Praying in Peril [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 142]

How should we cry out to the Lord in distress and why? Psalm 142 looks forward to the 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 we should cry out to the Lord honestly and openly in our distresses, with the purpose that His delivering us would be an occasion for giving Him great praise. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.29 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 142

Read Psalm 142

Questions from the Scripture text: What sort of Psalm is this (superscript)? Whose Psalm is it? What was he doing, where? What does the psalmist do (Psalm 142:1)? To Whom? With what? What does he make? What is he doing with his complaint (Psalm 142:2)? What is he declaring? Before Whom? What was the condition of his spirit (Psalm 142:3a)? How did YHWH relate to him at that time (verse 3b–c)? What had his enemies done (verse 3d)? What does he ask YHWH to do in Psalm 142:4a? What won’t he see there (verse 4b–d)? To Whom did he look to fill that gap (Psalm 142:5)? In what manner (verse 5a)? What two things did he call him (verse 5b–c)? What does Psalm 142:6a ask the Lord to do? Why (verse 6b)? How does he ask the Lord to respond to his situation (verse 6c)? Why is he so needy of this (verse 6d)? What does he ask Him to do to his soul (Psalm 142:7a)? So that he may do what (verse 7b)? With whom (verse 7c)? As a result of the Lord’s doing what (verse 7d)?

How should we cry out to the Lord in distress and why? Psalm 142 looks forward to the 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 we should cry out to the Lord honestly and openly in our distresses, with the purpose that His delivering us would be an occasion for giving Him great praise.  

David’s time in the cave was used of God to give us Scripture prayers (superscript, cf. Psalm 57 superscript) for times of great persecution and distress. 

Get emotional with God. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, David speaks very emotionally with the Lord. That is not to say that he speaks carelessly, and certainly not that we may ever do so. But he definitely speaks very intensely. He “cries out with his voice” (Psalm 142:1a). He “pours out his complaint” (Psalm 142:2a). He “declares his trouble” (verse 2b). His “spirit was overwhelmed” (Psalm 142:3a). He “cried out” (Psalm 142:5a). 

But it is not just that it is permissible to pour ourselves out to the Lord, but that we are encouraged that He responds to it: “attend to my cry, for I am brought very low.” The Lord God cares for His children’s cries of distress. Why would we hide our distress before the Lord? He sees and knows all. David highlights this by saying “before Him” twice in Psalm 142:2. We are already before Him. When your spirit is overwhelmed, the Lord already knows your path (Psalm 142:3b). Pour out your full, honest self to the Lord!

Find your refuge in Him. Whether we are surrounded by human helpers, or have no human helpers at all, the Lord Himself is still our refuge. Sometimes, He removes human helpers to remind us of this. The Lord had brought David to such a desperate circumstance that he had not a single help, not even a right-hand man (Psalm 142:4). Oh, dear reader, when you lack a right-hand man—and even when you do—how infinitely better it is to have a right-hand God! 

Purpose of praise. Psalm 142:7 takes a wonderful turn. David’s purpose in desiring deliverance is not merely that he may be free or comfortable. He is confident that the Lord will “deal bountifully” with him (verse 7d), and he is eager to bring Him praise (verse 7b) in the assembly of the righteous (verse 7c). Dear reader, may the Spirit grant to you so to desire the praise of God that it becomes your primary motivation, even in your most desperate situations and cries to Him!

In what situation might you ought to be more honestly and completely poured out to the Lord? In what situations are you resting upon others to the extent that you need to remember that God is actually the refuge at your right hand? In what situations are you so without helpers that you need the comfort of remembering that God is the refuge at your right hand? What motivations are competing in your heart against the motivation of God receiving praise?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we have cried out to You, knowing that You know our path and attend to our cry. You have been our refuge and our portion. And You have delivered our souls from prison so that we might praise Your Name in the assembly of the righteous. You have dealt bountifully with us all our life. Deal bountifully with us now, and receive our praise in Christ, we ask through Him, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP142 “To You, O Lord, I Lift My Voice” or TPH142 “I Cry for Mercy to the Lord”

Explanation of What Hell Is [Children's Catechism 143—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 143—especially explaining how Hell is experiencing God’s glory against you as an enemy forever.

Q143. What is hell? A place of dreadful and endless torment. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Wise in Our Primary Callings [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 14:1–7]

What does true piety do? Proverbs 14:1–7 looks backward to the sermon in last week’s midweek meeting. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that true piety serves the Lord in the primary callings that He has given. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.28 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 14:1–7

Proverbs 14:1–7

Questions from the Scripture text: What does the wise woman do (Proverbs 14:1a)? What does the foolish woman do (verse 1b)? How does relation to the Lord show up in our walking (Proverbs 14:2)? What is in the mouth of the fool (Proverbs 14:3a)? What will preserve the wise (verse 3b)? How does one get a clean trough (Proverbs 14:4a)? Why is this a bad idea (verse 4b)? What causes a witness not to lie (Proverbs 14:5a)? And what causes one to utter lies (verse 5b)? Who produces no wisdom (Proverbs 14:6a)? Who provides it easily (verse 6b)? Whose company should we shun (Proverbs 14:7)?  

What does true piety do? Proverbs 14:1–7 looks backward to the sermon in last week’s midweek meeting. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that true piety serves the Lord in the primary callings that He has given.  

Since the beginning of chapter 10, we have heard the Spirit-borne writer addressing together the themes of wise words, wise work, and wise service of one’s household/generations. This little section at the beginning of chapter 14 continues to do the same. It has a chiastic structure. Many of the sections that we have considered do so, but we have only mentioned the inclusio of the outer verses, sometimes calling them “bookends.” In chiasm, each step in from the bookends has a similarity with its counterpart from the other bookend, until either the core idea or the pivot idea, is in the middle. So, in our passage, Proverbs 14:1-2 matches Proverbs 14:6-7, Proverbs 14:3 matches Proverbs 14:5, and Proverbs 14:4 is the pivot.

Proverbs 14:1-2, Proverbs 14:6-7. Embrace the wise; flee the fool. Nowhere is this more important than marriage. In Proverbs 9:1, wisdom was pictured as a woman who builds her house. A man who is looking for a wife, with whom to build a household, must look for a wise one, lest his co-laborer become sole destroyer (Proverbs 14:1). True piety, fearing the Lord, impacts the way one goes practically: either straight (Proverbs 14:2a), or crooked (verse 2b). So, we must flee the presence of a fool (Proverbs 14:7), who is unable to provide us with wisdom (Proverbs 14:6)—and all the more so, the foolish wife. How very important it is that we be intentional about our companions! And let us establish this skill well in advance of when it comes time to select a life-companion.

Proverbs 14:3, Proverbs 14:5. Destructive speech, or protective speech, overflows from one’s character. The fool deludedly thinks that his proud words build him up, but the very arrogance of his words is a rod to beat him (Proverbs 14:3a). It is the words of the wise that protect him (verse 3b). The wise one of verse 3b is the honest one of Proverbs 14:5a; his preservative truth is an expression of his honest character. But the fool of Proverbs 14:3a is the false one of Proverbs 14:5b; his destructive lies proceed from an ingrained falseness. If we are given to lying, let us beware not only the destruction that we inflict, but the corruption with which we are filled.

Proverbs 14:4. Productive wisdom prioritizes primary callings. Proverbs 14:4 has been a great encouragement to many a mother and housewife. There is something far more important than keeping a tidy home. Our primary task is not to be careful and sanitize but to be fruitful and multiply. Cleanliness may be good stewardship, but it is not an end in itself, and it is not a primary calling. This connects strongly to all three themes, which touch very closely upon our primary callings. God has made Himself known by His Word, and speaking with wisdom is a significant part of imaging Him. God has revealed Himself also in His works of creation and providence, and He makes our working a significant part of imaging Him—this is why we prioritize having an ox over having a pristine feed box. And God has called us to be fruitful and multiply, which urges upon us the necessity of prioritizing a godly wife. 

How intentional are you about your relationships/companions? What is the connection, in your life, between your interaction with the Lord, and the straightness of your way of living? What do your words show about your character? What are your words doing to yourself and others? What would be emphasized more, and less, in your life by prioritizing your primary calling?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for creating us to multiply, speak, and work in Your image. Have mercy upon us, for we see how we have been crooked in our ways in every area, and our sins go over our heads. But You are near to the broken hearted, and You not only forgive our sin, and cleanse from unrighteousness, but even work in us to will and to work according to Your good pleasure. Grant that Your Spirit would conform us to Christ to such an extent that He would be glorified by the godliness of those who are in Him, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP45B “Daughter, Incline Your  Ear” or TPH400 “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me”

2025.04.27 Lord's Day Livestreams (live at 10:10a, 11:10a, 3p)

Click below for the:

April 27 Lord's Day Worship Booklet

Matthew 18:6–11 sermon outline

3p song selections & Matthew 28:16–20 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.

