Humble, Almighty Kingdom [Family Worship lesson in Mark 3:7–19]

How does Christ bring the kingdom? Mark 3:7–19 prepares us for the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ brings the kingdom by a humility that glorifies grace. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional centers on Jesus’s deliberate withdrawal from public acclaim and His intentional humility in establishing God’s kingdom, contrasting sharply with worldly methods of power and popularity. Though hailed by crowds and demons alike as the Son of God, Jesus refuses to be proclaimed or exploited for His fame, instead choosing to retreat, select a small group of disciples, and focus on a mission rooted in sacrifice rather than spectacle. His appointment of twelve ordinary men—knowing one would betray Him—demonstrates that the church’s foundation is not in human impressiveness but in divine purpose. Pastor emphasizes that true spiritual impact comes not from personal charisma or impressive displays, but from the Holy Spirit revealing the glory of Christ on the cross, thus calling believers to reject self-promotion and instead magnify Christ’s humility and love. Ultimately, the church’s growth and witness are to be marked by this same self-emptying, Christ-centered humility, where the cross remains the ultimate source of awe and salvation.

2026.04.23 Hopewell @Home ▫ Mark 3:7–19

Read Mark 3:7–19

Questions from the Scripture text: Where did Jesus go, in Mark 3:7? Who followed Him? From where (Mark 3:8)? What did Jesus get into and why (Mark 3:9)? Then where did He go (Mark 3:13)? How many did He call to Himself up there? For what did He especially appoint them (Mark 3:15)? How many of their names can you remember (Mark 3:16-19)?

How does Christ bring the kingdom? Mark 3:7–19 prepares us for the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ brings the kingdom by a humility that glorifies grace. 

In this week’s reading, we see the Lord Jesus’s response to the plot of the Pharisees and Herodians to destroy Him (Mark 3:6). He retreats (Mark 3:7a, Mark 3:13a). He is the Son of God (Mark 3:11b). And He retreats. A multitude gathers to Him, so large that He has to be careful not to be crushed by them (Mark 3:9). And He retreats. Even demons are instantly defeated by Him (Mark 3:11a). And He retreats.

Why? Because He did not come to exercise earthly power, to rally enough people to his side to crush his enemies. No, He came to preach and save, and to send out preachers of the gospel of His salvation (Mark 3:14b).

Let us learn, here, from our Lord that the church is not given a mission of consolidating earthly power or getting its way by force. We are not trying to win friends and influence people. We don’t put our hope in stirring up great reviews on social media, or making friends with just the right community leaders.

What do we put our hope in? The Lord Jesus’s work, done the Lord Jesus’s way, by the Lord Jesus’s appointees (Mark 3:14a). 

Word, sacrament, and prayer in the services on the Lord’s Day. Telling the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to sinners. Always being ready to give an answer for the hope that is within us. Bringing our little children to the Lord, and hindering them not (cf. Matthew 19:14). Bringing them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. The ministry of pastor-teachers in the church (cf. Ephesians 4:11). Father-led, parents’ ministry in the home (cf. Ephesians 6:4). Every-member encouragement, service, and reinforcing ministry, by church members who bind themselves to one another and keep those commitments (cf. Ephesians 4:12–16).

It’s not scintillating stuff or power planning. But it is the way of the Master, and should be the way of His disciples. Notice that He only gave the apostolic call and gifting to twelve men from all this multitude. And when their ministry was completed, the miraculous and revelatory gifts ceased altogether. Why would the Lord do things (then or now) in such an unimpressive way?

Because the thing that Jesus wants to impress with is the cross. This is what He later set His face to Jerusalem to do (cf. Luke 9:51). The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many (cf. Mark 10:45).

And this is what we must imitate. As Paul said, “I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:2). He was probably more educated than any of the false apostles, but he was careful not to impress with his own impressiveness. He learned his lesson from 2 Corinthians 12:1-13. Leave it to others to be “impressive” with their emotive worship and their (false) signs. Leave it to others to impress with how wonderful they think their own service, or knowledge, or success is. But let the disciples of Jesus Christ impress others with that which they find most impressive: Christ Himself, and Him crucified!

