2026.11.05 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 78:1–8

Read Psalm 78:1–8

Questions from the Scripture text: To what are to give our ears and incline them (Psalm 78:1)? What will we be told (Psalm 78:2)? Where have we heard this (Psalm 78:3)? Whom will we tell (Psalm 78:4)? What will we tell? What has God established and where (Psalm 78:5)? What did He command our fathers to do? To whom else would this be communicated (Psalm 78:6)? What are the three parts of the application of this teaching (Psalm 78:7)? What had previous generations not done (Psalm 78:8)?

What is the Lord’s prescription for making one generation of His church better than the previous? Psalm 78:1–8 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord employs fathers as the teachers of their children; to show them God’s character, relations, and works; that the children might be doctrinally driven to faith, worship, and obedience. 

From this Scripture, we learned God’s plan for the reformation and preservation of His church: one generation teaching another generation of generation-teachers—all of whom put that teaching into practice.

Of course, teaching begins with your ears. You can’t teach what you haven’t studied. In our flesh and our folly, we would like to skip to faith, worship, and obedience. But, the Lord’s plan for us and assignment to us begins with our minds. Listen and learn. We cannot teach the next generation until we have learned from the previous one.

What are we to learn in order to teach? The Lord’s testimonies and laws. His teachings and His commands. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God and what duty God requires of man.

Psalm 78:1-4 teaches us that telling to the next generation the praises of the good, great, saving God is an obligation not an option. Psalm 78:4 refers to failure to do so as “hiding” the “praises of the LORD and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.”

Psalm 78:5-7 tells us that God Himself established this “right” that covenant children possess, that they would receive instruction in the Word of God from one generation to the next. It is His appointed means by which successive generations would be brought to “hope in God and not forget the works of God but keep His commandments” (Psalm 78:7).

But the people of Israel up to the point of the Psalm’s writing had not been faithful to their purpose (Psalm 78:8). They had neither known what they ought nor conveyed that knowledge to their children.

There are three primary responses to this knowledge:

Faith. “That they may set their hope in God.” One generation doesn’t just teach data to the other. They put their hope in God, training the next generation, as well, by the example of their faith.

Worship. “And not forget the works of God.” Worship is the first response of faith. We fall at His feet saying, “My Lord and my God.” We don’t forget His works, but rather acknowledge and praise Him. Realizing and remembering Who He is provokes a response of adoration.

Obedience. “But keep His commandments.” Obedience is worship translated into action in the life. Having acknowledged the Lord as God, we give up our right to ourselves and live according to whatever He says.

In what situations are you listening to God’s Word? In what situations are you teaching God’s Word? What place does worship have in each of your days? In each of your weeks? What difference does it make daily that you are living a life of obedience?

Sample prayer:  Lord, You have displayed Your glorious strength in Your wonderful works—particularly in the saving work of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Since we are often forgetful of You, come now and help us by Your Holy Spirit to set our hope in You. Help us not to forget Your works, but to adore You for them. Help us to worship in the offering of the spiritual sacrifices of prayer, and praise, and hearing preaching. Feed and strengthen us at Your table, that we might be enabled to offer our bodies as living sacrifices this week. In particular, grant that our children would hear now Your praise, Your strength, and Your wonderful works. And so implant Your Word in us all that they might one day tell the same to a generation to come, we ask in Jesus’s Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP78B “O Come, My People” or TPH550 “Let Children Hear the Mighty Deeds”

