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)

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.

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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

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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 Story of Sin and Grace [2024.10.20 Evening Sermon in Numbers 25]

God's grace isn't for those who are good, but for those whom He must save from wrath-deserving sin.

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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)

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)

Guarding Against Idolatry and Superstition [Westminster Shorter Catechism 51—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 51—especially explaining how the second commandment forbids coming up with our ways of thinking about God, drawing near to Him, or gaining spiritual knowledge or power.

Q51. What is forbidden in the second commandment? The second commandment forbiddeth the worshiping of God by images, or any other way not appointed in His Word.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

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)

The First Commandment After the First Commandment [Westminster Shorter Catechism 49—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 49—especially explaining how the first part of having God as our God is thinking about Him and worshiping Him only in the ways that He has given us to do so.

Q49. Which is the second commandment? The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Grace to Worship God Acceptably [Children's Catechism 83—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children’s Catechism question 83—especially explaining how we must have grace in order to worship with the actions and attitudes required for the right worship of God.

Q83. What does the second commandment teach us? To worship God in a proper manner, and to avoid idolatry.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Worshiping in Our Way Is Worshiping Worship Instead of Worshiping God [Children's Catechism 82—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children’s Catechism question 82—especially explaining how we are only worshiping God if we worship the way that God Himself says to do so.

Q82. What is the second commandment? The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Church Walking in Fellowship or Enmity with God [2024.02.04 Evening Sermon in Leviticus 26]

God's church either walks in fellowship with God, or enmity against Him, especially revolving around worshiping the way that He says and keeping His calendar

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Walking with God vs God Walking against Us [Family Worship lesson in Leviticus 26]

What implications do the favor and fellowship of God have for our obedience? Leviticus 26 prepares us for the evening sermon on the Lord’s Day. In these forty-six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that obedience shows personal affection for the Lord, and disobedience shows personal rejection of the Lord. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

A Complex Saint/Sinner and His Gracious God [Family Worship lesson in 1Kings 3]

Pastor prepares his family for the evening sermon at Covenant PCA in Panama City in 1Kings 3. In these twenty-eight verses, the Holy Spirit teaches us that saints in this life are still complex sinners, but that their God is a patient and gracious God. More important than wisdom and honor is to fear Him and keep His commandments, for this is man’s end.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Uncommanded Worship Is Christless Worship [Family Worship lesson in Leviticus 10:1–7]

What can turn God’s glory from a blessing into a curse? Leviticus 10:1–7 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that when we approach the Lord in our own way, His glory becomes a curse to us rather than a blessing. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Divinely Mandated Actions, Attitude, and Even Amplitude in Public Worship [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 95]

What does God command for public worship? Psalm 95 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord commands that public worship be joyous, reverent, and submissive. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Priceless Provision for Interfacing with God [2023.06.04 Evening Sermon in Exodus 37:1–38:20]

The richness of the provision for constructing the furnishings and hangings corresponded to the richest provision: interaction with the living God Himself.

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Why We Idolaters So Sorely Need the Lord's Patience and Redemption [Family Worship lesson in 2Kings 21:1–16]

How did Manasseh and Judah so greatly provoke the Lord to wrath upon their nation/church? 2Kings 21:1–16 looks forward to the first serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these sixteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Manasseh’s provocations against the Lord were so great because he not only spurned the Lord’s image in man by murder, but even spurned the Lord Himself by idolatry, despite being entrusted with the place and the worship with which the Lord had specifically identified Himself. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Idolatry's Worship Wars [2023.03.26 Evening Sermon in Exodus 32:15–24]

Idolatry rejects and attacks God, is contrary to rational thinking, and harms one's own soul.

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