Thursday, March 28, 2024

Saints in Whom We Delight [Family Worship lesson in 1John 2:12–14]

Who are the great ones on the earth? 1John 2:12–14 prepares us for the second serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christians are the great ones on the earth, whom we should love with a special love.
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2024.03.28 Hopewell @Home ▫ 1 John 2:12–14

Read 1 John 2:12–14

Questions from the Scripture text: To whom is the apostle writing (1 John 2:12a)? Why (verse 12b)? To whom else is he writing (1 John 2:13a)? Why (verse 13b)? To whom else (verse 13c)? Why (verse 13d)? Whom does he address again in verse 13e? Why is he writing them (verse 13f)? And whom again in 1 John 2:14a? Why (again!) is he writing them (verse 14b)? And whom again in verse 14c? Why (verse 14d)? Strong to do what (verse 14e)?

Who are the great ones on the earth? 1 John 2:12–14 prepares us for the second serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christians are the great ones on the earth, whom we should love with a special love.

How important our brethren must be, since the Lord places such an emphasis upon loving them! And this is exactly the point that the apostle now makes in 1 John 2:12–14. Why is the apostle writing to little children? Why, then, fathers? And why youths? In each case, the answer that he gives belongs not to something in their earthly abilities or connections, but in their union with Christ and adoption by the Father. Those who belong to God are the “great ones” on the earth and the most worthy of the apostle’s attention—and yours.

Little children. Little children are often overlooked. But what a great thing a Christian child is! His sin is forgiven. He knows almighty God as “Father.” Dear Christian child, here are the A, B, Cs of the faith for you to hold to as the foundation for all other knowledge and strength: trust in Jesus’s Name for your forgiveness, and know that in Jesus, God is your heavenly Father. The tiniest child who has begun to do this is greater than the most intelligent, strong adult who is without forgiveness and adoption. How much, then, ought we to love and respect those brethren who are little children!

Fathers. Among those to whom this was originally written, those who were elderly might have been famous for whom they knew. When Polycarp was martyred in 155 at the age of 86, one of the things he was most famous for was having known the apostle who wrote this letter. But elderly Christians know someone even greater than an apostle of old. They know “Him Who is from the beginning”! 

There are many old and interesting connections that an elderly unbeliever may have, making him worth spending some time listening to and caring for. But none of them have so great a connection as an elderly believer. Perhaps you, dear reader, are an elderly believer. Here is something of great value that you may contribute to the church: the witness and testimony of one who knows the Creator. How much we ought to respect and love those brethren who are “fathers” in the faith!

Youths. Ordinarily, one who is interested in strength and ability would give special attention to youths: just consider how much attention athletes receive in our culture. But there is a power that is greater than the physical strength, agility, and endurance of a youth: power to “overcome the wicked one” that comes from true strength in the Lord, power that comes by His word abiding in them. 

The John 15:7 youth is more powerful than any college or pro athlete. Christ’s words abide in him or her, and those words overcome even the devil himself (cf. Revelation 12:10–11). Perhaps you are a young person as you read this. Here is the greatest strength that you can have: to abide in Christ and have His words abide in you! How much we ought to respect and love those brethren who are youths!

And these three groups are meant to cover all believers. For, indeed, those who belong to the Lord are the excellent ones on the earth, in whom we ought to delight (cf. Psalm 16:3). 

Dear reader, I hope this passage has rehabilitated for you the way you view and think about people. Let a believers’ connection to the Lord provoke you to great love, respect, and service for him!

Who are some little children in the church? Who are some elderly? Who are some youths? How should we think of them, feel about them, speak of them, and treat them?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us, for we have not valued Your people like we ought. We have treated little children in the church as if they were of little importance, even when they are trusting in Jesus’s Name for forgiveness and have come to know God as Father. We have treated the elderly as if they were of little value, although they have lived a life knowing the Creator of all things. And we have treated the young adults of the church as if their value was in the strength of their youth, rather than in the word of Christ’s power that dwells in them. Indeed, we have not even considered ourselves according to these values. So forgive us, we ask, and grant that we would be conformed to Christ, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP197 “Christian Unity” or TPH409 “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” 

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

2024.03.27 Prayer Meeting Live Stream

Click below for the:
March 27 Prayer Meeting Folder
Romans 12:9–16 sermon outline
We urge you to assemble physically, if possible, with a true congregation of Christ's church. For those of our own congregation who may be providentially hindered, we are grateful to be able to provide this service.

