Which "Promise" Is to You and to Your Children?

Hopewell Herald – February 14, 2026

Dear Congregation,

Next week, we’ll read the following in Deuteronomy:

Then the LORD your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

Deut 30:5–6

In v5, the Lord says that He will prosper and multiply His people more, after the exile, than He had before the exile. But, historically, we did not see this until the grafting in of those elect from among the nations.

It is helpful for our understanding of God's dealing with covenant children, in the administration under Moses, that His promises to them were not only visible/externally covenantal, but internal and spiritual: "YHWH your God will circumcise the heart of your offspring, to love YHWH your God with all your heart and with all your soul."

And it is helpful for our understanding of God's dealing with covenant children, under Christ, is that this "and the heart of your descendants" aspect of the promise has a focus especially on the time in which the visible church would be prospered and multiplied "more than your fathers."

When it included children, under Moses, it was the covenant of grace.

And under Christ, the covenant of grace still includes children!

When the apostle says, "For the promise is to you and your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call," (Ac 2:39), he is saying exactly what Deut 30:5–6 says.

Spirit-baptism includes this circumcision of the heart. It corresponds to water baptism, just as the Lord's gracious work of heart-circumcision corresponded to the covenant sign that He had commanded upon covenant children.

Deut 30:5–6 was solving the problem of a people who could not circumcise their own hearts, as commanded in Deut 10:16. And, on the day of Pentecost, there was this wonderful proclamation that Jesus provides, by His Spirit, the repentance that the baptism of John could only announce to us that we need it. Christian baptism announces that Jesus actually gives it.

This hope He gives us for ourself. This hope He gives us for our children.

Looking forward to holding fast to our hope in Him together in worship tomorrow,

Pastor

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

▪Theology Simply Explained — CC39, An Exchange of Heart 
▪Theology Simply Explained — WSC16, We Sinned in Him with Whom We Fell
▪Song of Songs 5:1, “Glorious Answer to Prayer”
▪Deuteronomy 29:22–29, “Give to God What Is God's”
▪Ecclesiastes 11:7–10, “How to Live Your Blink of a Life”
▪Matthew 27:45–54, “Truly This Is the Son of God”
▪Song of Songs 5:2–8, “The Way Back from Backsliding”

 

LORD'S DAY – February 15, 2026 

9:50 a.m. Breakfast Line Opens

10 a.m. Sabbath School
We are preparing our minds and hearts for public worship by studying our Confession of Faith from Scripture, affirming that Scripture is our only ultimate authority, but also discovering that what we confess is thoroughly Scriptural.

11 a.m. Public Worship

▫Children’s Catechism for February 15. Q39 What is a change of heart called? Regeneration. [CC 39 Simply Explained: “An Exchange of Heart”]

▫Shorter Catechism for February 15. Q16. Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression? The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression. [WSC 16 Simply Explained: “We Sinned in Him with Whom We Fell”]

▫Songs for public worship on February 15: 
TPH403 [mp3], ARP22A [mp3], ARP22B [mp3]

Scripture Text for first portion of worship service
Song of Songs 5:1

Scripture Readings and basis for confession of sin and petition for help
Deuteronomy 29:22–29
Ecclesiastes 11:7–10

Sermon Scripture text and topic

We will be hearing the sermon from Matthew 27:45–54 about “Truly, This is the Son of God!”

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

1 p.m. Coffee Fellowship and Catechism Class

1:30 p.m. Fellowship Lunch

▫Memory Verse for February 15, Matthew 27:54, So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

3:00 p.m. Evening Praise and Preaching
We will be singing at least ten Psalm selections and hearing the sermon from Song of Songs 5:2 about “How Jesus Awakens the Church”

Hopewell this Month

Hopewell’s Presbytery Prayer Focus for February
Madison-Monrovia ARP in Harvest, AL

February Psalm of the Month
ARP22A My God, My God

Upcoming Events

• Wednesday, February 11, Midweek Prayer Meeting. 6:30 p.m. in the Chapel. We will hear a sermon from Proverbs 21:10–18 then pray until 8 p.m.
• Saturday, February 28, Men’s (and future men) breakfast, 7a in the Fellowship Hall
• Tuesday, March 5, Diaconate Meeting, 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 18, Session Meeting, 8 p.m. in the Pastor’s Study

Truly This Is the Son of God [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 27:45–54]

