Ordination by the Spirit [Family Worship lesson in Numbers 27:12–23]

What are we to learn from the ordination of Joshua? Numbers 27:12–23 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twelve verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the ordination of Joshua displays God’s grace to His church, even though they are sinners.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Arrogance of Living for Our Profit Plans [Family Worship lesson in James 4:13–17]

In what should a man spend his life? James 4:13–17 prepares us for the second serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that a man should spend his life in that which does good before God.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Riches of Salvation for the World [2024.02.07 Midweek Sermon in Romans 11:11–15]

Since the Lord, Who has assigned to each of us our service, is focused on saving all of the elect from all of the nations, each of our own service is a participation in that great and glorious work.

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The High Calling of Godly Women Who Don't Cause God's Word to Be Blasphemed [Family Worship lesson in Titus 2:3–5]

How should an older woman conduct herself? Titus 2:3–5 looks forward to the second serial reading of in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that an older woman should conduct herself with such holiness and gentleness as encourages younger women to devote themselves to their crucial character and work. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Living in a Way That Is Ready to Worship [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 101]

How does a king prepare for worship? Psalm 101 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that one way that kings (and all of us) must prepare for worship is by godly conduct in our ordinary callings. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Power, Love, and a Sound Mind: How the Spirit Sustains Us in Christian Life, Suffering, and Ministry [Family Worship lesson in 2Timothy 1:6–12]

How should believers approach difficulty in their callings? 2Timothy 1:6–12 looks forward to the second reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that believers should not shrink from difficulty but embrace it as a privilege that comes with our callings—a privilege planned and obtained for us from eternity in Christ, and now applied to us by His Spirit Who shall surely carry us all the way through.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Through Whom and How God Began to Overthrow a Wicked Dynasty (Family Worship lesson in 1Kings 19:19–21)

How does God bring down evil dynasties? 1Kings 19:19–21 looks forward to the first serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eighteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God often does great things through simple people and resolved commitment.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Paul's Calling and Ordination, part 2: Brought Under Christ's Plan and Grace (2022.06.26 Morning Sermon in Acts 9:6–19)

The Lord shapes His ordained servants by subjecting them to His plan and subjecting them to dependence upon His grace for their part in it.

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Slave-Saints of the Savior: Apostleship as a Model for Christian Identity (2022.04.27 Midweek Meeting sermon in Romans 1:1–6)

As the apostle identifies himself and his calling, he is already teaching believers to define themselves by their relation to Christ.

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Suffering by the Power of Him Who Predestined Our Salvation and Calling (Family Worship lesson in 2Timothy 1:8–12)

What can stave off discouragement in the sufferings of our callings? Pastor leads his family in today’s “Hopewell @Home” passage. 2Timothy 1:8–12 prepares us for the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the God Who predestined our salvation and our calling will carry us through whatever suffering He has ordained along the way. We know Him and His ability; He will keep us.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Why Believers Are Still Alive (2021.03.14 Evening Sermon in Philippians 1:22–26)

If a believer is still alive, it is for fruitful labor—an assignment from Jesus to participate in the growth of the church in Christ and the joy of the church in Christ.

The Power of Believers' Ordinary Faithfulness and Brotherly Love (2021.01.10 Evening Sermon in Ephesians 6:21–22)

God is often pleased to do extraordinary things through Christians' ordinary faithfulness and brotherly love.

The Cosmic Battle for Believer's Mouths, Hearts, and Vocations (2020.09.27 Evening Sermon in Ephesians 4:25–30)

The Holy Spirit and the devil are at war. Wherein does this battle rage? Not in the stuff of movies but in the stuff of everyday life: congregational life and worship, marriage, parenting, and vocation. But in these six verses specifically, we see the necessity of both "putting off" and "putting on" in godly speech, godly anger, and godly labor.

Sharpened Faces and Ripened Fruit (Family Worship in Prov 27:17–18)

Pastor leads his family in two verses of "today's" Proverb, 27:17–18. Because we are often forgetful that we are before His face, God uses our brother's face to sharpen ours. And God, who has planted us in whatever role we find ourselves, grants to us that if patiently and cheerfully labor in our calling, then in due season we will reap—whether we are farmers or slaves, and ultimately as His own children and servants.

"The Grace, Depth, and Eternal Goodness of the Ministry of the Mystery of the Gospel" (2020.06.21 p.m. Exhortation from Ephesians 3:7–9)

Ministry in the gospel is an assignment by grace to show bottomless depths of an eternal goodness.

The ministry of the gospel mystery was a GRACIOUS GIFT to Paul, in which he proclaimed the UNSEARCHABLE RICHES of Christ that come to us in the ETERNAL GOODNESS of God that aimed at the gospel from even before the creation.

We ought to rejoice in whatever stewardship God gives us in His Spirit's glorious work of bringing people from all nations to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The Lord shows Saul, and us, that He has appointed His servants for their part in His plan to redeem His own inheritance. And they can carry out their role only by His Spirit not their strength, and only in obedience to His Word not their supposed wisdom.