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”

2025.07.04 Hopewell @Home ▫ Deuteronomy 5:18

Read Deuteronomy 5:18

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

What is the proper relationship of God’s provisions to the pleasures of those provisions? Deuteronomy 5:18 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 has made marriage, and other things, pleasurable in order that we might enjoy His goodness in what He has designed, and therefore forbids seeking the pleasure apart from or in contradiction to God’s design.  

The sixth commandment, prohibiting murder, rested upon the fact that man is created in the image of God. The seventh commandment, prohibiting adultery, also takes us back to the creation. For, God made them from the beginning “male and female” so that the two could become one flesh in the God-joined covenant of marriage (cf. Matt 19:4–6, Prov 2:16–17). 

Marriage is a glorious arrangement that not only supplied the man and the woman with an honorable and blessed estate (cf. Heb 13:4) but was the means by which they would be fruitful and multiply. So greatly is it to be honored that the connection with father and mother which is so strongly upheld by the fifth commandment must become a lower class connection by comparison to marriage (cf. Gen 2:24a), so that spouse always takes precedent over parent (cf. Ps 45:10c). Furthermore, marriage itself serves as a picture of Christ and His church, and marriage done well communicates many good things by analogy to the Lord Jesus and His Bride (cf. Eph 5:22–33).

What a glorious thing is marriage! Therefore, we praise the wisdom of God that has so blessed that special marital knowing of a man and his wife: the mutual and exclusive commitment, the treasuring of one not just like oneself but as being one with one’s own self, the intertwining of heart and life, and even the privilege and pleasure of the marriage bed.

But just as murder disregards God in man, so also adultery disregards God in marriage. In fact, apart from marriage itself, it seeks to have the pleasures of marriage: feastings of the eyes or attractings of others’ eyes, intertwining of the heart, the special knowing of another and various pleasures that come with it. Whether it’s immodest dress, the wandering eye, indulging thoughts of romance or lust, or even worse the involving of others in actions that stir up these sins of the heart—all of them seek pleasures that belong to marriage without the marriage to which they belong. 

When we go after these with our heart, we show that we do not care for God’s institution, for God’s covenant, for the multiplication of God’s image through it, or the display of God’s redemption in it. It is bad enough that adultery, fornication, pornography, etc. communicate that we do not need our spouse to have the pleasures that belong properly to marriage. Even worse, it communicates that our pleasure is chief and that other things are a means to the end of our pleasure, putting ourselves and our pleasure in the place that rightfully belongs to God. 

Chastity is much more than refraining from sexual sin. It is a commitment to enjoying only those pleasures which come in the way that God has designed and commanded them, because He Himself is our chief joy. Indeed, once a man and woman are married, chastity actually demands their romantic enjoyment of one another, of their conjoined life, of the marriage bed (cf. 1Cor 7:3–5). For it is the Lord Who has given these as part of the goodness of marriage, which He has designed for so many good purposes.

Why is marriage good? What purposes does it have? Whose marriages’ health ought you to be guarding and promoting? How do you do that for yourself? How do you do that for others?

Sample prayer: Lord, we bless Your Name for the good gift of marriage. Preserve each of us for our spouse alone, and give us pleasure in the exclusive fellowship and fecund fruitfulness of marriage. Make us to be zealous for faithfulness in others’ marriages as well. Give us modesty of dress and behavior and a chastity that delights in You and Your good design. Forgive us and help us by the life and power of Christ, in Whose Name we ask it, AMEN!

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

2025.07.03 Hopewell @Home ▫ Revelation 15:1–4

Read Revelation 15:1–4

Questions from the Scripture text: What does John see in v1? Of what quality? How many of whom? What do they have? What is completed in them? What does he see in v2? What does the sea seem to be made of? With what does it seem to be mingled? Over what four things do those standing upon it have victory? What do they have in their hands (cf. 5:8; Ps 149:3, 7–9)? Whose song do they sing (v3, cf. Ex 15)? And which other song is now detailed? What are great and marvelous? Whose works? What is true of His ways? What else is He called? What two things are asked rhetorically in v4a? What is the implied answer? What is the first reason to fear and glorify Him (v4b)? What is a second (v4c)? And a third (v4d)? 

What is it like in heaven, when wrath is being poured out upon the earth? Revelation 15:1–4 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 heaven is a place of peace, power, and praise, while God’s wrath is being poured out upon the earth.

