Hopewell ARP Church is a Biblical, Reformed, Presbyterian church, serving the Lord in Culleoka, TN, since 1820. Lord's Day Morning, set your gps to arrive by 11a.m. at 3886 Hopewell Road, Culleoka, TN 38451
Thursday, October 31, 2024
God-Powered Growth [Family Worship lesson in Ephesians 1:15–19]
What should believers pray to grow in? Ephesians 1:15–19 helps us prepare to hear 2:1–5 proclaimed in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that one thing that believers should pray that they would grow in is their theological understanding of God and His gospel. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
2024.10.31 Hopewell @Home ▫ Ephesians 1:15–19
Read Ephesians 1:15–19
Questions from the Scripture text: What two things had the apostle heard back about the Ephesian church (Ephesians 1:15)? How did he respond to this news (Ephesians 1:16)? To Whom did he pray, and what does he call Him in Ephesians 1:17? What did he pray God would give them—what does he call the Spirit here? What does he pray that the Spirit would do to their understanding? What two things would they come to know in Ephesians 1:18 if their understanding is thus enlightened? What additional thing would they come to know in Ephesians 1:19?
What should believers pray to grow in? Ephesians 1:15–19 helps us prepare to hear Ephesians 2:1–5 proclaimed in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that one thing that believers should pray that they would grow in is their theological understanding of God and His gospel.
Believers have lots of room for growth. Here was a church of such faith and love as to occasion apostolic thanksgiving to God—how we ought to join the Lord, and the angels, and the apostles in thanking God for whatever faith and love we hear about!
But they still had room to grow, and so the apostle who thanked God for them also prayed for them a prayer to “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory.” He addresses his prayer in such a way as to remember and remind us of the great power that He is enlisting.
By that power, the apostle seeks the working of the Spirit to help the Ephesian believers’ minds. He refers to the spirit here as “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” For what work of the Spirit does he ask? That the third Person of the Trinity would give light to the eyes of their understanding.
We learn here that for spiritual growth, there must be theological growth. Spiritual growth is more than theological growth, but it does not exist without the other. This is because there are at least these three things that we should always be growing in understanding:
The hope of His calling. There is stability and joy that comes from growing in our understanding both that it is He who called us, and what glory it is to which He has called us.
The riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. There is wonder and worship that comes from growing in our understanding of how He has valued us and taken us to be His
The exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power. There is confidence and zeal that comes from growing in our understanding of how it is by His almighty power that He worked faith in us, and by that same almighty power that He is still working in us.
Believers have lots of room for growth, which comes by growing in understanding these things.
What place does theological growth have in your prayers? And what place in your efforts?
Sample prayer: Lord, we thank You for what faith in Christ and love for the saints You have given us. Indeed, we thank you for granting to us to be able to see these, often, in other believers. Grant unto them, and to us, the ministry of Your Spirit. Grant that, by His ministry, we would receive light to understand the greatness of our gospel hope, and of Your power toward us who believe. Increase and improve our theological knowledge, so that we might be strengthened and gladdened for walking with You, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP19B “The Lord’s Most Perfect Law” or TPH172 “Speak, O Lord”
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
2024.10.30 Midweek Meeting Livestream (live at 6:30p)
Click below for the:
October 30 Prayer Meeting Folder
Devotional outline is unavailable
We urge you to assemble physically, if possible, with a true congregation of Christ's church. For those of our own congregation who may be providentially hindered, we are grateful to be able to provide this service.
Unforgivable Sin [Westminster Shorter Catechism 56—Theology Simply Explained]
Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 56—especially explaining how the ultimate way of taking God’s Name lightly is to reject the Son in Whom He has fully declared Himself, and is an unforgivable sin; so, God places a special emphasis upon punishing all blasphemies.
Q56. What is the reason annexed to the third commandment? 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.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
Q56. What is the reason annexed to the third commandment? 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.
The LORD Who Provides [Children's Catechism 117—Theology Simply Explained]
Pastor walks his children through Children’s Catechism question 117—especially explaining how the Hallowed King attends to our smallest (and greatest) needs, and teaches us to ask Him for them.
Q117. What do we pray for in the fourth petition? That God would give us all things needful for our bodies and souls.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
Q117. What do we pray for in the fourth petition? That God would give us all things needful for our bodies and souls.
Blessing the God of Glorious Grace [Family Worship lesson in Ephesians 1:3–14]
What is God doing? Ephesians 1:3–14 helps us prepare to hear 2:1–5 proclaimed in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twelve verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God does all things, to bring us into our inheritance with Christ, unto the praise of His glorious grace. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
2024.10.30 Hopewell @Home ▫ Ephesians 1:3-14
Read Ephesians 1:3-14
Questions from the Scripture text: Of Whom is God the Father (Ephesians 1:3)? With what spiritual blessings has He blessed us? Where? In Whom? What else did God do to/for us in Christ (Ephesians 1:4)? When? For what end purpose/result? To what has He predestined us (Ephesians 1:5)? By what means? According to what reason? For what further/ultimate purpose (Ephesians 1:6)? What did He make us by that grace? What do we have through His blood (Ephesians 1:7)? According to the riches of what? What has He made known to us (Ephesians 1:9)? Where/in-Whom did He purpose His good pleasure? In whom did He plan to gather together all things (Ephesians 1:10)? For when did He plan this to happen? What did we obtain in Christ (Ephesians 1:11)? How many things does God work according to the counsel of His will? What was God’s purpose for the first believers’ trusting in Christ (Ephesians 1:12)? What brought about the Ephesians’ faith (Ephesians 1:13)? How were they sealed when they believed? What is the Holy Spirit to us (Ephesians 1:14)? Until when? Unto what ultimate purpose?
What is God doing? Ephesians 1:3–14 helps us prepare to hear Ephesians 2:1–5 proclaimed in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twelve verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God does all things, to bring us into our inheritance with Christ, unto the praise of His glorious grace.
This passage teaches us why God created the heavens and earth. The answer, of course, goes back into eternity (Ephesians 1:4). God had predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself (Ephesians 1:5).
But how could this come about? How could creatures come to be united to the God the Son, the Creator? Because God, who had chosen us to be holy and blameless before Him in love refused to allow us to perish in our sin.
This adoption in everlasting love has its own “why” purpose. To the praise of the glory of His grace (Ephesians 1:6).
His giving us the inheritance of being like Him and with Him forever has the same purpose. That believers would be to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:12).
When at last we are displayed as the blood-purchased possession of Christ, it will also be unto the same purpose. To the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:14).
This is the chief end of man: that the elect would glorify God by eternally enjoying Him as His own dear children as the glorified brethren of the Firstborn, our Lord Jesus Christ!
Whatever you are going through, this is what your trial is accomplishing! Whatever else God intends to do through the task in front of you, this is what the duty before you will ultimately accomplish!
Indeed, everything that God does, in all places, at all times, is for the purpose of bringing us into our inheritance (Ephesians 1:11): conformed to Christ, and blessed with His own blessedness (Ephesians 1:3), as adopted children, to the praise of God’s glorious grace. And the greatest thing that He has ever done, the great mystery of all of history, was the shedding of Christ’s blood to obtain that inheritance for us (Ephesians 1:7-10).
There is no more comfort-assuring, joy-enlarging, purpose-giving doctrine than God’s eternal, adopting election to the praise of His glorious grace!
What are you going through? What tasks lie before you? What is happening in all the world? What is God doing through all of these things?
