2025.07.11 Hopewell @Home ▫ Deuteronomy 5:19

Read Deuteronomy 5:19

Questions from the Scripture text: What does this verse prohibit?

What is the proper relationship of God’s provisions to the obtaining of those provisions? Deuteronomy 5:19 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In this verse of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God, Who put His image in us, has appointed to us our possessions—as well as the right means of acquiring them.

Possessions are a good thing. As creation and creation mandates have been behind the first seven commandments, we would do well to see that connection in the eighth. God created everything else before He created man—an entire world to be possessed and enjoyed. And He created man needy of food and gave man duty of taking subduing the earth. Benefitting from what God created to benefit us, enjoying what God created to be enjoyed, and managing what God commands us to manage… this is good.

But there are right and wrong ways of possessing. We tend to think of work as the primary way of possessing. And Scripture does address giving good labor and paying a fair wage. And Scripture teaches us that one of the ways that God provides for us is good stewardship: not just hoarding what God gives us, but putting what He gives us to work in ways that make it even more productive.

And Scripture actually spends quite a few words on inheritance and trade. Two significant ways of stealing included moving boundary markers to take from someone’s inheritance and using unequal weights and measures to take more than was actually agreed upon in trade.

Other righteous ways of obtaining include spoils from just war, God giving His people favor in the eyes of kings and others in high position, and especially generosity of others. This generosity includes both allowing the needy to gather leftovers, as in the gleaning laws, and direct contributions (whether through the church via Levites and later deacons, or immediately to the recipient).

To possess in the wrong way is to deny God as Provider. It’s most important in spiritual things to remember that although God provides all, He does through so appointed means. Trying to be counted righteous or grow in righteousness in a way other than He has appointed is to deny Him as Savior. The eighth commandment gives us an analogy in the area of material provision. He is our Provider. We pray to Him for our daily bread. He feeds the birds and clothes the flowers. He knows what we need before we ask, and tells us that we are of much more value than birds or flowers.

So if we steal, we do something even worse than infringing upon what God gave others. Stealing says that we don’t trust God to give us what we need in His ways. It says that we must be our own provider because He is unable or unwilling or both. The dishonesty offends against God’s truth and justice. The distrust offends against God’s goodness and power.

On the other hand, when the thief no longer steals, his goal is not only to provide for himself, but to have enough to become a means of God’s generosity to others (cf. Ephesians 4:28). Our goal in all material dealings—whether giving or receiving—is to glorify God as the provider of all good gifts.

What means do you have? How are you stewarding them? How are you enjoying and using them? How are you blessing others with them? What more means could you have? What is your goal in all of this?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for loving us and providing for us. Thank you for employing us and enabling us to do good to others. Forgive us for all of our doubtings of your provision and attempts to get things by wrong means. Forgive us our lack of generosity toward others. And make us both more grateful to you and more generous with others we ask, in Jesus Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP15 “Within Your Tent, Who Will Abide” or TPH174 “The Ten Commandments”

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Sample prayer:  ###

Suggested songs: ARP45B “Daughter, Incline Your Ear” or TPH174 “The Ten Commandments”

2025.07.09 Midweek Meeting Livestream (live at 6:30p)

Click below for the:

July 9 Prayer Meeting Folder

Proverbs 15:25–29 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.

IF you are unable to get the stream to work, or simply wish to save on data, you can listen in simply by calling 712.432.3410 and entering 70150 at the prompt.

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.

2025.07.09 Hopewell @Home ▫ Micah 3:1–4

Read Micah 3:1–4

Questions from the Scripture text: Who are called to hear in Micah 3:1b? And who, in verse 1c? What rhetorical question does verse 1d ask? What is the implied answer? What does He say about their character in Micah 3:2a? What does He say about their conduct in Micah 3:2-3f? How does the imagery convey the ruthlessness? How does it convey the self-interest? What will these rulers do, when the judgment comes (Micah 3:4a)? With what result (verse 4b–c)? For what reason (verse 4d)? 

Why wouldn’t the Lord listen to Israel’s prayers? Micah 3:1–4 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord closed His ears to Israel, because their magistrates had closed their ears to the oppressed.

Back in Micah 2:1–2, we read about those who devised elaborate schemes to divest others of their lands and homes, particularly women and children who had apparently lost the help of a husband/father (cf. Micah 2:9). 

This brief section goes after the civil magistrates (heads, Micah 3:1b; rulers, verse 1c) who have made such schemes possible.

The Lord attacks their competence (verse 1d). Their job was to know justice, and they either completely disregarded it or spectacularly failed at it. They have rejected a calling that comes from God.

The Lord attacks their character (Micah 3:2a). Rather than loving good and hating evil, as God does, they are exactly the opposite. They aren’t just assaulting His image in others; they are defacing His image in themselves. 

