Relying Only upon Jesus, Our God (Family Worship in Colossians 2:4–10)

For what is the apostle willing to suffer and labor so much? Pastor leads his family in today's "Hopewell @Home" passage. Colossians 2:4–10 prepares us for the second serial reading in Morning Public Worship on the coming Lord's Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us Jesus is God: in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; in Him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily; He is the head of all principality and power. Because there are false hopes for knowledge and power that threaten to divert believers' attention from Christ, he is willing endure much in order to see them steadfastly walking by faith in the same One Whom they have received as Lord.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2021.11.04 Hopewell @Home ▫ Colossians 2:4–10

Read Colossians 2:4–10

Questions from the Scripture text: Who is speaking (Colossians 2:4)? To keep what from happening with what other words? What is the apostle’s location (Colossians 2:5)? Where are his thoughts and affections? How does he feel? About what? What have they done with Christ (Colossians 2:6a)? What must they now do with Christ (verse 6b)? What two verbs does Colossians 2:7 use to describe the relationship to Christ of those who are walking in Him? In what have they been established? Through what mechanism? In what must they now abound? With what attitude of heart? What will such an attitude protect them from (Colossians 2:8)? What four things threaten to compete with Christ in their thinking and values? What is the truth about what dwells in Jesus (Colossians 2:9)? What does Jesus have that He does not have as God but only as man? What do they have, who are in Him (Colossians 2:10)? Of what is He head? How much of it?

Man longs for knowledge and power. God created us with knowledge of Him and with capacity to learn more. God created us to take dominion over the world. But we can’t. We’re fallen into wickedness and weakness, sin and misery.

How can man recover himself? It’s impossible. Impossible in a near-infinite number of ways. Impossible in every way except one: if God Himself is also the Christ (Colossians 2:2), in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

There are many things that promise knowledge and power. Philosophers try. And history is full of snake-oil salesmen whose empty promises and infomercials have the same, subtle message of the ancient snake, “you shall be like God.” Manmade religious traditions stack up generations of devotion to produce the appearance of meaning and the experience of sentiment. Then there are the irreligious, who promise knowledge and power through “the basic principles of the world” (almost certainly some form of sorcery in which men believe that they can control hidden powers or beings that are behind the visible world). And to that list of illegitimate sources of knowledge and power, we can add anything else that we think is going to take us to the next level or get us over the hump. Anything, that is except Christ.

This is why the apostle was so willing to suffer (Colossians 1:24) great conflict (Colossians 2:1) for the Colossians: in order that no one would deceive them with persuasive words (Colossians 2:4), lest anyone should cheat them (Colossians 2:8) with anything that is not according to Christ. 

The Colossian Christians—and every true Christian—began by receiving Christ Jesus the Lord (Colossians 2:6a), being established in the faith (Colossians 2:7b). Having begun by being rooted in Him, they are now to be built up upon Him (verse 7a). We don’t begin by faith in Christ and then grow and walk in some other way. We begin by faith in Christ. We grow by faith in Christ. We walk by faith in Christ (Colossians 2:6b).

This is what the apostle rejoiced to work at for the Colossians: steady persistence in faith in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:5).

Not only is everything else an empty, deceitful cheat; it is something far worse. Blasphemy. In Christ, God dwells bodily. No, more than that. In Christ, the fullness of God dwells bodily. No, more than that. In Christ, all the fullness of God dwells bodily. The apostle has piled up the language in Colossians 2:9 to make it clear that this is no mere Man with a divine principle in Him or with Him. No, this is God Himself having added humanity to Himself.

This is the complete source of the Christian’s knowledge and power. Just as in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3), so also He is the Head of all principality and power. The only truth is truth that has as its foundation that Jesus Christ is God. The only power is power that has as its foundation that Jesus Christ is God. 

Anything else is an empty, lying cheat. And blasphemy. Walk by the Christ in Whom you were established, dear Christian!

