Hickory Rock Baptist Church

09/06/2026

Our Hickory Rock family grew today with the addition of Phil and Jackie Burns, and Austin and Jordyn Gabriel!

Be sure to welcome them into our church family and let them know how glad we are to have them with us. We’re grateful to God for bringing them into our fellowship and look forward to walking, worshiping, and growing together!

09/06/2026

We know how to get out of Egypt. But how do we learn to live as people who have been set free? As we begin our journey through Exodus, we'll discover that salvation is not simply about being rescued from something—it is about being formed for life with God.

09/06/2026

09/05/2026

The decision to go to church–or to try a new church–for the first time can be scary. Worries and intrusive thoughts will make you feel like you shouldn’t do it. You might fear that you’ll be out of place, feel judged, or won’t know what to do when you get there. If you’ve ever felt that way, loved one, know that our doors at Hickory Rock are open to you. You are welcome here, and at Hickory Rock, you will feel safe and loved. You are welcome to come be part of our community, grow holiness with us, and seek Christ’s kingdom with us. Join us on Sundays at 10 AM for Sunday School or at 11 AM for our worship gathering. We’ll meet you at the door with open arms and smiles. We can’t wait to see you.

09/04/2026

We know how to get out of Egypt. But how do we learn to live as people who have been set free? As we begin our journey through Exodus, we'll discover that salvation is not simply about being rescued from something—it is about being formed for life with God.

09/04/2026

Psalm 92 brings us to the heart of the whole journey: the good life is not something we manufacture or earn. It is a gift we receive. And as the Scriptures show us, the gift is Christ.

We've spent these weeks asking what the good life looks like. We've seen delight, trust, waiting, repentance, satisfaction, dependence, being known, and remaining rooted in God. But all of these things ultimately point somewhere—or rather, someone. Jesus perfectly lived the with-God life, and through his death and resurrection he invites us into that life with him. The good life is not a destination we achieve. It is life with Christ, received by grace.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for giving yourself to us. Teach us to receive your grace, your mercy, and your life with joy.

Question
What would it look like for me to stop trying to manufacture the good life and simply receive Christ today?

09/03/2026

Psalm 92 returns us once again to the image of the flourishing tree: planted in the house of the Lord, remaining rooted in his presence and continuing to bear fruit.

The tree doesn't flourish by constantly moving. It flourishes by remaining planted. Jesus gives us the same image when he tells us to remain in him. The good life isn't found by endlessly searching for something better. It is found by sinking our roots more deeply into the life of God and receiving from him what we cannot give ourselves.

Prayer
Jesus, help me remain in you. Root me deeply in your presence and teach me to receive my life from you.

Question
Where am I tempted to uproot myself and chase something I think will give me a better life?

09/02/2026

Psalm 92 shows us that when we recognize God's goodness, the natural response is joy: "I will shout for joy because of the works of your hands."

Joy doesn't begin with having perfect circumstances. It begins with seeing rightly. When we recognize that God is good and that our lives are held by him, gratitude begins to take root. We don't have to manufacture joy. We receive God's goodness, and joy becomes our response.

Prayer
Lord, give me eyes to see your goodness and a heart ready to rejoice in it.

Question
What goodness can I stop and give thanks for today?

09/01/2026

Once the psalmist stops, he begins to see: "For you, LORD, have made me rejoice at what you have done; I will shout for joy because of the works of your hands."

Striving narrows our vision. When we're constantly trying to make life happen, we can become so focused on what we need to accomplish that we stop noticing what God is already doing. Psalm 92 invites us to look around. God's goodness is not hiding. His works are all around us, waiting to be noticed.

Prayer
Father, open my eyes to the goodness already present in my life. Teach me to recognize the works of your hands.

Question
What is something God has done that I might overlook if I don't slow down enough to notice it?

08/31/2026

Psalm 92 was written for the Sabbath, a day set apart for stopping, resting, and remembering that God is God and we are not.

We often approach the good life as another project to accomplish. We think that if we work harder, improve ourselves, and get everything in order, we'll finally arrive. But Sabbath interrupts that way of thinking. It reminds us that the world does not depend on our constant striving. God is already at work. Sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is stop long enough to receive.

Prayer
Lord, quiet my striving. Teach me to stop, rest, and remember that I am not the one holding everything together.

Question
Where in my life am I striving to manufacture something that God is inviting me simply to receive?