What did Jesus do as Priest? Matthew 27:45–54 looks forward to the morning sermon in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus propitiated God’s wrath, an offers a once-for-all sacrifice, opening the way for us into the Holy of Holies. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: Matthew 27:45–54 reveals Jesus, as the true Son of God and Great High Priest, Who willingly bears the full wrath of God for His people's sin—fulfilling the sacrificial system once and for all. Though mocked by humanity and taken lightly by onlookers, creation itself responds with awe—darkness, an earthquake, the torn temple veils and resurrected saints—testifying to the cosmic significance of Christ’s atoning death. The centurion and his guards, witnessing these supernatural events, are gripped with fear and confess, 'Truly this was the Son of God,' illustrating that genuine recognition of Christ’s identity comes not from human reasoning but from divine revelation and the Holy Spirit’s work. Jesus’s final cry, drawn from Psalm 22, reflects both His deep suffering and His intimate knowledge of God’s redemptive plan, culminating in His deliberate surrender of His spirit, affirming His divine authority to lay down and take up His life. The tearing of the temple veil from top to bottom signifies that Christ has opened the way into the true Holy of Holies. This all calls all believers to respond with holy fear, faith, and worship, recognizing Jesus as the eternal High Priest, in Whom alone we are holy and fit to approach God.

2026.02.14 Hopewell @Home ▫ Matthew 27:45–54

Read Matthew 27:45–54

Questions from the Scripture text: During what hours did what happen (Matthew 27:45)? At that point, how does Jesus cry (Matthew 27:46)? What does Jesus cry? What do some bystanders say about this (Matthew 27:47)? What does one do (Matthew 27:48)? What do the rest say (Matthew 27:49)? What two things does Jesus then do (Matthew 27:50)? What three signs occur in Matthew 27:51? And what great sign in Matthew 27:52-53? Who observe these things (Matthew 27:54)? What effect does this have upon them? What do they say? 

What does Jesus do as Priest? Matthew 27:45–54 looks forward to the morning sermon in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus propitiates God’s wrath, an offers a once-for-all sacrifice, opening the way for us into the Holy of Holies.

Though wicked men collude to mock Christ at His cross (Matthew 27:27-44, cf. Psalm 2), the creation responds both to His suffering (Matthew 27:45) and His death (Matthew 27:51-53). Jesus uses what strength remains at the end for a cry (Matthew 27:46) that both expresses His experience, and identifies it as a fulfillment of Psalm 22. Sympathetic bystanders are severely outnumbered (Matthew 27:47-49), but Jesus authoritatively dismisses His Spirit (Matthew 27:50), completing the once-for-all sacrifice that obsoletes the ceremonial law (Matthew 27:51a), opening the way to the true holy of holies, where He will serve as priest, upon the merits of His blood, forever. An unsympathetic people are redeemed by a sympathetic High Priest!

Does your response to Christ’s cross most resemble vain curiosity, sympathy, or believing wonder?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for offering the once-for-all sacrifice for us. Make us know that You are truly the Son of God, make our hearts tender, and bring us all the way to God with You, we ask in Your Name, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP22B “Be Not Far Off” or TPH341 “Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed”

Guarding Your Mouth for Good [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 13:2–3]

Pastor teaches his family a selection from “the Proverb of the day.” In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us to guard our lips, so that they image God by being used for good, not ill. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional centers on the profound power of the human tongue, drawing from Proverbs 13:2–3 to emphasize that words are not merely expressions but instruments of life or destruction. It highlights the contrast between the righteous, whose speech produces nourishment and blessing, and the unfaithful, whose soul feeds on violence and harm, illustrating how careless speech can lead to ruin. Pastor underscores the necessity of guarding one’s mouth through wisdom and self-control, likening it to a secure gate that requires discernment before allowing words to pass. This discipline images God, Who created the world through speech—and continues to impart spiritual life through the Word, calling believers to use their voices for edification and divine glory.

