An Almighty Covenant to Sanctify [Family Worship lesson in Genesis 17:1–8]

What do believers who have been stumbling along in their own strength need? Genesis 17:1–8 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 believers need to be turned away from themselves to the Lord Who covenants them to Himself—and Himself to them.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Chief End of Children [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 13:20–25]

To what end should we aim our parenting? Proverbs 13:20–25 looks forward to the sermon in this week’s midweek meeting. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should live and parent as those who wish to be satisfied upon the Lord, forever. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Wise Motivations [2025.01.22 Midweek Sermon in Proverbs 10:1–5]

Wisdom is motivated by whatever God promises to it.

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

Wisdom's Pleasure and Treasure [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 10:1–5]

What should an image-bearer desire? Proverbs 10:1–5 looks forward to the sermon in this week’s midweek meeting. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that an image-bearer should desire whatever God desires. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Holy Happiness! [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 128]

What happiness does the Lord give? Psalm 128 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord, Who is our happiness, makes us happy in His blessing us in our work and families, and especially in His church.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The LORD Who Builds His House and Yours [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 127]

How can we be happy and secure? Psalm 127 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that only the Lord gives happiness and security. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Loving God in Real Life [Westminster Shorter Catechism 63—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 63—especially explaining the connection between the proper worship of God and a life of genuine honor and obedience, which begins with honoring our parents.

Q63. Which is the fifth commandment? The fifth commandment is, Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

An Almighty Covenant to Sanctify [Family Worship lesson in Genesis 17:1–8]

What do believers who have been stumbling along in their own strength need? Genesis 17:1–8 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 believers need to be turned away from themselves to the Lord Who covenants them to Himself—and Himself to them.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Humble Escape from Harmful Romance [2024.10.23 Midweek Sermon in Proverbs 5:1–6]

One way that wisdom saves us from the path to death and hell is by alerting us to the deceptive sweetness and comfort of romance with someone other than your wife.

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

How Kings Are Made: Good Doctrine for Newborns [2024.10.09 Midweek Sermon in Proverbs 4:1–9]

God's royal offspring should give themselves to getting His wisdom.

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

The Beginning and End of Good Doctrine [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 4:1–9]

Where does being an everlasting king begin? Proverbs 4:1–9 looks forward to the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that becoming everlasting royalty begins with taking God’s Word to heart, even as a newborn. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Recovering Biblical Fatherhood [2024 Reformation Conference Session #2 in Ephesians 5:25–6:24]

A recovery of godly husbandhood and fatherhood is essential to that repentant Christian life by which believers are light in the midst of the darkness.

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

Recovering Biblical Families [2024 Reformation Conference Session #1 in Deuteronomy 6:4–9]

Families are God's original plan for humanity, for the church, and for society. He calls them to family worship, morning and evening, and to have His Word as their primary fellowship and identity.

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

Preventing Self-Destruction [2024.08.21 Midweek Sermon in Proverbs 1:8–19]

Have God as your Friend to protect you from the enticements of your sinful heart, beginning with godly parents as friends to protect you from the enticements of sinful men

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

How to Avoid Self-Destruction [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 1:8–19]

How can we escape self-destruction? Proverbs 1:8–19 looks forward to the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these twelve verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that heeding good counsel and watching against the companionship of the worldly are means by which we may escape self-destruction. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

What You Need and Where to Get It [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 1:1–7]

What is the purpose of Proverbs? Proverbs 1:1–7 looks forward to the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Proverbs conforms our minds and lives to Christ’s. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Covenantal Morality [Westminster Shorter Catechism 45—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 44—especially explaining how the ten commandments, while obligatory to God from all creatures, are only possible for and especially obligatory upon His covenant people.

Q44. What doth the preface to the ten commandments teach us? The preface to the ten commandments teacheth us that because God is the Lord, and our God, and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all His commandments.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

What Honoring Authorities Looks Like [Children's Catechism 92—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children’s Catechism question 92—especially explaining what difference honoring makes in our submitting to and obeying authorities.

Q92. What does the fifth commandment teach us? To love and obey our parents and teachers.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Why the 5th Commandment is 5th [Children's Catechism 91—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children’s Catechism question 91—especially explaining how honoring parents is the school in which we learn to love God, honor all authorities, and love our neighbors.

Q91. What is the fifth commandment? The fifth commandment is, Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Walking with God [2023.12.02 Pastoral Letter and Hopewell Herald]

Hopewell Herald – December 2, 2023

Dear Congregation,

In last week’s Sabbath School class, we considered “Occasional Biblical Meditation.” The Bible teaches us to take occasions from God’s providence to meditate upon Scripture that is illustrated by that providence, or applies to that providence.

Christ and His gospel are the main message of the Bible. Biblical meditation that takes proper advantage of these occasions will dwell largely upon Him.

In my own spiritual life, it was having children that especially taught me to do this. Even carrying around a days-old infant, the daddy who had charge of her little soul didn’t want to waste a moment that could be improved for Bible instruction—specifically, gospel instruction.

We’d look in the mirror, and I’d tell her about the mirror of God’s Word. How it shows us ourselves rightly and shows us the Lord rightly.

We’d wash our hands, and I’d tell her about the cleansing of our guilt and of our remaining sin… and how washing the heart is even more important than washing the hands.

We’d prepare food, and I’d tell her about the bread of life that God gave from heaven, and also about preparing my Bible reading and thoughts to give her good food at family worship times.

We’d see and feel brilliant sunlight, and I’d tell her about the shining of God’s face upon us to give us light and life.

We’d see a bird and remember how God feeds it but treasures us much more.

We’d look at flowers and talk about how God clothes them, and how soon they would be dead, and how soon we also would be dead.

There wasn’t a moment of the day when there wouldn’t be some ready connection to a Scripture. And, of course, that Scripture would connect to another and then another.

It was a very pleasant way to live. How odd that the Lord decided to use my infant child to teach me this, when a full seminary education hadn’t quite taught me in the same way.

But sometimes the Lord does things this way, doesn’t he? In Genesis 5:21, God describes Enoch’s first 65 years as “Enoch lived.” But in Genesis 5:22, God describes the next 300 years as “Enoch walked with God.” What was the hinge upon which this turned? “He begot Methuselah.”

There is a good description of what it’s like to live life always thinking upon one Scripture or another: “walking with God.” It’s the way that families are supposed to walk together in our external conversation (Deu 6:7). And it’s the way that we are supposed to carry our hearts in our internal conversation before the Lord (Deu 6:6).

Is your life a walking with Him in this way?

Looking forward to our fellowship in the worship by His Word,

Pastor