Peace. Comparing v1 to 12:1, we see that John is moving on from the dragon’s war on the church, which takes place during the entire time between Christ’s comings, and which he has examined from various vantage points. As he is about to take us into the pourings out of God’s wrath on the earth, he starts us out in heaven. As in the other cycles of visions in Revelation, the situation in heaven is rather opposite to that on the earth. The seven angels with the seven last plagues that complete the wrath of God, have appeared. But, in heaven, the scene is one of peace, power, and praise.

One thing to notice here is that the saints are standing on the sea—like Peter, when his eyes were fixed upon Christ. Unlike that situation, this sea is not raging. Exactly the opposite. Things on earth are ranging, as implied by the glass being “mingled with fire.” They can see through the clear, calm glass, and what they see is the burning of the fire (cf. 14:18a). But they are literally above it, standing securely despite it. 

Power. The Lord has delivered these saints. Yes, from the sword of the beast. The powers of this world, in service of the dragon, have failed to destroy them. Even their deaths translated them to this condition, where they stand upon a sea of tranquility. But, even more, the Lord has delivered them from the seduction of the beast. They did not worship his image, or take his mark; they worship Christ, the very image of God, and are marked by Him. 

Here they are, assembled for praise, having been given a priesthood that is represented in the harps in their hands in v2. As with the Lord’s priestly people in Ps 149, their praise of God (cf. Ps 149:1–4) is married to power over the nations, peoples, kings, and nobles (cf. Ps 149:7–8). The wrath of God’s judgment upon them is written, and upon His saints He has bestowed the honor of standing atop its execution (cf. Ps 149:9). They have not merely escaped. They have gained victory. Victory over the beast. Victory over his image. Victory over the number of his name. They are a victorious people.

Praise. Though they stand upon a sea of glass, through which they see the fire of God’s wrath, the saints’ attention is not on this great spectacle. Their attention is upon the Lord God, Who has given them the victory. Like the Israelites safe on the banks of the Egyptian-swallowing sea, these saints sing (v3). The song of Moses was, “I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!” (cf. Ex 15:1, 21). And it anticipated this new and glorious song.

The Lord God Almighty (v3c) glorifies His Name (v4a) especially as the King of the saints (v3e). He is great and marvelous in Himself, and He shows it in the great and marvelous salvation of His people. He is just and true, His ways are just and true (v3d), and He shows it by the truth and justice of the ultimate end His people vs the ultimate end of His enemies. The end result is that all of the remnant of humanity worship Him (v4a–c). Those who love the Lord rejoice that His Name would be feared and that He would be worshiped. The glorified saints delight in His judgments, not merely because they are given victory and glory, but especially because this brings glory to their God.

How are you taking advantage of the opportunity to worship, and meditate upon Scripture, to rise peacefully above whatever rages on the earth? Over what temptations and seductions is the Lord giving you victory? How does your joy at being delivered or honored compare to your joy at God being feared and worshiped?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for glorifying Your Name by delivering Your saints, and giving them victory. Forgive us for when we do not let Your peace rule in our hearts, or guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. And forgive us for how we miss opportunities to praise Your Name for the displays of Your greatness, justice, and truth. Grant that we would enjoy Your peace, employ Your power, and express Your praise through Christ, in Whose Name we ask it, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP98 “O Sing a New Song to the Lord” or TPH389 “Great God, What Do I See and Hear”

2025.07.02 Midweek Meeting Livestream (live at 6:30p)

Click below for the:

July 2 Prayer Meeting Folder

Proverbs 15:20–24 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.

2025.07.02 Hopewell @Home ▫ Micah 2:12–13

Read Micah 2:12–13

Questions from the Scripture text: What will the Lord do to whom (Micah 2:12a)? Who, from Jacob, specifically (verse 12b)? Into what belonging (verse 12c), what safety (verse 12d), and what plurality (verse 12e) will He gather them? Who will come up before them (Micah 2:13a)? What will they do, led by Him (verse 13b)? Enabling them to pass through what (verse 13c)? In order to go where (verse 13d)? Who is this breaker-open who passes before them (verse 13e)? And Who is at their head, as this King passes before them (verse 13f)?

What good Word does God have for His people? Micah 2:12–13 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God proclaims to His people a salvation and a Savior that are infinitely greater than they could imagine.

The people rejected the “negative” preaching of God’s true prophets (Micah 2:6-11), and the Lord had answered that His Word indeed does good to him who walks uprightly (Micah 2:7d–e), but this has not been the case with Israel in recent times (Micah 2:8-9), so they would indeed be scattered and destroyed (Micah 2:10), no matter what their false preachers say (Micah 2:11). 