IF you are unable to get the stream to work, or simply wish to save on data, you can listen in simply by calling 712.432.3410 and entering 70150 at the prompt.

Each week we livestream the Lord's Day (Sabbath School, Morning Public Worship, and p.m. Singing and Sermon) and Midweek Meeting (sermon and prayer). For notifications when Hopewell is streaming live, install the CHURCHONE APP on your [Apple], [Android], or [Kindle] device, and enter hopewellarp for your broadcaster.

Making Much of Jesus Together [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 18:6–11]

What does treating Jesus as great look like in the church? Matthew 18:6–11 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that treating Jesus as great means refusing to encourage others’ sin and declaring war on our own. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.26 Hopewell @Home ▫ Matthew 18:6–11

Read Matthew 18:6–11

Questions from the Scripture text: What might someone do to one of Jesus’s little ones (Matthew 18:6)? Little ones who do what? What would be better for the one who does this? Upon what does Matthew 18:7 pronounce woe? Because of what? What must come? Upon whom else does verse 7 pronounce woe? What does v8 imagine causing you to stumble? What should you do to that hand or foot? Why? What does Matthew 18:9 imagine causing you to stumble? What should you do to that eye? Why? To the consideration of whom does Matthew 18:10 return? What must they see to it that they do not do to them? Whom do they have where? And what do those angels always see? Who has come to save little ones (Matthew 18:11)? What sort, specifically?

What does treating Jesus as great look like in the church? Matthew 18:6–11 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that treating Jesus as great means refusing to encourage others’ sin and declaring war on our own.  

Help other little ones treat Jesus as great, Matthew 18:6-7. Rather than focus upon being greater than others, we ought to be focused upon helping one another treat Jesus as great. Prideful jockeying for status in the church is exactly the opposite, and is  way of causing one another to stumble. Jesus denounces this in shocking terms in Matthew 18:6 and pronounces a solemn woe upon it in Matthew 18:7. The world, by which verse 7 means that which is hostile to Christ, would like nothing more than to cause believers to stumble. Jesus pronounces  woe upon it. But, if we cause one another to stumble, then we become just like the world in that regard, and Jesus pronounces a woe upon us when that is the case.

Cut out anything that keeps you from treating Jesus as great, Matthew 18:8-9. Whatever diminishes Christ to us threatens our very soul. We know that it is not the hand or foot or eye that actually causes us to stumble. But there are certainly activities that we do with our hands, and places that we go with our feet, and things that we look upon with our eyes, that should be ruthlessly expunged from out lives. Choosing sin over Christ, and not caring to correct it, is a reliable indicator that we are not in Him at all.

Treat His salvation as great by greatly regarding those whom He is saving, Matthew 18:10-11. Just who do we think that we are, looking down upon Christ’s little ones. Angels do not look down on them! Indeed, each little one has mighty ministering spirits, sent out to serve them (Matthew 18:10, cf. Hebrews 1:14). They know true greatness; they are familiar with God’s own glory in the highest heaven; and, they still don’t despise these little ones. What’s more, infinitely more, is that the Son of Man has regarded them. This Glorious One has so regarded them that, when they were lost, He Himself came to save them. He humbled Himself to come save them! Just who do we think that we are to look down upon them? Let us regard them out of regard for Him, and in imitation of Him!

What are situations in which you are in danger of encouraging others’ sin? What are some circumstances, occasions, or people who influence you to treat sin as ok? How can you keep in mind that, in such situations, you are allied either with hell or with heaven?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for exposing the hatefulness of sin by the greatness of Christ. Grant that we would truly hate it, and truly love Him, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP24 “The Earth and the Riches” or TPH280 “Wondrous King, All Glorious”

Either Heaven or Hell [Children's Catechism 142–Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 142—especially explaining how there are only two things that can happen to you at the judgment: heaven or hell.

Q142. What will become of the wicked in the day of judgment? They shall be cast into hell.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Christian Church [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 28:16–20]

For what does the Lord institute baptism? Matthew 28:16–20 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord institutes baptism as a sign of Christ’s authority and power in His gathering church. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.25 Hopewell @Home ▫ Matthew 28:16–20

Read Matthew 28:16–20

Questions from the Scripture text: Who go to Galilee (Matthew 28:16)? Which mountain do they go to? Whom do they see (Matthew 28:17)? What do they all do to Him? What do some of them do? Who came and spoke to them (Matthew 28:18)? How much authority has been given to Him? Which authority has been given to Him? What are they to make, therefore (Matthew 28:19)? By what two actions are disciples made (verse 19b, Matthew 28:20)? Into what single name are they baptized? What are they taught to do with Jesus’s commands? How many of them? Who is with them always, as they make disciples? Even until when?

For what does the Lord institute baptism? Matthew 28:16–20 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord institutes baptism as a sign of Christ’s authority and power in His gathering church.  

When Jesus’s disciples are brokenhearted at the Passover, the Lord Jesus instituted the Supper to direct their hearts and minds unto Him, to feed spiritually upon Him repeatedly for the rest of the age. 

And now, when some of them are still doubting after having seen Him multiple times (as we learn from John 21), the Lord Jesus institutes baptism to affirm to them His authority and glory (Matthew 28:18), obligate them to His service (Matthew 28:19), and assure them of His presence and power  unto the end of the age. These are exactly the things to which every single one whom Jesus adds to His church needs to commit. 

In the first century, baptisms were already used as initiations/identifications by set-apart groups. The same had been true of circumcision. Now, Jesus initiates baptism as the mark of the church of His disciples. And what does this mark teach us?

That all authority has been given to Him in heaven and earth. He is God from all eternity. But He became a Man, lived a perfectly obedient life, died an atoning death, and rose again from the dead. His saving work as the Christ is done. His time of humiliation is over. Even in His human nature, He is now exalted. Not only over the earth. But even over heaven! He is, in His divinity, “He who sits upon the throne.” But He is also, in His humanity, the risen and ascended and exalted “Lamb who sits upon the throne.” We must trust in Him and worship Him. Faith.

Christian baptism also teaches us that we are obligated to be disciples who make disciples. If our risen Lord is in authority generally, how much more over His disciples specifically! And what does He want them (and us) to do? Well, there is a great and primary duty: make disciples. But, there is also something else that He wants disciples to do “observe all thing that Jesus has commanded.” If the church does not teach the whole counsel of God, it is guilty of the lives of its members (Acts 20:26–27). Not all may be teachers, but all must learn. We have a duty to study in order to believe all of Jesus’s doctrine and obey all of Jesus’s commands. Obedience.

And the last big thing that Christian baptism teaches is that this faith and obedience can come only through the grace of ongoing, continual delight in and dependence upon Jesus’s fellowship. “and lo, I am with you always.”

The Lord Jesus had said that He Himself would build His church and that the gates of Hell would not prevail against it (cf. Matthew 16:18). But now the Lord Jesus is leaving, and this group before Him is not very promising. 

There are only eleven of them because one who was numbered among the disciples turned out to be the betrayer. That might dampen your confidence about the new disciples in Matthew 28:19—especially when you consider that even from among the eleven that remain, there are still some who are doubting.

But it is exactly into our consideration of these disciples, and the disciples that they are to be making, that Jesus announces that it is about His authority and power, not ours, and His faithfulness, not ours.

Jesus announces that He has authority in heaven and on earth, and a church that is in heaven and on earth. The resurrected Man before them has authority even in Heaven to pour out the Holy Spirit, for He is a divine Person. They have known since Matthew 3:11 that He would baptize with the Holy Spirit. 

Baptisms were already used as initiations into groups, and now Jesus notifies them that as He is the Second Person of the Trinity, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is the church of the Triune God. He commands that the one Name (singular—one God) into which they be baptized be Triune (three Persons, whose one name is “Father and Son and Holy Spirit”). And so, our baptisms remind us that Jesus has this authority both with reference to His eternal godhood, and with reference to His finished and perfect work as the Redeemer.

When He marks of His holy assembly with this particular sign in this particular Name, we can see that He is saying: “it depends upon My power.” And when He follows by saying, “and lo, I am with you always,” we can hear that it depends upon His faithfulness. That is wonderful news for those whose weakness and unfaithfulness would lead to ultimate failure!

Jesus answers our weakness by His strength in His gospel signs and words.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that we need not do anything. It rather means the exact opposite: that we must do everything. He has marked us as His own, and as those to whom He has committed His power. We ought to obey all His commands merely because we are His creatures, and then again because He has bought us by His blood, and now again because He has marked us off as holy and set apart to Him! Therefore, disciples must be taught to “observe all things I have commanded you.”