Sample prayer: Lord, we bless Your Name, as Christ’s God and Father, and our God and Father. Thank You for adopting us as Your children in Him, and purchasing this adoption by His blood. Grant that, just as You have done all things for the praise of Your grace, that we also would do all things for the praise of Your glorious grace. Unto that end, keep helping us by Your Spirit, we ask through Your Son, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP128 “How Blessed Are All” or TPH425 “How Sweet and Awesome”
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Learning Our (Their!) Lesson [2024.10.27 Evening Sermon in Numbers 26]
The God of redeeming grace offers Himself to us, while warning against those sins that are a rejection of Him.
Good Things Only from Good Hearts [2024.10.27 Morning Sermon in Matthew 12:33–37]
The necessary evidence of a changed heart is a mouth that is full of good things about Jesus.
The Lord of the Conscience [2024.10.27 Sabbath School in Westminster Confession of Faith 20.2—Hopewell 101]
We continue studying through the Scriptural doctrine that our congregation confesses. This week, we continued Westminster Confession chapter 20—considering Article 2's biblical doctrine of God alone being Lord of the conscience.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
Christ at the Crux of Everything [Family Worship lesson in Ephesians 1:1–2]
What does Ephesians teach? Ephesians 1:1–2 helps us prepare to hear 2:1–5 proclaimed in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Ephesians, the gospel, the Bible, and the whole of reality, are all about Jesus. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
2024.10.29 Hopewell @Home ▫ Ephesians 1:1–2
Read Ephesians 1:1–2
Questions from the Scripture text: Who wrote this letter (Ephesians 1:1)? What is his title? Of Whom is he an apostle? How did this come about? To whom is he writing—what title does he give them? What else does he call them? In Whom are they faithful? What two-part blessing/greeting does the apostle pronounce upon them (Ephesians 1:2)? From what two Persons does the apostle pronounce these?
What does Ephesians teach? Ephesians 1:1–2 helps us prepare to hear Ephesians 2:1–5 proclaimed in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Ephesians, the gospel, the Bible, and the whole of reality, are all about Jesus.
Immediately, in the opening of Ephesians, we know that this is going to be a glorious book about Jesus Christ!
This letter has been particularly precious to the church throughout the ages.
- For its unfolding of the eternally loving and powerful plan of God to save His elect. Unto His glory in Christ. (chapter 1)
- And for its exposition of justification by grace alone through faith alone. Only in Christ. (Ephesians 2:1-10)
- And for its teaching about reconciliation of believers to God and to one another. Both in Jesus. (Ephesians 2:11-22)
- And the gathering in of the reconciled into one church. In, and accomplished by, Jesus. (chapter 3)
- And the gift to the church by the ascended Jesus of the officers of Jesus who train the members of the body of Jesus in the Word of Jesus so that they can all minister to one another. (Ephesians 4:1–16)
- And the transformation of believers into their new characters. Conforming them to Jesus. (Ephesians 4:17–5:4)
- And the great war that is waged—primarily in the ordinary spheres of life. Between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of Jesus. (Ephesians 5:5–6:9).
- Only by the power of Jesus and the armor of Jesus. (Ephesians 6:10–22).
Do you recognize the pattern? What is the theme of this wonderful book about salvation, justification, reconciliation, evangelism, the church, Christian living, and Christian warfare? That all of these things are only for Jesus’s glory, only by Jesus’s power, only through Jesus’s method, only by faith in Jesus and fellowship with Jesus!
So, it is no surprise at all that Jesus is central to the blessing at the end of the book (Ephesians 6:23–24). And here in Ephesians 1:1-2, even in the “customary” greeting, Paul tells us.
- That he is an apostle. “Of Jesus Christ.”
- And he is writing to those who are saints and faithful. “In Christ Jesus.”
- And greeting them with grace and peace. “From… our Lord Jesus Christ.”
He’s setting us up for the entire letter. That our salvation (and his apostleship) is “by the will of God.” That our being set apart in the church and grown in godliness is “in Christ Jesus.” And that both the grace by which we wage the warfare and the peace in which we are reconciled to God as not only His allies but His children come from “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
And of course, at the very heart of all of this. Is Jesus!
In what parts of what Ephesians teaches do you most need to grow? How does it connect to Jesus?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for choosing especially to glorify Yourself in Your Son, and in His redeeming us. Grant that we would have all that we need from You, in Him, by Your Spirit, to live as those Whom You have consecrated to Yourself in Christ, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH265 “In Christ Alone”
Monday, October 28, 2024
Believers' Good Thoughts, Words, or Deeds Are Not from Themselves [Family Worship lesson in Romans 3:9–18]
What should the believer be willing to admit about himself, apart from Christ? Romans 3:9–18 looks forward to the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that even those who do not make the errors represented in vv5–8 are, in themselves, so pervasively sinful that there can be no remedy for their sin in anything they think, say, or do.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
2024.10.28 Hopewell @Home ▫ Romans 3:9–18
Read Romans 3:9–18
Questions from the Scripture text: What does Romans 3:9 ask about those with right doctrine, by comparison to the self-righteous and antinomians whom Romans 3:5-8 have been referencing? What is the answer? Why? Where else has this been seen (Romans 3:10)? How many righteous are there (cf. Psalm 14:1)? How many are there who understand (Romans 3:11, cf. Psalm 14:2)? Who seek God? How many have done what two things in Romans 3:12 (cf. Psalm 14:3)? How many have done what third thing? What three parts of them offer no remedy (Romans 3:13 (cf. Psalm 5:9, Psalm 140:3)? What else can’t help; with what is it full (Romans 3:14, cf. Psalm 10:7)? What can’t make up for this (Romans 3:15, cf. Isaiah 59:7)? Where do they end up when they try (Romans 3:16)? What can’t they know/find (Romans 3:17, cf. Isaiah 59:8)? What can’t/won’t they even see (Romans 3:18, cf. Psalm 36:1)?
What should the believer be willing to admit about himself, apart from Christ? Romans 3:9–18 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 all men are so pervasively sinful that there can be no remedy for their sin in anything they think, say, or do.
There are “Christian” radio stations that like to bill their music as “positive and encouraging,” and certainly a Jew who didn’t pay close enough attention might have thought that the Psalter was that way toward him. But the one who “teaches himself” (cf. Romans 2:21) from the Scripture ought not indulge in such delusions.
Coming out of Romans 3:5-8, our remaining fleshliness might tempt us to think that we are better than those who argue against the fairness of God to judge unbelievers in the church, or those who argue that the gospel of grace is a good excuse to sin. But the idea of our superiority would also be a delusion. The apostle stops us in our tracks with one question and answer: “Are we better than they? Not at all!” (Romans 3:9). Instead, he quotes extensively from at least six of God’s songs to remind us that what comes from us is all wicked and unprofitable; the good that can remedy our sin can come only from Christ, not from ourselves.
Better theology or intentions cannot remedy our sin, Romans 3:11-12. Quoting from the opening section of Psalm 14, the apostle reminds us that if there is any good/better theology in us, it certainly wasn’t from us that it came. We are wicked in Adam (Romans 3:10b, cf. Romans 5:12–21), and this affects both our understanding (Romans 3:11a) and our intentions (Romans 3:12b). From/in ourselves, we can’t even rightly say that we “mean well”!
In fact, we are so opposite our original/holy nature (Romans 3:12a) that all the benefit that we could all produce, taken together, adds up to zero (verse 12b)! This is because there isn’t a single one of us that has a single thought, intention, or deed on the “good” side of the ledger (verse 12c). If our hope was to get our doctrine good enough, or our resolve sincere enough, that we could make a beginning of remedying our sin and guilt, then we have no hope at all.
