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)

Not Magic, or Mechanics, but Christ by His Spirit Makes Sacraments Effectual [Shorter Catechism 91, Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 91—especially explaining how the sacraments are made effectual by Christ’s personal, active use of them by His Spirit. So, we must not use them magically as if they have benefit in them, or mechanically as if the benefit is automatically produced by them if we do them well/correctly enough, but in dependence upon Him Who uses the sacraments as means of His grace.

Q91. How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation? The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in him that doth administer them; but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of His Spirit in them that by faith receive them.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

God Regards His Own Glory and Avenges Himself upon False Worship and Religion [Family Worship lesson in 1Samuel 4:1–11]

Why did God kill thirty-four thousand (and two!) Israelites? 1Samuel 4:1–11 looks forward to the first reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that in all things, God acts for His own glory, especially avenging Himself upon manmade worship and religion.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)