Thus, we realize that baptism is not a statement by the new disciple, but by the Lord of the disciples, through those whom He has commanded to mark and teach them. It is a mark that is displayed anew to the holy assembly, whenever it is being applied to a new addition to that assembly. In it, our Lord presents Himself and His Spirit for the worship of His people!

Who is “saying something” in baptism? What is He saying? How are you responding?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for giving us baptism as a sign of Your authority and power to make us into disciples, and to make those whom we teach and baptize into disciples. Forgive us for whenever we are self-reliant in evangelistic work, or when we are neglectful of evangelistic work. Grant that we would keep teaching, keep baptizing, and keep trusting that You will be with us to use these for making disciples of Christ, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP111A “O Praise the Lord” or TPH424 “All Authority and Power”

Sign of the Covenant [Family Worship lesson in Genesis 17:9–14]

What is circumcision? Genesis 17:9–14 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that circumcision is a sign that points us away from ourselves and unto the grace of God.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.24 Hopewell @Home ▫ Genesis 17:9-14

Read Genesis 17:9-14

Questions from the Scripture text: Who speaks to whom in Genesis 17:9? What does God tell Abraham to keep? Whom else does God say must keep His covenant? What obligation does God call “My covenant” in Genesis 17:10? Who must be circumcised? Who else gets included in the command in Genesis 17:11? When must a child be circumcised (Genesis 17:12)? What two groups are specified in verse 12, then reaffirmed in Genesis 17:13, as being required to have the sign applied to them? How long does the covenant with Abraham last? What if someone does not receive the sign—what shall happen to him (Genesis 17:14)? Why?

What is circumcision? Genesis 17:9–14 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that circumcision is a sign that points us away from ourselves and unto the grace of God.

God has already covenanted Himself to be and do many wonderful things for Abraham. So, when God says “this is My covenant” and gives Abraham a responsibility, we must not think that the emphasis is upon what Abraham does.

In fact, Genesis 17:11 further explains Genesis 17:10 by saying, “it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.” Of course the sign is an obligation—so important that God threatens to cut off whomever rejects it (cf. Genesis 17:14)! But it is an obligation to be reminded that this covenant is from the grace of God and depends upon the grace of God.

Dependence upon God’s grace is inherent to the sign itself—coming as it does only upon males, and specifically in their flesh in a way that reminds them of how their children also come from their flesh. A man’s children are already federally guilty and genuinely fallen in him. They already have a father on earth. They need a Father in Heaven through Christ! They need a new representative to deal with the guilt of sin and a new nature to deal with the power of sin. Notice that God keeps saying MY covenant, MY covenant, MY covenant. The sign demonstrates this in at least three ways:

First, there is the substance represented by the sign. The sign is of a promise that belongs to Him. The sign is of a power that comes from Him. 

Second, there is the type of action assigned in the sign. The sign itself is presented as passive—something that is done to the males in Genesis 17:10, Genesis 17:11, Genesis 17:12, Genesis 17:13, Genesis 17:14… not something that they themselves do. It is an obligation, but it is one that is ultimately kept on their behalf by those already in the covenant. 

Third, there is the ordinary timing of the sign. Yes, there are some who come into the covenant less naturally—purchased with money, joining the household of God from the outside. But for those whom the Lord brings into the covenant from the start, the sign is applied to them before they could do or decide anything for themselves.

The sign is GOD’s sign. But the fact that it points us away from ourselves and unto Him is exactly why it’s also so vital. To reject the sign would be to reject the thing signified—essentially to miss that God is declaring to us that salvation depends upon (and is most certainly secured by) the Lord!

It might slip our notice, as we look at the rest of this passage, that Abraham spends the entire passage on his face. We would do well to come with the same posture of heart toward God, as He says MY covenant, MY covenant, MY covenant.

God is the One who initiates this covenant. Abraham does not have a choice in the matter. He did not make a decision or a commitment to bring himself into this binding relationship. Of course, he must decide and commit, but these were not optional for him.

God is the One who makes all of the promises. Promise to forgive. Promise to make holy. Promise to defeat death. Promise to give land. Promise of everlasting relationship. Yes, there are demands of Abraham, explicit and implicit. Faith. Obedience. Service. Worship. Even the application of the sign itself—which implies his obligation to yield to all of these things. But this is God’s covenant, and it has at its core God’s promises.

God is the One who will sustain both sides of the covenant. We saw this with the smoking pot and flaming torch in chapter 15. We heard it earlier in this chapter with the glorious statement that God Almighty would exercise that power in sustaining Abraham’s walk. In between, in chapter 16, all we had was Abraham’s failure.

Ultimately, this is a picture of Christ Himself. It is in Christ that God keeps all of these promises in your life and mine! The sign has changed but the substance is the same.

What aspects of circumcision are the same in baptism, as this covenant continues? When were you baptized? How often do you reflect upon it and look to Christ?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for giving us a covenant sign that points us to Your power and promise and is applied to us by others, rather than something that we ourselves do. Forgive us for treating the sign as something that we do, and for treating our Christianity as something that depends upon us. Grant that, by Your sure grace, we would walk zealously in Christ Jesus, in Whose Name we ask it, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH234 “The God of Abraham Praise”

An Almighty Covenant to Sanctify [Family Worship lesson in Genesis 17:1–8]

What do believers who have been stumbling along in their own strength need? Genesis 17:1–8 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that believers need to be turned away from themselves to the Lord Who covenants them to Himself—and Himself to them.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.23 Hopewell @Home ▫ Genesis 17:1-8

Read Genesis 17:1-8

Questions from the Scripture text: How old was Abram in Genesis 17:1? How much time has passed since chapter 16? Who appears to Abram? What does He call Himself? What does He command Abram to do? What will YHWH make between Himself and Abram (Genesis 17:2)? What will He do? How does Abram respond in Genesis 17:3? How does God respond to that? What does God proceed to say about Himself in Genesis 17:4? What outcome will this have for Abram? What else is God changing for Abram in Genesis 17:5? What are some of the details in Genesis 17:6 about what God will do for Abram? With whom is this covenant established (Genesis 17:7)? How is this covenant relationship described? What else does God give them in this covenant (Genesis 17:8)?

What do believers who have been stumbling along in their own strength need? Genesis 17:1–8 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that believers need to be turned away from themselves to the Lord Who covenants them to Himself—and Himself to them.

It has now been another 14 years that the Lord has not spoken to Abram—14 years of Abram living with the consequences of his sin. Yahweh shows up and announces, “I am God Almighty!”

Abram has every reason to expect to be destroyed, but instead this announcement of God’s power is the prelude to sustaining him. Not “be banished from before Me and suffer” but “walk before Me and be blameless.”

What follows is statement after statement of God’s commitment of Himself to Abram—and God also committing Abram to Himself. 

This mutual commitment is called a “covenant,” and establishes that wonderful relationship: He will be “God to you and your descendants after you.”

This is so powerful that it even changes Abram’s identity—changes his name: Abraham.

And the Holy Spirit comes to us in the New Testament and tells us that when we trust in Christ as Abraham did, then we too are objects of this almighty power, objects of this unswerving commitment, this identity-changing relationship with the Lord.

What do believers who have been stumbling along in their own strength need? This is the question we see presented in Abram, who has been dealing with the consequences of the Hagar choice for thirteen years, as this passage opens.

Such believers need the power of God Almighty at work in them. We might think that “I am God Almighty” is the prelude to destroying a sinner, since that is what Abram is. But it is instead the prelude to sustaining a saint, since that is also what Abram is: “I am God Almighty, [so] walk before Me and be blameless”!

Such believers need the presence of God Almighty pressed into them. The knowledge that we are before His face is a help against all fear of men, and even against service of self.

Such believers need the purity of God’s standard applied to them. Be blameless. Not the run-of-the-mill blamelessness in the eyes of men, either. Blameless in the eyes of God! Only one who has been shown God’s grace in Christ can have this as a standard, because only Christ’s sacrifice and righteousness can be the sure fulfillment of such a standard on our behalf, and only Christ’s life in us can be a sure hope that we will one day be conformed to such a standard.

Such believers need the promise of God Almighty covenanted to them. We who are so deserving of wrath need God’s glorious swearing of Himself to us as an encouragement to our faith (cf. Hebrews 6:13-20). It was not for His sake that God entered into such a commitment, but for ours.

Such believers need the propriety (ownership) of God pronounced upon them. One way that God reaffirms that He has special ownership of Abram is by changing his name. “You are Mine, so you will be called what I call you.” And so He calls us saint, brother, believer, sons of God, etc. in the Scripture.