The Way Back from Backsliding [Family Worship lesson in Song of Songs 5:2–8]

What do the backslidden need? Song of Songs 5:2–8 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the backslidden need Christ’s Word, Christ’s grace, Christ’s ordinances, and the prayers of Christ’s people. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional from Song of Songs 5:2–8 illustrates the tension between the believer’s awakened heart and the lingering lethargy of the flesh. It emphasizes that while Christians possess a new nature that longs for Christ, spiritual complacency and self-justification can lead to a state of spiritual sleep, where even the voice of the Beloved is met with excuses—inconvenient or unpleasant—against deeper communion. Christ, in His grace, does not merely knock but actively reaches through the latch of the door, symbolizing His direct, transformative work in awakening the heart, even when the response is delayed or imperfect. The passage warns of the consequences of backsliding, including the loss of spiritual assurance, the painful discipline of faithful shepherds, and the temporary removal of spiritual evidence. Yet, it ultimately points to the hope of restoration through repentance, prayer, and the intercession of the church. The call is clear: believers must resist spiritual lethargy, embrace the means of grace despite inconvenience, and actively pray for revival, both personally and corporately, so that the church may once again be filled with the presence of Christ, Whose love is both the source and the goal of all spiritual life.

2026.02.13 Hopewell @Home ▫ Song of Songs 5:2–8

Read Song of Songs 5:2–8

Questions from the Scripture text: What is the contradictory condition of the bride (Song of Songs 5:2a)? What does she hear (verse 2b)? What is He doing (verse 2c)? What does He call her (verse 2d–e)? What does He ask her to do (verse 2d)? Why (verse 2f–g)? What is her first excuse (Song of Songs 5:3a–b)? What is her second excuse (verse 3c–d)? What does the Bridegroom do in Song of Songs 5:4a–b? How does her heart now respond (verse 4c)? What does she do in Song of Songs 5:5a? To do what? What does she get on her hands and fingers (verse 5b–c)? From where (verse 5d)? What does she finally do in Song of Songs 5:6a? What does she find (verse 6b)? What failed at the memory of His words (verse 6c)? What two things does she now do (verse 6d–e)? With what results? Who find her, where (Song of Songs 5:7a)? What do they do to her (verse 7b)? In what other role (verse 7c) do they do what to her (verse 7d)? Whom, then, does she address (Song of Songs 5:8a)? What does she hope they will do (verse 8b)? What does the bride ask them to tell Him (verse 8c)?

What do the backslidden need? Song of Songs 5:2–8 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the backslidden need Christ’s Word, Christ’s grace, Christ’s ordinances, and the prayers of Christ’s people. 

This passage treats a similar situation to Song of Songs 3:1–5, but much worse. She is experiencing the conflict of having a new nature (the awakened heart, Song of Songs 5:2a), but being spiritually sleepy and lazy (cf. Matthew 26:40–45; Romans 13:11–14). The Lord knocks and calls, as He often does by His Word, piling up affectionate addresses to her (Song of Songs 5:2d–e), and reminding her of what He is willing to endure to be with her (verse 2f–g). But she responds with those horrible excuses that come from wayward hearts: as if it is too much trouble and unpleasantness to avail ourselves of fellowship with Christ (Song of Songs 5:3)! Blessed be Christ’s grace, He responds more directly and insistently, beginning to open the door Himself (Song of Songs 5:4a–b), with the effect that her heart is now moved (verse 4c). But, though she finds unmistakable evidence of it being He Who has done so (Song of Songs 5:5), she does not immediately find Him (Song of Songs 5:6a–b, cf. Song of Songs 3:2). This time, when the watchmen find her, they strike her until she feels the sting of their ministry (Song of Songs 5:7a–b)—possibly in faithfulness, and possibly lacking some tenderness. In their role as keepers of the walls (verse 7c), they take her wedding veil (verse 7d)… something that happens either by loss of assurance or overt discipline. So, she avails herself not only of the public ordinances represented in “about the city” in verse 7, but of the prayers of the members of the church (Song of Songs 5:8). Those who are spiritually backslidden do well to ask those church members (verse 8a) who are finding to Christ (verse 8b) to pray for them (verse 8c). O, dear reader, the Lord give you to resist spiritual slumber, and to respond immediately to all of His knocking and calling. But, when you don’t, the Lord give you His grace that moves your heart to seek Him in both: His public ordinances, and the prayers of His people.

When has the Lord awakened you, and you let the moment pass? By what means are you correcting that?

