Jesus Is the Only Way to God [Children's Catechism 106—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children’s Catechism question 106—especially explaining how prayer is worship that draws near to God, and Jesus is the only way to do that.

Q106. In Whose Name should we pray? Only in the Name of Christ.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Grace to Overcome Wrath-Provoking Religion [Family Worship lesson in Isaiah 65:1–10]

To whom does the Lord give Himself? Isaiah 65:1–10 looks forward to the first serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord gives Himself, by sovereign grace, to sinners from all nations. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2024.08.14 Hopewell @Home ▫ Isaiah 65:1–10

Read Isaiah 65:1–10

Questions from the Scripture text: By whom was the Lord sought (Isaiah 65:1a)? Found (verse 1b)? To whom did He present Himself (verse 1c–d)? How does He describe His relation to Jacob and Judah (Isaiah 65:2a, cf. Romans 10:20–21)? In what way have they been rebellious (Isaiah 65:2b–c)? What else have they done (Isaiah 65:3a)? In what ways did they provoke Him to anger (Isaiah 65:3-4)? What have all these things said to the Lord (Isaiah 65:5a–c)? With what effect (verse 5d–e)? What are we to consider (Isaiah 65:6a)? Where has this condemnation been recorded? What will the Lord do (Isaiah 65:6b–d, Isaiah 65:7e)? What will He repay? Into what? Who speaks in Isaiah 65:8a? From where does new wine originate (verse 8b)? What mustn’t be done if it is to be obtained (verse 8c)? What is in the cluster (verse 8d)? Who will bring forth what from whom (Isaiah 65:9a)? From whom will He bring forth what else (verse 9b)? What does He call these descendants and heirs in verse 9c? What in verse 9d? What formerly marred/cursed places will be restored (Isaiah 65:10)?  

To whom does the Lord give Himself? Isaiah 65:1–10 looks forward to the first serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord gives Himself, by sovereign grace, to sinners from all nations.  

Beginning to finish. Isaiah 65:1 forms a bookend with Isaiah 66:19–20, letting us know that we are now in the conclusion to the whole of Isaiah’s prophecy.

Grace to the nations (Isaiah 65:1). The Lord is sought, found, and known by people from the nations. “Not called by My Name” means those who began outside the church—in this case, outside Jacob and Judah. In Romans 10:20, the apostle quotes this verse to show that it was the Lord’s plan all along to save from among the nations. His description of them shows that this saving is only by sovereign, electing, regenerating grace: “ones not asking” and “ones not seeking Me.”

Wrath to church members (Isaiah 65:2-7). Isaiah 65:2 sharply contrasts Isaiah 65:1. The people called by His Name have refused all of His overtures to them. They are rebellious (walking according to their own thoughts, rather than God’s good thoughts, Isaiah 65:2). And they have provoked YHWH continually to anger to His face (Isaiah 65:3a)! 

Immediately, dear reader, you should know how these members of the visible church have so provoked the wrath of the Lord, lest you/we now repeat the same. What are “their own thoughts” that have replaced God’s Word? 

First, they worshiped in the beauty of creation (“who sacrifice in gardens,” Isaiah 65:3b). Rather than worshiping in the assembly that the Lord calls at the place the Lord has called it and the time that the Lord has called it, these people thought the beauty of the creation could enhance or even substitute for the ordinary worship of God. And this provoked God to wrath!

Second, they worshiped by the efforts and skills of men (“burn incense on altars of brick,” Isaiah 65:3c). Rather than following God’s simple design for the altar, they have employed the creativity and skill of man to produce worship that man finds more impressive. But what impresses man, here provokes God to wrath!

Third, they attributed power or knowledge to the dead (“who sit among the graves, and spend the night in the tombs,” Isaiah 65:4a–b). Even in branches of the visible church today, there are those who look for spiritual power or insight in dead saints and what they leave behind. But their graves themselves remind us that they are helpless sinners dependent entirely upon the same grace that we are! Looking to the dead for help may seem spiritual, but it provokes God to wrath!

Finally, they cared much more to indulge themselves than to consecrate themselves separate from the world. Bacon sounds delicious, as does lobster broth, but God had proscribed these things (Isaiah 65:4b–c) as part of their being holy. 

In sum, by following their own ideas for worship, spirituality, and pleasure, they were basically saying that they enjoyed religion without God Himself (Isaiah 65:5a–b), as if they could have a holiness that didn’t derive from Him and was even better than His (verse 5c)! It is no wonder that He was continually furious with them (verse 5d–e) and decreed that He would repay them in full measure into the core of their being (“their bosom,” Isaiah 65:6-7).

