Gaining Everything [Family Worship lesson in Mark 10:17–31]

Who is good enough to go to heaven? Mark 10:17–31 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fifteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ’s goodness is the only goodness good enough to bring us into the kingdom. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: This devotional examines the encounter between Jesus and the rich young ruler to distinguish between superficial religious effort and true saving faith. The central argument posits that the man’s failure stems not merely from his attachment to wealth, but from a fundamental misunderstanding of Jesus’ divinity and the depth of God’s law, which requires holiness of the heart rather than merely external compliance. The text contrasts the man’s sorrow over losing possessions with the Christian’s gratitude for gaining everything in Christ, challenging the common assumption that material prosperity or personal sacrifice constitutes spiritual merit. The message urges hearers to recognize their own spiritual poverty and rely entirely on the sufficiency of Christ. The tone is convicting yet pastoral, emphasizing that true salvation is found in knowing Jesus as Yahweh and resting in the grace that provides all spiritual riches.

2026.09.17 Hopewell @Home ▫ Mark 10:17–31

Read Mark 10:17–31

Questions from the Scripture text: Whom did the man in Mark 10:17 call “Good Teacher”? What does Jesus ask Him in Mark 10:18? What is Jesus’ answer, in Mark 10:19, for what to “do” to inherit eternal life? How long does the man say that he has done these things (Mark 10:20)? What does Jesus tell him is the one thing left to do in Mark 10:21? How does the man feel when he hears this, and what does he do (Mark 10:22)? Why is he so sad? What does Jesus say is hard (Mark 10:23)? What does Jesus say that people like this man trust in, in Mark 10:24? What does He say is easier than for a rich man to enter the kingdom (Mark 10:25)? What, then, do the disciples ask in Mark 10:26? With whom does Jesus say it is possible (Mark 10:27)? Whom does Peter think have done better than the rich man (Mark 10:28)? What does Jesus assure Peter, now in this time, about the things that he thought he had given up (Mark 10:29-30)? What else do we receive in this life? What do we receive in the age to come? What surprise does Jesus predict in Mark 10:31?

Who is good enough to go to heaven? Mark 10:17–31 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fifteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ’s goodness is the only goodness good enough to bring us into the kingdom. 

This passage presents two interesting examples of those who think that they can do something to inherit eternal life. The first is obvious: the man who thought he had kept all of God’s commandments from his childhood (Mark 10:20). But, he’s here asking Jesus (Mark 10:17), so it’s obvious that he knows that he is missing something. 

The great thing that he is missing is that Jesus is God (Mark 10:18), become a man, to save us from our sins. When Jesus said that “only God is good,” He was showing that the rich young man didn’t think that Jesus was God.

It’s interesting that the man does not seem so bothered by the instruction to “take up the cross” (Mark 10:21). Since Jesus had not yet been crucified, this seems like it would be the most startling command! Instead, the man is sad because of his many possessions (Mark 10:22). Oh, let us beware of how we fall in love with earthly things, comforts, and pleasures! Let us constantly be mindful of Christ’s surpassing value, that we would cling to Him so tightly that we hold only comparatively loosely any other thing!

Second, Peter makes a similar mistake. He thinks that he will be praised for having outdone the rich man (Mark 10:28). Jesus’s answer is that Peter really hasn’t lost anything; he has enriched himself 100 times over by clinging to Christ (Mark 10:30)!

Yes, there is one sense in which he has sacrificed. But the sacrifice itself is great gain. Even being persecuted is a privilege that is granted. Christianity is not “giving stuff up now to get stuff later.” Christianity is being 100 times more blessed now, and infinitely more in the next life!

To have Christ is to have every good thing. We do not do Him good. He does every good for us, and to us, and through us. He alone is good. Let us cling to Him!

What would it look like for you to be depending more on Christ’s goodness to you, and less upon your own?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us for when we are like the rich young ruler: too high a view of our own goodness, which is to have too low a view of Christ’s goodness. And, forgive us for when we are like Peter: thinking that our sacrifices have been a loss to us, for which we hope to be repaid. Grant that we would see sacrificing for You as a privilege, to be counted among our hundred-fold blessings in this life. For we ask it through Christ, our goodness, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH457 “Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness”

2026.09.16 Midweek Meeting Livestream (live at 6:30p)

To tune in for the Prayer Meeting, we recommend that you visit the livestream page.