Better speech or worship cannot remedy our sin, Romans 3:13-14. Now, the apostle quotes from Psalm 5, 140, and 10. If we thought that perhaps there was some form of good speech—prayers, apologies, worship, etc.—that could remedy our sin, we would be greatly mistaken. Life cannot come from us; opening our throat is opening a place of death (Romans 3:13a). The best words that can be on our tongue simply expose how opposite our nature they actually are (verse 13b). That which comes from our lips is so far from being able to heal that it only causes further harm and death (verse 13c). Our mouths produce not blessing but cursing, not health but bitterness (Romans 3:14).
So, just as there was no remedy for our sin in our thoughts or wills, there certainly is not any remedy from our speech. Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (cf. Matthew 12:34), which in light of Romans 3:10-12 is why the tongue is untamable and full of deadly poison (cf. James 3:8). Any attempt to bless God with the tongue is belied by our use of it at other times (cf. James 3:9–12). No, if any genuinely good speech comes out of us, it will not come from us in order to remedy our sin. Rather, the Lord must remedy our sin if any true good will ever be spoken by us.
Better deeds cannot remedy our sin, Romans 3:15-18. If we are not able to muster proper thoughts or words, what about deeds? Surely there must be some penance, some restitution, some atoning service we can perform? Now, the apostle shifts to applying Isaiah 59:7–8.
Alas, our feet are no better off than the rest of us; they are “swift to shed blood” (Romans 3:15). Our “ways” (Romans 3:16-17) are no better than our words. Why? Because it is not the reverential fear of God that drives our actions (Romans 3:18). Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin (Romans 14:23), but there are none who fear God (cf. Psalm 36:1).
By the time we finish Romans 3:18, we may have forgotten where we began in Romans 3:9. Are “we” any better than they? The apostle, and those who are with him in avoiding the errors of others, are in the same position with respect to atonement and righteousness. If by God’s grace, we are with the apostle, it is still true of us: nothing we think, nothing we say, and nothing we do can remedy our sin or be our righteousness. We need a remedy and atonement that comes from outside us. And that is exactly what the apostle is proclaiming in the gospel: the righteousness of God that is for us by faith from start to finish!
Whom are you tempted to consider yourself better than? When you have a sense of your sin, what does your flesh tempt you to think that you can do to fix it, or make it up to God? From where, then, can there be any forgiveness for you? From where can there be help for you?
Sample prayer: Lord, we thank You for Your marvelous patience with such sinners as we are. Forgive us for the folly of thinking that we are deserving of such patience or have some good in us by which we can remedy our own condition. Grant that Your Spirit would bless Your Word to us, so that we would see and accept the totality of our depravity. And grant that Your Spirit would bless Your Word to us, so that we would see Your righteousness for us in Yourself, in Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. In Him, forgive us and help us, for we ask it in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace”
Sunday, October 27, 2024
2024.10.27 Lord's Day Livestream (live at 10:10a, 11a, 3p)
Click below for the:
October 27 Lord's Day Worship Booklet
Matthew 12:33–37 sermon outline
3p.m. songs & Numbers 26 sermon outline
We urge you to assemble physically, if possible, with a true congregation of Christ's church. For those of our own congregation who may be providentially hindered, we are grateful to be able to provide this service.
Saturday, October 26, 2024
What Our Words Tell Us [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 12:33–37]
What is so significant about our words? Matthew 12:33–37 looks forward to the morning sermon in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that our words show what’s in our heart, which shows what we truly are. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
2024.10.26 Hopewell @Home ▫ Matthew 12:33–37
Read Matthew 12:33–37
Questions from the Scripture text: What two options does Matthew 12:33 offer? Why—how is a tree known? What does Jesus call the Pharisees in Matthew 12:34? What does He say that they are? What does He ask if they are able to speak? What is the implied answer to this question? Out what does the mouth speak? Who has what kind of treasure (Matthew 12:35)? What does he bring forth from it? Who else has what other kind of treasure? What does he bring forth from it? But what sort of word does Matthew 12:36 ask about? For how many of them will men give account? When? What two things will happen by our words (Matthew 12:37)?
What is so significant about our words? Matthew 12:33–37 looks forward to the morning sermon in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that our words show what’s in our heart, which shows what we truly are.
The best Tree and the best fruit. The Pharisees’ idea in Matthew 12:24 was irrational. Jesus came for the best work—to destroy the works of the devil (cf. 1 John 3:8). And the Pharisees want to say that this good fruit come from a bad tree? No, Jesus says that they must make both one, or both the other.
Children of the devil. The relationship between tree and fruit brings up an important consideration about the source of the Pharisees’ accusations and attacks against Christ. This is not a case of “good people” slipping up and saying bad things. There’s no such thing! Jesus identifies them as a brood of vipers (Matthew 12:34, cf. Matthew 3:7), offspring of that great viper, the ancient serpent (cf. Revelation 12:9). Their evil words, rejecting and attacking Christ, overflowed out of the abundance of the heart, through their mouth.
Man, treasure, words. Our words are extremely important. They show what our hearts are treasuring up (Matthew 12:35). And what our hearts are treasuring up shows our nature. We need Christ, by His Spirit, to turn our hearts from stone into the hearts of children of Abraham (cf. Matthew 3:9; Romans 4:11–12; Galatians 3:7). What are you treasuring up in your heart, dear reader? It shows in your speech. And what we treasure up shows what we are.
Giving account for idle words. Matthew 12:36 treats a special case of evil words: idle words. Idleness is evil. We were created to image and serve God. We have been redeemed to image and serve God. Wasted life, wasted heart, wasted words… these are evil—a denial of God as our purpose and pleasure. There is a day of judgment coming, when we will give account for everything (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10).
Words that justify or condemn. If we truly believe with our heart the truth about Jesus Christ (cf. Romans 10:9b), the praise of Jesus Christ as Lord will overflow from our mouths (cf. Romans 10:9a). There is a necessary verbal symptom of true conversion.
How could your verbal habits be improved? What are you doing about it? What are you treasuring up in your heart? How are you doing that? What hope do you have for the life of the new nature? What are you doing for the suffocating of the former/fleshly nature? From Whom alone can all of this come, and how?
Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for how careless we have been with our speech. We grieve at what this says about the ongoing condition of our hearts. By Your Spirit, stir up the life of the new man in us from Christ. And grant that we would put to death the old man. Make our lips to overflow with praise unto You, edification to our brothers, and evangelism to our neighbors, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP15 “Within Your Tent, Who Will Reside” or TPH400 “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me”
Friday, October 25, 2024
Humble Escape from Harmful Romance [2024.10.23 Midweek Sermon in Proverbs 5:1–6]
One way that wisdom saves us from the path to death and hell is by alerting us to the deceptive sweetness and comfort of romance with someone other than your wife.
Numbering Sovereign Grace [Family Worship lesson in Numbers 26]
What are we to learn from Israel’s second census? Numbers 26 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these sixty-five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord highlights His sovereign grace, while warning us against sin, and presenting Himself as our inheritance.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
2024.10.25 Hopewell @Home ▫ Numbers 26
Read Numbers 26
Questions from the Scripture text: What does this census follow (Numbers 26:1)? Whom does YHWH command for this census (Numbers 26:2-3)? To did it compare (Numbers 26:4)? What tribe was first (Numbers 26:5-11)? What do Numbers 26:9-11 highlight? What tribe was second (Numbers 26:12-14)? What tribe third (Numbers 26:15-18)? What tribe fourth (Numbers 26:19-22)? What does Numbers 26:19 highlight? What tribe was fifth (Numbers 26:23-25)? What tribe sixth (Numbers 26:26-27)? What tribe seventh (Numbers 26:29-34)? What do Numbers 26:33-34 highlight? What tribe was eighth (Numbers 26:35-37)? What tribe ninth (Numbers 26:38-41)? What tribe tenth (Numbers 26:42-43)? What tribe eleventh (Numbers 26:44-47)? And what tribe twelfth (v48–50Numbers 26:48-50)? How many were there in total (Numbers 26:51)? How would the land be divided (Numbers 26:52-54)? How will this be determined (Numbers 26:55-56)? What tribe is numbered separately (Numbers 26:57-62)? With a focus on which family (Numbers 26:59)? What does Numbers 26:61 highlight? Who numbered these, where (Numbers 26:63)? Who were missing (Numbers 26:64-65)?
