Hearts from God That Turn to God [Family Worship lesson in Deuteronomy 30:1–10]

How can God’s people return to Him? Deuteronomy 30:1–10 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God’s people return to Him by the work of His sovereign grace. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: Deuteronomy 30:1–10 reveals God’s covenantal grace as patient, personal, powerful, prosperous, and persevering, illustrating how divine mercy responds to human failure with sovereign compassion. Though Israel will have broken the covenant and been scattered to the farthest corners of the earth, God promises to gather them, circumcise their hearts, and restore them not by their own effort but by His divine initiative. This restoration is both corporate and individual, demonstrating that true repentance and obedience are gifts of grace, not human achievement. The passage anticipates the fulfillment of God’s promises in Christ, the true Root of David, through Whom the church—both visible and invisible—is preserved, prospered, and ultimately glorified. The enduring nature of God’s covenant, secured by Christ’s faithful obedience, assures believers of His unwavering commitment to His people, even in the midst of judgment and exile. Thus, the passage calls all who are far from God to cry out for His grace, trusting in His power to turn hearts and sustain faith to the end.

An Exchange of Heart [Children's Catechism 39—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 39—especially explaining how regeneration is when God exchanges your old, dead heart for a new, living one.

Q39. What is a change of heart called? Regeneration. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The lesson centers on the theological concept of regeneration as the essential, divine transformation of the heart. It emphasizes that regeneration—being born again through the Holy Spirit—is not a human effort or a result of faith, but the prior work of God that enables faith itself. Drawing from Scripture, particularly John 3 and the new birth, it argues that a dead and sinful heart cannot produce belief without first receiving new spiritual life from God the Father. Ultimately, the lesson affirms that only through this divine renewal can one be made holy and enter heaven, highlighting the necessity of God’s sovereign grace in transforming the heart.

Ears to Hear, Hearts to Understand [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 13:9–17]

What is an indicator of spiritual life? Matthew 13:9–17 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that spiritual life responds to the Word by hearing it, taking it in, prioritizing it, and multiplying it. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Brotherly Love from the Father, Son, and Spirit [Family Worship lesson in 3John v13–14]

How should believers relate toward one another? 3John v13–14 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that believers should love to be face to face and delight in one another. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Turn Away from Yourself to Christ for Life! [2024.09.08 Evening Sermon in Numbers 21:4–9]

Because there is nothing good in ourselves, we must be born again, and God has raised up His Son so that those dying of their own wickedness may turn away from themselves, to look to Him instead, and live!

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Solidarity with What Is of God [Family Worship lesson in 1John 5:18–19]

What is the great battle? 1John 5:18–19 prepares us for the second serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that, whether in our heart or the whole world, the great battle is between what is from God and what is under the sway of the devil.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Joining Our Savior's War against Our Sin [Family Worship lesson in 1John 3:4–10]

What’s the big deal about sin? 1John 3:4–10 prepares us for the second serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that sin is a big deal because it is opposed to God, opposed to Christ, and opposed to the new life and identity of the believer.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Blessed Hunger from Jesus, Satisfied Fully in Jesus [2023.12.03 Morning Sermon in Matthew 5:6]

Believers get a new hunger from Jesus that is satisfied by/upon Jesus.

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Hunger: Formed, Fed, & Filled [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 5:6]

What difference does Christ make in the heart of a believer? Matthew 5:6 prepares us for the morning sermon on the Lord’s Day. In this verse of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ changes the objects of a believer’s hunger and thirst, while feeding the believer and guaranteeing his full satisfaction.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

God's Re-Creational Work [Family Worship lesson in Isaiah 29:15–24]

What transformations will come, in the great work of the Lord? Isaiah 29:15–24 prepares us for the first serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that in the great work of the Lord, His transformation of the creation will correspond to His transformation of His people. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Cleansing from What Flows Out of Us [2023.10.29 Evening Sermon in Leviticus 15]

What flows from our original nature was pictured to Israel in the defilement of what flowed from the body of death. But what flows from Christ was pictured to them in the cleansing and atonement that were offered to them.

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The Good News of the King(dom) of Light [2023.10.29 Morning Sermon in Matthew 4:12–25]

Before destroying the kingdom of darkness and death forever, King Jesus first came to bring multitudes of its subjects into light and life.

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Hope for Cleansing from Sinfulness [2023.10.15 Evening Sermon in Leviticus 12]

Childbearing reminds us of our own and our children's sinfulness, but Christ is the hope not only of regeneration and justification, but of sanctification and glorification.

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Divine Hope of True Conversion [2023.10.08 Morning Sermon in Matthew 3:1–12]

A Christ Who is God, and pours out a Spirit Who is God, is the only hope and sure hope for mere men who need new hearts.

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Christ's Spirit Is Our Hope of Necessary, Urgent Conversion [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 3:1–12]

What has King Jesus come to do? Matthew 3:1–12 looks forward to the morning sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twelve verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us King Jesus has come to fit His people for glory with Him before pouring out His wrath in unquenchable fire. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Necessity of Conversion [2023.09.24 Morning Sermon in Matthew 3:1–12]

For the kingdom to be good news to us, we must be transformed into its subjects. And to all who receive Him, King Jesus does just that by His Spirit.

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A New Nature, from the Spirit, to See Our Sinfulness [Family Worship lesson in Romans 7:13–20]

What does a believer’s experience of remaining sin show him about himself? Romans 7:13–20 looks forward to the sermon in the upcoming midweek meeting. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that when a believer experiences his remaining sin, he realizes what he was apart from the Spirit, and he realizes that the sinfulness of his former nature still dwells in him. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Our New Life of Righteousness [Family Worship lesson in Romans 6:20–23]

Why must Christians pursue righteousness? Romans 6:20–23 looks forward to the sermon in the midweek meeting. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christians must pursue righteousness because they have a new Master (Christ), who gives them new fruit (holiness), with a glorious new end (everlasting life).(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

A New State in Christ [2023.03.15 Midweek Sermon in Romans 5:19]

Each of our federal heads brought us into a new moral state

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A New Standing and a New Self (Nature) in Jesus [Family Worship lesson in Romans 5:18–19]

In what ways are the federal headship of Adam and of Christ similar? Romans 5:18–19 looks forward to the sermon in this week’s midweek meeting. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that both in Adam and in Christ, all who were in them came into their standing before God and had their character come into them.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)