Truly Loving the True God [Family Worship lesson in Deuteronomy 5:8–10]

What should worship seek? Deuteronomy 5:8–10 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that worship seeks the true God in the true way. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Saved from Popular Worship [Family Worship lesson in Hosea 4:11–19]

How does grace respond to the stubborn sinners whom it is redeeming? Hosea 4:11–19 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that grace constrains those whom it is redeeming by making them ashamed of the very sin that they once loved and were proud of.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

When God Calls Us to Worship [2025.02.26 Sabbath School in Westminster Confession of Faith 21.6—Hopewell 101]

We continued studying through the Scriptural doctrine that our congregation confesses. This week, we continued Westminster Confession chapter 21—finishing Article 6 with how God calls us to public worship times both by His Word and His providence.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Place of Gospel Worship [2025.02.09 Sabbath School lesson in Westminster Confession of Faith 21.6—Hopewell 101]

We continued studying through the Scriptural doctrine that our congregation confesses. This week, we continued Westminster Confession chapter 21—continuing with Article 6 and the place of worship under the gospel.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Defiled to the Core [2025.02.02 Morning Sermon in Matthew 15:1–20]

What comes from us is unclean, so we must have Christ, and what comes from Him, by His Spirit.

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

What Defiles a Man [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 15:1–20]

How can a man be clean before God? Matthew 15:1–20 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that a man must have his heart changed and purified, which only Christ can do. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Singing with Grace in the Heart [2025.01.12 Sabbath School in Westminster Confession of Faith 21.5—Hopewell 101]

We continue studying through the Scriptural doctrine that our congregation confesses. This week, we continued Westminster Confession chapter 21—continuing in Article 5 with what Scripture says about congregational singing and the manner in which we should do it.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Experimental Hearing [2025.01.05 Sabbath School in Westminster Confession of Faith 21.5—Hopewell 101]

We continue studying through the Scriptural doctrine that our congregation confesses. This week, we continued Westminster Confession chapter 21—considering the first part of Article 5, and the type of reading, preaching, and hearing that the Lord commands in the public worship of His people.(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)

The Creational Church Calendar [2024.12.08 Evening Sermon in Numbers 28:1–10]

We were created and redeemed to come to God through Christ, which we are to do especially morning and evening, day by day, and week by week on the Lord's Day

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

Deadly Religion of Deluded Believers [Family Worship lesson in Amos 5:18–27]

What will the day of the Lord be like for those who think God loves whatever worship they decide for Him? Amos 5:18–6:14 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the day of the Lord will be death and darkness for those who think they are coming to God, but are doing so apart from Christ.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Worshiping the God Who Communicates Himself [2024.11.24 Sabbath School in WCF 21.2—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 2, and the doctrine that worship must be given only to the true God... and that it is given to Christ!(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Training to Repent in Our Pain [Family Worship lesson in Amos 5:1–17]

Why does the prophet lament? Amos 5:1–17 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seventeen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the prophet laments over sin to teach sinners to lament over that sin, and to turn back to seeking the Lord and His good.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Why, and How, to Worship [2024.11.17 Sabbath School in WCF 21.1—Hopewell 101]

We continue studying through the Scriptural doctrine that our congregation confesses. This week, we began Westminster Confession chapter 21—considering Article 1, and the doctrine that God must be worshiped and must only be worshiped as He has commanded, commonly known as the Regulative Principle of Worship.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

A Climax of Sin, Wrath, and Grace [Family Worship lesson in Numbers 25]

What provokes and stops God’s wrath? Numbers 25 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eighteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that sin provokes God’s wrath, but Christ turns it away.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Engaging God with Our Soul in Worship [2024.10.05 Pastoral Letter and Hopewell Herald]

Hopewell Herald – October 5, 2024

Dear Congregation,

When we worship together, are you offering yourself unto the Lord, body and soul? If you have children, would they know by experience that this is what you are doing, and are they thus learning from you that this is what they should be doing?

I have intended that, at some point, I would do a little series in these pastoral letters on “how to get the most out of biblical worship.” Many are not accustomed to offering themselves, body and soul, unto God in every part of the worship.

So much of the “worship” in the churches is consumed as a spectator or participated in primarily outwardly through ritualistic forms. So, there’s a learning curve when it comes to offering oneself body and soul in those worship actions that God Himself has commanded, and which Christ Himself leads from glory.

Perhaps we will begin that series next week, but yesterday Reformation Scotland posted a selection from a Hugh Binning sermon that will help you begin thinking in that stream. Mr. Binning was a faithful covenanter preacher who died young. His preaching was full of the greatness of God’s love to us and how we ought to be full of love to Him Who has so loved us. This was what animated his views on worship, following the Lord Himself, Who defines man-devised worship as hating Him and God-devised worship as loving Him (Ex 20:5–6).

The entire excerpt is worth your consideration. But, here’s a shorter excerpt to whet your appetite and stir you up unto the Lord in our worship tomorrow:

“O consider, my beloved, what a one you have to do with! It is not other people, but the Father of spirits, who will not be pleased with what pleases others of your own flesh, but who must have a spirit to serve Him!

 

Alas! what are we doing with such empty names and shows in religion? Busied in the outside of worship only, as if we had no one to do with but others who have eyes of flesh, all that we do in this way is lost labour, and will never be reckoned as true worship!”

Looking forward to offering ourselves wholeheartedly to Him together, soul and body,

Pastor

Loving God—His Way [Westminster Shorter Catechism 52—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 52—especially explaining how the God presents worshiping Him only in His way as the litmus test for genuinely loving Him.

Q52. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment? The reasons annexed to the second commandment are, God’s sovereignty over us, His propriety in us, and the zeal He hath to His own worship.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Recovering Biblical Fear of God [2024 Reformation Conference #4 in Hebrews 1:14–2:18]

After centuries of drifting from drawing near to God in a way that actually honors God, the Reformed churches must return to coming to God genuinely through Christ Himself in those things which He has not only commanded but actually leads from glory.

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

Drawing Near to God in the Fear of God [Westminster Shorter Catechism 50—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 50—especially explaining how treating God as God means drawing near to Him only in the way that He says to.

Q50. What is required in the second commandment? The second commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in His Word.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Getting Worship Right by Getting God and Ourselves Right [Family Worship lesson in Isaiah 66:1–4]

When is worship offensive to God? Isaiah 66:1–4 looks forward to the first serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that getting worship wrong is a consequence of getting God wrong and getting ourselves wrong. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)