The Lord attacks their conduct (Micah 3:2-3f). Those who have little regard for the Lord Himself have ultimately little regard for those made in His image. Whatever fellow-feeling they have that permits some measure of civility, or seeming compassion, for others will ultimately evaporate against a pressure that is high enough. For some, that pressure may be as little as their own desires for power or property.

That was the case with these magistrates. Their love of power is implied by the organization and ruthlessness of the literal butchering that makes up the bulk of the imagery in Micah 3:2-3. Their love of property is implied by the time the imagery makes to the pot and cauldron, where the food is cooked and ready to serve.

There is a harmonious justice to the Lord’s response. Since the widows and orphans of Israel find themselves with no one to cry out to in the courts of the magistrates, these magistrates will find themselves with no one to cry out to in the courts of the Lord. It will not be only that their requests are denied (“He will not hear them,” Micah 3:4b), but that their requests are not even heard (“He will even hide His face from them at that time,” verse 4c).

Ultimately, this little section confronts us with how offensive to God a lack of compassion is. It exposes a disregard for the Lord Himself—doubly so, when we are in an office of care for others; trebly so, when those who are disregarded are lowly such as widows and orphans; quadruply so, when they are among His covenant people. God refuses the prayers of a husband who does not live in an understanding way with his wife (cf. 1 Peter 3:7). He refuses the prayers of the professing believer who is unforgiving toward other believers (cf. Matthew 18:35). How important a thing, dear reader, is a Christ-like compassion toward others!

Toward whom have you had difficulty having compassion? Who, if any, are entrusted to your overseeing and defending? For what are you covetous, and whom are you in danger of disregarding in your covetousness? Whose plight is often invisible to you?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us for when we participate in the plots of the wicked because our desire for wealth and ease makes us negligent. We confess that carelessness of others exposes a lack of love for You and for Your image in men. By Your Spirit, make us sensitive to the cries of those whom You have assigned to us, and grant that, for the Lord Jesus’s sake, You would be sensitive to our own cries, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP14 “Within His Heart the Fool Speaks” or TPH400 “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me”

The Three Persons of the Godhead [Children's Catechism 8—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 8—especially explaining how we know the persons of the Godhead by His own revelation of Himself.

Q8. What are they? The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.07.08 Hopewell @Home ▫ Ecclesiastes 1:1–3

Read Ecclesiastes 1:1–3

Questions from the Scripture text: Whose words are these (Ecclesiastes 1:1)? Whose son was he? What position did he hold? What does he observe in Ecclesiastes 1:2? How much, does he say, is vanity? What does Ecclesiastes 1:3 ask about a man having? From how much of his labor? Where did he toil in it? 

What will Ecclesiastes teach us? Ecclesiastes 1:1–3 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the book of Ecclesiastes is going to tell us about how, even in a fallen world, life can be profitable.  

Toil is part of the fall (Ecclesiastes 1:3, cf. Genesis 3:17–19). But is that the last word for sinful, fallen man?

The answer of the book of Ecclesiastes is “no!” The theme of the book is not meaninglessness, like so many seem to have concluded. In fact, it is exactly the opposite! Each section of the book has a concluding statement that asserts the goodness and joy of life as lived in the memory and fear of the Lord (cf. Ecclesiastes 2:24–26, Ecclesiastes 3:12–13, Ecclesiastes 5:18–20, Ecclesiastes 9:7–10, Ecclesiastes 11:7–10, Ecclesiastes 12:1, Ecclesiastes 12:13–14). The book asserts that the Lord gives to us our portions under the sun, and that in His saving grace, He super-adds the gift of the joy as well.

One help for understanding the message of the book is the proper translation of the root that is repeated five times in Ecclesiastes 1:2. Its basic meaning is mist/vapor, but the emphasis is on transience/change rather than emptiness (as translations like “vanity” or “meaningless” would imply). If we’re here one moment, and gone the next, without what seems like lasting impact, what is the profit/purpose?

As someone instructed by the Westminster Shorter Catechism would expect, the Scripture’s answer everywhere, and especially in Ecclesiastes, is “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever!”

And there’s no better candidate to be the Spirit’s instrument for telling us this than “the preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem” (Ecclesiastes 1:3).

“Preacher” here comes from a root that means more “to gather/assemble” than “to proclaim.” He is speaking as one who beckons us, like lady wisdom in Proverbs 1:20ff and Proverbs 9:1ff. 

Solomon also speaks as one that, if purpose and joy could be had in the things under the sun, from the things under the sun, then certainly it would have been Solomon who had them! 