Such believers need the prosperity (fruitfulness) of God’s commitment held out unto them. What sad consequences we endure daily from our fall in Adam. But God’s salvation in Christ is even more effective. Genesis 17:6, Genesis 17:8 present the opposite of Abraham’s current experience. And as God tells us throughout Scripture of the effects of His gospel, we expect this opposite-fruit to continue.

Such believers need the persistence of God’s covenant affirmed to them. Persistence across generations: just as the fall comes upon our children simply because they are ours, all of these covenant benefits are held out to them by God, also because they are ours. And persistence across time. This is still the same covenant that we are in when we believe in Jesus. It is an everlasting covenant that belongs to all who have the same faith in Christ as Abraham (cf. Romans 4:11-18, Galatians 3:7, Galatians 3:29).

What are some things God has committed Himself to do by His power for you? What are some things that He has brought you into a commitment to do toward Him?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for covenanting us to Yourself and Yourself to us. Forgive us for trying to walk, or to be blameless, through our own strength. Be God to us, and to our children, forever, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP87 “The Lord’s Foundation” or TPH461 “Blessed Are the Sons of God”

A Song to Fill Us with Last-Day Joy—Today! [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 98]

Who is to praise YHWH, in what manner, in the last day? Psalm 98 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that in Day of Judgment, believers from all nations will sing and shout joyfully over the Lord, together with a liberated creation. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.22 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 98

Read Psalm 98

Questions from the Scripture text: What does this Psalm call itself (superscript)? What does Psalm 98:1a command us to do? To Whom? What sort of song? Why (verse 1b)? What is the first of thee marvelous things, and how did He gain it (verse 1c)? What has He done about this salvation (Psalm 98:2a)? What did it show about Him (verse 2b)? In Whose sight has He revealed it? What two things has He remembered (Psalm 98:3a)? Unto whom? Who have seen this (verse 3b)? What does verse 3b call it? What new command does Psalm 98:4a give? What sort of shout? Unto Whom? By whom? What does the shouting burst into (verse 4b)? What two things are they to do in this singing? What command does Psalm 98:5a give? Unto Whom are they to Psalm? With what? With what four priestly instruments (Psalm 98:5-6a)? What command does Psalm 98:6b repeat? What sort of shout? Unto Whom? What office does He hold? What else is commanded to do what (Psalm 98:7a)? How much of it? What else (verse 7b)? And who else? What else is commanded to do what (Psalm 98:8a)? And what else to do what else (verse 8b)? Before Whom? Why, what is He doing (Psalm 98:9a)? Why is He coming? How will He judge whom in verse 9b? And how whom in verse 9c?

Who is to praise YHWH, in what manner, in the last day? Psalm 98 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that in Day of Judgment, believers from all nations will sing and shout joyfully over the Lord, together with a liberated creation.  

A new song for a new day. Like Psalm 96, this Psalm commands a new song. And, like Psalm 96, all creation is singing it at the coming of YHWH to judge the earth. The Lord has given us instruction in Scripture about His coming to judge the earth, not only so that we will live soberly in light of eternity, and so that we will be confident about His vindicating and avenging us eventually, but so that we will sing His praise for it already, now! So that we will shout joyfully over Him, now!

Marvelous works of the marvelous God. The first reason given for singing is, “for He has done marvelous things” (Psalm 98:1b). God’s works aren’t just actions, they are revelations. Because it is “His right hand” that gains the victory and “His holy arm” that gains the victory (verse 1c), His victory is a “making known” (Psalm 98:2a) and a “revealing” (verse 2b). He doesn’t just do marvelous works; He displays that He is a marvelous God!

Covenantal redemption with cosmos-wide celebration. The fulfillment of the great commission (cf. Matthew 28:18–20) is behind this song. In His salvation, the Lord remembered (acted upon) His steadfast love and faithfulness toward the house of Israel (Psalm 98:3a). But the Israel that He has gathered is “in the sight of the nations” (Psalm 98:2c), so that “all the ends of the earth have seen” this salvation. Indeed, “all the earth” not only sees but shouts (Psalm 98:4a) and sings (verse 4b). And the whole creation joins in (Psalm 98:7-8). It is eager for the “great reveal” of the sons of God (cf. Romans 8:19), at which time it will be delivered to participate in their freedom (cf. Romans 8:21).

Noisy, joyous worship. Psalm 98:4-6 are bookended with a command to “shout joyfully” (Psalm 98:4a, Psalm 98:6b). The command to sing in v4b is technically a command to “burst out.” Song is the content of this bursting out. The whole creation joins, roaring (Psalm 98:7a) and clapping (Psalm 98:8a) and rejoicing (verse 8b). And dwellers of the whole world (Psalm 98:7b) round out the company. There is an amplitude commanded in this component of worship. 

But there is also an attitude commanded: “joyfully” (Psalm 98:4a), “rejoice” (verse 4b), “joyfully” (Psalm 98:6b). At the time of the temple, the Levitical priesthood would assist and accompany this joy by a bevy of instruments (cf. 1 Chronicles 15:16, 1 Chronicles 25:1, 1 Chronicles 25:6): harp, psaltry, trumpets, horn (Psalm 98:5-6a). The Great High Priest accompanies by the melody of His grace in the heart (cp. Ephesians 5:19b with Colossians 3:16c).  At the heart of all of this noisy, joyous, priest-assisted song is the ”Psalming” of God. Psalm 98:5a literally, begins, “Psalm YHWH!”

The great occasion of worship. What occasions this great worship? YHWH coming to judge (Psalm 98:9a–b). Ever since man fell, unrighteous and in crooked judgment has plagued mankind. But the world (verse 9b) is destined to be judged by the Lord. He will judge it with righteousness (verse 9b). He will judge all the peoples with uprightness (verse 9c). This would not be good news for a guilty or unatoned people, for it would mean their condemnation. But what we see here is a new creation earth full of a new creation people. They are in Christ (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:17). As those redeemed by His blood, and righteous before God in Him, His judgment is a deliverance not a condemnation (cf. Romans 8:33–34). They are freed by His salvation to rejoice over His judgment.

Do you rejoice over the judgments of God? What would free you to do so? What place does looking forward to the Great Day of His judgment have in your thoughts and affections? How are you praying for and participating in the spread of the gospel?

Sample prayer:  Our Father in heaven, thank You for giving Your Son to be our great Prophet, Priest, and King. In Him, You have declared Yourself to us. In Him, You have consecrated us and led our worship. In Him, You have ruled over us and defended us, and will vindicate us in the last day. Now, grant the help of Your Spirit, so that we would always know You in Christ and come to You through Christ, in Whose Name we ask it, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP98 “O Sing a New Song to the Lord” or TPH98A “O Sing a New Song to the Lord”

The Chief End of Children [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 13:20–25]

To what end should we aim our parenting? Proverbs 13:20–25 looks forward to the sermon in this week’s midweek meeting. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should live and parent as those who wish to be satisfied upon the Lord, forever. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.21 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 13:20–25

Proverbs 13:20–25

Questions from the Scripture text: With whom does the one in Proverbs 13:20a walk? What happens to him? Whose companion is he one in verse 20b? What happens to him? What pursues sinners (Proverbs 13:21a)? What shall be repaid to the righteous (verse 21b)? What does the good man leave to whom (Proverbs 13:22a)? What happens to whom else’s wealth (verse 22b)? How much food is where (Proverbs 13:23a)? What does lack of justice cause (verse 23b)? What is he man in Proverbs 13:24a failing to do? What sort of action is this toward his son? What does the man who loves his son do (verse 24b)? What does the righteous get out of eating (Proverbs 13:25a)? How about the wicked (verse 25b)? 

To what end should we aim our parenting? Proverbs 13:20–25 looks backward to the sermon in last week’s midweek meeting. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should live and parent as those who wish to be satisfied upon the Lord, forever.  

In this little section, Proverbs 13:20-21 establishes the theme, and Proverbs 13:22-25 applies it, especially to what we do with our children, and especially through he image of hunger. One preliminary step to humbling ourselves under the wisdom of others is spending time with those who are wise (Proverbs 13:20), and the needfulness of receiving this instruction is immediately seen in Proverbs 13:21. Just as goodness and covenant love  are hot on the heels of the believer in Psalm 23:6, the same verb tells us that evil is hot on the heels of sinners in Proverbs 13:21a. How very much we need wisdom! It is the difference between having an evil end and a good end (verse 21b).