What are we to learn from Israel’s second census? Numbers 26 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these sixty-five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord highlights His sovereign grace, while warning us against sin, and presenting Himself as our inheritance.
Overruling grace. This census is intentionally compared to the first one (Numbers 26:4, Numbers 26:64). That one had numbered 603,550. This one numbers 601,730 (Numbers 26:51). Considering the 24,000 that had just been eliminated (Numbers 26:1, cf. Numbers 25:9), we see that this census is an amazing testament to God’s faithfulness, goodness, and power. That entire first census is wiped out, but God has powerfully and mercifully replaced them all.
This theme of God’s grace overruling the consequences of His people’s sin runs through the entire census. Consider what’s highlighted throughout the passage. Numbers 26:9-11 remind us of the rebellion of Dathan, Abiram, and Korah, who died for their sin in the wilderness. Numbers 26:19 reminds us of Er and Onana, who died for their sin in Canaan. Numbers 26:61 reminds us of Nadab and Abihu, who died for their sin while still at Sinai. As Numbers 26:10 says, “they became a sign.” There is warning here about the consequences of sin. And yet there is encouragement to repent and believe in the Lord, Who sovereignly rules and overrules all things for His redemptive work.
Good, sovereign provision. The next theme is God’s provision. His provision is appropriate, larger inheritances for larger tribes, smaller inheritances for smaller tribes (Numbers 26:53-54). And His provision is sovereign. After specifying the arrangement in verses 53–54, He further directs that the land will be divided by lot. The Lord sovereignly provides for His people.
The Lord, our inheritance. Finally, the Levites are numbered (Numbers 26:57-62). The Lord is their inheritance (Numbers 26:62, cf. Numbers 18:20–24), so they are not numbered among Israel. But their number is sobering. They barely exceed the number of Simeon, who were the smallest tribe by far—but the Levites aren’t actually bigger, for they are numbering from one month up, not twenty years. Between the elimination of Nadab and Abihu (Numbers 26:61), and 250 heads of their and Reuben’s families (Numbers 26:10), the smallness of Levi reminds us that it can be dangerous to serve in holy things. This is one of the reasons that it’s so glorious that Christ so cleanses us, that we are able not only come near to the Lord, but to do so with boldness (cf. Hebrews 10:19–22).
How seriously do you take the potential consequences of your sin? Whom do you trust to overrule your and others’ sin for good? What good things do you have in this world? From Whom have they come? What (Whom!) is your inheritance?
Sample prayer: Lord, if You should mark iniquities, who would stand? But with You, there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared. Grant unto us to fear You and worship You. Make us to remember Your greatness and goodness, and how grievous and harmful sin has always been. Give us all that we need in this life and the next. Indeed, be our life, our joy, our inheritance in Christ, through Whom we ask it, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP130 “LORD, from the Depths to You I Cried” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace”
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Learning Loving Sanctification [Family Worship lesson in Jude 20–23]
How are we supposed to apply this letter? Jude v20–23 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we apply the book of Jude by pursuing growth first for ourselves, and then for others. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
2024.10.24 Hopewell @Home ▫ Jude 20–23
Read Jude 20–23
Questions from the Scripture text: What does Jude call them in Jude 20? What are they to be doing to themselves (cf. Philippians 2:12–13)? Upon what are they to be building themselves? What is the quality of this faith? What activity particularly marks this building up of themselves? Who sustains even this activity? What sort of Spirit is He? What else are they to do to themselves (Jude 21)? In what must they do this keeping of themselves? Unto what does one look, for this keeping of oneself in God’s love? Whose mercy? Which must at last result in what? And what must their disposition be toward some (Jude 22)? If they are to contend earnestly against and put the fear into some, but be compassionate toward others, what does this require them to make? At what are they to aim as they put this fear into them (Jude 23)? From what would they be saving/pulling them (cf. Jude 6-7)? What must they hate as they do this (cf. Zechariah 3:4)?
How are we supposed to apply this letter? Jude 20–23 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we apply the book of Jude by pursuing growth first for ourselves, and then for others.
Apply to yourself first. There is a Scripture principle that those who are going to help others escape their remaining sin ought to exercise themselves in putting their own sin to death first. The one who would help his brother with a speck must first attend to his own plank (cf. Matthew 7:5). The one who helps a brother that is ensnared in a trespass, must be the spiritual one who has gained the spirit of gentleness (cf. Galatians 6:1) in his own flesh vs Spirit combat (cf. Galatians 5:16–21) that has produced in him this fruit (cf. Galatians 5:22–25). Now as Jude makes the concluding application to his little letter, he speaks similarly: apply it to yourself first (Jude 20-21) so that you are able to apply it to others like you (Jude 22) and even to those who do not seem to be believers at all (Jude 23).
Learning how grace sanctifies by applying it to ourselves (Jude 20-21). We are beloved (Jude 20). That’s where sanctification begins. If we love Him, we will keep His commandments. But it is because He first loved us that we love Him. So “beloved” in verse 20 is not a throwaway title but important, practical theology.
Responsibility: “building yourselves up.” Sanctification is a duty; we are obligated to do it, and we are active in it. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” says the apostle (cf. Philippians 2:12).
Dependence on grace: “faith” … “praying” … “Spirit.” This building depends not upon us and our (required/necessary) effort, but upon God’s grace; it is done by faith. Even for this faith, we must be “praying.” It is “not of yourselves, but the gift of God” (cf. Ephesians 2:8). And, even this praying is done “in the Spirit.” We can’t even pray, except by God’s help and grace (cf. Romans 8:26)!
Trinitarian love. The benediction of 2 Corinthians 13:14 is approximated, here, in reverse. There, it is the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Here, it is the fellowship of the Holy Spirit in prayer, the love of God, and the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is this treble love of the Triune God that drives sanctification.
Making the distinction in dealing with others (Jude 22b). When it comes to dealing with others, there are some upon whom we are to have compassion, and others whom we are to save with fear. “Making a distinction” is part of our duty. Obviously, a professing Christian in good standing, one who is struggling as we do, belongs to the first group. But the second group are those who are still in danger of hell-fire. These would be unbelievers, those who have been put out of the church by discipline, and those unrepentant who may be on their way to discipline.
Merciful manner with struggling saints (Jude 22a). The manner in which we are to deal with other believers should be merciful. The word is the verb form of the noun “mercy” from the previous verse. We learn to be merciful with others in helping them pursue sanctification, because we are pointing them to a merciful Christ, Whose mercy we have personally experienced in this same area of His work in our lives. This is part of the reason that we must apply this letter to ourselves, first, before we apply it to others.
Severe/urgent manner with the unrepentant (Jude 23). Dealing with the unrepentant is especially for church officers (although there is a unique assignment of it to parents who have unrepentant children). Unrepentance is no time for tenderness. The house of their life is on fire, and if they are not delivered from the guilt and domination of their flesh, they are going to burn. Unbelievers can’t be sanctified because they don’t have Christ or His Spirit. These must literally have the fear put into them and be taught to hate everything to do with their fleshliness, turning from it to Christ—turning from belonging to themselves to belonging to Him.
What is your experience of God’s grace in growing you in holy living? How has this equipped you in being helpful to others in their own growth?
Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for when we haven’t cared to be holy, and for when we have not put forth effort to be holy. But, forgive us all the more for when we have treated the pursuit of holiness as if it were something that we ourselves could accomplish. Grant that we would rest upon Your grace through prayer that rests upon Your Spirit. And forgive us for when we have been severe with Your tender sheep, rather than merciful like You have been merciful with us. On the other hand, forgive us for when we have treated unbelievers as if they could be sanctified, or as if they could afford to drag their feet in turning to Christ. Thank You for Your triune love in Him, through Whom we pray, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP15 “Within Your Tent, Who Will Reside?” or TPH404 “The Church’s One Foundation”
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
2024.10.23 Midweek Meeting Livestream (live at 6:30p)
Click below for the:
October 23 Prayer Meeting Folder
Proverbs 5:1–6 sermon outline
We urge you to assemble physically, if possible, with a true congregation of Christ's church. For those of our own congregation who may be providentially hindered, we are grateful to be able to provide this service.
Heeding Calls to Repent [Family Worship lesson in Amos 4]
How should we respond to difficult or shocking providence? Amos 4 looks forward to the first serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God gives difficult and shocking providence as an opportunity for repentance. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
2024.10.23 Hopewell @Home ▫ Amos 4
Read Amos 4
Questions from the Scripture text: What words introduce the new declaration of charges in Amos 4:1a (cf. Amos 3:1a)? What does the prophet call them? Where are they? What three behaviors are exhibits of their transgression (Amos 4:1b–d)? Who has sworn by what in Amos 4:2a? What days are coming (Amos 4:2-3c)? How does this part of the declaration of charges conclude (Amos 4:3d, cf. Amos 4:5e, Amos 4:6d, Amos 4:8d, Amos 4:9h, Amos 4:10f, Amos 4:11e)? What sort, and what amount, of religious activity were they doing (Amos 4:4-5)? Where (Amos 4:4a–b)? With what attitude (Amos 4:5c)? What had the Lord done for them (Amos 4:6a–b)? And what else (Amos 4:7-8b)? And what else (Amos 4:9a–f)? And what else (Amos 4:10a–d)? What effect did all of this fail to produce (Amos 4:6c, Amos 4:8c, Amos 4:9g, Amos 4:10e)? How does Amos 4:12a–b introduce the summons? What is the substance of the summons (verse 12c)? What are their Accuser’s/Prosecutor’s credentials and qualifications (Amos 4:13a–f)? What is His identity (verse 13g)?
How should we respond to difficult or shocking providence? Amos 4 looks forward to the first serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God gives difficult and shocking providence as an opportunity for repentance.
Israel’s Sentence. The wealthy ladies from the fertile land of Bashan were accustomed to the rare air of the royal court at Samaria (Amos 4:1a), where they didn’t just oppress and crush the lowest classes (verse 1b–c), but even lorded it over the lords (more literal than NKJ’s “husbands”) of the land (verse 1d). How far they would fall, when the time of the exile came (Amos 4:2-3)! Chapter 4 is a hearing in which the Lord announces to them why. Amos 4:12 concludes the presentation of His case, saying “therefore thus will I do to you.”
Self-deceiving religion. Bethel (Amos 4:4a) was the place where the Lord had met Jacob in the vision of the ladder (cf. Genesis 28:19). Gilgal (Amos 4:4b) was the place where Israel had rededicated itself to the Lord after the wilderness period (cf. Joshua 5:9). The northern kingdom kept religious observances to the Lord surrounding some of His greatest redemptive revelations and acts up to that time. They didn’t just tithe on Sabbaths but twice as often (Amos 4:4d). They loved religion (Amos 4:5c). But their wickedness in the second table of the law (Amos 4:1) should have been a clue to the falsehood of their love for God in observing man-made religion (Amos 4:4-5). Here are two things that can give us massive spiritual cataracts to blind us to our need for repentance: worldly wealth/comfort/influence and spiritual/religious fervor. Israel had them in spades. They are not necessarily wicked to have, but if we have them, we should be watchful against how easily they can deceive us.
Providential calls to repentance. God’s Word should have been enough to call them to repentance. And may He grant unto us that His Word would be enough to do so for us. Certainly this is a good reason to worship Him genuinely from that Word, evening and morning every day, and all day long on the Lord’s Day. But when they needed to be urged to repent, God came in mercifully severe providence to grab their attention. Amos 4:6-11 list five categories/ways in which the Lord had done so, each one ending with “says YHWH.”
He had given famine (Amos 4:6). He had brought unusual/peculiar drought (Amos 4:7-8). He had prevented some crops from growing, and alternatively permitted locusts to wipe out bumper harvests (Amos 4:9). He had even come with the severity of deadly plagues, and invading/military devastation (Amos 4:10). And even near-total overthrow of one or another city or town (Amos 4:11). But in every case, we read the same sad result: “yet you have not turned to me.”
We must remember that all providence is personal. The God Who gave us the Bible is the same Who works all things according to the counsel of His will (cf. Ephesians 1:11). And He often brings shocking or difficult providence into our lives to grab our attention (cf. Luke 13:1–9).
If He has brought such providence into your life, don’t miss the opportunity for putting yourself under the lens of the Word and examining if there is sin where you thought that all was well. It may be that it is more for the purpose of growing your patience or sweetening Himself to you as the Gift that makes all else worth it. But, if He is providentially alerting you to some sin or folly, how sad it would be to have said of us, “yet you have not returned to Me.”
Who it is with Whom we must deal. “Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!” When their exile did come, they did not have an Assyrian problem but a YHWH problem. Why is He, alone: Prosecutor, Witness, Judge, and Executor? Because He is singularly qualified for all of these.
He forms mountains (Amos 4:13b); He has power.
He creates the spirit (Amos 4:13c); it is His right.
He declares to man what his thought is (Amos 4:13d); He is a more expert witness, pertaining to us, than we are, pertaining to ourselves.
Indeed, darkness and light are alike to Him because of the perfection of His knowledge and observation (Amos 4:13e, cf. Psalm 139:12).
There is nowhere that anything can be hidden from Him (Amos 4:13f, cf. Psalm 139:8). “There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).
How marvelous, how glorious, that this One Who knows our sin perfectly is the One Who has borne its guilt for all for whom He died! And how dreadful for those who, rather than turning to Him in repentance and faith, pacify their consciences with intense or emotional spirituality, as if that can absolve them. God have mercy and keep you from doing so, dear reader.
To what extent are you comfortable in the things of this world or in your enjoyment of religious celebrations and exercises? If you have something of which you need to repent, how might earthly comforts or religious celebrations/exercises What shocking or unusual providence have you received from God? What place does self-examination have in your reading and praying? What other opportunity do you take for it?
Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for how easily we mistake Your patience and kindness for approval of our ways and our worship. Grant that we would measure what we do by Your Word and not by our comfort with it. Forgive us for how slow and dull our consciences have been, when You have given us shocking providence to grab our attention. Cause us to remember that all things are naked and open to Your eyes, and that we must give account to You. Thank You that we may do so as those who have been atoned for by Christ. Forgive us for His sake, and receive us in Him, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH467 “Cast Down, O God, the Idols”
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
A Story of Sin and Grace [2024.10.20 Evening Sermon in Numbers 25]
God's grace isn't for those who are good, but for those whom He must save from wrath-deserving sin.
Disobeying the Gospel [2024.10.20 Morning Sermon in Matthew 12:22-32]
As the Holy Spirit presents Christ to you in the gospel, harden not your heart, but come to Him and find the rest of forgiveness for your soul.