What are you tempted to think will get you to the next level or get you over the hump in your faith or your life? What do you think will protect you from Covid, or government overreach, or your remaining sin, or the destruction of your life? How is Jesus Christ your God the foundation of all true science? Of all true spirituality?

Sample prayer: Our God, we thank You for Your mercy to us, that You have given Yourself to be our knowledge and power in Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus, in You all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily. Forgive us for when we try to attain knowledge or power in any other way than those You have given to us. Make us to find our fullness only in You and from You, Jesus Christ our God, in Whose Name we ask it, AMEN! 

Suggested songs: ARP73C “Yet Constantly I Am with You” or TPH508 “Jesus, Priceless Treasure”

The God Who Makes the Difference (Family Worship in Exodus 8:20–32)

What does Yahweh make known about Himself in the fourth plague? Pastor leads his family in today’s “Hopewell @Home” passage. Exodus 8:20–32 prepares us for the opening portion of Morning Public Worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that our God is a God of distinctions—especially in sovereign, electing mercy.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2021.11.03 Hopewell @Home ▫ Exodus 8:20–32

Read Exodus 8:20–32

Questions from the Scripture text: Who speaks to whom (Exodus 8:20)? When is Moses to rise? Where is he to go (cf. Exodus 7:15)? What is Moses to say (cf. Exodus 7:16, Exodus 8:1)? What will the Lord do if Pharaoh doesn’t (Exodus 8:21)? On which three groups of people and in which location? But not where or on whom (Exodus 8:22)? That Pharaoh may know what? What will the Lord “make” (Exodus 8:23)? What happened (Exodus 8:24)? Then where did Pharaoh tell them to sacrifice (Exodus 8:25)? What does Moses say about doing so (Exodus 8:26)? Why wouldn’t it be right? Where does Moses say they will go instead (Exodus 8:27)? What concession does Pharaoh make (Exodus 8:28)? For what does he ask? What does Moses say that he will do (Exodus 8:29)? But what does he say for Pharaoh not to do? What does Moses do (Exodus 8:30)? And what does Yahweh do (Exodus 8:31)? With what miraculous result? But what does Pharaoh do (Exodus 8:32a) and not do (verse 32b)?

If you’re Pharaoh, and you’ve got a ritual washing as the first thing on the agenda every day, you might want to clear the rest of the agenda if Moses shows up to your first appointment (Exodus 8:20). The 80-year-old Hebrew is about to ruin your day—unless, of course, you are willing to let Yahweh’s people go that they may serve Him (Exodus 8:21). But Pharaoh isn’t willing. He doesn’t have it in himself to be willing, and the Lord is justly withholding the grace that could make him willing.

This is the fourth plague. In the third one, we saw something new: that the Lord does not owe sinners a warning or a call to repentance. Now, Pharaoh gets those back, but the Lord does something else new: He makes a distinction (Exodus 8:23), “in order that you may know that I am Yahweh” (Exodus 8:22). 

From the beginning of creation, we have seen that God is a God of distinctions: light and darkness, water and dry land, male and female. Even the temptation to eat the fruit was a temptation to be the one who makes the distinction between good and evil—to this day, one of the clearest marks of the wicked is that they call evil good and good evil. 

Now, we see God displaying Himself as the God Who makes distinctions in the sphere of providence/redemption. The reason that Exodus 8:24 finds the Egyptians covered and corrupted with the flies, and the Israelites unaffected, is not found in any moral or spiritual superiority on Israel’s part. As anyone familiar with the rest of the Bible will tell you, the reality about Israel is that they can sin with the best of them. No, as Exodus 8:23 specifically points out, it is God Himself Who makes the difference.

How hard is Pharaoh’s heart? In what he probably considers to be a great concession, Pharaoh actually directly disobeys the first part (“let My people go”) of Yahweh’s command. He says that Israel is to sacrifice in the land. Civil government doesn’t need to forbid worship in order to express its wicked rebellion against God; it indulges this rebellion quite well by attempting to dictate to God’s church how/when/where she may worship.