Why We Need Christ As Priest [Children's Catechism 70—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 70—especially explaining how we need a Priest Who can bring us near to God, and Who can atone for sin that is as big as God.

Q70. Why do you need Christ as a priest? Because I am guilty. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The lesson addresses the theological necessity of a priest by considering human guilt in light of divine holiness. It argues that, even in a state of perfect righteousness, humanity requires a mediator to approach the holy-holy-holy Creator, but the reality of sin further necessitates a priest who is also a Redeemer. Christ is presented as the ultimate mediator, Who offers atoning sacrifice, transforming the certain expectation of divine wrath into unassailable expectation of favor and blessing. The central message emphasizes that access to God is secured not by human merit, but by the consecrating work of Christ as the High Priest who bridges the gap between the sinner and the Holy.

2026.09.16 Hopewell @Home ▫ 1 Chronicles 22

Read 1 Chronicles 22

Questions from the Scripture text: What did David say about the threshing floor of Ornan (1 Chronicles 22:1)? Whom did he appoint to do what (1 Chronicles 22:2)? And what did he provide in 1 Chronicles 22:3? And in 1 Chronicles 22:4? What does he say about Solomon (1 Chronicles 22:5)? And what does he believe about the temple? Whom does he call in 1 Chronicles 22:6, and what does he charge him? What had been in his mind (1 Chronicles 22:7)? Why didn’t YHWH’s Word permit him (1 Chronicles 22:8)? How did Solomon get his name (1 Chronicles 22:9)? What would happen in his days? What would Solomon do (1 Chronicles 22:10)? And what will the Lord do for him? How does David bless him (1 Chronicles 22:11)? Unto what end? What does Solomon need (1 Chronicles 22:12)? In order to do what (1 Chronicles 22:12-13)? How much, of what, has David provided for building the temple (1 Chronicles 22:14, 1 Chronicles 22:16)? And whom has he provided (1 Chronicles 22:15)? Whom does David command in 1 Chronicles 22:17? To do what? What does David point out (1 Chronicles 22:18)? What ultimate instruction does he now give Solomon (1 Chronicles 22:19)? In order to do what?

What do we need for worship? 1 Chronicles 22 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nineteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that what we most need is Christ. 

The Lord would give David a Son who would be the King of peace (1 Chronicles 22:9). Although this is Solomon by name, it is ultimately Christ by identity. Solomon did not reign forever, although he was adopted by God. But this adoption was through faith in Christ and union with Him. Ultimately, Christ is the King of peace and the King of righteousness (cf. Hebrews 7:2). 

David has taken great pains. What provision! One hundred thousand talents of gold, one million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond measure. But what Solomon needs even more are obedience to the Law (1 Chronicles 22:11-12), strength and courage (1 Chronicles 22:13), and to set his heart and soul to seek YHWH his God (1 Chronicles 22:19). 

YHWH is giving His people to draw near to Him, through Christ, for the glory of His Name (1 Chronicles 22:19). And He gives them what they need in order to worship Him. Yes, whatever is materially necessary. But, especially, obedience, strength and courage, and the setting of their hearts and souls to seek Him.

What material things do you need in order to worship? What spiritual things? How, ultimately, do you draw near to God?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us for when we fail to marvel that You have given Your own Son to be our King of peace. And forgive us for when we focus more upon the material things that are needed for worship, than for the spiritual things. Provide for us the resources necessary to gather. And provide us with obedience, strength and courage, and hearts that seek You. Thank You that You have provided us with Christ Himself as our Temple, and Sanctuary, and Ark, by Whom we draw near to You. Forgive us for His sake, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP52B “From My Sins, O Hide Your Face” or TPH434 “A Debtor to Mercy Alone”

2026.09.15 Hopewell @Home ▫ Job 17

Read Job 17

Questions from the Scripture text: How does Job feel (Job 17:1)? What has brought him so low (Job 17:2)? What does he ask God to do instead (Job 17:3)? How does God’s providence relate to Job’s friends (Job 17:4)? What will happen to them (Job 17:5)? But what are they doing to him now (Job 17:6)? With what effect upon him (Job 17:7)? What will Job do, in light of their impending end (Job 17:8-9)? What does he now say to the friends (Job 17:10)? Why is he willing to suffer that at their hands—what hope does he have (Job 17:11-15)? What hope do his friends have (Job 17:16)? 