Sample prayer:  Lord, come, we pray, and knock to us and call to us by Your Word. Give us to rise and open to You. Make us to persevere until we find You. Grant that We would look for You in Your ordinances, even if we are wounded in that pursuit, and give us to avail ourselves of one another’s prayers. Make our hands to drip with the myrrh of knowing that it is You Who pursues us, we ask in Your Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH51C “God, Be Merciful to Me” 

How to Live Your Blink of a Life [Family Worship lesson in Ecclesiastes 11:7–10]

How should we live our short lives? Ecclesiastes 11:7–10 prepares us for the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should spend our short lives in rejoicing and righteousness. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: Ecclesiastes 11:7–10 presents a profound balance between joyful gratitude and sober responsibility, calling believers to embrace life’s fleeting beauty as a divine gift, while living with constant awareness of God’s coming judgment. The passage affirms that life—especially youth—is brief and transient, likened to a vapor, yet within that brevity lies the sacred duty to rejoice in God’s good gifts, from the sun’s light to daily blessings, recognizing them as expressions of His generosity. At the same time, the passage issues a solemn call to righteousness: to walk according to one’s heart and eyes, but only under the conviction that all actions will be judged by God, demanding the removal both of sorrow and of evil from one’s life. This dual command—rejoice and live righteously—forms the heart of godly wisdom, urging both children and adults to live with joyful obedience, knowing that true fulfillment comes not in self-indulgence but in God Himself. The urgency of youth’s brevity is not a reason for despair, but a lesson in the brevity of life as a whole, teaching us to steward each moment with purpose, humility, and faith in Christ.

2026.02.12 Hopewell @Home ▫ Ecclesiastes 11:7–10

Read Ecclesiastes 11:7–10

Questions from the Scripture text: What is sweet (Ecclesiastes 11:7a)? What is pleasant (verse 7b)? What might a man do (Ecclesiastes 11:8a)? With what effect upon him (verse 8b)? But what days should he remember (verse 8c)? How many will they be (verse 8d)? What is all that comes to him (i.e., in this life, verse 8e)? What should a young man do (Ecclesiastes 11:9a)? In what? What should his heart do (verse 9b)? When? What may his heart do (verse 9c)? What may his eyes do (verse 9d)? But what will the Lord do (verse 9f)? And what is the young man responsible to do (verse 9e)? Therefore, what should the young man do with his heart (Ecclesiastes 11:10a)? And with his physical body (verse 10b)? Why—what is true about his younger years (verse 10c)?

How should we live our short lives? Ecclesiastes 11:7–10 prepares us for the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should spend our short lives in rejoicing and righteousness. 

This life is so short. We might say, “like a blink.” Ecclesiastes says, “like a vapor.” And there’s a microcosm of that in our childhoods. When they are over, your younger years are a vapor, a blink. So will it be with this entire life, when it is over.

So, there are two great lessons about life as a whole, that we can learn from applying them to our youth. 

First, enjoy life while you have it: let light and sunshine be sweet to you (Ecclesiastes 11:7), enjoy each and every year that you are given (Ecclesiastes 11:8a–b), just as the young should enjoy their childhood (Ecclesiastes 11:9a–b). So the first application is “rejoicing.” 

But the second application is “righteousness.” And the second is “righteousness.” Remember how much longer your life after this world will be, than your life in it. Everything in this life is “vapor” (more literal than NKJ, “vanity,” in Ecclesiastes 11:8e), by comparison to eternity. Ecclesiastes 11:9e–f is even more pointed: live in the knowledge that your life must pass muster at God’s judgment. 

This requires regeneration, conversion. For if one is going to walk in the ways of his heart (Ecclesiastes 11:9c), and his eyes (verse 9d), but in a way that acknowledges God and His judgment (verse 9e–f), then it is obvious that he needs a new heart and new eyes!

Lets we had somehow missed the great lesson in Ecclesiastes 11:7-9 (indeed, in the whole book thus far), Ecclesiastes 11:10 winds it up very plainly and bluntly to the young: rejoice (verse 10a), and be righteous (verse 10b), because childhood and youth are a vapor (verse 10c). 

And, in a book in which the Spirit has repeatedly called our whole life under the sun a vapor, it is plain that this applies to the whole of our blink-long life under the sun: rejoice, and be righteous, because life is a vapor!

The key to both of those will come in the next passage: remember your Creator. Remembering Him is the key to rejoicing. And remembering Him is the key to living righteously. 

So, dear reader, rejoice! And be righteous! For life is a vapor.