What Christ Liberates Us Unto [2024.10.20 Sabbath School in WCF20.1—Hopewell 101]
We continue studying through the Scriptural doctrine that our congregation confesses. This week, we continue Westminster Confession chapter 20—Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience. We continue Article 1, considering UNTO what Christ has liberated believers(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
Longing for the World of Well-Used Mouths [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 120]
What does slander do? Psalm 120 looks forward to opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that slander hurts brethren and provokes God’s wrath. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
2024.10.22 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 120
Read Psalm 120
Questions from the Scripture text: What is this Psalm called (superscript)? What had been the psalmist’s condition (Psalm 120:1)? What did he do? To Whom? And what did YHWH do? From what is the psalmist now asking deliverance (Psalm 120:2)? What has he concluded/discovered that liars deserve (Psalm 120:3-4)? Where has this distress come upon him (which is a further part of the distress, Psalm 120:5-6a)? What are the people there like (Psalm 120:6b, Psalm 120:7b)? As opposed to whom (verse 7a)?
What does slander do? Psalm 120 looks forward to opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that slander hurts brethren and provokes God’s wrath.
This is the first of the songs of ascent, which Israel would sing as they approached Jerusalem for feast. It starts far away, but ends in the worship of the congregation of God’s people at the temple (Psalm 133–134).
Past performance is indicative of future results, Psalm 120:1. Why is to YHWH that the psalmist now resorts? Among other things, it is because YHWH has heard his prayers before. We should learn to be strengthened to make present prayer by the Lord’s answering of past prayer. And, knowing that we shall need encouragement in prayer in the future, let us pray much in the present, so that the Lord’s answers may strengthen us unto that future praying.
The present crisis: the false tongue, Psalm 120:2-4. The psalmist is now, again, asking for deliverance. This time, it is from some distress brought about by someone’s slandering him. For emphasis, he describes this three different ways (“lying lips,” “deceitful tongue,” “false tongue,”). What harm we can do to others with our words! Death (“mighty sharp arrows”) and hell (“coals of the broom tree,” cf. Revelation 21:8) are what all liars have to look forward to (Psalm 120:4).
What slander does, Psalm 120:5-7. Without knowing more about the context, it is difficult to determine whether the psalmist was actually at some intersection of Japhethites (Psalm 120:5a, cf. Genesis 10:2) and Ishmaelites (Psalm 120:5b, cf. Genesis 25:13). Either such foreigners are displaying the fruit of their unbelief, or this is a way for him to talk about Israelites whose conduct has made the godly as a stranger even among the covenant people. For, they are not reciprocating his love of peace and peacemaking (cf. Matthew 5:9), but rather they indulge enmity (Psalm 120:6-7). But the psalmist continues to be for peace (Psalm 120:7a), which he is enabled to be by leaving vengeance to God by prayer. Let us not act as enemies to God or brother, but guard our lips and hearts for peace.
About/with whom do you need to guard your tongue more? Toward whom do you need grace to incline you to peace?
Sample prayer: Lord, we thank You and praise You Who hear prayer. Deliver us from every trouble! Grant that our lips would be used in Your worship to praise you, and then in other circumstances to do good to the brethren. We thank You that we may leave all vengeance to You by prayer, so that we can seek peace with our lips. Now be praised by these same lips we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP120 “I Cried in Trouble to the Lord” or TPH464 “The Beatitudes”
Monday, October 21, 2024
Don't Treat God as Common [Westminster Shorter Catechism 55—Theology Simply Explained]
Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 55—especially explaining how we must neither abuse nor treat as common any of God’s communication to us of Himself.
Q55. What is forbidden in the third commandment? The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing of anything whereby God maketh Himself known.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
Q55. What is forbidden in the third commandment? The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing of anything whereby God maketh Himself known.
Petitions Great and Small [Children's Catechism 116—Theology Simply Explained]
Pastor walks his children through Children’s Catechism question 116—especially explaining how going from immense petitions about God to tiny petitions about ourselves teaches us that we are to pray to God about everything, big and small.
Q116. What is the fourth petition? That men on earth may serve God as the angels do in heaven.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
Q116. What is the fourth petition? That men on earth may serve God as the angels do in heaven.
Listening Your Way into the Right Path [2024.10.16 Midweek Sermon in Proverbs 4:10–27]
Give your heart to the Lord and His Word, and enjoy true and everlasting life.
What's the Harm in a Little Romance? [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 5:1–6]
What’s the harm in a little romance? Proverbs 5:1–6 looks forward to the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that uncovenanted romance is a path to death. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
2024.10.21 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 5:1–6
Read Proverbs 5:1–6
Questions from the Scripture text: What does the father tell his son to do in Proverbs 5:1? In order for him to do what (Proverbs 5:2)? In case of what eventuality (Proverbs 5:3-6)? What does an immoral woman sound like (Proverbs 5:3)? But how deadly is she (Proverbs 5:4)? Where does her path end (Proverbs 5:5)? But what might a believing son yet do (Proverbs 5:6a)? Why is this such folly (verse 6b–c)?
What’s the harm in a little romance? Proverbs 5:1–6 looks forward to the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that uncovenanted romance is a path to death.
A repeated call for diligent attention, Proverbs 5:1-2. Again, the idealized father addresses the reader as his child and doubly urges his attention (Proverbs 5:1) to wisdom and understanding. This is because that teaching is the mechanism by which discretion and knowledge may be obtained by the soul and the lips (Proverbs 5:2).
It begins with conversation, Proverbs 5:2-3. Notice that the path of the strange woman (i.e., a woman that is not his wife, not so much “immoral” as in NKJ) begins at her lips. She does not sound deadly at first. In fact, she sounds sweet (drip honey, Proverbs 5:3a) and comforting (smoother than oil, verse 3b). She probably thinks herself sweet and comforting, as well. The believing son to whom this is addressed needs discretion in his heart (Proverbs 5:2a) so that his own mouth may keep knowledge (verse 2b). In other words, if he is guarding his own lips from overfamiliarity or from romantic speech, he will be preserved from falling with her into the apparent sweetness and comfort of an uncovenanted romance. Such romance feels sweet and comforting, which is why a young man must have the humility not to trust his own wisdom. He desperately needs the meekness to learn biblical wisdom from his father.
But it ends in death and hell, Proverbs 5:4-6. The end of romance with a woman who is not one’s wife is not just death (poison, two-edged sword, Proverbs 5:4) but even Sheol itself (Proverbs 5:5b). This hearkens back to one of the two paths of Proverbs 4:14–19. Once again, there is a path that ends in destruction (Proverbs 5:5), and it is vitally important that the man not even enter it. This particular path to destruction, however, has the added danger of looking so good at its beginning. So humility and meekness to listen to the godly is essential to the young man. Proverbs 5:6b–c tells us that he cannot understand where this romance would lead; he would be a fool to consider it, and he needs to admit that Scripture, here, tells the truth about himself.
What do you need in order to listen to Scriptural wisdom? About whom (hint: in the mirror) does it tell you important truths? And whom else? And what sorts of situations? How might you (or your children) need to rethink romance? Why is guarding our conversations such an important part of this?
Sample prayer: Lord, please help us to think biblically about marriage and romance. Grant that Your wisdom would guard our lips. And, in every area of life where we are overconfident, grant that Your Spirit would convince us of the truth about ourselves from Your Word, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed he Man” or TPH173 “Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast
Sunday, October 20, 2024
2024.10.20 Lord's Day Livestreams (live at 10:10a, 11a, 3p)
Click below for the:
October 20 Lord's Day Worship Booklet
Matthew 12:22–32 sermon outline
song selections & Numbers 25 sermon outline
We urge you to assemble physically, if possible, with a true congregation of Christ's church. For those of our own congregation who may be providentially hindered, we are grateful to be able to provide this service.
