Why must murder be dealt with so carefully in Israel? Numbers 35 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord's Day. In these thirty-four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Israel are a people among whom the Lord dwells, and must guard the holiness of His image in man.…

How harmful is spiritual pride? Revelation 3:14–22 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 spiritual pride keeps one from fellowship with the glorious Savior.James Hakim

Either we will be a harmful "fool of lips" or a man who is all earsJames Hakim

What does God's mercy do for sinners that He is redeeming? Jonah 1:17–2:10 looks forward to the hearing of God's Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God brings those sinners whom He is redeeming to an end of themselves, so that they cry to Him …

How does true humility happen? Psalm 131 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord's Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that humility comes by hope.James Hakim

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 69—especially explaining how the sixth commandment forbids any killing not required by God, together with being careful not to do anything harmful to man. Q69. What is forbidden in the sixth commandment? The sixth commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the …

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 130—especially explaining how infants need baptism, because they need Christ Himself. Q130. Why do infants need to be baptized? Because they have a sinful nature and need a Savior.James Hakim

What use is wisdom? Proverbs 10:6–21 looks forward to the sermon in this week's midweek meeting. In these sixteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that wisdom produces either life-giving or life-destroying words.James Hakim

God wants His people to understand that they are receiving both Him Himself, and good gifts that He gives them the honor of participating in obtaining.James Hakim

James Hakim

The Son came near, as the God-Man, to save usJames Hakim

How does Jesus show Himself to be our God and Savior? Matthew 14:22–36 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord's Day. In these fifteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus displays and declares Himself as God in the flesh, Who joins Himself to us to us to save us.…

What instruction does the Lord give for when they come into Canaan? Numbers 33:50–34:29 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord's Day. In these thirty-six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord teaches them the part that He has assigned to them in His gracious giving of Canaan to them as an inheritance.…

What does Jesus do for faithful believers? Revelation 3:7–13 looks forward to the hearing of God's Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus rewards faithful believers, not on a principle of merit, but on a principle of grace upon grace.…

The wisdom that created all things is the wisdom that redeemsJames Hakim

Who is the book of Jonah about? Jonah 1:1–16 looks forward to the hearing of God's Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these sixteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the book of Jonah is about the sovereign Savior of sinners from all nations.…

Who is the Lord? Psalm 130 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord's Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord is the merciful God Who hears and forgives us.James Hakim

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 129—especially explaining how the visible church must baptize whomever the Lord adds to her. Q129. Who are to be baptized? Believers and their children.James Hakim

What should an image-bearer desire? Proverbs 10:1–5 looks forward to the sermon in this week's midweek meeting. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that an image-bearer should desire whatever God desires.James Hakim

The church's story is the story of her Lord's faithfulnessJames Hakim

Jesus is the Lord over creation, Who conquers the curse and gives Himself to His covenant peopleJames Hakim

We continued studying through the Scriptural doctrine that our congregation confesses. We continued Westminster Confession chapter 21, Article 5 this week with what Scripture says about the sacraments as covenantal signs and seals in the public worship (corporate worship) of Christ's visible church.James Hakim

How does Jesus grieve? Matthew 14:13–21 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord's Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus grieves in fellowship with His Father, but also by compassionately overcoming the Fall for His people.…

What does the Lord emphasize, when giving us Israel's itinerary through the wilderness? Numbers 33:1–49 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord's Day. In these forty-nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord emphasized His own faithfulness and power, which would come to a climax for His people in Christ,…

What could be so wrong with a church that has a reputation for being spiritually alive? Revelation 3:1–6 looks forward to the hearing of God's Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that a church that has a reputation for being spiritually alive may yet b…

What is as sure as the wrath that was about to come upon Israel and Judah? Amos 9:11–15 looks forward to the hearing of God's Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the perfect and eternal blessedness of Christ's kingdom is as sure as YHWH Himself i…

What hope is there in persecution? Psalm 129 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord's Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the church can look back to deliverances, and forward to judgment, for encouragement in persecution.…

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 128—especially explaining how we are baptized into the singular Name of the triune God. Q128. In Whose Name are we baptized? In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.James Hakim

What does wisdom offer? Proverbs 9 looks forward to the sermon in this week's midweek meeting. In these eighteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that wisdom offers true conversion and eternal life from God Himself.James Hakim

James Hakim

Believers must participate faithfully, before God's face, by faith, in the life of the church.James Hakim

We must respond to Christ's resurrection power by acknowledging Him, submitting to Him, committing to Him, and hoping in HimJames Hakim

With the delight that He has in Himself, within the Godhead, the LORD delights to create and redeem mankind—a delight into which He brings the redeemed, by means of His WordJames Hakim

What does God think of tolerating false teaching? Revelation 2:18–29 looks forward to the hearing of God's Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these twelve verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God hates and condemns the toleration of false teaching.…

How sure God's wrath? Amos 9:1–10 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 God's wrath is as sure as the glory of YHWH, but His saving the elect is equally as sure.James Hakim

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 66—especially explaining how the Lord doesn't only tell us to honor authorities, but sets before us motives for doing so. Q66. What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment? The reason annexed to the fifth commandment is a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as i…

What happiness does the Lord give? Psalm 128 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord's Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord, Who is our happiness, makes us happy in His blessing us in our work and families, and especially in His church.…

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 127—especially explaining how the washing in Baptism shows the application of Christ to us for life, forgiveness, consecration, and cleansing; all of which is applied to us by His Holy Spirit, Whom He pours out. Q127. What does this signify? That we are cleansed from sin by the blood o…

Who is Wisdom? Proverbs 8:22–36 looks forward to the sermon in this week's midweek meeting. In these fifteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ is, unto us, the wisdom of God, indeed God Himself, the Creator.James Hakim

We must never let our familiarity with Jesus rob us of our wonder. Thus, let us not question Him, but take Him at His Word in all of His answers to our questions, receiving Him Himself as our God and Savior.James Hakim

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift, Who supplies all our needs (namely Himself!) according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.James Hakim

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.James Hakim

What is doubting Christ? Matthew 13:54–58 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord's Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that doubting Christ is wicked unbelief.James Hakim

What does the Lord show by the distribution of the plunder from the battle? Numbers 31:25–54 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord's Day. In these thirty verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord demonstrates great generosity and mercy in His provision for His people by the plunder from the battle.…

What is worse than persecution? Revelation 2:12–17 looks forward to the hearing of God's Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the world's pull to fit in with it is a worse attack upon the church than direct persecution.…

Wisdom begins with the Lord's everlasting love, brings the elect into the fear of the Lord, conforms them to Him, and gives them Himself as their reward.James Hakim

Why must we make use of the opportunity that we have to repent at the hearing of the Word? Amos 8 looks forward to the hearing of God's Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that our opportunity to respond to the hearing of the Word is a limited tim…

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.James Hakim

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 126—especially explaining how Jesus uses the washing with water as a sign marking members of His church. Q126. What sign is used in baptism? The washing with water.James Hakim