In what phase of life are you, right now? Can you look back on a childhood that now seems like it was a vapor? Are you currently in a childhood that you need to remember is a vapor? How aware are you, in your functional, everyday living, that our entire life in this world is a vapor? How are you “remembering your Creator” in service of extracting as much joy as you can out of every moment of this blink-long life? How are you “remembering your Creator” in service of living as you will wish you had, when you enter the incomprehensibly long eternity?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us for how we have wasted so much of our lives, by permitting anxiety or sadness to dominate our hearts. And, forgive us for how, in so many moments of our lives, we have not lived as we will wish we had, when we enter eternity. We thank You for Christ, Who is the most joyful Man, and Who has always made the most of the time. For His sake, forgive us. And by His life, make us to be like Him, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP15 “Within Your Tent, Who Will Reside” or TPH400 “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me”

2026.02.11 Midweek Meeting Livestream (live at 6:30p)

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

Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken [2026.02.08 Evening Sermon in Song of Songs 5:1]

When the church prays what Christ has taught her to desire, He answers immediately, abundantly, and generously.

(click here to DOWNLOAD video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon)

Against YHWH and His Christ [2026.02.08 Morning Sermon in Matthew 27:26–44]

Though all of Adam's kind resist God and His Son, the Anointed King, God saves His elect, through overwhelming power and authority. To be saved, we must yield to Him and rest upon Him.

(click here to DOWNLOAD video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon)

Holy Signs and Seals [2026.02.08 Sabbath School in WCF 27.1—Hopewell 101]

The sacraments are sacred—consecrated by God as holy for the use of the people whom He has consecrated, apart from the world, to Himself as holy. They are signs, sensible indications of particular truths, and seals—establishing authenticity of consecration and grounding hope in what they communicate upon the veracity of God Himself.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Give to God What Is God's [Family Worship lesson in Deuteronomy 29:22–29]

Why did Israel fail and suffer curse? Deuteronomy 29:22–29 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 Israel was cursed so that we would learn God’s hatred of sin. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: This passage reveals God's sovereign authority over the future and His holy hatred of sin, using the judgment on the land as a lasting testimony to the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness. While the secret things belong to God alone, He graciously reveals His Word for us to do, and especially His Son for us to believe in. The emphasis on divine wrath against idolatry and rebellion underscores the seriousness of forsaking God, yet it is balanced by the profound gift of revelation—culminating in the person and work of Christ, Who bears the wrath we deserve and enables obedience through His resurrection life. The sermon calls believers to focus on what God has revealed, particularly the gospel of Jesus Christ, Who is the ultimate expression of divine revelation and the only means of true life and obedience.

2026.02.11 Hopewell @Home ▫ Deuteronomy 29:22–29

Read Deuteronomy 29:22–29

Questions from the Scripture text: Who will rise up after them (Deuteronomy 29:22)? Who will come from a far land? What will they see? Who will have done it? What will they say that the land is (Deuteronomy 29:23)? What will they say does not happen to it? Whom will they know and say has done this? Who else will speak (Deuteronomy 29:24)? What will they ask? What would people answer that Israel had forsaken (Deuteronomy 29:25)? What would the essence of this covenant-breaking have been (Deuteronomy 29:26)? How does Deuteronomy 29:27 define this in terms of God’s faithfulness? What three things characterize YHWH’s action in uprooting and exiling them (Deuteronomy 29:28)? What things belong to YHWH (Deuteronomy 29:29)? Who is YHWH to them? What things belong to them? And to whom else? For how long? For what purpose?

Why did Israel fail and suffer curse? Deuteronomy 29:22–29 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 Israel was cursed so that we would learn God’s hatred of sin.  

The secret things belong to God (Deuteronomy 29:29a). Including the fact that Israel would, indeed, forsake the covenant which YHWH was making with them on that day (Deuteronomy 29:25). “Known to God, from eternity, are all His works” (Acts 15:18). But the revealed things, belong to His people to do all the words of His law; and then, to their children after them, for the same purpose (Deuteronomy 29:29b). Israel suffered, as it did, so that following generations, and foreigners (Deuteronomy 29:22), and indeed all nations (Deuteronomy 29:24), would learn the same lesson as from Sodom and Gomorrah (Deuteronomy 29:23): that God burns against sin with all that He is… “in anger, in wrath, and in great indignation” (Deuteronomy 29:28). For, all disobedience is, at its essence, a turning from YHWH to other gods (Deuteronomy 29:26). Dear reader, don’t trouble yourself with what God has planned in His providence. Give yourself to knowing what He has revealed, so that you and your children may follow it!

What secrets of God’s providence have you wished to know? What use do you make of the Bible?

Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for vainly inquiring into Your providence. And, forgive us for how we have not made use of Scripture; there is so much that we have not learned. And forgive us for how much we have failed to do even that which we have known from Your Word. We thank You that Christ submitted Himself, and always obeyed all of Your Word. For His sake, forgive us, and make us to be like Him, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP131 “My Heart Is Not Exalted, Lord” or TPH256 “God Moves in a Mysterious Way” 

An Exchange of Heart [Children's Catechism 39—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 39—especially explaining how regeneration is when God exchanges your old, dead heart for a new, living one.

Q39. What is a change of heart called? Regeneration. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The lesson centers on the theological concept of regeneration as the essential, divine transformation of the heart. It emphasizes that regeneration—being born again through the Holy Spirit—is not a human effort or a result of faith, but the prior work of God that enables faith itself. Drawing from Scripture, particularly John 3 and the new birth, it argues that a dead and sinful heart cannot produce belief without first receiving new spiritual life from God the Father. Ultimately, the lesson affirms that only through this divine renewal can one be made holy and enter heaven, highlighting the necessity of God’s sovereign grace in transforming the heart.

Glorious Answer to Prayer [Family Worship lesson in Song of Songs 5:1]

How does Christ answer the prayers of the bride? Song of Songs 5:1 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In this verse of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ answers the prayers of the bride instantly and abundantly. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional unfolds the profound intimacy between Christ and His church, drawing from Song of Songs 5:1 to reveal Christ’s joyful, abundant presence and delight in His bride. Central to the message is the divine provision of communion—Christ not only answers the bride’s prayer for His coming but declares His full enjoyment of her, having gathered her myrrh and spices, eaten her honeycomb, and drunk her wine and milk, symbolizing His pleasure in her sanctified character, works, fellowship, and nourishing grace. He affectionately calls her garden, sister, and spouse, affirming her identity in Him, while extending the invitation to all believers to partake in His joy as His own friends and beloved ones. The tone is pastoral and celebratory, emphasizing that Christ’s presence is not only real but actively communicated, assuring believers of His delight and inviting them to savor His nearness, the fruit of His Spirit, and the joy of eternal fellowship. Christ’s provision is not only for the church corporately, but for each individual believer, who is personally cherished and invited into the eternal enjoyment of His delights.

2026.02.10 Hopewell @Home ▫ Song of Songs 5:1

Read Song of Songs 5:1

Questions from the Scripture text: Where does the Beloved say He has come (Song of Songs 5:1a)? What three things does He call her? Whose? What has He gathered (verse 1b)? Whose? What has He eaten (verse 1c)? Whose? What has He drunk (verse 1d)? Whose? Whom does He call (verse 1e, g) to also do what (verse 1e)? What else does He also call them also to do (verse 1f)?

How does Christ answer the prayers of the bride? Song of Songs 5:1 prepares us for the opening portion of public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In this verse of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ answers the prayers of the bride instantly and abundantly. 

The bride’s last request was that the Beloved would come to His garden and eat its pleasant fruits. Behold, how He answers while her words still hang in the air. He declares her to be His: His garden, that produces the pleasant fruits; His sister, Who is near to Him and like nature with Him; His spouse, Who is united and bound to Him forever. Behold how quickly the Lord Jesus comes to His own, when they ask.

He answers not only quickly, but abundantly. She asked only that He would come and eat, but He answers that He has also gathered. Her myrrh and spice, her likeness to Him, is His own, and He has gathered. And He has drunk, both the wine of refreshment and celebration, and the milk of nourishment—He has been satisfied with every sort of good thing from His bride.

What a comfort it is to the church, when the Lord comes to her and communicates, by His Word and Spirit, that He is indeed present with her, and the He is indeed pleased with her! Such a season in the life of the church is to be much sought after, and much rejoiced over and thanked for.

Finally, we see that He answers not just the bride corporately, but the members of the church individually. Elsewhere, the bride has called them the “daughters of Jerusalem,” but here, He calls them “friends” and “beloved ones.” That in which the Lord Jesus delights, He gives to His beloved ones to delight in. He needs no benefit from the church, but He invites His friends to enjoy the same provision, strengthening, refreshing, and nourishment that He has sampled with such pleasure. Where Christ enjoys the fruits of His work in the church, He calls believers to come and enjoy and benefit. 