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Mortal, Eternal Danger [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 12:22–32]
What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Matthew 12:22–32 looks forward to the morning sermon in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the rejection of His testimony to Who Christ is. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
2024.10.19 Hopewell @Home ▫ Matthew 12:22–32
Read Matthew 12:22–32
Questions from the Scripture text: What was afflicting the one brought to Jesus in Matthew 12:22? What two effects did the demon have upon him? What did Jesus do to the man? And what was the man thus able to do? Who were amazed (Matthew 12:23)? What did they ask? Who heard it (Matthew 12:24)? What did they say? Where did they apparently say these things (Matthew 12:25)? But Who knew even heir thoughts? To whom does He speak? What does He point out about kingdoms in general (and the devil’s specifically, Matthew 12:25-26)? What additional argument does Jesus make in Matthew 12:27? What does Jesus say that this fact (their sons) would do to the Pharisees? By Whom did Jesus imply that He casts our demons (Matthew 12:28)? What does He say this shows? What does Jesus imply the King/kingdom (He!) is doing in Matthew 12:29? What does He say that He is doing first? What is the status of someone who is not plundering and gathering with Christ (Matthew 12:30)? What is this person doing, then, instead of gathering? What does Jesus warn these Pharisees’ thoughts, status, and actions might be blaspheming (Matthew 12:31)? Why is this so perilous? In what ages may this suffer dreadful consequences (Matthew 12:32)?
What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Matthew 12:22–32 looks forward to the morning sermon in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the rejection of His testimony to Who Christ is.
The question that you must answer, Matthew 12:22-23. The Holy Spirit was testifying of Christ, by the works that Christ was doing. Matthew 12:22 gives us an exemplary moment, but we must remember this was not an isolated incident (Matthew 12:15). The greatness and volume of Christ’s work demanded an answer: Who is this? More specifically, “Could this be the Son of David?” (Matthew 12:23). That is: could this be the King, the anointed, the Christ? The Savior of the world?
Now, two-thousand years of His saving people, the near-ubiquity of the church, and more… it all challenges us with the same question. Who is this? The answer is that He is not only the Son of David, but the Son of God (cf. Romans 1:3–4).
The side that you must take, Matthew 12:24-30. Jesus’s withdrawal from the Pharisees (Matthew 12:15a, Matthew 12:16) has not been entirely effective. Not only are there Pharisees who hear the multitude’s question (Matthew 12:24a), but we can see that they are present because Jesus proceeds to address them (Matthew 12:25). They are so hard-hearted against Him that they feel a need to come up with a “how” answer to Jesus’s works (Matthew 12:24b) that will allow the to continue their mortal opposition (cf. Matthew 12:14) to Him. What they come up with is that the reason He is stronger than demons is because He is in league with (or may even be) the master-demon.
Jesus’s response takes up the rest of this passage, along with the next one that we will take. He is casting out demons by the Spirit of God (Matthew 12:28a), which means that the kingdom of God has come upon them (verse 28b). Their “sons” in Matthew 12:27 may well be a reference not to disciples of the Pharisees but to His own disciples (cf. Matthew 10:1). He and they can’t all be the master-demon! But note what He says at the end of the verse: “they shall be your judges.”
The fact of the matter is that Jesus is binding Satan in order to plunder Satan’s house and gather (Matthew 12:26, Matthew 12:29) a harvest of that plunder (cf. Matthew 9:37–38). And what He says in Matthew 12:30 is that there are no neutral parties. Either you are with Him, or you are against Him. Those who are not with Christ, and laboring with Him, don’t just belong to the devil; they are laboring for his kingdom, whether they know it or not! How dreadful that there are Christians who are not laboring with and for Christ, who seem as if they are abstaining from the battle; this passage tells us that the reality is grievous indeed. And it is even more dreadful that there are those who attempt all sorts of other explanations for Christ’s work these 2000 years or in our own day, and even those who resist Him as the Holy Spirit declares Him to us by His Word and work.
The forgiveness that you must have, Matthew 12:31-32. O how loaded each of us are with our sins and blasphemies (Matthew 12:31)! Looking at Matthew 12:31-32 in their relationship to Matthew 12:30, we can see that the blasphemy against the essence of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is to not be with Christ. We desperately need the forgiveness that Jesus offers. But the only way to this forgiveness is to heed the Spirit’s witness to Who Christ is. How dangerous it is to resist Christ! We know not when we shall come to such a point of hardening that we will have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit and no longer have possibility of coming to faith by His gracious work. We need forgiveness both in this age (or else the consequences of our sin will take us from calamity to calamity in this world) and the age to come (or else, we shall enter the lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels). If we are worried that we have blasphemed the Holy Spirit, then there is yet hope, for we are worried. Let us take that worry and repent, with broken heart, that we have ever resisted the Spirit’s testimony to Christ!
Whom do you believe and know Jesus to be? How do your responses to Him in your life show this knowledge? What evidence is there in your life that you are with Jesus? What evidence is there that you are laboring with Him? How has the Holy Spirit pointed you to forgiveness? Do you have it?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for granting us the ministry of Your Spirit to point us to Your Son so that we will not only submit to Him but trust in Him. Grant unto us to do so, and thus also to labor with Him, by His Spirit working in us and through us, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP2 “Why Do Gentile Nations Rage?” or TPH282 “I Greet Thee Who My Sure Redeemer Art”
Friday, October 18, 2024
A Climax of Sin, Wrath, and Grace [Family Worship lesson in Numbers 25]
What provokes and stops God’s wrath? Numbers 25 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eighteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that sin provokes God’s wrath, but Christ turns it away.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
2024.10.18 Hopewell @Home ▫ Numbers 25
Read Numbers 25
Questions from the Scripture text: Where was Israel camping (Numbers 25:1)? What did the people do with whom? And what did these women do (Numbers 25:2)? With what effect (Numbers 25:2-3)? What did YHWH tell whom to do (Numbers 25:4)? For what purpose? But what did Moses do (Numbers 25:5)? What were Moses and all the people doing in Numbers 25:6? But what did someone still do? Who saw it in Numbers 25:7? What did he do (Numbers 25:7-8)? With what effect? How many had died (Numbers 25:9)? Who spoke to whom in Numbers 25:10? What does He say Phinehas has done (Numbers 25:11)? With Whose zeal? And what result? What does YHWH do for him (Numbers 25:12)? And for his house (Numbers 25:13)? What were the names and statuses of the perpetrators (Numbers 25:14-15)? Who spoke to whom in Numbers 25:16? What does He say to do (Numbers 25:17)? Why (Numbers 25:18)?
What provokes and stops God’s wrath? Numbers 25 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eighteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that sin provokes God’s wrath, but Christ turns it away.
One last trial to display unconditional election. Israel are at Shittim (“Acacia Grove,” NKJ, Numbers 25:1), camped across from Jericho, from where Joshua will later send out spies (cf. Joshua 2:1). And now, after all of the grace and patience that we have seen thus far, Israel commits a “grand finale” of sins. They commit harlotry. This would be bad enough within Israel, but they commit this harlotry even with Moabite women! For the last three chapters, we have been privy to both Moab’s treachery/cursedness and God’s marvelous faithfulness and goodness to Israel. And it is against this backdrop that we see the events of chapter 25. The climax of the book of Numbers affirms, one more time, that Israel’s election by God is not at all for anything good in them!
Something worse than harlotry: idolatry. The wickedness of relations without marriage is bad enough, and to do that with Moabites is even worse. But it gets even worse in Numbers 25:2. The Israelites eat and bow down to the Baals of Moab. The language may imply that they weren’t worshiping “from the heart”—just going through the motions of religion and enjoying a feast of meat (cf. Numbers 22:40). But the logic of the verse implies that the immorality of the harlotry in itself is secondary to the immorality of the idolatry to which the harlotry led (cf. Exodus 34:16). Numbers 25:3 confirms this: the incident isn’t described by harlotry with Moab’s women but by marriage to Moab’s god! Let us take note of how God treats dabbling in the religious rituals that men have invented. It is worse than rampant extramarital immorality!