Each week we LIVESTREAM the Lord's Day (Sabbath School, Morning Public Worship, and p.m. Singing and Sermon) and Midweek Meeting (sermon and prayer). For notifications when Hopewell is streaming live, install the CHURCHONE APP on your [Apple], [Android], or [Kindle] device, and enter hopewellarp for your broadcaster

Faithless People, and a Faithful God and Savior [Family Worship lesson in Isaiah 49:14–50:11]

What is the solution to Zion’s lack of faith? Isaiah 49:14–50:11 prepares us for the first serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these twenty-four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God answers His people’s lack of faith with His own faithfulness and the perfect faith of the Servant, their Substitute.
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2024.03.27 Hopewell @Home ▫ Isaiah 49:14–50:11

Read Isaiah 49:14–50:11

Questions from the Scripture text: Who now speaks in Isaiah 49:14? What does he (they) claim? By what comparison does the Lord refute this in Isaiah 49:15? How constantly and intensely has He held them (Isaiah 49:16)? In what manner will the exile end (Isaiah 49:17)? How does Isaiah 49:18 describe the new ingathering of the sons of Zion? What is the land like at the time of the complaint (Isaiah 49:19a–b)? But what will it be like after that (verse 19c–d)? And what new complaint will Zion hear (Isaiah 49:20)? With what question will she react to this (Isaiah 49:21)? How does the Lord YHWH say the sons will come (Isaiah 49:22, cf. Isaiah 11:12)? Who will be their adoptive fathers (Isaiah 49:23)? And their wet nurses? In what manner will they join (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:25)? Why does Zion think this is so difficult—what ability and right do their captors have over them (Isaiah 49:24)? But how will this contest conclude (Isaiah 49:25-26)? By this deliverance/victory, what three things does YHWH display about Himself (Isaiah 49:26d–e)? What is the implied answer to the rhetorical questions in Isaiah 50:1? How does YHWH imply that their condition is not final? But how many have responded to His calling them back to Himself (Isaiah 50:2a–b)? What do they believe about the situation (verse 2c–d)? What should they have remembered (Isaiah 50:2-3)? Who is now speaking in Isaiah 50:4-9 (cf. Isaiah 50:10b)? How did He come to speak rightly/effectively (Isaiah 50:4-5)? How is His response to His suffering and humiliation different than Zion’s (Isaiah 50:5-6)? In addition to submissiveness, how does Isaiah 50:7 describe Him facing what He must suffer? In what is He confident (Isaiah 50:8-9, cf. 1 Peter 2:23)? What group is addressed now in Isaiah 50:10a? What do they do (verse 10b)? Even in what circumstances (verse 10c–d)? How (verse 10e–f)? What are others trusting in to turn back their darkness (Isaiah 50:11)? How will this end for them?

What is the solution to Zion’s lack of faith? Isaiah 49:14–50:11 prepares us for the first serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these twenty-four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God answers His people’s lack of faith with His own faithfulness and the perfect faith of the Servant, their Substitute. 

Wretched Unbelief against Wondrous LoveIsaiah 49:14-16. Against the backdrop of the plan to glorify the servant in redeeming Jacob and the nations (Isaiah 49:1-13), Zion’s self-pity (Isaiah 49:14) is revolting. But rather than crush, condemn, or even chasten them, behold the outpouring of love in the verses that follow. God’s love is more constant than that of a mother nursing her child (Isaiah 49:15). What v16 describes is not tattooing, but the imprint that God has made in His “palms” for (or perhaps “by”) the continual holding of Zion. 

An Inexplicably Large FamilyIsaiah 49:17-23. The Lord’s continual care for His people brings an end to the exile in Isaiah 49:17b–c. But, there’s such a focus on supplying Zion with her new children that first mention of it in verse 17a  precedes the deliverance in verse 17b–c. And these children are the main theme of Isaiah 49:18-23. The land that is empty and alone in the exile is pictured as bursting at the seams (Isaiah 49:19-20) with beautiful (Isaiah 49:18) children. The bereaved and barren (Isaiah 49:21c) mother doesn’t understand how it’s possible. And how  it is for the church as a whole is just how it shall be with you, dear Christian: blessedness beyond what you can imagine, opposite what you deserve—the ultimate display of the power and love of God.

