Seek Your Servant! [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 119:169–176]

What does trouble provide an opportunity for? Psalm 119:169–176 looks forward to 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 trouble provides, among other things, an opportunity to praise the Word and faithfulness of the God Who saves us out of it. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Examples That Warn Against Backsliding [Family Worship lesson in Jude v5–7]

How does God remind us of the urgency of obeying Jesus as our Lord? Jude v5–7 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that those who do not obey Jesus as their Lord will suffer under His wrath forever. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Reviving Assurance [2024.08.18 Sabbath School in WCF 18.4.q—Hopewell 101]

We continue to study the Scriptures behind the sound and sweet doctrine of our church's Confession of Faith. This week, we learned, from WCF 18.4.q, about how the shaken or lost assurance of a true believer cannot take away their faith but can be revived by the Holy Spirit.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

When Assurance Falters [2024.08.04 Sabbath School in WCF 18.4.p—Hopewell 101]

We continue to study the Scriptures behind the sound and sweet doctrine of our church's Confession of Faith. This week, we learned, from WCF 18.4.p, about some causes of loss of assurance of faith.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Two Families [Family Worship lesson in Isaiah 56:9–57:21]

What sinner can find peace? Isaiah 56:9–57:21 prepares us for the first serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these twenty-five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the only sinners who find peace are those whom the Lord heals and brings from the family of idolatry into His own family. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Warned by a Glorious Work of God's Word by Which He Humbled His People [2023.04.09 Evening Sermon in Exodus 33:1–6]

By His Word, God did a great work to humble Israel to mourn for Him; but, the work stands for us as a warning because of how they ended up.

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

God's Gracious, Humbling Work [Family Worship lesson in Exodus 33:1–6]

How should people respond to material prosperity without spiritual prosperity? Exodus 33:1–6 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that material prosperity without spiritual prosperity is such a pitiable condition that the one who is in it ought to mourn. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Praying to and Listening to the God Who Displayed His Character at the Cross [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 85]

What hope may we have, when we are committing sin again, even after the Lord had restored us? Psalm 85 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that when believers backslide, they may look back to the Lord of salvation to glorify His own character in granting them new repentance. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Looking to the God of Grace, at the Throne of Grace, through the Man of Grace [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 80]

What hope can there be for those who have sinned against grace? Psalm 80 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nineteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that those who have sinned against grace can yet find hope in the God of grace, at the throne of grace, through the man of grace. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Depths to Which a Faithful Line May Quickly Decline [Family Worship lesson in 2Kings 16]

Why can’t churches rest on a history of orthodoxy? 2Kings 16 looks forward to the first serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that even formerly sound churches are in constant danger of plummeting into religion, faith, and worship that God hates. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

How Joash De-Templed the Temple: the Subtly Destructive Power of Spiritual Insincerity and Laziness [Family Worship lesson in 2Kings 12]

What can a believer do when everything in his circumstances suggests that God has abandoned him? Psalm 77 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that when circumstances seem to suggest that God has abandoned us, we can meditate upon the holy, great, powerful, saving character of our God, and how He has consistently demonstrated it in the history of His dealings with His people. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The LORD Displays His Power and Patience unto Our Repentance (Family Worship lesson in 1Kings 18:19–39)

How might God show mercy to a people who have fallen for appearances of worldly power? 1Kings 18:19–39 looks forward to the first serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty-one verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord reigns supreme, despite any appearances to the contrary, and He is profoundly patient to keep reminding His people to turn their hearts back to Him.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

How Hearts Can Turn Away from—and Back to—the Lord (Family Worship lesson in 1Kings 11:1–13)

How do things with Solomon take such a turn for the worst? Pastor leads his family in today’s “Hopewell @Home” passage. 1Kings 11:1–13 prepares us for the first serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that poor marriage choices and the complacency of old age can turn away the heart even of someone with great experience of God and knowledge of His Word. But for the sake of His Christ and His electing love, even then the Lord can turn you back.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

In Gen 26:12–22, we find earthly fruitfulness in the midst of famine, and spiritual fruitfulness in a great turnaround from backsliding, that can each only be explained by the infinite, eternal, and unchangeable power and goodness of God—power and goodness that, in Christ, are operative in the lives of believers.

2020.05.17 Morning Sermon—Genesis 26:1–11 "Surprisingly Failing Saints Turned Back to God by His Surprising Mercies"

Believers often stumble in surprising failure, but the Lord often shows them surprising mercy to turn them back to Himself.