What does a righteous man do, when he feels sure he is about to die? Job 17 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 righteous use what time they have in this world to do good to others. 

Job is not just exhausted, but on the verge of being extinguished (Job 17:1). His friends are his greatest trial (Job 17:2), but he asks God to give him a better friend (Job 17:3). The Friend for Whom Job is asking is Jesus! He is the One Who strikes hands with us as our great Friend and representative with God.

As for Job, he hopes to use his remaining moments by being the friend that his own friends need. Under the providence of God (Job 17:4), the mockers of the lowly, and flatterers of the nobility, will come to nothing in the end (Job 17:5). These “friends” treat him badly (Job 17:6-7), and anyone truly upright would be astonished at them (Job 17:8) and persist in their righteousness (Job 17:9). This is a clue to you, dear reader, to be astonished at the friends and hold to the gospel and true righteousness. The Lord will make you stronger and stronger. 

Job urges repentance upon them (Job 17:10). He has nothing to gain by this; he is on the verge of dying (Job 17:11-14) and feels that he has no hope left in this world (Job 17:15). But this has reminded him that the friends soon will die too (Job 17:16). In all of this, Job’s concern reflects the character of God (cf. Job 42:7–9). We must learn to have a spiritual, soul-care for even those who are our greatest trial in life. There is nothing more Christ-like (cf. Luke 23:34).

What people are among your greatest trials in life? What spiritual danger are they in? How are you caring for them?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we know that we are short on time and shall soon be in the grave. Grant unto us to spend that time like Job did, loving even those who have been a trial to us, and caring for their souls. And grant unto us to spend it also worshiping You. You are our purpose in life and our hope in death. We deserve for You to have hidden our heart from understanding, but You have made us to know You in Christ. How great is Your goodness and compassion! And no less great are Your holiness and justice and power! So, receive the worship of which You are worthy, and help us in it, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP11 “My Trust Is in the Lord” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace!”

2026.09.14 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 27:23–27

Read Proverbs 27:23–27

Questions from the Scripture text: What should the son be diligent to do (Proverbs 27:23)? Why (Proverbs 27:24)? At what season (Proverbs 27:25) does what occur (Proverbs 27:26)? With what outcome (Proverbs 27:27)? 

What should we value more than wealth or power? Proverbs 27:23–27 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 we must learn from nature to value what God gives greater value.

Riches are used up (Proverbs 27:24a), but lambs and goats (Proverbs 27:26), and the grass that feeds them (Proverbs 27:25), are renewable resources. Men are constantly in danger of esteeming the assigned value of wealth above the inherent value of things that God created.

This is a metaphor for the son’s conduct as king. “A crown does not endure to all generations” (Proverbs 27:24). A king must care about more than the power and wealth he is able to attain in his own reign. He should care for his people, both now, and for generations to come. 

In our lives, we will be tempted to prioritize accumulating money or maintaining power. But we must prioritize the care of those whom the Lord has entrusted to us. Far more than grass or goats, His image-bearers have the true value.

We are the sheep of His pasture, and the flock of His hand. And He gives us His sheep to care for, too.

What are some situations in which you are tempted to value wealth or control too much? Whom has the Lord given to you to care for? What are some situations in which you are tempted to care for them too little?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for caring us as the sheep of Your own hand. It is amazing to us that You have bestowed upon us the value of being image bearers. Forgive us, for how we have neglected Your image in others. Forgive us for valuing wealth and power above people. Give us to love them and care for them as those who bear Your image, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP100 “All Earth, With Joy” or TPH100B “All People That on Earth Do Dwell”

2026.09.13 Lord's Day Livestreams (live at 10:10a, 11:10a, and 3p)

To tune in for the Lord's Day streams, we recommend that you visit the livestream page.