Grace to elect church members (Isaiah 65:8-10). Toward the beginning of the prophet’s book, this rebellious and wrath-provoking people were described as a disappointing vineyard (cf. Isaiah 5:1–7). Now, the illustration returns with the Lord refusing to destroy some clusters from the vineyard, because there will yet be new wine in them. For His Servant’s sake, which is to say, for the sake of Christ, there are some who will not be destroyed.

Whereas we might have said before “even from the nations the Lord will preserve a remnant!” At this point in the prophecy of Isaiah, we find ourselves saying, “Even from Jacob and Judah, the Lord will preserve for Himself a remnant!” (Isaiah 65:8-9). These are His elect (Isaiah 65:9c), whose being conformed to Christ is implied in the phrase “My servants” (verse 9d). Whereas Sharon and Achor are both to be devastated in Israel’s punishment, yet the covenant blessing will return. Those seeking from the nations in v1 are now joined in Isaiah 65:10 by those elect whom the Lord makes to be “My people who have sought Me.” Glorious grace! 

So, in glorious grace, the Lord saves into His church from outside; and, in glorious grace, the Lord converts those from within His church. If we find in ourselves inclinations toward the things that provoked His wrath in Isaiah 65:2-7, let us repent in dependence upon His Spirit, looking for His grace to change our minds about worship and life.

What do you think is most beautiful in worship? What do you find most impressive in worship? What does God Himself think about these things, according to this passage? Did you begin your life inside the church, or outside the church? How is God glorified by the way that you have come to know Him?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us, for all day long You have stretched out Your hands to us, but how often we have walked according to our own thoughts! This has shown up very specifically in how we have thought and felt about worship, delighting in creaturely beauty rather than the beauty of the Creator, and rejoicing in our own skill rather than Your design and power. Though much of our spirituality has deserved wrath, grant now that, for the sake of Your Servant Jesus Christ, You would bring forth Christ-likeness in us, so that we might not be destroyed, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP67 “O God, Give Us Your Blessing” or TPH425 “How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place=

Sweet Success in Life [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 119:97–104]

What is the best? Psalm 119:97–104 looks forward to opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God’s Word, by which God works, is the best. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2024.08.13 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 119:97–104

Read Psalm 119:97–104

Questions from the Scripture text: What does the psalmist love (Psalm 119:97a)? What does he do with it (verse 97b)? Who makes him wiser than whom (Psalm 119:98a)? Using what? With what result (verse 98b)? What does he have (Psalm 119:99a)? More than whom? How (verse 99b)? Whom does he understand more than (Psalm 119:100a)? How (verse 100b)? What has he done to his feet (Psalm 119:101a)? From what? In order to do what (verse 101b)? What hasn’t he done (Psalm 119:102a)? Why not (verse 102b)? What is his experience of God’s words like (Psalm 119:103)? What does he get, how (Psalm 119:104a)? Therefore, what does he hate (verse 104b)?

What is the best? Psalm 119:97–104 looks forward to opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God’s Word, by which God works, is the best.  

In this stanza, there are only two different ways that the verses begin: either with a word that means “How much!” (Psalm 119:97, Psalm 119:103) or a prepositional prefix that can mean “from” but in some cases, here, is being used comparatively (“more than!,” Psalm 119:98, Psalm 119:99, Psalm 119:100). So, whether saying, “how much!” or “more than!”, this is a stanza of great exuberance about God’s law.

Sweetness. The two “how much” verses (Psalm 119:97, Psalm 119:103) express delight and enjoyment of the law and the words. But this is personal delight, not merely intellectual or moral: “Your” law; “Your” words. The joy is in meditating and tasting.

Superiority. The psalmist has more wisdom than enemies (Psalm 119:98), teachers (Psalm 119:99), or the aged (Psalm 119:100). That which is ultimately needed is not found in earthly resources, experience, or the passage of time, but in the Lord Himself. Although the means are emphasized in Psalm 119:99-100, Psalm 119:98 points us to the fact that it is the Lord Himself Who employs them. It is the Lord Himself Who has taught him (Psalm 119:102). And to the Lord goes all the glory for any superiority.

Success. Since it is the Lord Who is teaching, it must be successful. But it still requires resolve and application. We must hate the false way (resolve) in order to get understanding through His precepts (Psalm 119:104). We must restrain our feet from evil (self-discipline) in order to keep God’s Word. This is the manner by which the Lord gives success.

What is your habit of meditation upon Scripture like? How does it taste to you? What false ways are you putting away?