What fruit and fragrance (graces) is your church producing that Christ enjoys? What sense, or evidence, do you have of His pleasure in it from Scripture? How are you answering His summons to eat, drink, and enjoy it yourself?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for the fruit and fragrance that Your Spirit produces in Your church. And thank You for answering our prayers for Your presence and pleasure in her. Now, grant that we would answer Your summons to eat and drink from what Your church has to offer, we ask in Your Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH403 “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken” 

The Ends of the Godly and the Evil [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 21:10–18]

What is the difference between the righteous and the wicked? Proverbs 21:10–18 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the wicked and righteous are opposite in heart, hand, way, and destiny. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: Proverbs 21:10–18 presents a profound contrast between the righteous and the wicked, revealing that their destinies are shaped by the condition of their hearts, the nature of their actions, and the objects of their delight. The wicked are defined by a heart that desires evil, a hand that ignores the cries of the poor, and a love for pleasure and luxury that leads them astray from the path of understanding. In contrast, the righteous are marked by a transformed heart that delights in justice, a life of disciplined action, and a love for God and neighbor that sustains them in the narrow way. The passage underscores that God’s providence and judgment are not arbitrary but reflect the moral order: the wicked are ultimately destroyed, not only in this life but in eternity, while the righteous are delivered, even as the wicked serve as a ransom for their salvation. This divine ordering calls all people—especially those who have wandered from wisdom—to repentance, humility, and reliance on God’s grace, which alone can change the heart.

2026.02.09 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 21:10–18

Read Proverbs 21:10–18

Questions from the Scripture text: Whose soul desires what (Proverbs 21:10a)? Who finds what in his eyes (verse 10b)? What happens when the scoffer is punished (Proverbs 21:11a)? What further happens, when he is subsequently instructed (verse 11b)? What does the righteous do (Proverbs 21:12a)? To do what (verse 12b)? What does the man in Proverbs 21:13a do? What will happen to him (verse 13b)? What does a gift in secret do (Proverbs 21:14a)? What does a bribe in the bosom pacify (verse 14b)? What do the just get out of doing justice (Proverbs 21:15a)? What do workers of iniquity get out of it (verse 15b)? From what does the man in Proverbs 21:16a stray? Where does he end up resting (verse 16b)? What happens to the man who loves pleasure (Proverbs 21:17a)? And to the man who loves wine and oil (verse 17b)? Who is a ransom for whom (Proverbs 21:18a)? And who for whom in verse 18b?

What is the difference between the righteous and the wicked? Proverbs 21:10–18 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the wicked and righteous are opposite in heart, hand, way, and destiny.  

Our passage divides into three subsections, contrasting the righteous and the wicked. The sections cover their desires (Proverbs 21:10-12), their actions (Proverbs 21:13-15), and their loves and paths (Proverbs 21:16-18). The problem of the wicked is first in his heart (Proverbs 21:10-12), and then in his hands (Proverbs 21:13-15) and feet (Proverbs 21:16-18). And each section contrasts the outcomes that they experience.

The wicked’s heart desires evil (Proverbs 21:10a) and despises his neighbor (verse 10b). He needs it to be changed, which can come only by God’s grace. The two step process in Proverbs 21:11 begins with grace-attended discipline, that makes the scoffer wise (verse 11a), and continues with grace-attended instruction that gives him knowledge in his newfound wisdom (verse 11b). The righteous one (not necessarily God, as NKJ suggests) considers the wicked’s house to overthrow them (Proverbs 21:12)—both, overthrowing wickedness in his own home; and, if the righteous is in authority, for overthrowing the wicked who are under him.

The wicked’s hand is also evil. It is unmoved by the cry of the poor (Proverbs 21:13), but easily moved by the prospect of sinfully obtained wealth (Proverbs 21:14). But the wicked isn’t only overthrown by the righteous (Proverbs 21:12), he also experiences different providence than the righteous. The just man comes into joy by way of doing justice (Proverbs 21:15a); but, however enjoyable the wicked man thinks working iniquity is, providence inevitably brings him destruction (verse 15b). 

Finally, the wicked’s path is evil. He wanders from the path of understanding (Proverbs 21:16a), because his love is of pleasure (Proverbs 21:17a) and luxury (verse 17b), rather than of God and neighbor. His destination is not in the assembly of the righteous, but in the assembly of the dead (Proverbs 21:16b). Whatever wealth he may have in the short term, he will end in the worst poverty imaginable in the long-term (Proverbs 21:17). The wicked and unfaithful will perish, while the righteous and upright are delivered (Proverbs 21:18). Though God is righteous and just in condemning them, why permit them to have lived at all? As a ransom—in His saving love and wisdom toward the righteous.

