Legalism Attacks Gospel Hope [Family Worship lesson in Job 15]

How do legalists respond to the gospel? Job 15 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirty-five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we find that legalists respond to the gospel with accusations and arrogance. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: This devotional contrasts the gospel of grace with the self-righteousness of legalism by analyzing Eliphaz's rebuke of Job in Job 15. Eliphaz holds to a tradition of works-based righteousness that ridicules and accuses Job's gospel hope. While Eliphaz claims Job is unrepentant and condemned, whereas Job's hope is in God Who regenerates, gives faith, forgives, and makes clean. The message warns against adopting legalistic standards that demand better behavior to earn God's favor, which ultimately rejects Christ's sufficiency. Believers are encouraged to cling to Christ and trust in God's grace even when facing accusations from religious traditionalists.

His Blood Be Upon Us [2026.02.01 Morning Sermon in Matthew 27:1–25]

Jesus is the true Priest and Elder, the true Governor, and the true Guilt-Bearer.

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A Good Eye for the Good God [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 20:1–16]

What is the nature of the rewards of the kingdom? Matthew 20:1–16 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these sixteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the rewards of the kingdom are given not by merit, but by grace. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

OUR God's Law [Family Worship lesson in Deuteronomy 5:1–5]

How are we to receive God’s law? Deuteronomy 5:1–5 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we are to receive the law from our covenant God, through our covenant Mediator. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Vigilance Against Legalistic Leaven [2025.02.23 Morning Sermon in Matthew 16:5–12]

Any approach to the Christian life that emphasizes what we do over what Christ does is dangerous and can infect the whole of our heart

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What Defiles a Man [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 15:1–20]

How can a man be clean before God? Matthew 15:1–20 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that a man must have his heart changed and purified, which only Christ can do. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Believers' Use of God's Law [2024.09.29 Sabbath School in WCF 19.6—Hopewell 101]

We learn from Scripture what WCF 19.6 teaches: doing what God's law commands, and refraining from what it forbids, is not an evidence of being under the law, but would be a right response to its great usefulness in believers' lives.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Contending for Christ's Lordship [Family Worship lesson in Jude v1–4]

What could be more important than enriching one another in our common salvation? Jude 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 we must contend earnestly for faith in a Jesus Who is our Master, both as our God and as our King. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Gospel-Strengthened Obligation to the Law [2024.09.22 Sabbath School in WCF 19.5—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 19.5, about how the gospel makes us more obligated to the moral law, not less.(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 [2024.04.17 Midweek Sermon in Romans 13:8–10]

True love is unto God first, defined by God's law, and determined by God's providence.

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Law Fulfilled and Love Defined [Family Worship lesson in Romans 13:8–10]

What debt may a Christian conscientiously leave outstanding? Romans 13:8–10 prepares us for the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the only debt that we should leave outstanding is the debt of love. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Relating Rightly to God, His Law, and His People [Family Worship lesson in James 4:11–12]

Why is speaking against our brother so bad? James 4:11–12 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 speaking against our brother puts us at odds with the law and with God Himself.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Law Always Taught “Faith Alone” [2023.12.27 Midweek Sermon in Romans 10:4–9]

The law always taught that righteousness was not by works but by dependence upon the sovereign God Who brought His salvation near to us, working His salvation in us by grace.

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What Should We Say to Election? [2023.12.13 Midweek Sermon in Romans 9:30–33]

We should respond to the reality of God's mercy by believing upon Him.

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Responding Rightly to Election [Family Worship lesson in Romans 9:30–33]

How should we respond to Israel’s partial hardening? Romans 9:30–33 prepares us for the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should respond to the realities of spiritual hardening and saving mercy by focusing primarily upon the mercy, while taking from the hardening a serious warning against works-ism. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Life that Grace Teaches Us to Live and the Hope that Grace Teaches Us to Hold [Family Worship lesson in Titus 2:11–15]

What does grace teach us? Titus 2:11–15 looks forward to the second serial reading of in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that grace teaches us to pursue that for which Christ has laid hold of us. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Serving in the Newness of the Spirit by Obeying the Law [2023.06.14 Midweek Sermon in Romans 7:5–12]

Union with the resurrected Christ has delivered us from sin's always taking advantage of God's commandments, and given us newness in His Spirit by which to keep God's commandments

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What to Do—and What NOT to Do!—with God's Word as God's People (2022.08.03 Midweek Sermon in Romans 2:17–24)

A right use of being identified with God and instructed by God is to not be puffed up about ourselves but humbled, unto the honor of this God Who has been so kind and patient with us.

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The Deadliness of Half-Hearted or Superficial Love for God and His Word [Family Worship lesson in 1Kings 21:1–16]

When a man—or a society—is only superficially moral, how bad can it be? 1Kings 21:1–16 looks forward to the first serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these sixteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that great wickedness ensues from only half-heartedly following God’s Word—even among people that make external show of following it.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)