A crisis of leadership. YHWH tells Moses to hang the heads of the people out where everyone can see (Numbers 25:4). The reason given is not as a warning to those who might commit idolatry but to turn away God’s wrath. It is evident that, at this point, the plague has begun. The word “judges” in Numbers 25:5 is not the same as the word “heads” in Numbers 25:4; the text doesn’t give us cause to think that Moses has disobeyed. It may well be that the judges are a different group than those heads/elders. The mourning of the whole congregation in Numbers 25:6 may well be due to executions, as much as due to plague.
Whatever the case, it is not enough. The idolatry and the plague both continue! The Midianite in Numbers 25:6 is no better than a Moabite; it is still a question of idolatry. The word for “tent” in Numbers 25:8 is actually “inner chamber,” a reference to the inner room of a shrine (the most unholy, idolatrous equivalent of the Holy Place in the tabernacle). And it is almost identical to the word “body” in the same verse. They had gone into the belly of the shrine, and Phinehas had thrust the javelin through the belly of the harlot. It turns out that the offending Israelite was himself a leader of the Simeonites (Numbers 25:14). And the woman was from a leading family of the Midianites (Numbers 25:15), for which reason YHWH marks the Midianites as enemies, just as much as the Moabites (Numbers 25:16-18).
We must be careful about usurping authority or position simply upon dissatisfaction with what we consider to be inaction. But in this case, there was an actual plague raging among the people of God. Phinehas was not among the judges, but no one else was acting, and thousands were dying, so he took action.
Where leadership came from: grace. YHWH Himself identifies the source of Phinehas’s zeal: it was the Lord’s own zeal (Numbers 25:11). The word is the same as “jealous” in Exodus 20:5. God graciously produced His own zeal in Phinehas’s heart. And Phinehas is commended and rewarded for taking action (Numbers 25:12-13). Throughout the kingdom period, even many kings who cut down Baal worship were “docked” for not ending worship at the high places (cf. 1 Kings 15:14, 1 Kings 22:43; 2 Kings 12:3). It is the duty of those in leadership to purge manmade worship from the church (cf. WLC 108). And this depends upon the grace of God. Ultimately, Christ is the One Who is full of God’s own zeal for His worship (cf. Psalm 69:9; John 2:17), and He is the One Who is hung (cf. Galatians 3:13; Deuteronomy 21:23) and thrust through (cf. John 19:34–37; Zechariah 12:10; Revelation 1:7) to turn away His wrath against sinners!
In what manmade worship or religious practices might you be in danger of dabbling? How should your praying for your leaders in home/church/nation be informed by their duties in this passage? How should your submission to them follow it? What does it look like to consider as enemies, of God and His church, those who tempt believers into manmade religion? But what are we commanded to do with our enemies?
Sample prayer: Lord, give us to hate harlotry, adultery, and all other sin. Especially give us to hate idolatry. Help our leaders to love You and the purity of Your worship. Don’t let us act as those who hate You and bring our sin upon three and four generations of our children. Thank You for giving Your Son to be the Priest Who has turned Your wrath from us. For His sake, help us against our sin, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP69A “Save Me, O God” or TPH341 “Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed”
Thursday, October 17, 2024
The Harm of Neglecting Church Discipline [Family Worship lesson in Jude v12–19]
What sorts of people should we be watching against in the church? Jude v12–19 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should not share our life with those who give evidence of not having the Spirit. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
2024.10.17 Hopewell @Home ▫ Jude 12–19
Read Jude 12–19
Questions from the Scripture text: What does Jude 12 now call the ungodly (Jude 4) dreamers (Jude 8)? What don’t they do? Whom do they serve? What metaphors describe the falsehood and deadness of their appearance? What metaphors describe the results of their actions (Jude 13)? What illustration does he use for what happens to the ungodly (Jude 14-15)? What two things does Jude 16 call them? How do they walk? How do they talk? But of Whose words does he now remind them (Jude 17)? Whom had He said there would be (Jude 18)? How would these walk? What do they cause, and what do they lack (Jude 19)?
What sorts of people should we be watching against in the church? Jude 12–19 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should not share our life with those who give evidence of not having the Spirit.
It is a great problem that the dreamers of Jude 8-11 “creep in unnoticed” to churches (cf. Jude 4). Though they appear to be Christians, they do not fear God and bring impurity into the worship and fellowship of the church (Jude 12). Since they do not serve God, then they cannot truly serve others. No one can keep the second great commandment if he is not a keeper of the first great commandment.
Jude uses several illustrations for what sort of death this causes. Imagine a land dying under drought, but when the clouds come there is no rain. Or people starving for the harvest, but when there should be ripe fruits, they find no fruit and only dead trees. Rather than a current that might carry a ship forward, their activity is only so much frothing of waves (Jude 13; how many churches are full of frothing, but no real engagement of the true God!). Christianity must come from His grace; the only thing that can come from us is shame. They may even seem like they are able to guide others (as stars did), but what they take people to is utter and eternal darkness.
Again, Jude uses an illustration from a book that is not Scripture. It may be that an oral tradition was preserved about Enoch, which the Spirit now authenticates as He carries Jude along. Or, it may be that Jude is again arguing from the lesser to the greater, using a book with which his readers were familiar, but understood was merely earthly (Jude 14-15)—and then affirming the reality of the situation by the higher authority of the apostles of Christ (Jude 17-18). In either case, the point is that his readers know that holiness is the true mark of fellowship with God. The true grace of God does not produce lewdness (cf. Jude 4). It has been producing holiness in believers since the very beginning (n.b. “seventh from Adam” in Jude 14), when there was a man who walked with God in such holiness that God took him (cf. Genesis 5:21–24).
So, it is important to recognize people who are throwing off the lordship of Christ, lest we stumble with them and end up in destruction. Jude gives some diagnostic help. Watch for grumblers and complainers (Jude 16). Watch for those who are always trying to enjoy whatever they want (verse 16) instead of serving others (Jude 12). Don’t be moved if their speech seems impressive, or flattering, because that is a common trait that they have (Jude 16).
Most of all: watch against those who are unspiritual (a more literal translation than “sensual persons” in Jude 19), not having the Spirit. This allows us to import the lists in Galatians 5:19–21 and Galatians 5:22–25 to determine with whom we ought to share our lives. This explains one way in which they “cause divisions” (Jude 19). When there are those in the church who are full of worldliness or fleshliness, then others in the church who are genuinely called and consecrated (cf. Jude 1) simply find it difficult to share their lives together. But, stick to walking with the Lord and to those who are marked by doing the same. And let the elders of the church follow biblical instruction for church discipline, so that these stains (Jude 12), or leaven (cf. 1 Corinthians 5), are purged and do not threaten the spiritual life of the rest of the body.
If someone were applying the diagnostics of this passage, what is there in your life that would most discourage them from the fellowship of sharing their life with you?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for warning us against our own sinfulness and against false believers within the church. Forgive us for not being watchful enough against either. And grant unto us the ministry of Your Spirit, that He might bear such fruit in us as to mark us as Christ’s, we ask through Him, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP15 “Within Your Tent, Who Will Reside?” or TPH404 “The Church’s One Foundation”
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
2024.10.16 Midweek Meeting Live Stream (live at 6:30p.m.)
Click below for the:
October 16 Prayer Meeting Folder
Proverbs 4:10–27 sermon outline
We urge you to assemble physically, if possible, with a true congregation of Christ's church. For those of our own congregation who may be providentially hindered, we are grateful to be able to provide this service.
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