And that display of power and love comes in the Servant (cf. Isaiah 49:1-13), the King Who draws all nations to Himself (compare the standard in Isaiah 49:22 with the banner in Isaiah 11:12). He’s the One Who gathers kings and queens of the nations into His people as guardians and nurses, glad to be lowly servants on their faces if they can be among the people of the Lord (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:25).

Stubborn Unbelief, Isaiah 49:24–50:3. Astonishingly, Zion questions whether they can be delivered from an enemy that has the power (Isaiah 49:24a) and the right (verse 24b) to hold them. The Lord asserts Himself against all of His people’s enemies (Isaiah 49:25-26). This is His chosen way of displaying Himself as the Savior, the Near-relative, the Mighty One. Israel is treating their alienation from God like it is final, but only God could have made it final, and He didn’t (Isaiah 50:1). So, when no one answers His call to be restored to Him (Isaiah 50:2a–b), He treats it as a denial and rejection of the power and sovereignty that He has displayed at events like the Exodus (Isaiah 50:2-3). 

Persevering FaithIsaiah 50:4-11. The song of the Servant stands in stark contrast to Zion’s halting, shrinking unbelief. The Servant submits to God’s Word, making His own mind and words righteous and effective (Isaiah 50:4, cf. Luke 2:52, Psalm 40:6, Hebrews 10:5–9). Rather than self-pity, He submits Himself perseveringly to whatever trial glorifies God (Isaiah 50:5), even suffering torture and the most shameful humiliation (Isaiah 50:6), because He trusts that the Lord will ultimately vindicate Him (Isaiah 50:7-9, cf. 1 Peter 2:23). He is exactly the opposite of how unbelieving Zion have conducted herself throughout this passage. 

Christ is the Man of perfect faith, and when we believe in Him, He and His faith are counted on our behalf (cf. Hebrews 2:13). If we fear YHWH (Isaiah 50:10a) and obey Jesus (verse 10b), then  even in the midst of darkness where we cannot see the light (verse 10c–d), we must trust in the Name of YHWH (verse 10e) and rely upon Him (verse 10f) in conformity to Christ. The greatest folly is to hope in any of our own doing (Isaiah 50:11).

What situations seem most dire to you? But what must the Lord be doing for you, in them, based upon His character and His promises? What hope is there for people whose faith is weak like ours is? 

Sample prayer:  Lord, You have inscribed us upon the palms of Your hands, and You make all things work together for our good. But we have wickedly thought that we were forsaken and that our predicaments were too difficult. When You call, we are slow to answer because we do not esteem Your saving power like we should. But Christ has perfectly submitted Himself and trusted You in our place. Forgive us for His sake, and count Him as our righteousness, we ask, through His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP40A “I Waited for the LORD” or TPH352 “Man of Sorrows, What a Name”

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Loving the Lord Who Hears [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 116:1–9]

What do we learn from desperate situations? Psalm 116:1–9 prepares us for the opening portion of public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that desperate situations train us to live in love with the Lord.
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2024.03.26 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 116:1–9

Read Psalm 116:1–9

Questions from the from the Scripture text: What does the psalmist love (Psalm 116:1)? Why—what two things has He heard?  How does Psalm 116:2a describe this? In what manner will the psalmist’s love respond (verse 2b)? What surrounded the psalmist (Psalm 116:3a) and laid hold of him (verse 3b)? What did he find (verse 3c)? How did he respond (Psalm 116:4a)? What did he call God (verse 4b)? What did he ask Him to do? With information about what (Whom!) does he interrupt his own account in Psalm 116:5? What three attributes does he declare? What does God do (Psalm 116:6a)? For whom? In what condition had the psalmist been (verse 6b)? And what did God do for him? How does the psalmist now describe God (Psalm 116:7a)? Whom does he command to return to rest in Him? What reasoning does he give himself (verse 7b)? What does he pick up describing, again, from Psalm 116:3 (Psalm 116:8a)? From what situation did God deliver him (verse 8a)? From what emotional condition (verse 8b)? From what weakness/inability (verse 8c)? Where is the psalmist, as a result (Psalm 116:9b)? Before Whom will he walk (verse 9a)?

