https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/ Practical articles for Reformed pastors on preaching, Sunday School, discipleship, marriage preparation, leadership training and small groups. en-us Wed, 28 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/one-on-one-discipleship-questions/ https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/one-on-one-discipleship-questions/ Wed, 28 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Discipleship Good one-on-one discipleship questions open the Bible, reach the heart and lead to one step of obedience. Here are questions for each part of the meeting. https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/deacon-training-curriculum/ https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/deacon-training-curriculum/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Church leadership A deacon training curriculum in 12 sessions: eight on the man and his calling, four on mercy, stewardship and care, with what the PCA, OPC and 1689 expect. https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/is-it-wrong-to-preach-someone-elses-sermon/ https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/is-it-wrong-to-preach-someone-elses-sermon/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Preaching Is it wrong to preach someone else's sermon? Reading it openly is an old practice. Passing it off as your own is not. Where the line falls and how to credit. https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/how-to-disciple-a-new-believer-one-on-one/ https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/how-to-disciple-a-new-believer-one-on-one/ Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Discipleship Meet weekly, open the Bible together, teach the basics in order, practice the means of grace and connect the new believer to the whole church. https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/how-to-prepare-a-sermon-for-the-first-time/ https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/how-to-prepare-a-sermon-for-the-first-time/ Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Preaching A step-by-step guide to your first sermon: choosing the passage, studying it, finding the main idea, writing, timing and getting it reviewed before Sunday. https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/elder-vs-deacon-in-the-presbyterian-church/ https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/elder-vs-deacon-in-the-presbyterian-church/ Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Church leadership Presbyterian elders oversee, teach and govern; deacons lead the ministry of mercy. The offices in Scripture, ruling vs teaching elders, and how to train each. https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/how-long-does-it-take-to-write-a-sermon/ https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/how-long-does-it-take-to-write-a-sermon/ Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Preaching How long a sermon takes and where the hours go: a day-by-day plan for expository preaching, with notes for bivocational pastors and first sermons. https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/how-to-teach-the-westminster-shorter-catechism-to-adults/ https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/how-to-teach-the-westminster-shorter-catechism-to-adults/ Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Sunday School How to teach the Westminster Shorter Catechism to adults: how the 107 questions are organized, a one-year and a 13-week plan, and how to run each class. https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/premarital-counseling-questions-for-pastors/ https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/premarital-counseling-questions-for-pastors/ Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Marriage preparation Questions a pastor can ask an engaged couple, organized by the seven sessions of a biblical premarital course, with notes on listening well and when to refer. https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/questions-to-ask-deacon-and-elder-candidates/ https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/questions-to-ask-deacon-and-elder-candidates/ Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Church leadership Examination questions for deacon and elder candidates from 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1 and Acts 6, with the ordination vows and notes on conducting the interview. https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/reformed-adult-sunday-school-curriculum/ https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/reformed-adult-sunday-school-curriculum/ Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Sunday School How to choose or build a Reformed adult Sunday School curriculum: a checklist, the kinds of content, buy vs build, a multi-year cycle and teacher training. https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/sermon-based-small-group-questions/ https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/sermon-based-small-group-questions/ Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Small groups How to write a weekly small group guide from Sunday's sermon text: observation, interpretation and application questions, prayer and a template to copy. https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/should-pastors-use-ai-for-sermons/ https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/should-pastors-use-ai-for-sermons/ Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT AI and ministry Using AI is not sinful in itself, but some work belongs only to the preacher. Where help ends and outsourcing begins, with a checklist for your study. https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/what-is-lectio-continua/ https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/what-is-lectio-continua/ Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Preaching Lectio continua is preaching through a book of the Bible in order, week by week. Where it comes from, why it serves a church, and how to plan a series. https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/what-to-cover-in-a-new-members-class/ https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/what-to-cover-in-a-new-members-class/ Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Discipleship The eight topics a new members class should cover, a five-session outline, and how the class and interview differ in Presbyterian and Reformed Baptist churches. https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/what-to-teach-new-believers/ https://www.hokmahexpositor.com/blog/what-to-teach-new-believers/ Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Discipleship Twelve topics to teach new believers in order, from the gospel to perseverance and mission, with a base text, a takeaway and one question for each meeting.