Moses’s response subtly makes the same point: God’s right worship is repulsive to the Egyptians (Exodus 8:27). Let those enraptured with God and committed to His way of worship never think that worshiping Him well in the way that He says can be made attractive to the world! 

Amazingly, Pharaoh concedes this point (Exodus 8:28), and like many people who will have nothing to do with our God, he still hopes to get some benefits: “intercede for me.” Also amazingly (amazing grace!), the LORD answers. As anyone who has tried to deal with a fly infestation can tell you, the miracle in Exodus 8:31 is probably the greatest miracle in the passage: “not ONE remained!” 

Our powerful, merciful God shows goodness to all. But, He makes a distinction in reserving His softening, saving grace for His chosen people. For them, it is clearly He, and not they, Who makes the difference!

In what ways does the Lord show Himself today as the God Who makes the difference? How does government try to control Christian worship? What happens when the church worries about whether the world will dislike their worship? To whom is the Lord good? To whom is He savingly gracious?

Sample prayer:  Our Creator and Redeemer, we bless Your Name for the wisdom and goodness of the distinctions that You have made. Thank You that one of the ways that You make this distinction is by giving to sinners, who deserve the same Hell as everyone else, softening and salvation instead. Grant unto us to remember that the world will hate Your worship, and us for offering it; but, give us the courage and commitment to offer it to you gladly anyway. For, Christ has earned this, and we ask it through Him, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP2B “Why Do Gentile Nations Rage” or TPH2B “Why Do Heathen Nations Rage”

Purpose for, Response to, and Foundation of Proverbs (Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 1:1–7)

Pastor leads his family in a selection from “the Proverb of the day.” In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Proverbs gives us wisdom, to which we are to respond with humility and submission, in fear of the Lord.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Learning Ways to Love Jesus (2021.10.27 Morning Sermon in Luke 23:49–56)

From the women who had loved and followed Jesus all the way from Galilee, we learn that a life that is an honoring response to the crucified Christ will exhibit, among other things, perseverance, diligence, generosity, and obedience.

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

WCF 16.2.4, Good Works Edify the Brethren by Displaying the Fruit of God's Effectual Grace (2021.10.31 Sabbath School in Matthew 5:13–16 and 2Corinthians 9:1–5)

When good works are done by those who start out poor in spirit, it points to their Father and encourages the rest of His children. These children encourage one another by their good works precisely because they know that one another's good works come not from them but from their Father.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Rejoicing in Sure Hope that Comes through Tribulation (Family Worship lesson in Romans 5:1–11)

Why may believers rejoice in tribulation? Pastor leads his family in today’s “Hopewell @Home” passage. Romans 5:1–11 prepares us for the opening portion of Morning Public Worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that since our hope is in enjoying God’s glory and reflecting God’s glory, we must be weaned from delighting in earthly glory or reflecting earthly glory. And we rejoice in the sure love of our God even, and especially, when He uses troubles to do it.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2021.11.02 Hopewell @Home ▫ Romans 5:1–11

Read Romans 5:1–11

Questions from the Scripture text: By what have we been justified (Romans 5:1)? What does that give us with God? In what do we stand (Romans 5:2)? In what do we rejoice? What do we glory in (Romans 5:3)? What does tribulation produce? What does perseverance produce (Romans 5:4)? What does character produce? What does not disappoint (Romans 5:5)? What has been poured out in our hearts? How? When did Christ die (Romans 5:6)? For whom did Christ die? How does God demonstrate His love for us (Romans 5:8)? What happens to us after we are justified by Christ’s blood (Romans 5:9) and reconciled through the death of His Son (Romans 5:10)? In whom do we rejoice through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:11)?

Next week’s Call to Worship, Prayer for Help, Song of Adoration, and Prayer of Confession all come from Romans 5:1–11, so that we will see that we are singing God’s thoughts after Him with I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow. 

