The Ultimate Glory of Marriage [2026.05.09 Pastoral Letter and Hopewell Herald]

Hopewell Herald – May 9, 2026

Dear Congregation,

Matthew 22 begins, “And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son…’”

This is a parable about those who hear the gospel but refuse to enter the kingdom, and even those who are part of the visible church (so, in the kingdom in some sense)—but who do not have Christ and His righteousness counted for them by faith, so they never come to have His righteousness clothing them in personal holiness either.

But the choice of a wedding intends to remind us of something that is more than a parable: THE parable, or as Ephesians 5:31–32 puts it, “the mystery” of Christ and the church. Hebrews 1:8 teaches us to understand Jesus as the great Bridegroom of Psalm 45 (and, of its parallel song, the Song of Songs).

Marriage is the parable of Christ and the church. It is secondary to God’s eternal intention to wed the Son to a bride whom He would redeem, and betroth to Himself, and perfect, and marry.

It is on account of this intention that God creates and designs man to be married. The startling “it is not good” (that the man would be alone), in Genesis 2, after five repetitions of “it was good,” shows us how central marriage was to the creation plan and the creation order. Rapidly, at the end of day 6, the first marriage takes things from, “it is not good,” to the triumphant, “it was very good.”

So, it is not surprising that the first place the devil attacked humanity was in the context of their failings as wife and husband in Gen 3. And the nature of marriage itself has been under attack in every single generation since then. The consequence is the corruption of man’s purpose, the destruction of man’s joy, and the obstruction of this glorious parable of Christ and His church.

Marriage, well-understood and faithfully lived by grace, is the greatest earthly blessing. It is not surprising that the Lord would make it so, in light of the great glory of what it shows forth.

But, an approach to marriage that pursues it for oneself, rather than in self-sacrificial love to one another, to show forth Christ and His church, is the most common of the nearly innumerable perversions with which marriage has been attacked.

As we increasingly discovered, under the preaching of the Song of Songs, it is the sweetest possible thing to know the greatness of Christ’s delight in His bride, and His relentless efforts to produce in her that which is delightful, and to be with her. Enjoying Him, and His love to us, and His work in stirring up our love to Him… this is the pleasure of heaven. And we can have it already on earth. Meditating much upon this does much to motivate us to the most faithful and affectionate earthly marriage that grace gives us. Best of all, it prepares us for the marriage supper of the Lamb!

Looking forward to the Bride’s meeting with her Betrothed tomorrow,

Pastor

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

▪Theology Simply Explained — CC51, God's Workmanship for God Works 
▪Theology Simply Explained — WSC28, Christ Exalted Yesterday, Today, and Forever
▪Job 1:6–22, “When God Is Everything to You”
▪1Chronicles 5, “Historically Sad Sin and Chastening”
▪Mark 4:1–20, “The Hearing Heart That We Need”
▪Ephesians 1:3–4, “Blessed in the Blessed One”
▪Zephaniah 1:1–3, “YHWH's Word of Warning”

LORD'S DAY – May 10, 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

▫Songs for public worship on May 10: ARP73C [mp3], ARP80 [mp3], ARP65A [mp3]

Scripture Text for first portion of worship service
Job 1:6–22

Scripture Readings and basis for confession of sin and petition for help
1Chronicles 5
Mark 4:1–20

Sermon Scripture text and topic

We will be hearing the sermon from Ephesians 1:3–4 about “Every Spiritual Blessing”

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

▫Children’s Catechism for May 10. Q51 What is sanctification? It is God's making sinners holy in heart and conduct. [CC 51 Simply Explained: “God's Workmanship for God Works”]

▫Shorter Catechism for May 10. Q28. Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation? Christ’s exaltation consisteth in His rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day. [WSC 28 Simply Explained: “Christ Exalted Yesterday, Today, and Forever”]

▫Memory Verse for May 10, Ephesians 1:4, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.