But he also speaks as the “king in Jerusalem.” The reason that fallen man can still have purpose and joy is because of the Seed of the woman, Who would crush the serpent’s head (cf. Genesis 3:15); the Seed of Abraham, in Whom all of the families of the earth would be blessed (cf. Genesis 12:3, Genesis 18:18, Genesis 26:4); the Prophet like Moses, Who would teach and lead the way into God’s everlasting rest (cf. Deuteronomy 18:15–18); and, the Forever-King on David’s throne (cf. 2 Samuel 7:10–16). It is this last, of Whom Solomon would be keenly aware. He’s temporarily occupying a throne that belongs to Another, and this Other is the One Who makes it possible for us to have everlasting joy in a transient world. 

As we work through this little book of the Bible, we will be rushing forward to the conclusion that fearing God and keeping His commandments is our all, and that we should learn to remember Him and enjoy Him from our earliest possible days. This book, as a whole, is a great call to worship God with our entire life, and we look forward to its calling us into His public worship for several weeks to come.

What are some of the most toilsome tasks in your life? What are some of the most mundane/unimpressive gifts that you enjoy in life? How can a finite, fallen person have purpose and pleasure in such things?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we are so grateful to You that our short lives in this fallen world are from Your hand and in Your hand. Through Christ, You have given us a glorious redemption. And, in Him, You have made us to enjoy all things as gifts from You, and to employ all things in service to Your glory. What a glorious life You have given us, even under the sun. For, You have given us to live it in fellowship with You, Who are above the sun. Grant, now, that we would have that fellowship with You in Your worship, by Your Spirit, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP73C “Yet Constantly, I Am With You” or TPH73C “In Sweet Communion, Lord, with Thee”

2025.07.07 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 15:25–29

Read Proverbs 15:25–29

Questions from the Scripture text: What will Who do to whose house (Proverbs 15:25a)? But what will He do to whose boundary (verse 25b)? Whose thoughts are viewed how by Whom (Proverbs 15:26a)? But whose are viewed in what opposite way (verse 26b)? What might a man be greedy for (Proverbs 15:27a)? But what does he do to whom? What does the opposite sort of man hate (verse 27b)? With what effect? Whose heart studies what (Proverbs 15:28a)? With what does who operate, instead (verse 28b)? And what does he do with that mouth? Who is far from whom (Proverbs 15:29a)? But in what way is He especially near to whom (verse 29b)? 

Whose opinions should matter most to us? Proverbs 15:25–29 looks forward to the sermon in the midweek meeting this week. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should care most about what the Lord sees in us and thinks of us.  

The bookends of this section indicate that it focuses upon YHWH’s actions and attitudes toward men. It begins with YHWH destroying the house of the proud and concludes with His rejecting the wicked and listening to the righteous. 

By definition, the wicked do not take the Lord’s opinion and response into account, when considering their action. Let us not repeat their mistake, dear reader. How foolish to be proud, when that only serves to provoke the living God (Proverbs 15:25a)! Those of whom the arrogant would take advantage are the objects of YHWH’s special care (verse 25b, cf. Psalm 68:5, Psalm 146:9). This is not only a warning to the oppressor, but a comfort to the oppressed. 

It is not what men think of our actions, but what YHWH thinks of our actions, that ultimately matters. Therefore, we must be careful not only of our actions, but of our thoughts and words. For, our thoughts and words are also before YHWH. How dreadful to consider that one’s very thoughts may be the object of God’s holy enmity (Proverbs 15:26a). With the Lord as our primary audience, we will wish to have words that have no defect in them at all (verse 26b).

Therefore, we must pay attention to what is occurring in our hearts. The downfall of a household in Proverbs 15:27a is traced backward, through the actions that brought it about, to the greed in the heart that was at the root of it all. So, we must beware of even the desire of our heart, for there we find the destruction of a family line, in embryonic form. By God’s grace, we must come to hate what God hates. If we hate bribing, because He hates bribes, we will be spared the folly of thinking that a bribe might be a way of getting what we want.

This consideration of the heart is a practice that is uniquely godly. The righteous heart meditates upon what to answer (Proverbs 15:28a). But the wicked never stops to think. His mouth is like a spigot whose handle is broken. All of his wickedness just keeps pouring out (verse 28b). 

Finally, Proverbs 15:29 reminds us of another reason that it is so important to be right with God: we are profoundly dependent upon Him. For the wicked, this is a problem, because they cannot find the Lord or reach to Him in their need (verse 29a). But, the righteous finds that the Lord is near him, especially in hearing his prayer (verse 29b). What an encouragement to you to pray, dear believer! One of the ways that the Lord is especially near to you is in hearing you when you do. 