Sample prayer:  Lord, give us to love and delight in Your law as Yours. Teach us by Your own Spirit, and give us a life of devotion to Yourself, that we might be wiser than any mere man, we ask, through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP119M “O How I Love Your Law!” or TPH119M “O How I Love Your Holy Law”

The Lord, Our Provider and Provision [2024.08.11 Evening Sermon in Numbers 18]

The Lord provides for all needs, most of all atonement so that we may have Him Himself

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

The Cure for All Fear [2024.08.11 Morning Sermon in Matthew 10:24–33]

The bigger that God is to you, the smaller other fearful things will be to you, in many different ways

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

Providence that Pressures Assurance [2024.08.11 Sabbath School in WCF 18.4.p—Hopewell 101]

We continue to study the Scriptures behind the sound and sweet doctrine of our church's Confession of Faith. This week, we learned, from WCF 18.4.p, about how difficult providence or sudden temptation can diminish or intermit our assurance of faith.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

What You Need and Where to Get It [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 1:1–7]

What is the purpose of Proverbs? Proverbs 1:1–7 looks forward to the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Proverbs conforms our minds and lives to Christ’s. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2024.08.12 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 1:1–7

Read Proverbs 1:1–7

Questions from the Scripture text: Whose proverbs are these (Proverbs 1:1)? What two things is he called? What do they give to be known (Proverbs 1:2a)? To be perceived (verse 2b)? To be received (Proverbs 1:3a)? What three things describe this prudence (NKJ “wisdom”) further (verse 3b)? To whom will these give prudence and knowledge (Proverbs 1:4)? Who will use these proverbs to increase in learning and obtain wise counsel (Proverbs 1:5)? Whose proverbs, enigmas, and riddles will be solved this way (Proverbs 1:6)? But from Whom does all knowledge begin, and what is the beginning of obtaining it (Proverbs 1:7a)? Who do what (verse 7b, cf. Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53:1). 

What is the purpose of Proverbs? Proverbs 1:1–7 looks forward to the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Proverbs conforms our minds and lives to Christ’s.  

Introduction to the book (Proverbs 1:1). While not every verse of the book is directly from the mouth or pen of Solomon, they are all from the Son of David and King of Israel. Solomon is a type of Christ. And, it is Christ’s own Spirit, Who prophesies through Solomon and the others whose mouths and pens were employed to give us this book. It is a book that teaches us to conform our minds to Christ’s mind so that our lives will be conformed to Christ’s life—all in light of the fact that we are sinners and others are sinners.

What is wisdom (Proverbs 1:2-3). The word ‘wisdom’ in Proverbs 1:2a is further explained by three key words in Proverbs 1:2-3a: training (NKJ “instruction,” Proverbs 1:2a), discernment (NKJ “understanding,” verse 2b), and prudence (NKJ “wisdom,” Proverbs 1:3a). Wisdom is training; it builds life/character skills. Wisdom is discernment: detecting good from bad, better from good, and best from better. Wisdom is prudence, which is further explained by the three words, “justice, judgment, equity”: living rightly, fairly, and with integrity, in relationship to others.

Who needs wisdom (Proverbs 1:4-5). The short answer is “everybody.” Both the simple/young (Proverbs 1:4) and the wise/understanding (Proverbs 1:5) need it. The wise we get, the more we will hear God’s word—the more we will attend to it that we might increase learning. The wiser we are, the more we realize how little our wisdom really is thus far. The more understanding we have, the more we will value wise counsel: we will increasingly spend our time, effort, mental bandwidth, resources, etc., to obtain it. 

From whom wisdom comes (Proverbs 1:6-7). Even the world admires wise men with their enigmas and riddles, seeking to advance their own property, pleasure, praise, or power by it. But whatever is truly wise from ancient near eastern, Greek, or Chinese philosophy, or any source, is truly wise only because it conforms to the mind of the Creator and Sustainer of all things. Ultimately, without fearing Him, there is no true knowledge at all. 

Wisdom and knowledge are not just intellectual abstractions or the mechanics of how the world works. They are a receiving of YHWH Himself as Lord and God. And, His having ultimately revealed Himself in Christ, they are a receiving of Jesus Himself as Lord and God. Wisdom comes not just by mastering the content of Scripture but by the Spirit mastering us ourselves, by use of that content. The fool, who says in his heart that there is no God, does not attain to true wisdom or training, regardless of how much content he assimilates.

How do you relate the book of Christ to Proverbs in your mind and heart as you read it? What are some circumstances in which you are learning to make choices between better and best? What is an area in which you have been working on treating others better? What do you spend to acquire wisdom? In what parts of your life are you most susceptible to being forgetful of God?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for giving us Your own Son, Who is the Wisdom of God, to be our wisdom. Grant that, by Your Spirit’s applying Your Word to us, our minds would be conformed to Christ’s mind, and our lives would be conformed to His, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP111B “The Mighty Power of His Works” or TPH226 “O the Deep, Unbounded Riches”