3:00 p.m. Evening Praise and Preaching
We will be singing at least ten Psalm selections and hearing the sermon from Zephaniah 1:1–3 about “Man, the Stumbling Block”

Hopewell this Month

Hopewell’s Presbytery Prayer Focus for May
Prosperity ARP in Taft, TN

May Psalm of the Month
ARP80 Hear, O Hear Us

Upcoming Events

• Wednesday, May 13, Midweek Prayer Meeting. 6:30 p.m. in the Chapel. We will hear a sermon from Proverbs 24:30–34 then pray until 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 13, Session Meeting, 8 p.m. in the Pastor’s Study
• Saturday, May 23, Men’s (and future men) breakfast, 7a in the Fellowship Hall
• Thursday, June 4, Diaconate Meeting, 8 p.m.

Transforming Our Own Culture [2026.04.25 Pastoral Letter and Hopewell Herald]

Hopewell Herald – April 25, 2026

Dear Congregation,

Some of you noticed that, this week, the modern state of Israel was proudly promoting its celebration of pride over the most abominable perversions. Others, immediately noted that our own nation does this. Both nations commit these abominations against much grace. What can we, as Christian citizens of our own nation, do about such things?

Grace to Open Our Eyes [2026.03.21 Pastoral Letter and Hopewell Herald]

Hopewell Herald – March 21, 2026

Dear Congregation,

The experience of Cleopas and his friend, in Luke 24, is amazing in many ways—especially the conversation on the way:

Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Luke 24:25–27

So much could be said. But what I’m marveling at is that “their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him” (v16).

These are two of those who followed Him (v13). They’re not unregenerate; they’re not spiritually dead. Yet, their eyes are restrained.

Then Jesus speaks to them in a way that is very characteristic of Himself. “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!” Yet, their eyes are restrained.

And Jesus makes a point that He had been characteristically teaching them. “Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” Yet, their eyes are restrained.

Then, Jesus does one of the things most characteristic of His ministry. “Beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Yet, their eyes are restrained.

Finally, after He breaks bread, and blesses it, and breaks it, and gives it to them (v30), their eyes are opened (v31).

The fact that their eyes could be restrained through so many things that very obviously revealed Him as Jesus is instructive to us. In our continuing weakness and fleshliness, we are capable of a great deal of spiritual blindness.

How much we need His grace! And how wonderful that, whether it’s over-against this blindness, or against recurring worldliness, God gives more grace (cf. Ja 4:4–6).

Looking forward to worshiping Him together by His grace,

Pastor

The Children Whom God Has Given to Jesus [2026.03.14 Pastoral Letter and Hopewell Herald]

Hopewell Herald – March 13, 2026

Dear Congregation,

The Lord has blessed us with a new covenant child (pun intended!) in the congregation, and we look forward to her baptism soon in the public worship of God.

Last week, in the course of the M’Cheyne reading plan, we had the following passage:

Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

Luke 18:15–17

Jesus gives a two-fold rationale command to bring the children to Him:

First, children are members of the kingdom already. "Of such is the kingdom" means that the kingdom is comprised of such as these children.

Second, everyone in the kingdom of God must receive it as a little child. This applies to children and adults, both. Those who have the first birth must have the second in order to see the kingdom (cf. Jn3:3–8). So, "kingdom" is being used with reference to the visible church in v16, and the invisible/elect/eternal church in v17.

One of the reasons that Jesus insists that children are members of His church, and be brought to Him in all of the privileges of that membership (i.e. the means of grace!), is so that they can learn to receive the kingdom as little children. And one of the reasons that Jesus brings adults into the visible church is so that they can learn to receive the kingdom as little children.

So, dear reader, how have you received the kingdom as a little child? Or, haven't you? God grant unto us all to be true children.

