God's Gracious Invitation and Man's Grievous Innovation [Family Worship lesson in Isaiah 41:1–7]

What are we to think when great powers arise? Isaiah 41:1–7 prepares us for the first serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we must remember that the Lord is sovereign over all and praise Him Who is our hope. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Shalom: Invited to God's Table [Family Worship lesson in Leviticus 3]

What does a worshiper find in God’s presence, when he ascends there with his tribute? Leviticus 3 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seventeen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God brings worshipers near to enjoy the hospitality of His house as royalty. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Ascending to God in Our Reconciling Substitute [2023.07.23 Evening Sermon in Leviticus 1:3–17]

The Lord provides a substitute, consecrated by blood and transformed by fire, in which the worshiper ascends unto heaven, and by whose blood the worship on earth is consecrated as well

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

God Gives Us to Ascend as Pleasing to Him by a Reconciling Substitute [Family Worship lesson in Leviticus 1:3–17]

How can a sinner come near to God and be pleasing to Him? Leviticus 1:3–17 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fifteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord provides a substitute, consecrated by blood and transformed by fire, in which the worshiper ascends unto heaven, and by whose blood the worship on earth is consecrated as well. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Blessed Assurance: Jesus Is Mine—Past, Present, and Future [2023.02.01 Midweek Sermon in Romans 5:9–11]

Christians should be forward-looking people. There is joy that we have now already. And there is joy that is set before us that we properly value as we endure our tribulations. If we live for the present, we fall short of this. And if we fail to enjoy the present, we also fall short of this. For, justification by Christ’s blood completely assures us of complete salvation from God—past, present, and future.

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

Justified into a Condition of Peace with God [2022.12.28 Midweek sermon in Romans 5:1]

Being justified by faith isn't just a legal status before God; it brings us into an experiential condition of peace with God.

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

God's Eternal Plan to Glorify Himself as Giver of Repentance to the Nations in Jesus [2022.08.14 Morning Sermon in Acts 11:2–18; Ephesians 1–4; Genesis 3:14–15; Psalm 72]

When we glorify God for giving repentance to the Gentiles, we are glorifying Him in Jesus Christ for having reconciled us to Himself, reconciled us to each other, delivering us from the devil, and bringing us under the everlasting and blessed kingship of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

The Past, Present, and Future of our Reconciliation in God the Son (Family Worship lesson in Colossians 1:21–23)

How is Christ exalted in our lives as the redeeming God-Man? Pastor leads his family in today’s “Hopewell @Home” passage. Colossians 1:21–23 prepares us for the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus is exalted in the past of our reconciliation by ending the enmity toward Him in our hearts and minds, and in the present of our reconciliation by our love for Him and pursuit of holiness, and in the future of our reconciliation by bringing us to final glory—ever and always by faith and hope in Him.(click audio title within player for a page where you can download mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

“Of Repentance unto Life” part 14, WCF 15.6.4, The Duty of Reconciliation (2021.09.12 Sabbath School in 2Corinthians 2:3–11)

The duty of encouraging one another, reconciling, and reaffirming affection is as much of an apostolic command as church discipline.(click audio title within player for a page where you can download mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

"Of Repentance unto Life" part 13, WCF 15.6.3, The Duty of Confession to One Another

Those who are righteous by faith in Jesus Christ have the duty of glorifying His forgiveness by confessing sin to one another, and praying for one another upon that reconciliation.(click audio title within player for a page where you can download mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Christ Himself the Only Foundation of Peace with God and Growth in Grace (2021.04.20 Family Worship in Ephesians 2:13–22)

What great error lay behind the ethnic tension in the Ephesian church? Pastor leads his family in today’s “Hopewell @Home” passage. Ephesians 2:13–22 prepares us for the call to worship, prayer of adoration, and first song in the public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Sacred Scripture, we learn that our peace and unity with one another is a necessary result of having Christ Himself as the only ground of peace with God and Christ Himself as the only foundation of the growth of any Christian and of the church as a nation/family/building/body.

Sustaining and Perfecting Grace for Those Who Have Begun by Grace (2021.01.17 Evening Sermon in Ephesians 6:23–24)

God graciously gives, to those who have begun by grace, everything they need to stand in that grace, walk by that grace, and win by that grace.

How to Receive and Give Wisdom unto Salvation (Family Worship, Prov 9:7–12)

Do you receive rebukes wisely? Do you give them wisely? Pastor leads his family in a portion of the "Proverb of the day." In these six verses, we learn how giving and receiving rebukes gives us help in identifying whether we are on the way to eternal life and in making progress along that way.

Christian Privilege: Humility, Service, Sacrifice, Suffering

Christians view being humbled, and serving, and sacrificing, and suffering—like Christ and for Christ—as a great privilege

Reconciliation through Discipline (2020.08.23 Sabbath School)

Because we are reconciled in Christ, we cannot tolerate any sin—and especially sin that separates us. And, when the sin is repented of, we must hasten to reaffirm and strengthen the bonds of affection, lest Satan exploit relational fissures in the church.

Real Reconciliation 2: When and How to Confront an Offense

When the relationship is damaged, or a brother is in spiritual trouble, those who are skilled in dealing with their own sins are called to help him deal with his.

Real Reconciliation 1 — Applying the Cross to Offenses (2020.08.16 Sabbath School lesson)

This week, we started in on how to reconcile offenses among believers, beginning with a reminder that is only with believers that real reconciliation can take place to begin with. It is an application in the present of the reality that Christ has already reconciled us, and a participation in the ultimate fulfillment of that reality. We began distinguishing between things that need not be confronted at all and those that do, and what to do when the confrontation is necessary. We'll pick up with that next week.

Racial Reconciliation 4: Loving Our Enemies (200802 Sabbath School)

Those who are at enmity with the Lord Jesus will be at enmity with His followers. But, He has told us what to do about that: love your enemies.

Racial Reconciliation, Part 3: True Peace Found Only in Christ (2020.07.19 Sabbath School Lesson)

True reconciliation has already been accomplished by Christ, and is applied in the lives of believers. Only believers can genuinely love. And their love can genuinely cover over one another's sins because those sins have been forgiven at the cross, those sins are being used by God for good, and those sins are soon going to be eradicated.

The Proper Manner of Church Members (Family Worship lesson in Ephesians 4:1–7)

Pastor teaches his family today's Hopewell @Home lesson in Ephesians 4:1–7. Though believers may have different particular callings in life, they each have the glorious calling to be a member of the body of Christ. Recognizing the great glory of what we have in common produces a humble and forgiving manner of conduct with one another.