How are you growing in the habits of keeping your heart? By what habits do you draw near to the Lord? How has this made you more mindful of being always before Him? How are you growing in the habit of considering what you will speak? What are your habits for drawing near to God in prayer?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for reminding us that we are always before Your face, and that You respond to what we do, say, and even think. Grant that by the grace of Your Spirit, we would think, speak, and act according to the character of Christ, through Whom we ask it, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH128B “Blest the Man Who Fears Jehovah”

2025.07.06 Lord's Day Livestreams [live at 10:10a, 11:10a, 3p]

Click below for the:

July 6 Lord's Day Worship Booklet

Matthew 20:20–8 sermon outline

3p song selections & Deuteronomy 5:18 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.

IF you are unable to get the stream to work, or simply wish to save on data, you can listen in simply by calling 712.432.3410 and entering 70150 at the prompt.

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.

Knowing the Triune God in Christ [Children's Catechism 7—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 7—especially explaining how the Triune God has been pleased to make Himself known as Triune, especially through His Son.

Q7. In how many persons does this one God exist? In three persons. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Crowns Only through Crosses [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 20:20–28]

How do saints come to glory? Matthew 20:20–28 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that saints come to glory through service and suffering with Christ.

The sermon explores the disciples' request for positions of prominence in Jesus's kingdom, contrasting it with the model of selfless service exemplified by Christ. Drawing from Matthew 20, the message emphasizes humility and the prioritization of serving others, rather than seeking authority or recognition. It clarifies that true greatness lies in emulating Jesus's example of sacrifice and submission, ultimately trusting God's sovereign plan for their places in His kingdom, while acknowledging the patience and wisdom of Christ in guiding his followers towards a deeper understanding of his will.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.07.05 Hopewell @Home ▫ Matthew 20:20–28

Read Matthew 20:20–28

Questions from the Scripture text: Who came in v20? With whom? Doing what? Speaking how? How does He answer in v21? For whom does she request? That hey would sit where? In what place? What does Jesus tell James and John (the answer is in the plural, v22)? What two things does He ask them? How do they answer? What does He tell them will happen to them (v23)? But what does He tell them about siting on His right hand or left? Who have heard it in v24? How do they respond? Whom does Jesus call in v25? Unto Whom? What does He say that they know about whom else? Whom does He say must be different (v26)? What might one of them desire, and what must that person be? What else might one of them desire, and what must he be (v27)? For what purpose didn’t Who come (v28)? Why did He come? Which great service in particular?

How do saints come to glory? Matthew 20:20–28 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that saints come to glory through service and suffering with Christ.  

The wisdom of Jesus. We immediately see how needful it had been for Him to take them aside in v17–19 to emphasize to them His humiliation, suffering, and death. Even after His doing so, they are focused entirely upon the glory prophesied in 19:28. 

There is much to be commended in the desire of these brothers and their praying mother. They have faith to believe that Jesus will be glorified, to trust that His Word is effectual, and to make request of Him. They have humility to bow low and to wait to be bidden to ask. They have love to desire to be near Him in the next life, as they have been in this one. 

But they are not counting the cost, and in His wisdom, Jesus now prompts them to do so. He reminds them of the portion (cup) that He has been assigned in this life, and the means by which He will be initiated (baptism) into His glory. There will be no crown without a cross.

The gentleness of Jesus. Jesus doesn’t chide them for asserting their ability. He simply affirms that they will come to glory through suffering, while managing their expectations by instructing them that one’s rank in the kingdom is not achieved or brokered, but prepared by the Father. Even the response of the ten does not move Jesus off of His gentleness. 

Rather than responding in exasperation to the fact that they all seem to have missed the lessons that we have learned in the last two chapters, He kindly calls them to Himself. And He points out to them the difference between those raging kingdoms of the Gentiles (v25, cf. Ps 2:1–2) and His own kingdom as the suffering Servant (v28, cf. Isa 53:10–11). 

In His kingdom, the way to the top is down (v26). The humblest slave receives the highest position (v27), in which none can outdo Christ (v28). Here is the theme of the entire book of Matthew, and in some ways, of the whole Bible: the glorious God humbled Himself in order to ransom those unto whom He was determined to give a place in His kingdom. 

Behold your wise, gentle Savior. Not only did He submit Himself to the cross for your sake, but He knows exactly your need for Him to apply its lessons to you. And, He patiently and gently keeps teaching you by pointing you to Himself. 

What position or praise does your flesh crave? By what sort of path are you expecting to go to glory? Whom can you trust with your place in the kingdom? How does this change the way you think and act in/about the church? Of whom have you made yourself servant and slave?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for determining to give each of us our own particular place in Your kingdom. Forgive us for desiring any other place but the one that You have intended. Please give us the wisdom to expect that we will only come to glory through service and suffering. And, graciously carry us through that service and suffering until You have brought us all the way home to our place in Your kingdom, we ask in the Name of Jesus, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP15 “Within Your Tent, Who Will Abide” or TPH539“Am I a Soldier of the Cross”