Truly Loving the True God [Family Worship lesson in Deuteronomy 5:8–10]

What should worship seek? Deuteronomy 5:8–10 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that worship seeks the true God in the true way. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Sweet Remedy for Deadly Compromise [Family Worship lesson in Revelation 2:12–17]

What is worse than persecution? Revelation 2:12–17 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the world’s pull to fit in with it is a worse attack upon the church than direct persecution.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Self-Destructive Response to Preaching [Family Worship lesson in Amos 7:10–17]

What responses to God’s judgment should we watch against? Amos 7:10–17 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should watch against any murmuring or complaining against God’s judgment or those who preach it.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Deadly Religion of Deluded Believers [Family Worship lesson in Amos 5:18–27]

What will the day of the Lord be like for those who think God loves whatever worship they decide for Him? Amos 5:18–6:14 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 the day of the Lord will be death and darkness for those who think they are coming to God, but are doing so apart from Christ.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Training to Repent in Our Pain [Family Worship lesson in Amos 5:1–17]

Why does the prophet lament? Amos 5:1–17 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seventeen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the prophet laments over sin to teach sinners to lament over that sin, and to turn back to seeking the Lord and His good.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Why, and How, to Worship [2024.11.17 Sabbath School in WCF 21.1—Hopewell 101]

We continue studying through the Scriptural doctrine that our congregation confesses. This week, we began Westminster Confession chapter 21—considering Article 1, and the doctrine that God must be worshiped and must only be worshiped as He has commanded, commonly known as the Regulative Principle of Worship.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

A Story of Sin and Grace [2024.10.20 Evening Sermon in Numbers 25]

God's grace isn't for those who are good, but for those whom He must save from wrath-deserving sin.

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

A Climax of Sin, Wrath, and Grace [Family Worship lesson in Numbers 25]

What provokes and stops God’s wrath? Numbers 25 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eighteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that sin provokes God’s wrath, but Christ turns it away.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Submit to God as King [Family Worship lesson in Numbers 22:36–24:25]

How can God’s enemies survive? Numbers 22:36–24:25 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these sixty verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the only way to survive death and the last day is through faith in Christ.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

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)

Guarding Against Idolatry and Superstition [Westminster Shorter Catechism 51—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 51—especially explaining how the second commandment forbids coming up with our ways of thinking about God, drawing near to Him, or gaining spiritual knowledge or power.

Q51. What is forbidden in the second commandment? The second commandment forbiddeth the worshiping of God by images, or any other way not appointed in His Word.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

A Day of Great Joy and Great Terror [Family Worship lesson in Isaiah 66:14–17]

What is the last day like? Isaiah 66:14–17 looks forward to the first 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 the last day is joy for those who have loved the Lord and anguish for those hateful enemies who worshiped their own way. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The First Commandment After the First Commandment [Westminster Shorter Catechism 49—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 49—especially explaining how the first part of having God as our God is thinking about Him and worshiping Him only in the ways that He has given us to do so.

Q49. Which is the second commandment? The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

A Cautionary Tale of Idolatry [Family Worship lesson in Isaiah 65:11–16]

How does idolatry progress, and how does God respond to it? Isaiah 65:11–16 looks forward to the first 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 idolatry doesn’t just add to God but turns us against Him, so that He is right to judge the idolaters among His people and make them into a warning for others. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Evils of Envy [Family Worship lesson in Numbers 16:1–40]

What do envy and idolatry have in common? Numbers 16:1–40 prepares us for the evening sermon on the Lord’s Day. In these forty verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that envy and idolatry both reject the Lord.(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)

The LORD Who Saves Sinners for His Name's Sake [Family Worship lesson in Isaiah 47–48]

What makes the difference between the fate of sinful Babylon and sinful Israel? Isaiah 47–48 prepares us for the first serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these thirty-seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that for the sake of His Name and praise, which the Lord has invested in them, the Lord delivers Israel. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The One, Saving God and His One, Worldwide Israel [Family Worship lesson in Isaiah 45:9–46:13]

Why mustn’t we question God’s providence? Isaiah 45:9–46:13 prepares us for the first serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these thirty verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the only God Who can save is that unquestionable God Who carries us, and not the other way ‘round. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Worshiping in Our Way Is Worshiping Worship Instead of Worshiping God [Children's Catechism 82—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children’s Catechism question 82—especially explaining how we are only worshiping God if we worship the way that God Himself says to do so.

Q82. What is the second commandment? The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Only One Redeemer, Only One God [Family Worship lesson in Isaiah 43:22–44:23]

From what do we most need to be redeemed? Isaiah 43:22–44:23 prepares us for the first serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these thirty verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that it is from our sin that we most need redemption. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)