2026.09.12 Hopewell @Home ▫ Ephesians 4:1–7

Read Ephesians 4:1–7

Questions from the Scripture text: What does the apostle call himself in Ephesians 4:1? What does he beseech them to do? According to what? By what three characteristics is such walking marked (Ephesians 4:2a)? What does such walking do (verse 2b)? What does such walking endeavor to keep (Ephesians 4:3a)? By what have they been bound (verse 3b)? What six things do Ephesians 4:4-5 tell us all believers have in common? Upon what final commonality does Ephesians 4:6 focus, and what does it say about Him? What was given to each believer (Ephesians 4:7a)? Who measured out gifts to each (verse 7b)?

Why must Christians keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace? Ephesians 4:1–7 prepares us for the morning sermon in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christians must keep peace with one another because Christ has actually made us to be at peace with one another. 

The apostle, who is the prisoner of the Lord, has been given a remarkable grace in his office and calling (Ephesians 4:1, Ephesians 4:7; cf. Ephesians 3:1–2, Ephesians 3:7-8). But he is not the only one with such an office and calling. To each of us grace is given, as Christ Himself—the chief cornerstone—has measured gifts out from Himself unto the rest of the building, the rest of the body, the rest of the nation, the rest of the family (Ephesians 4:7, cf. Ephesians 2:19–22). Whatever else a Christian does from 9–5 M–F (or whatever your ‘vocation’ is), these are secondary to the glorious calling of church member. 

There are various duties of church members that we hear about in several places in the next three chapters. But, whatever the matter or substance of our role in the body, we are all called to the same manner or character of walking: lowliness, gentleness, longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.

We notice that the sevenfold list of things in which we are “one” in Ephesians 4:4-6 are all realities that exist already, realities to which the apostle has already largely testified in this letter. This helps us to notice that Ephesians 4:3 isn’t telling us to make peace, but rather to keep it. God Himself has already made the peace. God has created the church as Christ’s body. God has given to each member His same Holy Spirit. God has given each member the same hope—adoption and inheritance as His eternally blessed sons. God is the same Lord over all. God has given the same faith in the same gospel. God has placed the same sign upon all. 

The unity of the church, then, is not something that we produce, but that exists in God Himself. The list crescendos until it climaxes on the “One God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in us all” (Ephesians 4:6, MT). 

So this unity exists, but it demands a response. It demands the response of each of us functioning as church members, which we will see later. But even before we see what we are to do as church members, the apostle presents us with the manner in which we are to do it.

Lowliness, considering others better than ourselves and generosity of spirit toward them. Gentleness, strength under control, not a flimsy tolerance of wrong ideas and practices, but yet a kindly and compassionate manner of interaction even while loving the Lord and the brethren in a holy intolerance of all that is against Him and them. Longsuffering/bearing with one another, having a long endurance and high “pain tolerance” in relationship with one another.

As we will see later in this book, a genuinely biblical “spiritual gift inventory” would look like: submitting to the teaching of the elders, shoring up our doctrine unto stability, expressing real love by building one another up in Bible truth, living for eternity, being a Christ-transformed wife / husband / parent / employee / boss whose conduct is heavenly light over against the satanic darkness of this age. 

Oh that even above any spiritual gift inventory—this calling with which we were called—we would each devote ourselves unto the “still more excellent way” of walking in the manner described here in Ephesians 4:2-3. When we don’t, we treat as worthless the glorious realities of Ephesians 4:4-5—and God Himself, Ephesians 4:6. God forbid!

With whom in the congregation do you need to most work on “keeping the unity of the Spirit”?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us for when we have been unmindful of our calling. And forgive us for when we have not walked in lowliness, preferring others to ourselves. Forgive us for when we have not walked in gentleness, nor patience, nor borne with one another in love. Forgive us for when we have lost sight of the objective realities of the gospel, in which You have made peace for us. And grant us grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP197 “Christian Unity” or TPH409 “Blest Be the Tie That Binds”

2026.09.11 Hopewell @Home ▫ Jeremiah 1:1–3

Friday, September 11, 2026 ▫ Read Jeremiah 1:1–3

Questions from the Scripture text: Whose speech is this (v1)? Whose son is he? Of what group? From what place? What came to him (v2)? In the days of what king, in what year? And in the days of what other kings, until what year, and what event (v3)?