Whom would you like to see saved? How will you tell them about the cross of Jesus Christ? How will you get them to hear about the cross of Jesus Christ in worship?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us for when we have wished to be impressive to others. We have even thought that this would be the way to bring others into the kingdom or to grow the church. But, this is the opposite of Christ’s method. Give us to have confidence in Christ’s power, exercised Christ’s way, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP18E “How Perfect Is the Way of God” or TPH265 “In Christ Alone”

2026.04.22 Midweek Meeting Livestream (live at 6:30p)

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

From Whom the Ruler Will Come [Family Worship lesson in 1Chronicles 2:3–4:23]

What do we learn from Judah’s genealogy? 1Chronicles 2:3–4:23 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these one hundred nineteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that history is the story of God’s grace to sinners. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The genealogy of Judah in 1 Chronicles 2–4 serves as a theological narrative pointing forward to Christ, the promised ruler from Judah’s line, Whose coming fulfills God’s redemptive plan across generations. Despite the persistent presence of sin within Judah’s lineage, God sovereignly preserves and advances His purposes. The chronicler emphasizes that belonging to Judah does not guarantee blessing; each person must walk with God personally. Grace includes people from other nations and overturns men's natural characters. Ultimately, this genealogy calls believers—now the spiritual heirs of Judah—to live as priests and kings in Christ—faithfully fulfilling their God-given roles in the world, empowered by grace and awaiting the full realization of God’s kingdom.

2026.04.22 Hopewell @Home ▫ 1 Chronicles 2:3–4:23

Read 1 Chronicles 2:3–4:23

Questions from the Scripture text: Whose sons do 1 Chronicles 2:3-4 cover? What is noted about Er? From whom to whom do 1 Chronicles 2:5-15 trace? Especially focusing upon which family (1 Chronicles 2:13-17)? What branch (cf. 1 Chronicles 2:9) do 1 Chronicles 2:18-24 trace? What branch (cf. 1 Chronicles 2:9) do 1 Chronicles 2:25-41 trace? Including a man of what nationality (1 Chronicles 2:34)? Whose further descendants do 1 Chronicles 2:42-55 trace? Including the origins of what cities (1 Chronicles 2:50, 1 Chronicles 2:51)? And what ingrafted nationalities (1 Chronicles 2:54, 1 Chronicles 2:55)? Whose sons do 1 Chronicles 3:1–9 trace? Focusing upon what (1 Chronicles 3:4)? And what lineage do 1 Chronicles 3:10-16 trace? Then whose (1 Chronicles 3:16) lineage do 1 Chronicles 3:17-24 trace? To whom does 1 Chronicles 4:1 return? Into what lineage do 1 Chronicles 4:1-23 fill gaps? Why was Jabez called that (1 Chronicles 4:9)? Upon what was his prayer especially focused (end of 1 Chronicles 4:10)? What tradesmen are highlighted in 1 Chronicles 4:21, 1 Chronicles 4:23? 

What do we learn from Judah’s genealogy? 1 Chronicles 2:3–4:23 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these one hundred nineteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that history is the story of God’s grace to sinners.  

Among the sons of Israel, the chronicler focuses first, and primarily, on Judah (1 Chronicles 2:3). Reuben sinned away his birthright, which fell to Judah instead (cf. 1 Chronicles 5:2). As 1 Chronicles 3:10–24 underscore to us, at the time of writing, the promised ruler from Judah had not yet appeared. The King (and Priest and temple) to whom Chronicles looked forward is Jesus. This is why Judah and Levi are the most featured in the genealogies, and why so much of Chronicles is focused upon the preparation of the temple. It’s all about Jesus.

Jesus is your King. Jesus is your Priest. Jesus is your Temple. In Jesus, you draw near to God. Jesus is your Liturgist, your Worship-Leader. What Chronicles longs for, you actually have, dear Christian reader!

So, these nearly three chapters focus on the tribe of Judah. One of the main things we see in the genealogy is that being from a tribe of blessing didn't mean that, for every individual, they were automatically blessed of God and a blessing to others. Whether it’s Er, Onan, and Shelah (1 Chronicles 2:3, cf. Genesis 38:3–10), or Achan being called by his nickname “Achar” (i.e., trouble, 1 Chronicles 2:7, cf. Joshua 7:26), or several of the kings listed in 1 Chronicles 2:10-16, we see that the line of Judah is full of scoundrels. Those from the line through which others would be blessed, are still in danger of being cursed. Even 500 years later, this was a lesson that the descendants of Judah needed to remember as the Lord continued to bring Christ into the world. And 2500 years after that, it is a lesson that each of us still need, dear reader. Each of us, individually, need to walk with God for ourselves through personal faith in Jesus Christ. Each of us, individually, must be blessed by God. 

