Humble Souls Nourished by Hope [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 131]

How does true humility happen? Psalm 131 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that humility comes by hope. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Happy with the Lord [Children's Catechism 102—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children’s Catechism question 102—especially explaining how being happy with the Lord Himself is at the heart of the law.

Q102. What does the tenth commandment teach us? To be content with our lot.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Contentment with God and Confidence in His Spirit [2024.05.26 Evening Sermon in Numbers 11]

We ought to be content to have the Lord Himself, and we ought to have confidence in His Spirit

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Content and Confident in God [Family Worship lesson in Numbers 11]

What is Israel like, as God’s chosen people? Numbers 11 prepares us for the evening sermon on the Lord’s Day. In these thirty-five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Israel, God’s chosen people, are wrath-deserving sinners like Egypt and the rest of the world.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The True Gain of Worshipfully Receiving and Responding to the Words of the Lord Jesus [Family Worship lesson in 1Timothy 6:3–10]

What is so dangerous about manmade ideas about honoring ministers, church members, widows, elders, and masters? 1Timothy 6:3–10 looks forward to the second reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that earthly theology produces earthly character, which has no spiritual value and indeed causes positive spiritual harm.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Consideration That Moves from Coveting to Contentment [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 23:1–8]

Pastor teaches his family a selection from “the Proverb of the day.” In these eight verse of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us to guard against materialistic covetousness in ourselves and others.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Infinite, Eternal, Unchangeable Treasure [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 6:19–34]

How do believers come to find God as their true and great treasure? Matthew 6:19–34 looks forward to the morning sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these sixteen of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that believers come to find God as their true and great treasure when He gives them light to see Who He is and what He is doing. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

True Worship Reorients the Heart [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 73:23–28]

What does worship lead a believer to conclude about his life? Psalm 73:23–28 looks forward to the public reading of Scripture in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that when worship reminds the believer that God has all blessedness in Himself, the believer realizes that any good in him has already come from God, and that having God Himself means that the believer already has all blessedness in this life and the next.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

How to Have Wealth Without Sorrow [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 10:22]

Pastor teaches his family a selection from “the Proverb of the day.” In this verse of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us how to have wealth without sorrow.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Appreciating God's Worth, Wisdom, and Kindness [Westminster Shorter Catechism 81 Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 81—especially explaining and applying how the tenth commandment forbids grumbling that despises God’s worth, wisdom, and kindness toward us and malice or envy that despise God’s kindness toward others.

Q81. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment? The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate, envying or grieving at the good of our neighbor, and all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his.(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)

The True Gain of Worshipfully Receiving and Responding to the Words of the Lord Jesus [Family Worship lesson in 1Timothy 6:3–10]

What is so dangerous about manmade ideas about honoring ministers, church members, widows, elders, and masters? 1Timothy 6:3–10 looks forward to the second reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that earthly theology produces earthly character, which has no spiritual value and indeed causes positive spiritual harm.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Living by Faith Instead of Sight through Faith's Sight of God's Holiness [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 73:1–24]

What is happening when the wicked seem to prosper? Psalm 73:1–24 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty-four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that when the wicked seem to prosper, the Lord is actually preparing them for the sudden and more horrible disaster that they deserve, while trying the righteous so that they may repent of being like beasts toward Him. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Biblical Theology of the Diaconate (11): Spiritual Needs Shown by Diaconal Needs in the Birth of Israel [2022.11.20 Sabbath School]

At the birth of Israel as a nation/church, spiritual need was exposed by diaconal need. And diaconal blessing was promised to spiritual faithfulness so that the goodness of the gracious God might be reflected and displayed in His gracious nation.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Thou Shalt Not Covet: Loving God with All the Heart Is the Key to Loving Our Neighbor as Ourselves (2022.07.10 Evening Sermon in Exodus 20:17)

God wants us to give our neighbor not only our behavior but love from a heart that is content to have God Himself.

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Manna for Sinners: Dependence upon and Delight in the LORD (Family Worship lesson in Exodus 16:8–30)

How does the LORD respond to Israel’s wickedness in this passage? Pastor leads his family in today’s “Hopewell @Home” passage. Exodus 16:8–30 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty-three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us to see God’s miraculous and infinitely generous response to our sin in Jesus Christ, and how daily grace demands our daily trust in Him, and the weekly grace of the Sabbath compels our delight in Him.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Pastors and Elders Who are Spiritually Seasoned Examples (Family Worship lesson in 1Thessalonians 2:1–7)

How could the Thessalonians see in the apostle’s life that the apostle’s preaching was powerful? Pastor leads his family in today’s “Hopewell @Home” passage. 1Thessalonians 2:1–7 prepares us for the second serial reading in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses, the Holy Spirit teaches us that spiritually seasoned teachers will be earnest, courageous, sincere, content, generous, and gentle.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

How to Live with a Clear Eye (Family Worship lesson in Matthew 16:19–34)

How can we stop worrying? Pastor leads his family in today’s “Hopewell @Home” passage. Matthew 6:19–34 prepares us for the opening section of public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these sixteen verses, the Holy Spirit teaches us that seeing the Lord’s goodness in everything solves not just the problem of worrying but also the sinful tendency to live for earthly things.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Choosing between God's Fury and God's Favor in Trials and Blessings (2022.03.06 Evening sermon in Exodus 16:1–7)

How we respond to God’s providence reveals whether we consider God Himself the best part of His providence. Our choices are between God’s fury and God’s favor.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this sermon)

Blessed Commands: Depart! Wait! Mark! (2022.02.02 Prayer Meeting sermon in Psalm 37:27–40)

Three instructions for living happily forever: depart from evil, wait on the Lord, and mark the blameless man. These are three ways by which the Lord keeps those whom He is saving in the righteous path of blessedness.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this sermon)