What are we to think of Jeremiah? Jeremiah 1:1–3 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God prepares His prophet, employs his mouth to speak His own words, and sustains him through a generation of difficult but fruitful service.

God’s perfectly suited servant. Jeremiah (v1) was a common name (as was Hilkiah, his father). The priests of Anathoth were just outside Jerusalem and Judah, in Benjamin. They were descended from Abiathar, whom Solomon banished (cf. 1Ki 2:26–27), for supporting his rival’s attempt at the throne (cf. 1Ki 1:5–19). Although Jeremiah was called from birth to be a prophet (cf. v4), and was from a family of priests, he would have some hard words for the priests (along with the prophets and kings of Israel; cf. 2:26, etc.). The Lord prepares our place and our calling long before we are born. He was perfectly situated to be the man whom God would use for this. And so are you, for however the Lord intends to use you and your life.

God’s mouthpiece to His people. Whose words are these? Well, they are literally the “speech” of Jeremiah (v1). The translation “words” is fine, but it is particularly those words as expressed that is in view; sometimes the word is even translated “action.” But, although they are spoken by Jeremiah, these words (plural) are the word (singular) of YHWH which came to him (v2). We recently saw an important description of how YHWH breathes out the Scripture in Hab 2:2. We have a similar one here. Although he employs the prophet’s faculties in such a manner that they can be called Jeremiah’s words (v1), He puts His own words in the prophet’s mouth (cf. v9) to such an extent that v2 can say that YHWH’s Word to His people came to Jeremiah. Daniel understood this, even as Jeremiah’s contemporary (cf. Dan 9:2), just like Paul quotes Luke (cf. 1Tim 5:8, Luk 10:7), or says that a prophet in his own day would recognize the inspiration of his own writing (cf. 1Cor 14:37).

God’s sustained servant. From the thirteenth year of Josiah (627 b.c., v2) to the third wave of the exile in the eleventh year of Zedekiah (587 b.c., v3) is about 40 years. And we know that Jeremiah continued to prophecy, after the bulk of his prophecy was fulfilled (cf. chs42–43, which are after the fall of Jerusalem). He had to combat superficial revivalism of the people during the reign of their godly king, Josiah (v2, cf. 3:10). He had to combat the outright hostility of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah (v3). And he had to combat the distress of the people over his message that Judah, Jerusalem, and the temple itself, would fall (v3).

For forty years, he preached that this would happen, gaining no converts except his first king, Josiah, and his scribe, Baruch. And, at the last, God fulfilled His Word, which He had put into Jeremiah’s mouth. Sometimes, the Lord calls us to service that has great moments of difficulty and pain. And often, the Lord calls one of His people to a service that, if he had known through what things grace would carry him to persevere, and over what things grace would carry him to overcome, he would scarcely believe it.

But the Lord sustained Jeremiah (as He will you, if you are in Christ) through the whole of the service appointed to him. The sermons and poems which explain and announce the coming judgment (ch1–25), are fulfilled in his own life, right up to and through the exile (ch26–45), which is a warning to humanity as a whole (ch. 46–52). What wonder and gratitude he must have felt, as he came to write this introduction to the book. What wonder and gratitude—and trusting expectation—we ought to feel as we read it, preach it, hear it, and meditate upon it.

What has the Lord called you to thus far? What difficulties are you going through right now? How are you treating the Scriptures as the very words of God? How are you treating His ministry to you as His very Word to you? Why can you be sure that the Lord will sustain you in your service to Him?

Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for the marvelous way that You sustained Jeremiah through a generation of ministry. And thank You for this book of Scripture by which You warn of sin, show the complete reliability of Your Word, and point us to Christ. Thank You for being the God who suited Jeremiah, spoke through Jeremiah, and sustained Jeremiah. Make us confident that You have perfectly suited us to be used by Yourself, and that You will sustain us until our work in this world is done—all by the grace of Christ, through Whom we ask it, AMEN! 

Suggested songs: ARP18A “I Love You, Lord” or TPH256 “God Moves in a Mysterious Way”