But the true preaching is very “positive” for the righteous remnant of Israel. The Lord Himself will assemble (Micah 2:12a) this remnant (verse 12b), with marvelous results:

They will be secure (as sheep of the fold, verse 12c).

They will be well-cared for (as sheep in the pasture, verse 12d).

And they will be numerous (so many men that their sheer number is noisy, verse 12d). They may be a remnant, but the remnant, through the ages, comes to an impressive number indeed!

How will this happen? How will they escape the place(s) of their exile, to which they have been dispersed? The Lord will send Someone to lead them, Who is able to burst through (Micah 2:13a). 

With Him at the front, they will be able to burst through themselves (verse 13b), pass through the gate (verse 13c), and leave (verse 13d). 

And this King will continue to lead them even then (verse 13e). He will not just initiate their deliverance; He will lead them all the way. 

The greatness of this deliverance, restoration, peace, and prosperity comes not merely because of the King’s action, but even because of His Person. Verse 13f  does not introduce a new figure, but tells Who this king is at their head: YHWH Himself! Jesus is our archegos (“Captain,” in Hebrews 2:10), the One Who blazes the trail for us to follow with Him.

There is no safety apart from the Lord’s Deliverer—apart from the Lord Himself. And this was why  nation of people who had rejected Him were in so much trouble. But, behold how great and sure is the safety of those who are His!

We do not need “positive” preaching that makes us feel good about ourselves. We need the true preaching of this King’s Word. We need YHWH Himself to be the One Who breaks out at the front, and leads our own breaking out and redemption forever!

In what circumstances, or potential circumstances, are you in danger of feeling secure without Christ? How have you, perhaps, desired to hear about a god with Whom you didn’t have to take your sin seriously? What is the best part of the gospel of His own delivering you, and continuing to lead you?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for proclaiming Your redemption to us. Indeed, You are powerfully and surely saving a remnant for Yourself, that comes to be a great multitude. Forgive us for when we find any security without You, or when we allow ourselves to be discouraged, even though we are Yours. Make us to remember King Jesus, leading us and delivering us, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP7B “God Is My Shield” or TPH178 “We Have Not Known Thee As We Ought”

2025.07.01 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 150

Read Psalm 150

Questions from the Scripture text: With what command does the Psalm begin and end (Psalm 150:1a, Psalm 150:6b)? Where are they to praise Him (Psalm 150:1b–c)? For what are they to praise Him (Psalm 150:2a)? According to what (verse 2b)? With what eight things are they to praise Him (Psalm 150:3-5)? Who are to praise Him (Psalm 150:6a)? 

Why do we exist? Psalm 150 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we exist for the praise of YHWH.  

“Praise YHWH” is not only he beginning (Psalm 150:1a) and end (Psalm 150:6b) of this Psalm, and the conclusion to the whole psalter. It is the purpose of all things (cf. Romans 11:36). 

Where. The holiness of YHWH is the proper place of His worship. Yes, this was identified with a particular location in the tabernacle and then the temple, but Psalm 150:1c clarifies that this means that greatest display of God holiness—in glory. This is the proper, ultimate location of God’s worship—especially over-against the way that people like to choose for themselves (dreadful clause!) their locations of worship. Wherever he holy God has commanded to communicate His holiness, that is the place to worship. For us on earth, it is the Sabbath-assembly of the church, which alone joins heavenly Zion.

Why. The great occasion for the worship of God is His mighty acts (Psalm 150:2a). And none are mightier than the saving works of Jesus Christ! But these mighty acts serve a purpose: to display the excellent greatness of YHWH God Himself. While His acts may be the occasion of our worship, He Himself is its object. Our praise should be in accord with His excellent greatness. And the only way to have praise as great as God is to offer that praise through the Son, by the ministry of the Spirit.

How. Psalm 150:3-5 touches different priestly instruments. The identifications of the instruments are uncertain, but their identity is not the point. It is significant that they are priestly instruments, since this implies that the praise that accords with the greatness is that particular praise that God Himself has ordained. But the main point seems to be how very many were listed. We should praise Him with everything. Everything that He has provided, by which to praise Him, we ought to employ in that praise. For, He is worthy of it all!

Who. Psalm 150:6a reminds us of the purpose of breath. Our breath is from the Lord, and our breath is for the Lord. Whatever any creature has, the purpose of what it has is for the praise of God. Do you draw breath, dear reader? The purpose of that breath is the praise of YHWH!

