Giving Him What He Loves [2026.04.19 Evening Sermon in Song of Songs 8:13–14]

The true friends of Christ long to hear the voice of His bride. The true bride of Christ gladly gives Him His desire: praise, prayer, and preaching with a voice that is shaped by His. And, the sum of her desire is that He would come quickly for His fruit.

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Glorious Answer to Prayer [Family Worship lesson in Song of Songs 5:1]

How does Christ answer the prayers of the bride? Song of Songs 5:1 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In this verse of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ answers the prayers of the bride instantly and abundantly. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional unfolds the profound intimacy between Christ and His church, drawing from Song of Songs 5:1 to reveal Christ’s joyful, abundant presence and delight in His bride. Central to the message is the divine provision of communion—Christ not only answers the bride’s prayer for His coming but declares His full enjoyment of her, having gathered her myrrh and spices, eaten her honeycomb, and drunk her wine and milk, symbolizing His pleasure in her sanctified character, works, fellowship, and nourishing grace. He affectionately calls her garden, sister, and spouse, affirming her identity in Him, while extending the invitation to all believers to partake in His joy as His own friends and beloved ones. The tone is pastoral and celebratory, emphasizing that Christ’s presence is not only real but actively communicated, assuring believers of His delight and inviting them to savor His nearness, the fruit of His Spirit, and the joy of eternal fellowship. Christ’s provision is not only for the church corporately, but for each individual believer, who is personally cherished and invited into the eternal enjoyment of His delights.

Glorious Answer to Prayer [Family Worship lesson in Song of Songs 5:1]

How does Christ answer the prayers of the bride? Song of Songs 5:1 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In this verse of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ answers the prayers of the bride instantly and abundantly. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional unfolds the profound intimacy between Christ and His church, drawing from Song of Songs 5:1 to reveal Christ’s joyful, abundant presence and delight in His bride. Central to the message is the divine provision of communion—Christ not only answers the bride’s prayer for His coming but declares His full enjoyment of her, having gathered her myrrh and spices, eaten her honeycomb, and drunk her wine and milk, symbolizing His pleasure in her sanctified character, works, fellowship, and nourishing grace. He affectionately calls her garden, sister, and spouse, affirming her identity in Him, while extending the invitation to all believers to partake in His joy as His own friends and beloved ones. The tone is pastoral and celebratory, emphasizing that Christ’s presence is not only real but actively communicated, assuring believers of His delight and inviting them to savor His nearness, the fruit of His Spirit, and the joy of eternal fellowship. Christ’s provision is not only for the church corporately, but for each individual believer, who is personally cherished and invited into the eternal enjoyment of His delights.

The Bride’s Great Desire [2026.02.01 Evening Sermon in Song of Songs 4:16]

The church's great desire is the triune God.

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The Spirit's Ministry in Prayer [Family Worship lesson in Romans 8:26–27]

How does the Spirit help, when our perseverance is weak? Romans 8:26–27 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Spirit of God, Who has the mind of God, teaches us to pray for glory with certainty, even as He perfectly prays the same. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Evening Prayer in Distress [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 141]

How should we pray when we are in danger of sinning? Psalm 141 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should pray against our sin as those who come to God smelling like the worthiness of Christ, confident that He will finish the work of making us to be like Christ. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Praying to OUR God in Our Troubles [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 140]

How should we pray when we are in trouble from others? Psalm 140 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should pray as those who belong to God, and who desire that He would display His character in His responses to others and to us. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Only Jesus Can Save [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 17:14–21]

Why can’t we save? Matthew 17:14–21 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that only Jesus can save, because Jesus is God. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Glory of Prayer [Family Worship lesson in Revelation 8:1–6]

If God has decreed everything why pray? Revelation 8:1–6 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 God has decreed to act in response to His people’s prayers, as mediated by the intercession of His Son.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

God Came Near to Save Us [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 14:22–36]

How does Jesus show Himself to be our God and Savior? Matthew 14:22–36 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fifteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus displays and declares Himself as God in the flesh, Who joins Himself to us to us to save us. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

What/Whom to Pray For [2024.12.29 Sabbath School in Westminster Confession of Faith 21.4—Hopewell 101]

We continue studying through the Scriptural doctrine that our congregation confesses. This week, we continued Westminster Confession chapter 21—considering Article 4, and whom we pray for, when we follow the Bible for the content of our prayers.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

How to Pray the Right Way [2024.12.22 Sabbath School in Westminster Confession 21.3b—Hopewell 101]

We continue studying through the Scriptural doctrine that our congregation confesses. This week, we continued Westminster Confession chapter 21—considering the second half of Article 3, and the manner in which we must pray, since prayer is worship.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Praying in the Spirit [2024.12.15 Sabbath School lesson in Westminster Confession of Faith 21.3—Hopewell 101]

We continue studying through the Scriptural doctrine that our congregation confesses. This week, we continued Westminster Confession chapter 21—considering the middle of Article 3, and the help of the Spirit in prayer, to enable us to pray according to God's will.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Triune, Worshipful Prayer [2024.12.08 Sabbath School lesson in Westminster Confession of Faith 21.3—Hopewell 101]

We continue studying through the Scriptural doctrine that our congregation confesses. This week, we continued Westminster Confession chapter 21—considering the first half of Article 3, and the glory of the Father, Son, and Spirit in our making prayer with thanksgiving, in the Name of the Son, by the help of the Spirit, Who ministers to us the knowledge of the Father and the Son.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Praying to Be Fit for Heaven [Children's Catechism 121—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 121—especially explaining how praying for heaven means praying for holiness.

Q121. What do we pray for in the sixth petition? That God would keep us from sin.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

A Need That We Should Always Pray For [Children's Catechism 120—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children’s Catechism question 120—especially explaining how we should always be praying for our sanctification.

Q120. What is the sixth petition? And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The LORD Who Provides [Children's Catechism 117—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children’s Catechism question 117—especially explaining how the Hallowed King attends to our smallest (and greatest) needs, and teaches us to ask Him for them.

Q117. What do we pray for in the fourth petition? That God would give us all things needful for our bodies and souls.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Longing for the World of Well-Used Mouths [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 120]

What does slander do? Psalm 120 looks forward to opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that slander hurts brethren and provokes God’s wrath. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Petitions Great and Small [Children's Catechism 116—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children’s Catechism question 116—especially explaining how going from immense petitions about God to tiny petitions about ourselves teaches us that we are to pray to God about everything, big and small.

Q116. What is the fourth petition? That men on earth may serve God as the angels do in heaven.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Reasoning with God in Prayer [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 119:153–160]

With what arguments can believers plead to be revived? Psalm 119:153–160 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 believers can plead with God to be revived upon the basis of the gracious work that He has begun in them, and upon the basis of the abundance of His perfections which can never change. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)