The Contented, Generous Heart [Family Worship lesson in Deuteronomy 24:17–26:15]

What is at the heart of the tenth commandment? Deuteronomy 24:17–26:15 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these forty verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the heart is the heart of the tenth commandment. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: the devotional presents a comprehensive exposition of the Tenth Commandment’s call to contentment, gratitude, and justice, rooted in Israel’s identity as redeemed slaves and sustained by God’s covenant faithfulness. Central to this teaching is the recurring call to care for the vulnerable—strangers, widows, and fatherless—while maintaining integrity in justice, honesty, and personal conduct, all reflecting a heart that esteems others as made in God’s image. The law’s applications—from refusing to exploit laborers and maintaining honest weights to preserving dignity in punishment and honoring marital duty—reveal that true generosity flows from a transformed heart that trusts God’s provision and rejects covetousness. Gratitude and generosity are not mere duties but expressions of identity and worship, pointing forward to Christ’s self-emptying love. Ultimately, the law reveals that holiness is not fragmented but holistic, demanding a life of thankfulness that mirrors God’s character.

Preventing Self-Destruction [2024.08.21 Midweek Sermon in Proverbs 1:8–19]

Have God as your Friend to protect you from the enticements of your sinful heart, beginning with godly parents as friends to protect you from the enticements of sinful men

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

Happy with the Lord [Children's Catechism 102—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children’s Catechism question 102—especially explaining how being happy with the Lord Himself is at the heart of the law.

Q102. What does the tenth commandment teach us? To be content with our lot.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Heart of the Law [Children's Catechism 101—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children’s Catechism question 101—especially explaining how the tenth commandment bookends with the first, sums up the second table, and shows how the whole law addresses the heart.

Q101. What is the tenth commandment? The tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Appreciating God's Worth, Wisdom, and Kindness [Westminster Shorter Catechism 81 Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 81—especially explaining and applying how the tenth commandment forbids grumbling that despises God’s worth, wisdom, and kindness toward us and malice or envy that despise God’s kindness toward others.

Q81. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment? The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate, envying or grieving at the good of our neighbor, and all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Treasuring God Is the Foundation of Being Content and Charitable [Westminster Shorter Catechism 80 Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 80—especially explaining and applying how treasuring God is the foundation of being content and charitable.

Q80. What is required in the tenth commandment? The tenth commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition, with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbor, and all that is his.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Heart and the Law's Heart [Westminster Shorter Catechism 79 Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 79—especially explaining and applying that the tenth commandment concludes the second table of the law by showing just how much the heart is involved in all of the commandments regarding our neighbor, and it concludes the law as a whole by showing how the second table is an application/extension of the first.

Q79. Which is the tenth commandment? The tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Contentment the Essence of the Two Great Commandments (Family Worship lesson in Exodus 20:17)

What does God want us to do with/to our neighbor? Exodus 20:17 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In this verse of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God wants us to give our neighbor not only our behavior but love from the heart. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Recognizing and Responding to God's Image in Others and Ourselves (2022.06.12 Evening Sermon in Exodus 20:12)

Valuing God in our interactions with others means especially valuing man as made in the image of God.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Prayer, Worship That Frees from Bondage to Earthly Desire (Jam 4:2–3, 2020.06.03 Prayer Meeting Devotional)

Being controlled by earthly desires disappoints us, debases us, and defiles us. But prayer as true worship satisfies us, strengthens us, and sanctifies us.