Hymns in the Hill Country
November 1
Church Blog
Giving Good Advice
The wise know that there are times when they need the advice of knowledgable and mature Christians. “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels” (Proverbs 1:5). God says we need advice, not only as individuals, but for the good of the whole society because “where no counsel is, the people fall” (Proverbs 11:14). However, we should not make the mistake in thinking that any advice will do. “The…
A Bittersweet Farewell
October 25th, 2025, is our last Sunday with the beloved Westbrook family. Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when the people you are saying goodbye to have made such a meaningful impact on the congregation. For the past 10 years, the Westbrook family have labored for the Lord here at Southwest, leaving a footprint that will be seen even after they have moved. Cody’s preaching from the pulpit, teaching in the classroom, compassionate visits to homes and hospitals, and being…
Does God Exist? (1 Peter 3:15)
According to the Pew Research Center, the number of atheists in our country has doubled over the last 10 years. While they still only make up roughly 4% of Americans, there are countries in Europe where 1 in every 4 people deny the existence of God. These numbers do not even include agnostics (those who deny that we can know that God exists with certainty) or those who are “indifferent” on the matter. The point is, if we are to…
The Problem of Partiality (James 2:9)
“But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors” (James 2:9). Partiality is a sin. The Bible is clear on the subject, but…what is partiality? What does it look like, and if we struggle with it, how do we overcome it? Partiality is the attitude of unfair preference or approval towards someone. In James 2:1, some versions of the Bible will even use the phrase “personal favoritism” to describe this attitude of…