Light from the Spirit to See Jesus in All Scripture [2023.09.16 Pastoral Letter and Hopewell Herald]

 Hopewell Herald – September 16, 2023

Dear Congregation,

Warm, compassionate, powerful, saving, electing love doesn’t suddenly appear in the New Testament. It is there throughout Scripture, because it is an expression of God’s character and God’s intentions. He has always been Who He is. He has always intended what He is doing.

When we view God’s dealings with Israel in the Old Testament merely through the lens of His interaction with a nation, or even His interaction with a church under-age, we are missing the main point.

In all of His dealings with Israel, God is interacting with the whole of sinful humanity in Christ and for the sake of Christ.

In tomorrow morning’s sermon passage, the Holy Spirit carries Matthew along to use Hosea, Jeremiah, and “the prophets” as windows by which to shine light upon Christ’s glorious salvation as the center of all of God’s Word and indeed all of history.

Let us pray together that the Spirit Who carried Matthew along to write inerrantly would carry us along to preach faithfully and hear believingly.

Looking forward to growing by the grace and knowledge of Christ together,

Pastor

Audio lessons to help you prepare for the Lord’s Day:

▪Theology Simply Explained — WSC104, Portions Assigned by a Wise and Loving Father 
▪Psalm 102:1–11, “What to Do When Overwhelmed”
▪Isaiah 22, “Seeing in the Valley of Vision”
▪Titus 2:1–2, “Focusing on the Elderly in Reformation”
▪Matthew 2:12–23, “Christ's Gospel as the Heart of History and Scripture”
▪Leviticus 10:1–7, “Accursed Worship: Uncommanded Worship Is Christless Worship”
 

LORD'S DAY – September 17, 2023 

9:50 a.m. Breakfast Line Opens

10 a.m. Sabbath School
Elder Mangum will be filling in for pastor (who is ill, and will rest for the public worship). Elder Mangum is on a Synod committee studying the diaconate and will summarize what we have learned about the diaconate, as well as giving an update on the Synod committee’s work.

11 a.m. Public Worship
▫Children’s Catechism for September 17
Q58. Can you repent and believe in Christ by your own power? No; I can do nothing good without the help of God's Holy Spirit.

▫Shorter Catechism for September 17
Q104. What do we pray for in the fourth petition? In the fourth petition, which is, Give us this day our daily bread, we pray that of God’s free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy His blessing with them.
[WSC 104 Simply Explained: “Portions Assigned by a Wise and Loving Father”]

Songs for September 17 morning service: 
▫ARP102A “To This My Prayer” [mp3]
▫ARP94B “Who for Me Withstands the Wicked” [mp3]
▫TPH270 “At the Name of Jesus” [mp3]

Scripture Text for first portion of worship service
Psalm 102:1–11

Scripture Readings and basis for confession of sin and petition for help
Isaiah 22
Titus 2:1–2

Sermon Scripture text and topic
We will be hearing a sermon from Matthew 2:12–23 on “Reading Prophecy and History in Light of Christ”

Lord’s Supper! (Please see the section at the end of the Worship Booklet on how rightly to prepare for and take it).

1 p.m. Coffee Fellowship and Catechism Class

1:30 p.m. Fellowship Lunch
▫Memory Verse for September 17, Matthew 2:14–15, When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

3:00 p.m Evening Praise and Preaching
We will be singing at least ten Psalm selections and hearing a sermon from Leviticus 10:1–7 on “Accursed Worship: Uncommanded Worship Is Christless Worship”

Hopewell this Month

Hopewell’s Presbytery Prayer Focus for September
Bethel ARP in Oak Hill, AL

September Psalm of the Month
ARP94B Who for Me Withstands the Wicked

Upcoming Events

• Wednesday, September 20, Midweek Prayer Meeting. 6:30 p.m. in the Chapel. We will hear a sermon from Romans 8:26–27 then pray until just before 8 p.m.
• Saturday, September 23, Men’s (and future men) breakfast, 6:30a in the Fellowship Hall
• Thursday, September 28, Session Meeting, 6p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.