What do we learn from desperate situations? Psalm 116:1–9 prepares us for the opening portion of public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that desperate situations train us to live in love with the Lord. 

One great part of loving the Lord (Psalm 116:1) is calling upon His Name our whole life long (Psalm 116:2b). It is hateful to God to pray to another! He listens to us in love (verse 2a), provoking us to love Him back (cf. 1 John 4:19). Prayer is, among other things, worship that revels in fellowship with God.

And for seeing and knowing His love to us, it is important that we not only know the greatness of the God to Whom we come, but also our own lowliness, who are coming to Him. The psalmist calls himself “simple” (Psalm 116:6a) and brought low (verse 6b). Part of prayer is the humility of admitting our weakness and sinfulness. If we do not admit that we are the “simple,” then we will miss out on the hope that verse 6a offers to us in God’s grace and mercy. But, if we know ourselves rightly, we will know that we are exactly the sort of person to whom He is gracious and merciful.

So, we must not miss our opportunities for humility. The psalmist had been given just such an opportunity that he remembers in Psalm 116:3. Not only was the situation mortally desperate (verse 3a–b), but it was beyond his ability to negotiate (“I found trouble,” verse 3c) or emotionally handle (“and sorrow,” verse 3c). When the Lord brings you into such a situation, and you find in yourself such inability and such emotional distress, you have the opportunity to see both Himself and yourself properly. 

The Lord delivers us not only from situations that bring us to an end of ourselves (Psalm 116:8a), but from the anxiety and despair that arises within us (verse 8b), and our inabilities to deal with them (verse 8c). In such situations, not only do we discover ourselves to be “simple” (Psalm 116:6a) and “low” (verse 6b), but we discover Him Who hears us (Psalm 116:4) to be gracious and righteous (Psalm 116:5a) and merciful (verse 5b).

Remembering the Lord’s bountiful dealings with us is important (Psalm 116:7b), because it prompts us to return to Him for our soul’s rest (verse 7a). He gives us both His Word and His previous work to drive us to Himself. We are both to rest in Him Who has dealt bountifully with us (verse 7) and to live out our lives as a life-debt unto Him. Since it is He Who has given us life (Psalm 116:9b), let us live it before Him (verse 9a). That is to say: let us live in dependence upon Him, for His service, and for His glory.

When have you been nearest death? What is the lowest emotional state in which you have found yourself? What situation have you been least able to deal with? For what have you most urgently prayed? How has God dealt with you in all of these situations? What truths about Himself, from His Word, has He shown you in these works? How do you enjoy His love, now, in prayer? How do you express your love to Him? What instruction do you give to your soul? How are you “walking before the Lord” in your life?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we love You, because You have heard our voice and supplications. Because You have inclined Your ear to us, we will call upon You as long as we live. Gracious are You, O Lord, and righteous! You are our own covenant God, and You are full of compassion toward us! We are simple and humble and helpless, but You have saved us and dealt bountifully with us. So, grant unto us now the work of Your Spirit, that by Your grace, our souls may return to You for rest. Grant that whether in our work or in our worship, our entire life would be a walking before You by the grace of Christ, which we ask in His Name, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP116A “How Fervently I Love the LORD” or TPH116A “I Love the LORD, for He Has Heard Our Voice”

Monday, March 25, 2024

Separated Unto God: the Nazirite Vow and the Christian Life [2024.03.24 Evening Sermon in Numbers 6:1–21]


Not only corporately, but each individually, saints are separated unto God as those who delight in Him, and in whom He delights, especially in/for worship.

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God's Chosen Fast [2024.03.24 Morning Sermon in Matthew 6:17–18]


Christians must habitually turn to God as their only Happiness and their only Help, by which He trains our hearts to see and know that this is so in all other happiness or help that He gives us.

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Resistance to Tyranny (2): Our Responsibility to the Magistrate [2024.03.24 Sabbath School lesson]

Scripture teaches us that, as citizens, we have several responsibilities to the magistrate—particularly as those who know the kingship of Christ over all things.
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