Glorious Answer to Prayer [Family Worship lesson in Song of Songs 5:1]

How does Christ answer the prayers of the bride? Song of Songs 5:1 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In this verse of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ answers the prayers of the bride instantly and abundantly. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional unfolds the profound intimacy between Christ and His church, drawing from Song of Songs 5:1 to reveal Christ’s joyful, abundant presence and delight in His bride. Central to the message is the divine provision of communion—Christ not only answers the bride’s prayer for His coming but declares His full enjoyment of her, having gathered her myrrh and spices, eaten her honeycomb, and drunk her wine and milk, symbolizing His pleasure in her sanctified character, works, fellowship, and nourishing grace. He affectionately calls her garden, sister, and spouse, affirming her identity in Him, while extending the invitation to all believers to partake in His joy as His own friends and beloved ones. The tone is pastoral and celebratory, emphasizing that Christ’s presence is not only real but actively communicated, assuring believers of His delight and inviting them to savor His nearness, the fruit of His Spirit, and the joy of eternal fellowship. Christ’s provision is not only for the church corporately, but for each individual believer, who is personally cherished and invited into the eternal enjoyment of His delights.

Glorious Answer to Prayer [Family Worship lesson in Song of Songs 5:1]

How does Christ answer the prayers of the bride? Song of Songs 5:1 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In this verse of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ answers the prayers of the bride instantly and abundantly. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional unfolds the profound intimacy between Christ and His church, drawing from Song of Songs 5:1 to reveal Christ’s joyful, abundant presence and delight in His bride. Central to the message is the divine provision of communion—Christ not only answers the bride’s prayer for His coming but declares His full enjoyment of her, having gathered her myrrh and spices, eaten her honeycomb, and drunk her wine and milk, symbolizing His pleasure in her sanctified character, works, fellowship, and nourishing grace. He affectionately calls her garden, sister, and spouse, affirming her identity in Him, while extending the invitation to all believers to partake in His joy as His own friends and beloved ones. The tone is pastoral and celebratory, emphasizing that Christ’s presence is not only real but actively communicated, assuring believers of His delight and inviting them to savor His nearness, the fruit of His Spirit, and the joy of eternal fellowship. Christ’s provision is not only for the church corporately, but for each individual believer, who is personally cherished and invited into the eternal enjoyment of His delights.

The Divine Love of Christ [Family Worship lesson in Romans 8:35–39]

Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Romans 8:35–39 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, because Christ is God, and all things are for His sake. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Where Wisdom Takes You [2025.01.01 Midweek Sermon in Proverbs 8:12–21]

Wisdom begins with the Lord's everlasting love, brings the elect into the fear of the Lord, conforms them to Him, and gives them Himself as their reward.

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Loving God—His Way [Westminster Shorter Catechism 52—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 52—especially explaining how the God presents worshiping Him only in His way as the litmus test for genuinely loving Him.

Q52. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment? The reasons annexed to the second commandment are, God’s sovereignty over us, His propriety in us, and the zeal He hath to His own worship.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Willing to Suffer for the God We Know [Family Worship lesson in 3John v9–12]

What do believers need if they are to be godly? 3John v9–12 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that believers need awareness of who is a spiritual or theological threat, and of who is properly qualified and ordained, as part of God’s means in making them godly. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

True Love's Joy [Family Worship lesson in 3John v1–4]

What should be one of the greatest joys in the Christian life? 3John v1–4 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that loving others well, and loving the truth well, makes other believers’ walking in that truth one of the greatest joys in the Christian life. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Loving the Church and Her Members [Family Worship lesson in 2John v1–6]

Who loves the church? 2John v1–6 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that all in whom Christ abides love the church. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Identifying True Christians [2024.08.04 Evening Sermon in 1John 3:24–4:6]

The Spirit identifies true Christians by their Christ-like character, by their beliefs about Christ, and by their recognition of Christ's Word

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

Led by God for the Glory of His Love [Family Worship lesson in Isaiah 63:7–14]

With what does prayer for help and revival begin? Isaiah 63:7–14 prepares us for the first serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that prayer for help and revival begins with the Lord’s own character and commitment. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Expressing Delight in One Another [2024.07.10 Midweek Sermon in Romans 16:3–16]

Believers are to delight in one another and take opportunities to show it.

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Taking and Showing Delight in the Saints [Family Worship lesson in Romans 16:3–16]

Why and how do Christians greet one another? Romans 16:3–16 prepares us for the midweek sermon in the prayer meeting. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christians delight in one another and honor one another, glorifying the Christ Who has brought them together and used them in one another’s lives (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Freed by Love to Love the Law [Family Worship lesson in 1John 4:21–5:3]

How good are God’s commandments? 1John 4:21–5:3 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 God’s commandments are such blessings as are designed to foster assurance that we are His.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

True Love's Source, Standard, and Seal [Family Worship lesson in 1John 4:7–11]

Why must Christians love one another? 1John 4:7–11 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 Christians must love one another because God reveals Himself in loving us and reveals who His children are by their loving with that love.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Partaking in Christ’s Pleasure by Welcoming One Another [Midweek Sermon in Romans 15:1–7]

Christians must delight most of all in God and His glory, leading them to prefer their brothers to themselves, just as Christ did.

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Conformed to Christ in Praise-Borne Love [Family Worship lesson in Romans 15:1–7]

For what sort of uniformity should believers immediately strive? Romans 15:1–7 prepares us for the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that believers should immediately strive for the uniformity of conformity to Christ in praise and love. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Enjoying Liberty by Employing It in Love [2024.05.08 Midweek Sermon in Romans 14:10–23]

Those who have gained liberty by a biblically informed conscience should employ it in love, seeking the same for their brethren.

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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)

Employing Liberty in Love Like the Lord's [Family Worship lesson in Romans 14:10–23]

How should the strong act? Romans 14:10–23 prepares us for the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the strong should use liberty for building up the weak. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

What the Servant Secured for His Bride and Offspring [Family Worship lesson in Isaiah 54]

What does the Servant secure for the church? Isaiah 54 prepares us for the first serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these seventeen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Servant secures for the church an age in which He Himself is her Head, and the Lord deals with her accordingly. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)