And there are those whose end we have been especially assigned, by God’s providence, to care for: our children and our children’s children. Proverbs 13:22 teaches not so much a principle (that the good should try to leave an inheritance to children’s children) as a generalized fact (that, ordinarily, godliness is met with multi-generational blessing). Of course, this wealth is especially spiritual—as we remember, from earlier in the chapter, that God Himself (and the righteousness necessary for right relationship with Him) is true riches. This should be the godly’s aim, and hope, for his children and children’s children.

This is why the godly will not leave his children to themselves, or to other children. If, indeed, rod-demanding folly is bound up in their hearts (Proverbs 13:24, cf. Proverbs 22:15), then two things are true. First, the godly ought not to seek “peer groups” for their children and youth. This is to consign them to the fate of the companion of fools: destruction. Let parents instead be their children’s companions, and let them seek for their children other mature believers to be companions. In such good, multigenerational company, children of parents who are pursuing the same biblical wisdom for them may grow safely together in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and with men. Second, the godly must not only employ the rod, but do so instantly. Like their child’s life depends upon it (Proverbs 13:20, cf. Proverbs 22:15, Proverbs 23:13–14). This is what love does, when so much is at stake (Proverbs 13:24b)! 

In the alternating verses (Proverbs 13:23, Proverbs 13:25), the reality and metaphor of hunger is used to illustrate the whole of godliness from the part of diligence. Those poor in Proverbs 13:23 are poor because neither have they been diligent to work their ground (verse 23a), nor have they been good stewards of what it produced (verse 23b). Untrained children exhibit this exact laziness and wastefulness. And, the parent sees in it a glimpse of what their children may be. Notice the imbalance in the contrast in Proverbs 13:25. The difference between the righteous and the wicked can be seen even in their area of focus. For the righteous, it is his soul that he seeks to see satisfied—and it will be (verse 25a)! For the wicked, his stomach is his focus (cf. Philippians 3:19), but even that will always feel like it is needing more (Proverbs 13:25b). The godly desire, for themselves and for their children and children’s children, to have everlastingly satisfied souls!

Who are your companions? Who are your children’s companions? What might change in your disciplining (or your being disciplined), if it was done like your life depends on it? How diligent are you in satisfying your stomach? How diligent are you in satisfying your soul?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for being our good Father, Who gives us both the instruction that we need and the discipline that we need. Grant that we might walk with those wise, with whom we too will become wise, and have our souls satisfied in You, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH119B “How Shall the Young Direct Their Way?” 

2025.04.20 Lord's Day livestreams (live at 10:10a, 11:10a, 3p)

Click below for the:

April 20 Lord's Day Worship Booklet

Matthew 18:1–11 sermon outline

3p song selections & Deuteronomy 4:11–40 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.

IF you are unable to get the stream to work, or simply wish to save on data, you can listen in simply by calling 712.432.3410 and entering 70150 at the prompt.

Each week we livestream the Lord's Day (Sabbath School, Morning Public Worship, and p.m. Singing and Sermon) and Midweek Meeting (sermon and prayer). For notifications when Hopewell is streaming live, install the CHURCHONE APP on your [Apple], [Android], or [Kindle] device, and enter hopewellarp for your broadcaster.

He Is the Greatest! [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 18:1–11]

Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Matthew 18:1–11 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and this must shape how we regard others, and all things. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.19 Hopewell @Home ▫ Matthew 18:1–11

Read Matthew 18:1–11

Questions from the Scripture text: Who came to Jesus in Matthew 18:1? About what did they ask Him? Whom does Jesus call in response (Matthew 18:2)? Where does He set him? How does the introduction to His statement emphasize its solemnity (Matthew 18:3)? What two things does He say they must do (verse 3)? In order to do what? What, then, is His answer to the question (Matthew 18:4)? What else might someone do to one of these little ones (Matthew 18:6)? Little ones who do what? What would be better for the one who does this? Upon what does Matthew 18:7 pronounce woe? Because of what? What must come? Upon whom else does verse 7 pronounce woe? What does Matthew 18:8 imagine causing you to stumble? What should you do to that hand or foot? Why? What does Matthew 18:9 imagine causing you to stumble? What should you do to that eye? Why? To the consideration of whom does Matthew 18:10 return? What must they see to it that they do not do to them? Whom do they have where? And what do those angels always see? Who has come to save little ones (Matthew 18:11)? What sort, specifically?

Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Matthew 18:1–11 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and this must shape how we regard others, and all things.  

Become little ones, Matthew 18:1-3. The disciples are understanding that there is a significant disconnect between the powers of this world and the power of the kingdom. Jesus is coming into a very great and kingly glory, and now they want to know how to get the biggest piece of that (Matthew 18:1). But Jesus employs a little child to illustrate (Matthew 18:2) that their thinking is exactly opposite. The word “converted” in Matthew 18:3 isn’t the changing of a new mind, but a word that means to turn or return. 

Become littler in the light of Christ’s greatness, Matthew 18:4-5. The way up is actually the way down. You cannot even enter the kingdom of heaven without returning to that condition in which your smallness, inability, and helplessness are your unquestioned reality. Christ must be all for you. But even within the kingdom, the path to greatness is to keep going down, keep humbling himself (Matthew 18:4). For, in the kingdom, the greatness is all Christ’s. We are to welcome even little ones with the regard that we have for Him Who is the greatness of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:5). 

This is the ultimate answer to their question, isn’t it? The greatest in the kingdom of heaven is Jesus! Our aim should not be to be great, ourselves, but to treat Jesus as great—receiving the least on account of His greatness is treating Him as great. This is why Christians are to outdo one another in showing honor (cf. Romans 12:10b).

Help other little ones treat Jesus as great, Matthew 18:6-7. Rather than focus upon being greater than others, we ought to be focused upon helping one another treat Jesus as great. Prideful jockeying for status in the church is exactly the opposite, and is  way of causing one another to stumble. Jesus denounces this in shocking terms in Matthew 18:6 and pronounces a solemn woe upon it in Matthew 18:7. The world, by which verse 7 means that which is hostile to Christ, would like nothing more than to cause believers to stumble. Jesus pronounces  woe upon it. But, if we cause one another to stumble, then we become just like the world in that regard, and Jesus pronounces a woe upon us when that is the case.

Cut out anything that keeps you from treating Jesus as great, Matthew 18:8-9. Whatever diminishes Christ to us threatens our very soul. We know that it is not the hand or foot or eye that actually causes us to stumble. But there are certainly activities that we do with our hands, and places that we go with our feet, and things that we look upon with our eyes, that should be ruthlessly expunged from out lives. Choosing sin over Christ, and not caring to correct it, is a reliable indicator that we are not in Him at all.

Treat His salvation as great by greatly regarding those whom He is saving, Matthew 18:10-11. Just who do we think that we are, looking down upon Christ’s little ones. Angels do not look down on them! Indeed, each little one has mighty ministering spirits, sent out to serve them (Matthew 18:10, cf. Hebrews 1:14). They know true greatness; they are familiar with God’s own glory in the highest heaven; and, they still don’t despise these little ones. What’s more, infinitely more, is that the Son of Man has regarded them. This Glorious One has so regarded them that, when they were lost, He Himself came to save them. He humbled Himself to come save them! Just who do we think that we are to look down upon them? Let us regard them out of regard for Him, and in imitation of Him!

In what situations have you been tempted to desire to be seen as great? What would it look like for you to be happy to be small in those situations? What would it look like for you to be treating Christ as truly great?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we thank You for the humility of Jesus Christ, Your everlasting and glorious Son. Thank You that, even when He came to be the glorious Son of Man, He humbled Himself further and further until He had given Himself on the cross for us. Please, give us the humility to consider ourselves as little babies, by comparison to His incomparable greatness, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP131 “My Heart Is Not Exalted, Lord” or TPH131B “Not Haughty Is My Heart”

The Greatest Miracle [Family Worship lesson in Deuteronomy 4:11–40]

How are we to know God? Deuteronomy 4:11–40 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirty verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we must know, draw near to, and worship God only in the manner in which He Himself has given us to do so.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.18 Hopewell @Home ▫ Deuteronomy 4:11–40

