The Chief End of Affliction [2026.04.05 Morning Sermon in Nahum 1:12–2:2]

The Lord delivers the godly out of trials and reserves the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.

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The Bible's Chief Message (Man's Chief End) [Family Worship lesson in Ecclesiastes 12:8–14]

What is the chief end of man? Ecclesiastes 12:8–14 prepares us for the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional draws together the profound truth of Ecclesiastes, revealing that life under the sun is fleeting and transient—like vapor—yet not meaningless, because its true substance lies in one's relationship with God. Far from advocating despair, it calls believers to live with eternal perspective, grounded in the fear of God and obedience to His commandments, which constitute humanity's ultimate purpose. The Word of God is both a goad, to awaken and redirect the soul, and a well-driven nail to anchor life amid life’s storms, offering enduring stability and truth. Scripture, as the inspired, unified message of one Shepherd, is the sole authority for faith and practice. Ultimately, the conclusion is both a call to joyful reverence and righteous living, inviting believers to find lasting joy in God and to live with the certainty of future judgment and eternal glory.

Pressured by Our Brevity [Family Worship lesson in Ecclesiastes 1:4–11]

How does man compare to the creation as a whole? Ecclesiastes 1:4–11 looks forward to the 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 man’s life is brief and unimpactful, by comparison to the creation as a whole.

The sermon grapples with the fleeting nature of human existence, contrasting our brief lives with the enduring cycles of the earth, sun, wind, and rivers. It challenges the notion that unique impact is essential for a meaningful life, asserting that humanity's attempts at uniqueness are ultimately futile, as each generation repeats the patterns of those before. Instead, the message emphasizes finding purpose and pleasure through knowing, enjoying, and glorifying God, participating in His work of transmitting wisdom to future generations, and embracing the ordinary tasks He assigns, thereby transcending our temporary nature and finding lasting value in Him.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Reaching the Chief End [Children's Catechism 144—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 144—especially explaining how the righteous will glorify God perfectly and enjoy God fully.

Q144. What will become of the righteous? They shall be taken to heaven. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Most Important Inheritance [Family Worship lesson in Numbers 36]

Why conclude this book with regulations about inheritance? Numbers 36 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that inheritance for Israel mattered so much because YHWH Himself is our ultimate inheritance.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Faith-full Church Members [2025.01.12 Evening Sermon in Numbers 32]

Believers must participate faithfully, before God’s face, by faith, in the life of the church.

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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)

The Third Petition [Children's Catechism 114—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children’s Catechism question 114—especially explaining how the third petition concludes the first half of the Lord’s Prayer.

Q114. What is the third petition? Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

How to Be Happy [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 3:13–18]

How can we be happy? Proverbs 3:13–18 looks forward to the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that happiness is in God Himself, through His Word. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Chief End of Prayer [Children's Catechism 110—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children’s Catechism question 110—especially explaining how the hallowing of God’s Name is the end unto which all of the other petitions aim.

Q110. What is the first petition? Hallowed be Thy Name.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Lord, Our Provider and Provision [2024.08.11 Evening Sermon in Numbers 18]

The Lord provides for all needs, most of all atonement so that we may have Him Himself

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The Chief End of the Gospel [2024.08.07 Midweek Sermon in Romans 16:25–27]

The chief end of the gospel is God's glory in Christ, Who is glorified in strengthened Christians from all nations.

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Wholehearted Desire for the Lord, Our Portion [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 119:57–64]

How does the Lord come to be our portion, and what is it like when He is? Psalm 119:57–64 looks forward to the serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that when the Lord is our portion, certainty that we have Him and His faithfulness to His Word frees us to see His love everywhere and trustingly do our duty. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Wholehearted Desire for the Lord, Our Portion [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 119:57–64]

How does the Lord come to be our portion, and what is it like when He is? Psalm 119:57–64 looks forward to the 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 when the Lord is our portion, certainty that we have Him and His faithfulness to His Word frees us to see His love everywhere and trustingly do our duty. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Glorious and Joyous End [Westminster Shorter Catechism 38—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 38—especially explaining how at the resurrection, the Lord brings us to our chief end of glorifying and enjoying Him.

Q38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection? At the resurrection, believers, being raised up in glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment, and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Holy unto, and Happy in, the God Who Declares Himself by Saving Us [Family Worship lesson in Isaiah 51:17–52:12]

How will the return from exile anticipate ultimate redemption? Isaiah 51:17–52:12 prepares us for the first serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these nineteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the return from exile anticipates ultimate redemption by displaying God’s glory in saving us. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Don’t Worry, Be Holy [2024.04.07 Morning Sermon in Matthew 6:25–34]

On account of trusting and treasuring God as Father in Christ, worrying is excluded from any rightful place in the life of a Christian.

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Trusting, Enjoying, and Glorifying God as Father [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 6:25–34]

What difference does treasuring God make in daily life? Matthew 6:25–34 prepares us for the morning sermon on the Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that treasuring God demolishes worrying.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

God, Our Heart-Shaping Treasure [2024.03.31 Morning Sermon in Matthew 6:19–24]

Christians must count God Himself as their treasure, which means not living for anything else.

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The Demise of Our Chief End [Westminster Shorter Catechism 17—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 17—especially explaining how the sin and misery into which we fell is the opposite of glorifying God and enjoying God.

Q17. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind? The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)