True Love, Truly Expressed, Truly Assures [Family Worship lesson in 1John 3:16–23]

How important is sacrificial love? 1John 3:16–23 prepares us for the second serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that sacrificial love in our hearts is used by God to assure us, even before Him.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Opportunities for Fruit and Fellowship [Family Worship lesson in Titus 3:12–15]

What goes into believers’ plans and greetings? Titus 3:12–15 prepares us for the second serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that believers humbly see their neediness and seek/accept help, but also rejoice at opportunities to be used by Christ to meet others’ needs. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Spiritual Men to Lead a Spiritual People in Service to the Soul and Body [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #40, 2023.07.02 Sabbath School]

By virtue of other believers' union with Christ, they ought to be the special objects of our love and service—especially in helping their weaknesses, since we have missed our opportunity to reciprocate Christ's love to Him in His human weakness. Service to one another in soul requires corresponding service to one another in body. And both require that the work of the Spirit in us be expressed in the manner in which we help one another. To lead us in this service, the Lord has given us ordained servants over both the spiritual service of the body and the material service of the body.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Treasuring God Is the Foundation of Being Content and Charitable [Westminster Shorter Catechism 80 Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 80—especially explaining and applying how treasuring God is the foundation of being content and charitable.

Q80. What is required in the tenth commandment? The tenth commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition, with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbor, and all that is his.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Biblical Theology of the Diaconate (21): Seeking to Prosper Our Brother in Dignity, Materially, and Spiritually [2023.01.29 Sabbath School]

The Lord's instructions for slavery among Israelites showed that they were to seek that their brother would prosper in dignity, materially, and especially in spiritual things. As the Lord's People do this, such love is fostered among them that they wish to become literal family.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Biblical Theology of the Diaconate (20): Slavery that Valued Marriage and Family More Than Our Contemporary Context [2023.01.22 Sabbath School]

The Lord has established a principle for His people that situations of financial lack are opportunities to show generosity in a way that prioritizes marriage and family the way that God does.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Biblical Theology of the Diaconate (19): Pleasing God in Transactions & God's Love-Fostering Design for Slavery in Israel [2023.01.15 Sabbath School]

God, Who has given us ways of obtaining wealth that glorify Him via productivity and charity, abominates gaining wealth by scheming to take it from others. And God gave His people a way of helping one another materially that included a form of slavery that fostered love among master and slave.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The God Whose Own Empathy Demands Ours [2022.09.04 Evening Sermon in Exodus 22:21–27]

To God, we are all needy, so He reminds us that He listens to the needy among us. They are not without an Advocate, so we must have a special care for them and a special empathy for them.

(click here to DOWNLOAD video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon)

The Empathetic, Gracious God Who Commands His People to Be Empathetic and Watchful to Care [Family Worship lesson in Exodus 22:21–27]

Why should God’s society have empathy toward the needy? Exodus 22:21–27 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that whereas men tend to take special advantage of the needy, God has a special ear for them, so His people must have a special empathy toward them. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Three Commands for Helping Brothers Who Won't Work [Family Worship lesson in 2Thessalonians 3:6–12]

How do we show charity to those unwilling to work? 2Thessalonians 3:6–12 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that loving those who refuse to work means helping them love the Lord Jesus and His people.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)