Read Deuteronomy 4:11–40

Questions from the Scripture text: Where had they come (Deuteronomy 4:11)? What was the mountain like? Who did what from where (Deuteronomy 4:12)? What did they hear? What did they see? What, specifically, did He declare (Deuteronomy 4:13)? What else did He do with this covenant/commandments? And what did He command Moses to do (Deuteronomy 4:14)? So that the people might do what? Where? To what must they take heed (Deuteronomy 4:15)? Why—what didn’t they see? When? From where did YHWH speak? What would they do, if they do not take heed to themselves (Deuteronomy 4:16)? Of what might they make an image (Deuteronomy 4:16-18)? What else might they serve in worship (Deuteronomy 4:19)? But from Whom are they gifts? In order to serve whom? How are Israel different from the rest of the world—Who brought them out (Deuteronomy 4:20)? From where? To be what? With whom was YHWH angry (Deuteronomy 4:21)? On account of whom? What did He swear? What must Moses do instead (Deuteronomy 4:22)? To what must they take heed (Deuteronomy 4:23)? Lest they do what? By making what? What makes it so urgent that they worship only as He has given (Deuteronomy 4:24, cf. Hebrews 12:29)? Whom will they beget (Deuteronomy 4:25)? Where? By doing what? In Whose sight is this evil? To what does it provoke Him? Whom/what does he call to witness in Deuteronomy 4:26? What will happen to them if they do act corruptly (verse 26)? And what will YHWH do to them (Deuteronomy 4:27)? How many will remain? What will they do there (Deuteronomy 4:28)? Until they do what from there (Deuteronomy 4:29)? What will happen if they seek Him? In what manner? To what point will they be brought (Deuteronomy 4:30)? What will they do in this distress? What is the character of their God (Deuteronomy 4:31)? What will He not do to them? What will He not forget? About what period does Moses now tell them to ask (Deuteronomy 4:32)? Whether what has happened? What is the “great thing” to which he is referring (Deuteronomy 4:33)? And what else (Deuteronomy 4:34)? Why did YHWH do such great things (Deuteronomy 4:35)? What great thing does He repeat in Deuteronomy 4:36? What is another reason that He did these great things (Deuteronomy 4:37)? What new, great thing does this verse mention? What did He do to whom? And what did He do to whom in Deuteronomy 4:38? What two things are they to do with what fact (Deuteronomy 4:39)? How are they to respond to this reality (Deuteronomy 4:40)? With what outcome? 

How are we to know God? Deuteronomy 4:11–40 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirty verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we must know, draw near to, and worship God only in the manner in which He Himself has given us to do so.

We really don’t get how glorious a thing it is to hear the Word of God. This passage puts hearing His Word (Deuteronomy 4:11-14, Deuteronomy 4:33, Deuteronomy 4:36) right up there with the greatest signs and wonders against Egypt (Deuteronomy 4:20, Deuteronomy 4:34, Deuteronomy 4:37) and the Amorites (Deuteronomy 4:38). 

Indeed, hearing His Word is the manner in which He has given us to know Him. He did not give them to see any likeness (Deuteronomy 4:12, Deuteronomy 4:15). This is why it is so wicked to worship Him by way of any form that we make (Deuteronomy 4:16-18, Deuteronomy 4:23) or any creature that He has made (Deuteronomy 4:19). To do so is to act corruptly, to do evil to His face, and to provoke Him to anger (Deuteronomy 4:25). 

YHWH has given Himself to us! And YHWH, Himself, therefore is the only One Who can establish how we worship Him or draw near to Him. The living God has saved a people to be His own inheritance (Deuteronomy 4:20). And He is determined that they would come to count Him as their inheritance (Deuteronomy 4:29), seeking Him with all their heart and turning to Him (Deuteronomy 4:30), which He will bring about in mercy (Deuteronomy 4:31). 

The Lord has done this to make them to know Him as the one, true God (Deuteronomy 4:35), because He had set His love upon their fathers (Deuteronomy 4:37). Here is the great thing that God does in covenanted love: He makes a people to know Him Himself as the only true God (Deuteronomy 4:39)! And this is the basis of our obedience (Deuteronomy 4:40): it is a right response not only to the fact that God is the one, true, and living God, but that He has particularly made us to know Him. 

What is at stake in their response to Moses’s sermon is not just good behavior. What is at stake is that they would know, with their whole lives, that YHWH alone is God, and that YHWH had given Himself to be their own covenant God and taken them to be His own covenant people. 

Breaking any of God’s commands violently rejects this glorious reality. But what does so, most of all, is to worship God in any way that He has not commanded. This is why, when He came by way of His Word alone, He presented Himself as a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24). He is committed to the true reality about Himself and how He gives Himself to us. And now that He has given Himself to us in His Son, this is not diminished, but rather intensified (cf. Hebrews 12:28–29)!

What does it mean to you that the Lord, the Creator, has given you to know Him in truth? How does this help you detest any kind of worship that the Lord Himself has not commanded? What are some common examples, today, of uncommanded worship in evangelical churches? What are some examples of it, even in professedly “Reformed” churches?

Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for loving us and determining to bring us to know You in truth. Forgive us for the ways in which we have chosen our imaginings over Your reality, and bring us to repentance in Christ. Through Him, bring us near to Yourself in truth, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP115A “Not Unto Us, Lord” or TPH135 “O Praise the Lord! His Praise Proclaim!”

The Prevailing of Persecuted Preaching [Family Worship lesson in Revelation 11:1–14]

What is the story of the age during which demonic hordes have been permitted to wreak havoc upon the earth? Revelation 11:1–14 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the story of this age has not been so much those things that warn about the wrath, but the power of the gospel that urges us to flee the wrath to come.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.17 Hopewell @Home ▫ Revelation 11:1–14

Read Revelation 11:1–14

Questions from the Scripture text: What was John given (Revelation 11:1)? To measure what three things? What was he to leave out (Revelation 11:2)? Why? What would the nations do? For how long? To whom would the Angel give His power (Revelation 11:3)? What would they do? For how many days? In what attire? As what are the two witnesses described in Revelation 11:4? Before Whom do they especially stand? Over what is He called “Lord” here? What proceeds from their mouth (Revelation 11:5)? What does it do to their enemies who want to harm them? How sure is this to happen? What powers do they have by their prophesying (Revelation 11:6)? When are these preachers permitted to be killed (Revelation 11:7)? How? Who will gloat over them (Revelation 11:9-10)? Why? According to whose example (Revelation 11:8)? For how long? But what will happen then (Revelation 11:11)? With what effect upon those who see them? What do the prophets hear in Revelation 11:12? From where? What does it say? What do they do? Who sees this? What happens at that time on earth (Revelation 11:13)? And what falls? With what effect on how many? And what effect on the rest? What do they finally do? What does this conclude (Revelation 11:14)? What is now coming quickly? 

What is the story of the age during which demonic hordes have been permitted to wreak havoc upon the earth? Revelation 11:1–14 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the story of this age has not been so much those things that warn about the wrath, but the power of the gospel that urges us to flee the wrath to come.

In the face of the demonic hordes of the fifth and sixth trumpets, chapter 10 gave us a heavenly perspective on the power of Christ to reign, and His assignment to His servants to preach. Now, in Revelation 11:1–14, John sees the same thing from the vantage point of the earth. 

There is an emphasis upon measurement here (Revelation 11:1). Everywhere in the New Testament, the new temple of God is the church. By the time that the early church unanimously tells us that Revelation was written, God had used Rome to destroy Herod’s temple. Is God’s establishment on earth destroyed? Not at all! It’s measure is far greater than it had ever been before Christ. This is just as we would expect under the gospel.

God knows the “measurements” of the nations as well (Revelation 11:2), but they are not the focus of the history between the two comings of Christ. They tread God’s holy city—not, now, the earthly Jerusalem of Revelation 11:8, but the true Jerusalem, the church, which the Spirit also calls the Israel of God (cf. Galatians 6:16). The full Israel, including the fullness of the spared remnant and the ingrafting of the remnant from the nations. The time between Christ’s comings is focused upon the gathering in of the fullness of this remnant (cf. Revelation 6:11), not so much upon those who hate them and reject their witness.

The number “two” is very important here. Just as it is used for completeness by the idea of “doubling” in Hosea 10:10 (of the completeness of Israel’s sin) and Isaiah 40:2 (of the completeness of Christ’s atonement), so also it is used here of the completeness of the church’s preaching. Note that the preaching of John (cf. John 10:11) and other specifically sent servants (cf. Romans 10:14–15) is testimony. They are called “witnesses.” This is not witness or testimony about their experience. It is bearing witness to Jesus Christ Himself (cf. 1 John 1:1–3). 

The number “two” is also important here by way of halving. Forty-two months, and on thousand two hundred and sixty days, are both half of seven years. The Lord often highlights how He is shortening days of hardship and grief (cf. Matthew 24:22). In this case, what is being shortened is the church’s persecution (Revelation 11:2), as well as her grief in preaching the gospel to a world in desperate need of repentance (Revelation 11:3). It is useful for gospel-preachers to learn here that, though the mode of our evangelism with respect to Jesus is joy over Him, the mode of our evangelism with respect to the spiritually dead is with grief over them. Warning the dead to flee the wrath to come is something to be done “in sackcloth.” 

