Worship-Shaped Work [Family Worship lesson in Ecclesiastes 4:4–6]

What else makes godless life vain? Ecclesiastes 4:4–6 looks forward to the call to worship in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that fallen labor makes godless life vain. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) The devotional lesson explores the futility of labor and achievement apart from a relationship with God, drawing from Ecclesiastes 4 and Psalm 73. It highlights how striving and skillful work often lead to envy and ultimately prove unsatisfying, while neglecting work results in a destructive laziness. The central message emphasizes that true contentment and peace—a “handful with quietness”—are found not in worldly pursuits but in knowing and worshipping God, allowing His grace to shape our work, and provide lasting fulfillment rather than grasping for fleeting, ultimately unattainable goals.

The LORD Who Builds His House and Yours [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 127]

How can we be happy and secure? Psalm 127 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that only the Lord gives happiness and security. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Arrogance of Living for Our Profit Plans [Family Worship lesson in James 4:13–17]

In what should a man spend his life? James 4:13–17 prepares us for the second serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that a man should spend his life in that which does good before God.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Lowly Saints' High Callings [Family Worship lesson in Titus 2:9–10]

How can lowly Christians glorify Christ? Titus 2:9–10 looks forward to the second serial reading of in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that lowly Christians glorify Christ by being otherwise inexplicably godly by the grace of their Savior. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Through Whom and How God Began to Overthrow a Wicked Dynasty (Family Worship lesson in 1Kings 19:19–21)

How does God bring down evil dynasties? 1Kings 19:19–21 looks forward to the first serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eighteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God often does great things through simple people and resolved commitment.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

How Can I Serve God at Work? — 2 of 2 (2022.04.10 Sabbath School)

"How Can I Serve God at Work" in the RHB series, "Cultivating Biblical Godliness." — 2 of 2(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

How Can I Serve God at Work? — 1 of 2 (2022.04.03 Sabbath School)

"How Can I Serve God at Work" in the RHB series, "Cultivating Biblical Godliness."—1 of 2(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

A Praise-Filled Life (Family Worship lesson in Genesis 26:12–25)

What showed that the Lord was with Isaac? Pastor leads his family in today’s “Hopewell @Home” passage. Genesis 26:12–25 prepares us for the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fourteen verses, the Holy Spirit teaches us that much more even than Isaac’s earthly prosperity, the Lord’s being with Isaac was seen in his diligence, peaceability, and humble praise—and that all of these together formed a life filled with praise.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

What to Do While We Wait (2022.01.16 Morning Sermon in Acts 1:9–26)

While believers wait for Christ, they express their neediness and desire in prayer, live out their dependence by following His Word, and trust that He is ruling and overruling all things perfectly.

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

Heavenly Glory in the Nitty Gritty Details of Life (Family Worship lesson in Colossians 1:24–29)

What does Christ’s glory have to do with our suffering, our calling, our learning, and our effort? Pastor leads his family in today’s “Hopewell @Home” passage. Colossians 1:24–29 prepares us for the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us how Christ’s exaltation in glory marvelously connects to the nitty gritty details of believers’ everyday lives on earth.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

God’s World and Our Work (Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 12:10–11)

Pastor leads his family in two verses from “the Proverb of the day.” When we love God with all our heart, His Word shapes how we treat everyone in His world as in His image and everything in His world as His creatures. But those who love not God, even if they seem to love, it has cruelty underneath which can easily spill over onto the surface. Because a life lived in empty things exposes an empty heart, it is merciful of God to give His dear ones incentive to work not only in the increased food that is gained but in the increased enjoyment of what is gained.(click audio title within player for a page where you can download mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Standing by Grace, in the Evil Day, for the Glory of God (Family Worship in Ephesians 6:10–13)

What is our spiritual warfare like? Pastor leads his family in tomorrow's "Hopewell @Home" passage. In these four verses, we learn that the evil day of 6:13 draws us back to where we left off in 5:15–17. If we are to walk as children of light through the filling of the Spirit (5:22), we must do so standing against the onslaught of an organized, evil, powerful enemy who hates that we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies, and hates how God's transforming grace is displayed in how we conduct ourselves in our marriages, parent-child relationships, and everyday work.

Loving, Diligent, Glad Slaves of Jesus, Our Master (2020.12.06 Evening Sermon in Ephesians 6:5–9)

Christians should all be delighted to be the slaves of their perfect Master, Who is worthy of their sincere, diligent, cheerful, loving obedience in whatever role they have and whatever work they do.

Working Heartily and Lovingly as Slaves of Christ (Family Worship in Eph 6:5–9)

In what way is the Bible pro-slavery? Pastor leads his family in yesterday's "Hopewell @Home" passage. In these five verses, we learn that Christians should all be delighted to be the slaves of their perfect Master, Who is worthy of their sincere, diligent, cheerful, loving obedience in whatever role they have and whatever work they do.

The Cosmic Battle for Believer's Mouths, Hearts, and Vocations (2020.09.27 Evening Sermon in Ephesians 4:25–30)

The Holy Spirit and the devil are at war. Wherein does this battle rage? Not in the stuff of movies but in the stuff of everyday life: congregational life and worship, marriage, parenting, and vocation. But in these six verses specifically, we see the necessity of both "putting off" and "putting on" in godly speech, godly anger, and godly labor.

Sharpened Faces and Ripened Fruit (Family Worship in Prov 27:17–18)

Pastor leads his family in two verses of "today's" Proverb, 27:17–18. Because we are often forgetful that we are before His face, God uses our brother's face to sharpen ours. And God, who has planted us in whatever role we find ourselves, grants to us that if patiently and cheerfully labor in our calling, then in due season we will reap—whether we are farmers or slaves, and ultimately as His own children and servants.

We ought to rejoice in whatever stewardship God gives us in His Spirit's glorious work of bringing people from all nations to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

190107FW Gen 3:16-19 - Thy Kingdom Come: the Curses that Christ Reverses

An imperfect, but hopefully helpful, sample of a family worship lesson in Genesis 3:16-19