How can you praise the Lord in the place of His holiness? How can your praise be in accord with His excellent greatness? What has He commanded for His praise, and how much of it should you offer to Him? What is the purpose of your breath?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we praise You! In Christ, we ascend to You and enter, beyond the veil, into the reality of the Holy of Holies in glory. We come, not with the various musical instruments of the temple priesthood, but with the full priesthood of Jesus, our Great High Priest. Praising You is the reason that we breathe, so please give us the ministry of Your own Spirit, to worship You through Your Son, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP150 “O Praise the Lord! Give Praise to God!” or TPH150C “Sing Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!”

2025.06.30 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 15:20–24

Read Proverbs 15:20–24

Questions from the Scripture text: What sort of son does what for whom (Proverbs 15:20a)? But who does what to whom else (verse 20b)? What is joyous to whom in Proverbs 15:21a? Who is his counterpart, and what does he do (verse 21b)? What is there a risk of lacking, and what happens in that case (Proverbs 15:22a)? How are plans established (verse 22b)? What can give a man joy (Proverbs 15:23a)? What sort of answer, specifically (verse 23b)? Whose way goes where (Proverbs 15:24a)? Turning away from where (verse 24b)? 

Who have true joy? Proverbs 15:20–24 looks forward to the sermon in the midweek meeting this week. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that those who rejoice in the Lord have true joy.  

The previous section (Proverbs 15:13-19) drove home the principle that one is made happy not by changed circumstances but by a changed heart. Now, the Scripture focuses upon some of those circumstances that themselves change, when the heart is changed, and how joyful they are to the godly heart.

Proverbs 15:20 reminds us of the introduction to this extended section of “proverbs of Solomon” (cf. Proverbs 10:1). But it rings a little differently in the context of a section that is focused upon joy. Just as the Christian must hate to grieve Christ, so the son should hate to grieve his parents. Christ is not robbed of joy, but how dreadful to grieve the most joyful Man there has ever been! And a godly father and mother have continual joy in the Lord (cf. Philippians 4:4), which makes it even better to be part of the Lord’s good gifts to them (Proverbs 15:20a), and even worse to be a grief to them. In fact, a man cannot rightly claim to love his mother if he is a fool; the willingness to grieve her by his folly demonstrates that he truly has little regard for her (verse 20b). 

Proverbs 15:21-22 describe the joyous path. It’s not the fool’s gold of the fool’s joy. He loves folly. He enjoys just letting himself go—as if the Lord doesn’t exist, and as if life from God, through God, and to God is not a weighty thing. This shows that he is heartless (Proverbs 15:21a, literally)—not in the way of being cruel, but in the way of being senseless about what is truly good and joyous. His plans do not go straight (Proverbs 15:22a), according to what is right, like those of the man in Proverbs 15:21b. By contrast, that man, the upright man, has the heart not only to desire the right way, but to value input from those whom the Lord has given him to guide him in that way (Proverbs 15:22b). So the upright man has joy in the Lord that desires what is right, joy in the counsel that directs him in what is right, and joy in the actual doing of what is right! This, of course, begins with that first set of counselors that Proverbs 15:20 had in view: the godly father and mother.

Proverbs 15:23-24 build upon this idea of the joy of receiving and following good counsel—and of coming to be the one who gives it as well. To the one who has joy in the Lord, he delights not only to learn the Lord’s ways, but to be used by the Lord to teach others (Proverbs 15:23a). As the Lord graces him and gifts him, his delight isn’t so much in himself as it is in the Lord, in those moments of speaking the right word, in the right way, at the right time (verse 23b). He rejoices, in part, because this skill that the Lord is growing in him is just one part of the Lord’s bringing him steadily to glory (Proverbs 15:24a)—a reminder that the good God is giving him the opposite of what he deserves (Proverbs 15:24b).

So, dear reader, it is possible that you may need a “joy transplant,” where you learn to delight, more in more, in those things that those people delight in, who delight themselves in the Lord. There are so many who wish to have the desires of their heart; the Bible recipe for that is to begin by delighting oneself in the Lord (cf. Psalm 37:4). 

What are your joys in life? Which joys would be greater? How can they become your joys? How greatly would you enjoy them? What evidence, in your life, do you have that the Lord is taking you to glory? 

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for giving to us Your own joy—delight in You Yourself. Grant unto us to enjoy desiring that delight, being directed into that delight, and doing that which You teach us to find delightful. So, give us that wonderful aspect of the fruit of Your Spirit that is the joy of Christ Himself, in Whom we ask it, AMEN!

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

2025.06.29 Lord's Day Livestreams (live at 10:10a, 11:10a, 3p)

Click below for the:

June 29 Lord's Day Worship Booklet

Matthew 20:17–19 sermon outline

3p song selections & Deuteronomy 5:17 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.