They also needed to hear that, although the glory days of David and Solomon were in the distant past, the Lord was still working in the world—and their service of Him, in the midst of that work, is meaningful. Several of the “father of” statements in the genealogy refer not to men but to cities (1 Chronicles 2:21–23, 1 Chronicles 2:24, 1 Chronicles 2:51, 1 Chronicles 2:54. And the genealogy reminds them that some of them were from lines of linen workers (1 Chronicles 4:21), and others potters (1 Chronicles 4:23). Now, they were returned from exile, living in those cities again, and needing to take up trades again. The work of the Lord continues in the world, and we continue to participate in it (cf. Ecclesiastes 11:1–6).

Finally, we see the grace of God in the genealogy of Judah. We see the grace of God operating to incorporate those of other nations, such as the Kenites (1 Chronicles 2:55) and Egyptians (1 Chronicles 2:34–35). And we see the grace of God that overwrites our own nature. Jabez, named for the pain he brings to others (1 Chronicles 4:9), is presented as an example, asking God that he would not bring that pain to them (1 Chronicles 4:10). Our hope, dear reader, is that the God Who brought His Son into the world through the line of Judah, would be unto us the God of grace—grace to bring us into Christ, and grace to make us the opposite of what we were in ourselves. By this bookended (n.b. the mirroring of 1 Chronicles 2:3–4 and 1 Chronicles 4:1–23) section of the genealogy of Judah, the God of grace reminds us that history is an account of His work of grace. And we see the work that he does not only in the scope of the whole, but in the lives of individuals. 

What are your biggest obstacles to finding purpose? How does this passage answer that? When have you neglected your personal, spiritual life? How does this passage remind you that that’s dangerous?

Sample prayer: Father, we thank You for Your work in the life of each of the men listed in this genealogy. We marvel at the scope of your work in everyone's life. Forgive us, for when we have wanted to be the center of our own story. Forgive us for when we have neglected our personal, spiritual life, because we have presumed upon being part of the church. Give us to recognize that being part of Christ’s church is a higher honor than being descended from Judah. But, more than that, please give us to believe into Christ, to live as those who are united to Him, to fulfill our duties by Your grace, and enjoy our privileges and adore that grace. Grant it all through Christ, by His Spirit, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP87 “The Lord’s Foundation” or TPH404 “The Church’s One Foundation”

Giving Him What He Loves [2026.04.19 Evening Sermon in Song of Songs 8:13–14]

The true friends of Christ long to hear the voice of His bride. The true bride of Christ gladly gives Him His desire: praise, prayer, and preaching with a voice that is shaped by His. And, the sum of her desire is that He would come quickly for His fruit.

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

Delivered by Wrath [2026.04.19 Morning Sermon in Nahum 3:1–7]

The Lord will so completely answer the deceit and destruction of the wicked that there will be no wicked left at the last.

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

How Sacraments Work [2026.04.19 Sabbath School lesson in WCF 27.3—Hopewell 101]

WCF 27.3 The grace which is exhibited in or by the sacraments rightly used, is not conferred by any power in them; neither doth the efficacy of a sacrament depend upon the piety or intention of him that doth administer it: but upon the work of the Spirit, and the word of institution, which contains, together with a precept authorizing the use thereof, a promise of benefit to worthy receivers. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Strength of Wisdom [2026.04.15 Midweek Sermon in Proverbs 24:3–12]

For the priorities the Lord gives us, the Lord Himself must be our strength.

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What God Does for the Elect in His Son [Children's Catechism 49—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 49—especially explaining how God foreknew, predestined, called, justified, and glorified His elect people in His Son.

Q49. What did God the Father undertake in the covenant of grace? To justify and sanctify those for whom Christ should die. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The lesson explores the Father's role in the covenant of grace as revealed in Scripture, particularly through the theological framework of Romans 8, where the Father is portrayed as the sovereign architect of salvation—foreknowing, predestining, calling, justifying, and glorifying believers. Justification, the Father's declaration of righteousness through Christ's atoning work, establishes the believer's right to heaven, while sanctification, the ongoing process of being made fit for heaven, is accomplished through the Spirit's work in the believer's life. The passage underscores the Trinitarian nature of redemption, with the Father's decree, the Son's obedience and sacrifice, and the Spirit's indwelling—all converging in the believer's ultimate glorification. The catechism's answer—justifying and sanctifying those for whom Christ should die—captures this divine orchestration, revealing the Father's eternal purpose to redeem a people through Christ and conform them to His image.