When describing Christ’s leadership of our public worship, Hebrews 2 puts these precious words on His lips:

“Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”

Hebrews 2:13

Looking forward to coming to God together in the public worship, through His only-begotten Son, as His true children,

Pastor

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

▪Theology Simply Explained — CC43, Covenanted to God in Christ 
▪Theology Simply Explained — WSC20, The God Who Is Pleased to Save
▪Song of Songs 6:4–13, “Blessed RE-Assurance”
▪Deuteronomy 31:9–13, “Means of Generational Grace”
▪Mark 1:1–11, “Why the Gospel Is Good News”
▪Nahum 1:2–6, “Wrestling with the Reality of Wrath”
▪Song of Songs 7:1–9a, “The Bride's Crowning Beauties”

LORD'S DAY – March 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 March 15. Q43 With Whom did God the Father make the covenant of grace? With Christ, His eternal Son. [CC 43 Simply Explained: “Covenanted to God in Christ”]

▫Shorter Catechism for March 15. Q20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery? God having, out of His mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a Redeemer. [WSC 20 Simply Explained: “The God Who Is Pleased to Save”]

▫Songs for public worship on March 15: ARP45B [mp3], ARP108A [mp3], ARP94A [mp3]

Scripture Text for first portion of worship service
Song of Songs 6:4–13

Scripture Readings and basis for confession of sin and petition for help
Deuteronomy 31:9–13
Nahum 1:2–6

Sermon Scripture text and topic
We will be hearing the sermon from Nahum 1:2–6 about “Faith in the God of Vengeance”

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 March 15, Nahum 1:3, YHWH is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. YHWH has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.

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 7:1–9a about “The Heavenly Glories of the Bride ”

 

Hopewell this Month

Hopewell’s Presbytery Prayer Focus for March
New Days ARP in Duluth, GA

March Psalm of the Month
ARP108A God, My Heart Is Steadfast

Upcoming Events

• Saturday, March 14, Shower for Lowry and Abby, 10:30a in the Fellowship Hall
• Wednesday, March 18, Midweek Prayer Meeting. 6:30 p.m. in the Chapel. We will hear a sermon from Proverbs 22:17–21 then pray until 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 18, Session Meeting, 8 p.m. in the Pastor’s Study
• Saturday, March 21, Memorial Service for Susan Dobbins, 4p in the Chapel
• Saturday, March 28, Men’s (and future men) breakfast, 7a in the Fellowship Hall
• Saturday, March 28, Church Workday, 8:30a
• Thursday, April 2, Diaconate Meeting, 8 p.m.

Our Defeated, Soon-to-Be-Destroyed, Enemy [2026.03.07 Pastoral Letter and Hopewell Herald]

Hopewell Herald – March 6, 2026

Dear Congregation,

We have had a death in the church family this week, and while we rejoice with those who rejoice (Susan), we mourn with those who mourn (the whole congregation, and especially Tom, and Russ & Meredeth, and their family).

It seems an appropriate time for us to remember, again, what the Bible teaches about death—so that we will neither think well of it, nor be overcome by it.

Death is an enemy. It is not part of the original design. It entered the world through sin (“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned”—Rom 5:12). It is not natural. And, although God is always good to us in all things, and especially in the deaths of believers, death itself is not good. 1Cor 15:26 calls it an “enemy.” Do not think well of it. When you desire to depart, for what is better by fair (Php 1:23), desire the departing, not the death. We must not seek to be unclothed of our bodies, but rather further clothed by Christ (2Cor 5:4).

Death is defeated. It is swallowed up in the victory of Christ and the Christian (1Cor 15:53). It is a stingless, victory-less enemy (1Cor 15:55). Christ has subdued it as a humiliated servant that ushers us into His presence (2Cor 5:6–8), at which point we are finally perfected in holiness (Heb 12:14), so that this enemy is bent under Christ’s power unto our gain (Php 1:21), unto Christ’s glory in our body (Php 1:20).

Death will be destroyed. Although Christ has crushed death, defeating him who had the power of death through fear (Heb 2:14–15), He is not done with it yet. “Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.”—1Cor 15:25–26. Out of love for Christ, we should long for this final fulfillment of Ps 110:1.

So, let us despise death as our enemy and Christ’s enemy, but let us not be intimidated by it. Rather, let us take it as an occasion to mourn with those who mourn, while exulting in Christ’s having vanquished it, and coming destruction of it.

Looking forward to exulting in Christ with you in the public worship,

Pastor