words reflect our hearts' true direction. Together, we'll explore how the tongue reveals our relationship with Christ and wields immense...

Attending versus membership: why should someone become a member of the church? What does it truly offer? Today’s sermon will show the significance of standing behind and belonging to a church community. God invites us not just to attend but to engage and grow within His family fully. As we explore the teachings of Jesus in the book of Matthew, we’ll see His passion for the church and understand wh...

Words are easy, but are your actions telling a different story? As we continue our journey through the book of James, we're covering a powerful lesson: the connection between belief and action. James reminds us that faith without works is not just stagnant—it's lifeless. It's not enough to simply profess our faith; we must pursue a growing, thriving faith that propels us to act, serve, and uplift...

Love your neighbor as yourself. But how do we truly embrace this calling when differences arise? What if we find ourselves prioritizing or brushing off others, whether a coworker or even a family member, because of how we view them? This morning, as we continue our journey through the book of James, we invite you to reflect with us on the theme of favoritism. Together, we’ll uncover how favoritism...

At Burnt Hickory, we care deeply about your marriage and we are thrilled to welcome Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn as our guest speakers this Sunday our marriage focus Sunday. They are internationally-renowned social researchers, and authors of best-selling books "For Men Only" and "For Women Only." With graduate degrees from Harvard the Feldhahns have been using their analytical backgrounds to help co...

Do you ever find yourself speaking before you think, only to be filled with remorse over what was said? Or do you find it hard to follow through on what you know is right? This morning, as we continue our series in the book of James, we’ll discuss the importance of listening before speaking, controlling our anger and understanding when it is righteous, and clearing out the negative influences with...

Are you finding it challenging to navigate the trials and temptations in your life? Join us this morning as we continue our sermon series, Faith in Action, journeying through the book of James. We’ll explore how trials expose the true foundations of our lives, reminding us to focus on God's eternal reward. You’ll learn the difference between trials and temptations, understand where temptation real...

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 applyin...

Today we'll take a look at how actively pursuing a life of faith, not just making a statement of faith, allows God to step in when the burdens in our lives or baggage from our past seem to consume us. We’ll explore how creating a new life with Jesus is the only way to have effective change in our lives. We'll talk about how real faith is shown through our actions, like in the amazing story of the...

Join us as we explore the pivotal moments when we shift our focus from praying to praising, and how praise can declare victory even in the midst of our struggles. Drawing from the story of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20, we will see how prayer enters us into the battle, while praise declares the victory. Many of us may feel burdened by heavy hearts and unanswered prayers. Today, we'll learn how to...