So, be alarmed, when your heart desires evil (Proverbs 21:10a), or you are unmoved by your neighbor’s misery (Proverbs 21:13), or are motivated by wealth to compromise (Proverbs 21:14), or crave pleasure or luxury (Proverbs 21:17). These should all drive you to ask God to make His Spirit bless discipline and instruction to you (Proverbs 21:11), that you may become wise!

When do you find your heart desiring evil? What neighbor’s misery have you not cared enough about? When have you been tempted to compromise truth or right to obtain wealth? What pleasure or luxury do you love so much that you’re in danger of wandering out of the way? How have you responded to God’s discipline and instruction? To what end do you have good hope of coming?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You that You have not left us to perish in sin. Change our hearts so that our hands are moved by truth and right. Deliver us and bless us, through Christ, we ask in His Name, AMEN! 

Suggested songs: ARP119I “According to Your Word, O Lord” or TPH51C “God, Be Merciful to Me”

2026.02.08 Lord's Day Livestreams (live at 10:10a, 11:10a, and 3p)

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

Christ's Family [2026.02.07 Pastoral Letter and Hopewell Herald]

Hopewell Herald – February 7, 2026

Dear Congregation,

We’ve been learning much, from Song of Songs, about the desires and delights of Christ. In Mark 3:34–35, Jesus says, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”

Sometimes, we speak of one another as “church family,” but the truth and reality is much better: that Jesus has made us to be His own family.

It truly is a wonderful thing that we are about to do—entering heaven with Him, Who presents us there, saying, “Here am I and the children whom God has given Me” (Heb 2:13).

Looking forward to going to heaven with you, Christ’s family,

Pastor

 

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

▪Theology Simply Explained — CC38, The Holiness Needed for Heaven 
▪Theology Simply Explained — WSC15, The Fall as Covenant-Breaking
▪Song of Songs 4:16, “The Desires of the Delightful Bride”
▪Deuteronomy 29:2–21, “Covenant with God, Now and Forever”
▪Ecclesiastes 11:1–6, “Delighted, Dependent Diligence”
▪Matthew 27:26–44, “An Overpowering Salvation”
▪Song of Songs 5:1, “Glorious Answer to Prayer”
 

LORD'S DAY – February 8, 2026 

9:50 a.m. Breakfast Line Opens

10 a.m. Sabbath School
We are preparing our minds and hearts for public worship by studying our Confession of Faith from Scripture, affirming that Scripture is our only ultimate authority, but also discovering that what we confess is thoroughly Scriptural.

11 a.m. Public Worship

▫Children’s Catechism for February 8. Q38 Can anyone go to heaven with this sinful nature? No; our hearts must be changed before we can be fit for heaven. [CC 38 Simply Explained: “The Holiness Needed for Heaven”]

▫Shorter Catechism for February 8. Q15. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created? The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created was their eating the forbidden fruit. [WSC 15 Simply Explained: “The Fall as Covenant-Breaking”]

▫Songs for public worship on February 8:  TPH400 [mp3], ARP22A [mp3], ARP2 [mp3]

Scripture Text for first portion of worship service
Song of Songs 4:16

Scripture Readings and basis for confession of sin and petition for help
Deuteronomy 29:2–21
Ecclesiastes 11:1–6

Sermon Scripture text and topic
We will be hearing the sermon from Matthew 27:26–44 about “Against YHWH and Against His Christ”

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

1 p.m. Coffee Fellowship and Catechism Class

1:30 p.m. Fellowship Lunch
▫Memory Verse for February 8, Matthew 27:41–42, Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.”

3:00 p.m. Evening Praise and Preaching

We will be singing at least ten Psalm selections and hearing the sermon from Song of Songs 5:1 about “Enjoying the Church with Christ”

Hopewell this Month

Hopewell’s Presbytery Prayer Focus for February
Madison-Monrovia ARP in Harvest, AL

February Psalm of the Month
ARP22A My God, My God

Upcoming Events

• Wednesday, February 11, Midweek Prayer Meeting. 6:30 p.m. in the Chapel. We will hear a sermon from Proverbs 21:10–18 then pray until 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 11, Session Meeting, 8 p.m. in the Pastor’s Study
• Saturday, February 14, Covenant Child Celebration Brunch, 10a in the Fellowship Hall
• Saturday, February 14, Storm Debris Cleanup, 12p
• Saturday, February 28, Men’s (and future men) breakfast, 7a in the Fellowship Hall