This passage describes the Christian life, once we are made right with God (justified). It is a life of peace and hope and joy!

First, we have peace with God (Romans 5:1). He is entirely for us now, just as He is entirely against wickedness. How did this come about? By reconciliation (Romans 5:10-11). Enmity has been exchanged for peace. The death of Christ has ended our enmity with God.

But what about Christians who have trouble (Romans 5:3a)? Especially the kind of trouble that the apostle would describe later in Romans 7:13–24? It is precisely that trouble through which we receive the perseverance (Romans 5:3b) and the character that produces hope (Romans 5:4)! God trains us to rejoice already in those things that Christ has earned for us for the future (Romans 5:2).

What has He earned for us? The very glory of God (Romans 5:2, Romans 5:11)! How can we be sure that we will enter into God’s glory? Because He has already justified us (Romans 5:1a, Romans 5:9, cf. Romans 8:1). If when we were without strength (Romans 5:6), and when we were ungodly, and when we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)… now what will God do for us?! He will strengthen us by His Spirit to kill our remaining sinfulness (cf. Romans 8:12–17).

Here is an amazing truth: we are no longer without strength! We are in Jesus Christ. He has poured His love out in our hearts. His grace makes us strong in Him, with His strength instead of ours. Because we have none in ourselves!

We are now counted righteous in Christ! How much more will God do for us now?! There can be absolutely no doubt that He is completing our salvation. Therefore, we can rejoice in this hope, for it is sure. 

Peace and hope and joy. Did you notice that all of them depend upon Christ’s cross and final glory? What don’t they depend upon? Our circumstances! If you are in Christ, then peace and hope and joy are for you—regardless of current circumstances.

What circumstances threaten your peace, hope, and joy? In whom are your peace, hope, and joy sure?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we adore You for Your everlasting, electing love for us. How greatly You demonstrated Your love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! And now, in Your fatherly love, You give us whatever trouble we need to produce perseverance, character, and hope. Forgive us for when we murmur under Your kind providence. And shed Your love abroad in our hearts, we pray, by Your Spirit—which we ask through Christ, AMEN! 

Suggested songs: ARP23B “The Lord’s My Shepherd” or TPH519 “I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow”

2021.11.01 Hopewell @Home ▫ Luke 23:49–56

Read Luke 23:49–56

Questions from the Scripture text: Who were nearby in Luke 23:49? What did these latter do? Who else was there (Luke 23:50)? To what did he belong? What kind of man was he? What hadn’t he done (Luke 23:51)? From where was he? What was he doing (cf. Luke 2:25, Luke 2:38)? To whom did he go (Luke 23:52)? To ask for what? What did he do with the body (Luke 23:53)? Where did he lay it? What day was this (Luke 23:54)? Which day drew near? Who were still doing what (Luke 23:55)? What did they observe? Where did they go (Luke 23:56)? What did they prepare? Then what did they do? According to what?

In the centurion’s response, we see Rome flip from mocking Christ to honoring Him. In the crowd’s response, we see them flip from mocking Christ to honoring Him. In Joseph of Arimathea’s request and burying, we see him not only in his faithful consistency but also as a representative of the council, now not mocking Christ but honoring Him.

But now we turn to those who have been with Jesus the whole way: “the women who had come with Him from Galilee.” They are described this way in Luke 23:49 and then again in Luke 23:55. In Luke 23:49, they were lumped in with other acquaintances—we may assume at least John (cf. John 19:25–27) and hopefully other disciples. But by Luke 23:55, they are being described by themselves. 

Twice named as having come with Him from Galilee, and the second time by themselves, the point seems to be clear: these women have been with Him from the beginning, and here they are persevering with Him to the end. The apostles had fled at the arrest; the majority of them were at a distance during the crucifixion (Luke 23:49). They’re not even mentioned during the burial (Luke 23:50-55). But these women have stuck with Jesus. There’s a commendable perseverance to the end here. Every believer ought to seek grace from God to finish well, grace to persevere to the end.

