Saturday, September 26, 2020

Clinging to Christ Required for Proper Listening to Christ (2020.09.26 Pastoral Letter and Hopewell Herald)

Hopewell Herald – September 26, 2020

Dear Congregation, 

Tomorrow’s morning sermon passage is a difficult one. It challenges us (and especially fathers) on worldliness, harmful permissiveness (especially with our daughters), and passivity. 

It’s crushing to wrestle seriously with such issues apart from a hearty gospel hope, not only in Christ’s forgiveness, but also in His power and determination to cleanse us and grow us—and in His marvelous mercy to spare us so often and so much from the consequences of our folly and sin. 

If we come to consider the real consequences of our sin without this hope, the temptation will be to dismiss the instruction and warning of the Scripture text as legalism or judgmentalism. 

But, if we come hoping in Christ, we come rejoicing that He is the righteousness that is counted for us, and that He is determined to make us like Himself by His Spirit. 

This rejoicing over what Christ is doing, coupled with a godly sorrow over what sin we have done and what sin remains in us, strengthens us to repentance. 

We are enabled to “work out or salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12) because we rejoice that He is the One who works in us, both to will and to work, according to His good pleasure (Phil 2:13). And we know that He who has begun the good work will bring it unto completion (Phil 1:6)—AND that His Word is the very means by which He does this work (John 17:17)! 

So, let us come to Him, clinging to Him in that gospel that enables us to take seriously all of His instruction for our lives, without sliding into the false pride or crippling discouragement of legalism, or denying our Master and harming others by antinomianism. 

And, trusting Him to bless His means to us and our children, let us come with a desire to love Him with all our heart and our neighbors (especially those nearest neighbors in our own homes) as ourselves. 

Looking forward to coming to Him, while clinging to Him, together with you, 

Pastor 

People from various groups who have ministered alongside the Reformed Personhood TN ministry on the sidewalk outside PP in Nashville are gathering to discuss the sidewalk ministry at Gateway Community Church in Franklin, Friday, October 9, 6:30p.m. Those praying for and interested in the ministry are invited. 

LORD'S DAY – September 27, 2020 

9:50 a.m. Breakfast Line Opens

10 a.m. Sabbath School
This week, we begin being taught by a team of men who are leading us through the book The Day of Worship, by Ryan McGraw
 

11 a.m. Public Worship

Children’s Catechism for Sep 27
Q48. What is meant by the atonement? A. Christ's satisfying divine justice, by his sufferings and death, in the place of sinners.

Shorter Catechism for Sep 27
Q56. What is the reason annexed to the third commandment? A. The reason annexed to the third commandment is that however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment.

Psalms and Hymns
TPH405 “I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord”   
TPH27A “The Lord’s My Light” 
TPH128B “Blest the Man Who Fears Jehovah” 

Scripture Text for first portion of worship service
Psalm 26:6–12 

Scripture Readings
1Samuel 18:1–16
Ephesians 4:25–30
Luke 8:22–39 

Sermon Scripture text and topic
We will be hearing from Genesis 33:18–34:6 about how believers can stumble into sin that has serious consequences. 

12:45 p.m. Coffee Fellowship and Catechism Class 

1 p.m. Fellowship Lunch & Open Mic Time
Members are encouraged to bring way more than enough, so that there will be plenty for everyone, including any members or guests who are deciding last-minute whether or not to stay. 

At open mic time, we’ll begin with birthdays and anniversaries and recitations of the memory verse:
Genesis 34:5–6And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter. Now his sons were with his livestock in the field; so Jacob held his peace until they came. Then Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him. 

2:30 p.m Psalm/hymn Sing

3:30 p.m. Evening Sermon from Ephesians 4:25–30, How Putting off and Putting on Go Together in the Cosmic Battle for Your Life 

Hopewell this Month 

Hopewell’s Presbytery Prayer Focus for September
Bethel ARP in Los Angeles, CA 

September Psalm of the Month
TPH27A The Lord’s My Light

 

Upcoming Events

•September 30, Prayer Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
•October 2-4, HARPC 200th Anniversary Celebration, with guest speaker Dr. Nick Willborn
•October 16, HCCFS school campout
•October 17, Congregational (not just men’s) breakfast 


From: Asa & Enoch

To whom it may concern (and you won’t know whether it concerns you until you have read it), 

We are planning a airsoft battle at our house Friday, November 6. We will start at 10:00 AM, and go until 4:00 PM (unless we wear out before that). All ages can come; however, there will be a lot of hills to walk, so this is not for the faint-of-heart. This event is open to members of the Hopewell congregation, if you have any questions please ask. Please bring your own lunch. 

In order to get an idea of how many people are going to come, please RSVP either in person or by e-mail (see below). Let us know if you need directions. 

And if, after reading this, you are more concerned then when you started… contacted us with any questions or recommendations. 

Asa & Enoch

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