The Lord also shortens the days in which the world appears to have defeated the church and her preaching of the gospel. Each preacher is assigned by God  specific length of life, and only when his work is done, is the enemy permitted to send him to glory (Revelation 11:7). This is also true of periods of revival and reformation, which have had a specific length of time, before the world arises in the spirit of Jerusalem (Revelation 11:8) and rejoices (Revelation 11:9-10) over what they think is the demise of the church, and the true faith (what we would call the Reformed faith, since the use of that word in connection with the 16th century revival). But, they are terrified, again, when gospel preaching is revived (Revelation 11:11-12). The Lord shortens the days of darkness that come between these revivals. The time between the comings of Christ centers upon His sovereign work in saving through the preaching of the gospel.

While the nations rage, and reject God and Christ, and rejoice whenever the gospel seems silenced and the church seems dead, they are not the true power of the age. The preaching of the gospel comes with the same power now as in the days of Elijah (Revelation 11:6a) and Moses (verse 6b). It is the preaching of the gospel that shakes the earth (Revelation 11:13a—and heaven, too, cf. Hebrews 12:25–27) and either kills or gives life (Revelation 11:13b).

The first two woes, the fifth and sixth trumpets, have highlighted demonic activity on the earth as a reminder that God’s wrath, Christ’s wrath, is coming. But the interlude in chapters 10–11 have reminded us that the story of this time period is not the activity of those demons, but the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the conquering ministry of the gospel throughout that period (cf. Revelation 6:2)! 

Dear reader, there is a temptation to think that the story of our life and our day is what the powers of hell are doing, or what the powers of the world are doing. But, the story of your life and our day is especially what Christ Himself is doing through His powerful gospel, and how you are responding to it. This ought to bring comfort and conviction, and enable you to “overcome.” This has been the primary applicational response throughout Revelation. Overcome! Overcome in the way that we will especially read about when we come to Revelation 12:11. Overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of your testimony. And, when the days of your witness in this world are completed, overcome by loving not your life, even unto death.

When you think of “witnessing,” about Whom are you giving witness? How do the numbers in this chapter help you think more correctly, believingly, and healthily, when the days of suffering or spiritual decline seem to you to be too long? How do the last several chapters help you think about the primary story of your life, and of the world in this age?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we see how very much Your Word teaches us to focus upon Your church, and her witness to Christ, in this age. Forgive us for how we have failed to have the same focus! And forgive us, for when our hearts have not had the grief of sackcloth over the woe of an unbelieving world under the wrath of God. Grant that we would have confidence in Your exercise of Your own power through the preaching of the gospel. Forgive us for when we have been fearful and anxious and unbelieving before the world. Grant that we would overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of our testimony, and that we would love not our lives, even unto death, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP2 “Why Do Gentile Nations Rage” or TPH389 “Great God, What Do I See and Hear?” 

2025.04.16 Midweek Meeting Live Stream (live at 6:30p)

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Proverbs 13:20–25 sermon outline

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Made to Plow for Repentance [Family Worship lesson in Hosea 10:3–15]

How does the church respond to judgment? Hosea 10:3–15 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that some in the church respond to God’s judgment in a way that just brings more of it, but His focus is especially upon the others, whom He causes to respond to His judgment with repentance that is met by His mercy. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.16 Hopewell @Home ▫ Hosea 10:3–15

Read Hosea 10:3–15

Questions from the Scripture text: How will Israel respond to their punishment (Hosea 10:3a–c)? But why would they have wanted a king (verse 3d)? What have they done to the Lord (Hosea 10:4a–b)? With what consequence (verse 4c)? How will the residents of the capital respond (Hosea 10:5a)? What is Bethel called instead in verse 5b? What will happen to its calf (Hosea 10:5-6)? With what effect upon Ephraim/Israel (Hosea 10:6c–d)? What will happen to their king (Hosea 10:7)? What will happen to their worship places (Hosea 10:8a–c)? What will they hope to be covered by (verse 8d–e)? How long has Israel been so wicked (Hosea 10:9a–b, cf. Judges 19–20)? But what hadn’t the Lord yet done (Hosea 10:9c–d)? When will He (Hosea 10:10)? What would Ephraim had liked, metaphorically, to do (Hosea 10:11a–b)? What will the Lord chasten her to do instead (verse 11c–d)? To whom else will He do this (verse 11e–f)? What will they be “digging up” (Hosea 10:12)? What have they “worked at” before (Hosea 10:13a–c)? Especially by doing what (verse 13d–e)? What is coming upon them, as a result (Hosea 10:14-15)? 

How does the church respond to judgment? Hosea 10:3–15 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that some in the church respond to God’s judgment in a way that just brings more of it, but His focus is especially upon the others, whom He causes to respond to His judgment with repentance that is met by His mercy. 

The end is here, and the end is sad, Hosea 10:1-8. We have heard the final verdict and the sentence (Hosea 10:2). Now, we see the results. They know that their kingdom has fallen because of their sin (Hosea 10:3a–c), but their interest in a king was purely selfish: “what would he do for us?” (verse 3d). They are insincere in their covenant bond to the Lord (Hosea 10:4a–b), so their response to judgment breeds even more judgment, like weeds (verse 4c). In an age in which people do not realize that their church membership is a solemn covenant with God Himself, we grieve to think how appropriately verse 4 could be written about so many in the visible church. 

The Lord cuts off their false worship, concentrated in the golden calf at Bethel (and its sister in Dan). They are so proud of it, it is considered their “glory” (Hosea 10:5e), and people and “priests” weep and wail for it (verse 5c–d). They thought they worshiped YHWH by it at “Beth El” (house of God), but the Lord has called the place “Beth Aven” (house of iniquity). When their idol is presented to the Assyrian king, the Lord will have humiliated their purported glory (Hosea 10:6).

The Lord cuts off their false government, concentrated in the king in Samaria. Rather than have the weight of honor to make an impact for them, he will be as weightless and helpless as a twig in a river (Hosea 10:7).

The Lord cuts off their false religion. As He destroys the worship in which they falsely hoped, they will turn to mountains and hills to hide them from God, but their iniquity (“Aven”) will continue to be exposed before God (Hosea 10:8). Just as nettles and thorns inherit their wealth (cf. Hosea 9:6), thorns and thistles will inherit their worship (Hosea 10:8c).

The end is like the beginning, which hints at the only hope, Hosea 10:9-15. “Gibeah” in Hosea 10:9 takes us back to Judges 19–20. How did things “get so bad” in Israel? From the beginning, their hearts were as Sodom and Gomorrah, and so were their actions, when unrestrained! One reason that their sin demands such a response is because it is the genuine expression of what is in them. This is true of us, too, dear reader.

And yet, just as the Lord had shown what that sin deserved in the battle of Gibeah (Hosea 10:9c, cf. Judges 20), He had also patiently borne with them for many generations. The word “two” in Hosea 10:10 has the sense of “double”; in His longsuffering, the Lord has waited until they filled up a double measure of their before bringing this chastening upon them. This has happened by their sin and what it has provoked, but it has happened even more so at His pleasure (“When I desire,” verse 10a). 

Their will would have been threshing-floor duty, where they can eat while they do light work (cf. Deuteronomy 25:4; 1 Corinthians 9:9–10; 1 Timothy 5:18). But He will give them, instead, field duty, where they have to do the hard work of pulling a plow to break up clods of dirt (Hosea 10:11). Indeed, this is designed primarily toward those whom He is bringing to repentance through this. They have been happy enough to work hard at sin (Hosea 10:13); now he will bring them to work hard in repentance, which is met with finding the Lord and His mercy and His righteousness (Hosea 10:12). For the purpose of doing such work in those whom He is saving, the Lord is fully willing to bring just and painful judgment upon the visible church (Hosea 10:14-15).

From where does your sin come, demanding God’s response? How do you respond when He brings chastening into your life?

Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us, for we have taken lightly our covenant with You. And in our church membership and worship, we have been in it primarily for ourselves. Whenever we have worshiped according to our own desires, we have thought of the house of our iniquity as if it were the house of God. Thus, we have gloried, spiritually, in that of which we should have been ashamed. But, You have given Your Son, our Lord Jesus, Who has been forsaken as entirely as we have deserved to be. For His sake, and by His grace, we pray that You would give us repentance. Take away the easy threshing that we would prefer, and give us whatever hard work is necessary until we sow righteousness, reap mercy, and seek You until You come and rain righteousness upon us in Christ, through Whom we ask it, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP51AB “God, Be Merciful to Me” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace”

Evening Prayer in Distress [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 141]

How should we pray when we are in danger of sinning? Psalm 141 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should pray against our sin as those who come to God smelling like the worthiness of Christ, confident that He will finish the work of making us to be like Christ. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.15 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 141

Read Psalm 141

Questions from the Scripture text: Whose psalm was this (superscript)? To Whom is it addressed (Psalm 141:1a)? What is David doing? What does he ask God to do (verse 1b–c)? As/like what does he ask for his prayer to be received (Psalm 141:2a)? As/like what else (verse 2b)? What does he ask YHWH to do to his speech in Psalm 141:3? In what two ways? What does he ask Him to do to his thoughts in Psalm 141:4a? What will this prevent (verse 4b)? Under what pressure (verse 4c)? And what temptation (verse 4d)? What providence helps against wicked words, thoughts, and actions (Psalm 141:5a, c)? Whom does the Lord use to do it? How should the godly view it (verse 5b, d)? How should he respond to it (verse 5e)? Against what does he pray (verse 5f)? What will happen to wicked judges (Psalm 141:6a)? And whose words will they hear in that day (verse 6b)? But what is the current circumstance (Psalm 141:7)? So, what is David doing in such a circumstance (Psalm 141:8a–b)? What does He ask YHWH not to do (verse 8c)? And, positively, to do to him (Psalm 141:9, Psalm 141:10b)? And to the wicked (verse 10a)?

How should we pray when we are in danger of sinning? Psalm 141 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should pray against our sin as those who come to God smelling like the worthiness of Christ, confident that He will finish the work of making us to be like Christ.   

Evening prayers. This psalm forms a pair with Psalm 5, bringing home to us the essential application of the morning (cf. Psalm 5:3) and evening (Psalm 141:2) sacrifices. The Lord has built into our daily habits oases of prayer. Never are they more necessary than in that Psalm, and this, when under the pressure of the aggression of the wicked. And David doesn’t just take from this instruction in what to do in the evenings, but encouragement in how his prayers are received by God. What a mercy, to know that the Lord is receiving our prayer as sweet incense (verse 2a)—all the more so, when we know that the Lord Jesus Himself is adding His incense to our prayers (cf. Revelation 8:3–4). This same Lord Jesus is answering our prayers for vindication with His powerful responses against the wicked in the earth (cf. Revelation 8:5).

Our greatest threat. Even though the wicked are attacking him (Psalm 141:7) and laying snares for him (Psalm 141:9-10a), David has identified a greater threat: his own words (Psalm 141:3), thoughts (Psalm 141:4a), and works (verse 4b). When we pray to be “delivered from the evil” (cf. Matthew 6:13, Luke 11:4), it is not specifically the evil “one” as our English translation has it, but especially that evil which remains in us. While Scripture teaches us that this is our responsibility (cf. Philippians 2:12), yet the biblical man knows that only by God’s grace is it a possibility (cf. Philippians 2:13). So David asks YHWH Himself to guard his mouth (Psalm 141:3), and to incline his heart properly (Psalm 141:4a–b). This grace is needful not only because of our inherent sinfulness, but because of the pressure to join the wicked (verse 4c), and the temptation to desire what they enjoy (verse 4d). 

Blessed blows. The wicked are not the only ones in the earth. The Lord has those who are His, and it is a very different matter to be “struck” by them (Psalm 141:5). Not every wound is harmful. Some are kindness and excellent oil (verse 5). We should welcome the rebuke of the righteous, just as much as we shrink from the friendship of the wicked. 

Confident about completion. All of this is prayed in the urgency of the evil and danger of sin, but not in the despair or anxiety of uncertainty. As David prays against both his and others (Psalm 141:5f) evil deeds, he does so knowing that even though the wicked have power and include judges (Psalm 141:6a), when they are overthrown, they will be hearing David’s sweetly righteous words (verse 6b). YHWH will not forsake our soul (Psalm 141:8). He will, indeed, deliver us from both the evil within us, and those who would see us fall into it (Psalm 141:9-10). He will complete what He has begun (cf. Philippians 1:6) and perfect that which concerns us (cf. Psalm 138:8). 

What are your morning prayers like? What are your evening prayers like? What effect does it have on you to grasp Christ’s intercession “sweetening” your prayers unto God? How have you been treating your own sin as your greatest threat? What righteous have loved you with rebuke? How have you received it? What would it look/feel like in your heart to be praying for your sanctification with more confidence?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank you for giving us to cry out to You evening and morning, with Your Son, our Lord Jesus, Himself, offering incense with our prayers. Receive us, in Him, as sweet-smelling sacrifice. And work in us, by the means of Your grace, to guard our mouths, and incline our hearts, and form our works according to the character of Christ. By Your Spirit’s applying Christ to us, bring us safely to You in our worship here, until You have brought us safely, in Him, all the way home to You, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested Songs: ARP141B “When Just Men Strike Me in Reproof” or TPH141 “O LORD, to You I Call” 

2025.04.14 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 13:20–25

Read Proverbs 13:20–25

Questions from the Scripture text: With whom does the one in Proverbs 13:20a walk? What happens to him? Whose companion is he one in verse 20b? What happens to him? What pursues sinners (Proverbs 13:21a)? What shall be repaid to the righteous (verse 21b)? What does the good man leave to whom (Proverbs 13:22a)? What happens to whom else’s wealth (verse 22b)? How much food is where (Proverbs 13:23a)? What does lack of justice cause (verse 23b)? What is he man in Proverbs 13:24a failing to do? What sort of action is this toward his son? What does the man who loves his son do (verse 24b)? What does the righteous get out of eating (Proverbs 13:25a)? How about the wicked (verse 25b)? 

To what end should we aim our parenting? Proverbs 13:20–25 looks forward to the sermon in this week’s midweek meeting. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should live and parent as those who wish to be satisfied upon the Lord, forever.  

In this little section, Proverbs 13:20-21 establishes the theme, and Proverbs 13:22-25 applies it, especially to what we do with our children, and especially through he image of hunger. One preliminary step to humbling ourselves under the wisdom of others is spending time with those who are wise (Proverbs 13:20), and the needfulness of receiving this instruction is immediately seen in Proverbs 13:21. Just as goodness and covenant love  are hot on the heels of the believer in Psalm 23:6, the same verb tells us that evil is hot on the heels of sinners in Proverbs 13:21a. How very much we need wisdom! It is the difference between having an evil end and a good end (verse 21b).

And there are those whose end we have been especially assigned, by God’s providence, to care for: our children and our children’s children. Proverbs 13:22 teaches not so much a principle (that the good should try to leave an inheritance to children’s children) as a generalized fact (that, ordinarily, godliness is met with multi-generational blessing). Of course, this wealth is especially spiritual—as we remember, from earlier in the chapter, that God Himself (and the righteousness necessary for right relationship with Him) is true riches. This should be the godly’s aim, and hope, for his children and children’s children.

This is why the godly will not leave his children to themselves, or to other children. If, indeed, rod-demanding folly is bound up in their hearts (Proverbs 13:24, cf. Proverbs 22:15), then two things are true. First, the godly ought not to seek “peer groups” for their children and youth. This is to consign them to the fate of the companion of fools: destruction. Let parents instead be their children’s companions, and let them seek for their children other mature believers to be companions. In such good, multigenerational company, children of parents who are pursuing the same biblical wisdom for them may grow safely together in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and with men. Second, the godly must not only employ the rod, but do so instantly. Like their child’s life depends upon it (Proverbs 13:20, cf. Proverbs 22:15, Proverbs 23:13–14). This is what love does, when so much is at stake (Proverbs 13:24b)! 

In the alternating verses (Proverbs 13:23, Proverbs 13:25), the reality and metaphor of hunger is used to illustrate the whole of godliness from the part of diligence. Those poor in Proverbs 13:23 are poor because neither have they been diligent to work their ground (verse 23a), nor have they been good stewards of what it produced (verse 23b). Untrained children exhibit this exact laziness and wastefulness. And, the parent sees in it a glimpse of what their children may be. Notice the imbalance in the contrast in Proverbs 13:25. The difference between the righteous and the wicked can be seen even in their area of focus. For the righteous, it is his soul that he seeks to see satisfied—and it will be (verse 25a)! For the wicked, his stomach is his focus (cf. Philippians 3:19), but even that will always feel like it is needing more (Proverbs 13:25b). The godly desire, for themselves and for their children and children’s children, to have everlastingly satisfied souls!

Who are your companions? Who are your children’s companions? What might change in your disciplining (or your being disciplined), if it was done like your life depends on it? How diligent are you in satisfying your stomach? How diligent are you in satisfying your soul?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for being our good Father, Who gives us both the instruction that we need and the discipline that we need. Grant that we might walk with those wise, with whom we too will become wise, and have our souls satisfied in You, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH119B “How Shall the Young Direct Their Way?”