But there’s not only perseverance but also diligence. It’s the preparation day (Luke 23:44), but after watching carefully at Christ’s death (Luke 23:49), they continue to observe carefully at His burial. They observe the tomb (Luke 23:55). They observe how His body was laid (verse 55). This implies that they have been following along with Joseph the whole time in Luke 23:50-54. They’re taking it all in, not from idle curiosity, but from an intent to do whatever they can. No doubt, they note that for whatever reason spices and fragrant oils have not been applied. Their diligence to observe identifies an opening for service. There is risk here in being identified with Christ. There is inconvenience and effort in all that needs to be done, late on this preparation day, during the feast—none of which they could have anticipated just 24 hours prior.

To perseverance and diligence, these dear women add extravagant generosity. Perhaps among the other Marys (cf. Luke 24:10) is Mary of Bethany, who had already spent a year’s wages’ worth of spikenard on Jesus; He had said it was to prepare His body for burial (cf. John 12:7). These spices and oils were not inexpensive! Of course, if they had remembered others of Jesus’s words (cf. Luke 24:6–8), they could have spared the expense. He would not be in the grave long enough to make use of the spices and oils. And the prophecy of Psalm 16:10 meant that the usual purpose of such spices and oils wouldn’t apply to the body of the Christ. Still, there is something commendable about their willingness to spend so lavishly upon Him; this was in keeping with what Luke has already said about them (cf. Luke 8:1–3).

Generosity in caring for Christ’s body is one great indicator of genuine perception of Christ’s love for us, and of genuine reciprocal love for Him. These women missed the opportunity to apply spices and fragrant oils to the corpse of Christ, but they would yet have opportunity to be generous to that body of Christ, which He calls “His flesh and His bones” (cf. Ephesians 5:30; 1 Timothy 2:9–10; Acts 9:36–39). We too must wait until glory to serve our ascended Lord, but we too may serve His flesh and bones even now in the church.

Finally, in these women, we see a commendable obedience. If ever one might have let herself off easily for neglecting the Sabbath rather than remembering it, or spending it in any old way rather than consecrating it, it might have been one of these women. But they keep the Sabbath, and the Holy Spirit is careful to distinguish for us what drove this Sabbath-keeping. “They rested on the Sabbath” not according to tradition or out of social obligation but “according to the commandment” (Luke 23:56). Jesus’s perfect Sabbath keeping was what was counted for them through faith. Jesus’s death on the cross had atoned for all of their Sabbath-breakings. 

But here was a way of responding in love to the Christ Who for them had perfectly lived and atoningly died: to love Him by keeping His commandments. For the Christian, the law of God is the royal law of their King, and the law of liberty of Him Who has delivered them from being ruled by self and sin. We had seen back in Luke 6:5 that Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath. They are closer to the eternal Lord Who died for them in the public worship on the Sabbath than they would have been attending to His spirit-less human body. And now believers may have the closest intimacy with the risen and ascended Messiah, the Lord from all eternity, as He leads them in public worship Lord’s Day by Lord’s Day.

How are you aiming at enduring to the end with Christ and in His service? In what parts of life might you be more diligent to observe how you may serve the Lord and His body? Where are there opportunities for your generosity unto Him? Which of His commandments presents you the best growth opportunity for loving Him in His own way?

Sample prayer:  Lord Jesus, in Your death for us sinners, God has demonstrated His love. Grant that we would love You because You first loved us. Give us perseverance, diligence, generosity, and obedience. Forgive us for when our dull hearts respond so weakly to Your great love for us. By Your Spirit of adoption, make us to walk in love as beloved children, even as You loved us and gave Yourself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma, through which we also ask this prayer, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP119W “Lord, Let My Cry” or TPH238 “Lord, with Glowing Heart I’d Praise Thee”