The Leader of the Church [2024.12.01 Evening Sermon in Numbers 27:12–23]

At the heart of the doctrine of ordination is the wonderful reality that it is the Holy Spirit Who leads His church

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Ordination by the Spirit [Family Worship lesson in Numbers 27:12–23]

What are we to learn from the ordination of Joshua? Numbers 27:12–23 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twelve verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the ordination of Joshua displays God’s grace to His church, even though they are sinners.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Christ's Priorities and Power in His Church [Family Worship lesson in Acts 5:42–6:7]

What does God want, and use, deacons to do? Acts 5:42–6:7 helps us prepare to hear 6:1–7 proclaimed in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God wants deacons to facilitate the worship, discipleship, and evangelism of the church, and He blesses their faithful service unto the spread of the gospel. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Standing Together in Saintly Service [2024.07.03 Midweek Sermon in Romans 16:1–2]

Believers have been consecrated by God to serve Him and each other.

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The Tongue's Power, Purpose, and Produce [Family Worship lesson in James 3]

Since the Lord’s commandments about the Lord’s works are so important, who should teach them? James 3 prepares us for the second serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these eighteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that teachers in Christ’s church should be men who respect the power of the tongue, who are committed to praise and blessing together, and whose conduct exhibits the humility and gentleness that correspond to wisdom and righteousness from God.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Avoiding Bad Bible-Teaching and Bad Bible-Teachers [Family Worship lesson in Titus 3:9–11]

What must a pastor do, in addition to affirming the truth? Titus 3:9–11 prepares us for the second serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that in addition to affirming the truth, a pastor must avoid uses of the Bible that are not in keeping with the Bible. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Elders Who Rule Well—and Otherwise [Family Worship lesson in 1Timothy 5:17–25]

How are we to acknowledge the value of godly elders’ ministry in the church? 1 Timothy 5:17–25 looks forward to the second reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we are both to honor godly elders doubly and hold them accountable as examples unto the flock. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Benefits of Deacons Who Prove True in Their Ongoing Ministry [Family Worship lesson in 1Timothy 3:12–13]

What fruit may we expect the Lord to produce by the ministry of a faithful deacon? 1Timothy 3:12–13 looks forward to the second reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that faithful deacons advance well in the faith, and are very free with their faith, for attesting Jesus to others.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Testing of Deacon Candidates for the Glory of Jesus [Family Worship lesson in 1Timothy 3:10–11]

What is the proper process for installing a qualified man to the office of deacon? 1Timothy 3:10–11 looks forward to the second reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that deacons must be tested (and test those whom they enlist for service), and only after being found blameless, be admitted to minister in the office.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Foundational Qualifications of a Deacon [Family Worship lesson in 1Timothy 3:8–9]

What are the primary qualifications of a deacon? 1Timothy 3:8–9 looks forward to the second reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that deacons must be dignified men who live consistently with their sound doctrine.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Valuation of Elders' Ministry [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #52, 2023.10.01 Sabbath School]

Congregational spending on elders and ministers is an integral part of how Scripture says they are to value the ministry of the Word.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Officer Qualifications 4: The Deacon's Oversight of Service in His Own Household and in Christ's Household [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #49, 2023.09.03 Sabbath School]

A Deacon's first testing ground and ongoing chief priority in his ministry is overseeing the service of his own household, so that he may be well-equipped to oversee the service of a congregation of households that maintain the same covenantal priority.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Teaching-Sanctified Teachers of the Word [Family Worship lesson in Titus 1:8–9]

What must an elder persist in being? Titus 1:8–9 looks forward to the second serial reading of in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that an elder must have a Word-formed character for his work in the Word. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Officer Qualifications 3: A Deacon's Doctrinally Produced Character and Conduct [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #48, 2023.08.27 Sabbath School]

Deacons must be examples of doctrinally-produced godliness and spiritual maturity—particularly in ways that are critical for oversight of the service of the church in earthly things.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

What a Man Mustn't Be in His Own House if He Is to Govern Well in God's House [Family Worship lesson in Titus 1:6–7]

How do we know whom Christ has called to be an elder? Titus 1:6–7 looks forward to the second serial reading of in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we may recognize Christ-selected elders by the Christ-supplied grace of being Christ-obsessed. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Officer Qualifications 2: What an Elder Mustn't Be and Where He Must Prove It [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #47, 2023.08.20 Sabbath School]

Part of the reformation in Ephesus, which also included properly ordaining and installing a diaconate, was the ordination and installation of elders who weren't fleshly, and who were proven in the home, in the church, and in the community.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Officer Qualifications 1: What an Elder Must Be [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #46, 2023.08.13 Sabbath School]

Being an elder is a good (beneficial) work (labor), for which the Lord prepares good (grace-formed character) men (males).(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Spiritual Men to Lead a Spiritual People in Service to the Soul and Body [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #40, 2023.07.02 Sabbath School]

By virtue of other believers' union with Christ, they ought to be the special objects of our love and service—especially in helping their weaknesses, since we have missed our opportunity to reciprocate Christ's love to Him in His human weakness. Service to one another in soul requires corresponding service to one another in body. And both require that the work of the Spirit in us be expressed in the manner in which we help one another. To lead us in this service, the Lord has given us ordained servants over both the spiritual service of the body and the material service of the body.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Officers Specialized by the Spirit for Overseeing Service to Soul or Body [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #39, 2023.06.25 Sabbath School]

The 39th lesson in the congregational series on the Biblical Theology of the Diaconate, in preparation for recognizing, ordaining, and installing a proper diaconate.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Diaconal Expression of the Three Great Loves in Their Connection and Progression [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #38, 2023.06.18 Sabbath School]

Love of God produces love of neighbor (even/especially enemies!), but even more so love of brother, and all three have an expression in the use of material things. Though the church as a body is not a "neighbor," deacons as officers guide believers in how they conduct themselves as neighbors.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)