2026.11.04 Hopewell @Home ▫ Exodus 12:1–28

Read Exodus 12:1–28

Questions from the Scripture text: Who spoke to whom where (Exodus 12:1)? What did He establish (Exodus 12:2)? What were they to do on what day of this month (Exodus 12:3)? How many (Exodus 12:4)? What kind (Exodus 12:5)? How long was it to stay in the house (Exodus 12:6)? Then what were they to do? How many of them? At what time? What were they to do with some of the blood (Exodus 12:7)? How were they to cook it (Exodus 12:8a, Exodus 12:9)? With what were they to eat it (Exodus 12:8b)? How much had to be consumed in what two ways (Exodus 12:10)? In what manner were they to eat (Exodus 12:11)? What did the Lord call this meal? Who would pass through where (Exodus 12:12a)? What will He do to whom (verse 12b)? And against whom would he execute judgment (verse 12c)? Why (verse 12d)? What will the blood be (Exodus 12:13a)? How will the Lord respond to it (verse 13b)? With what result (verse 13c)? How long would this nation keep this feast (Exodus 12:14)? As what and to whom? How many days would they eat what (Exodus 12:15a)? What would they do the first day (verse 15b)? What would be done to non-compliers (verse 15c)? What would happen on the first day of the feast (Exodus 12:16a)? And what on what other day (verse 16b)? What mustn’t be done (verse 16c)? What will the Lord have done on this same day (Exodus 12:17a)? How long will the people thus delivered from Egypt observe it (verse 17b)? What are the exact dates of the feast (Exodus 12:18)? What must not be found where for how long (Exodus 12:19a)? And what will happen to whom if he does what (verse 19b)? Of what may they eat nothing during the feast (Exodus 12:20a)? What must they eat where (verse 20b)? Whom did Moses call in Exodus 12:21? What did he tell them to do? And then what were they to do (Exodus 12:22)? What would the Lord do to the Egyptians (Exodus 12:23a)? But what would the Lord do to Israel (verse 23b)? And who was to observe this for how long (Exodus 12:24)? Where else would they keep this service (Exodus 12:25)? Who were to say what to whom (Exodus 12:26)? And what were the parents to say (Exodus 12:27)? How did the people respond to this instruction (end of verse 27)? Then what did they do (Exodus 12:28a)? In what manner (verse 28b)? 

What does Passover have to do with children? Exodus 12:1–28 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty-eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord especially targets covenant children with the religious observances that He gives the church. 

Happy New Year! The “shall be” in Exodus 12:2 is supplied by the translators, but “is” would have been a more natural rendering. Whether the Lord chose to deliver them at (their) New Year’s time or changed the time to New Year’s by delivering them, the point is the same: God wants His people to punctuate new seasons in their lives by the commemoration of His salvation. The Lord has done the same for us by beginning each week with the Lord’s Supper. Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed. He brings us to His feast to drive home the reality of His salvation in His body and blood, so that we will live out of that reality all week long.

One of the interesting things about this commemoration is how much it seems to aim at children. Part of this is implied. The year (or less) old lamb (Exodus 12:5) was to be taken into the house on the 10th day. For four days, a young lamb would be in the home. You can imagine how attached the children would grow to it before they were required to attend its killing at twilight on the 14th day (Exodus 12:6).  Three times (Exodus 12:14, Exodus 12:17, Exodus 12:24) in the passage, the Spirit emphasizes that this observance is to take place throughout their generations, and with their sons, forever. One of the great features of the observance is when the children ask the parents what the parents mean by the service of the Passover (Exodus 12:26). 

What is it that God wants the children to know? That God is their greatest danger, and that God is their only salvation. Notice that it is the Lord Himself Who executes judgment. Not only against man and also against beast but against all the purported “gods” of Egypt (Exodus 12:12). This judgment is a display of Himself, “I am Yahweh.” Not only is the lamb to be killed, as a spotless substitute, but then it must be burned (Exodus 12:8). Only burned (Exodus 12:9). All of it burned (Exodus 12:10). For we deserve not just death but the fire of God’s wrath in Hell. But it is the Lord Himself Who saves Israel (Exodus 12:13, Exodus 12:27). He is the One Who gives them the substitute. He is the One Who spares them from the plague. He is the One Who would Himself come and bear death and Hell in our place as the Lamb of God.

Let us learn to live our lives out of the commemoration of God’s saving us. And let us learn to focus upon teaching the next generation in these commemorations. And let us learn that at the heart of this commemoration is remembering that God Himself is our greatest danger, and God Himself is our only hope of salvation.

What has God given you for commemorating His salvation? How can you participate/foster the transmission of this knowledge to the next generation? Who is your greatest danger? Who is your only hope of salvation? Are you “covered by the blood”? What, then, will come of you?

Sample prayer:  Lord, You are righteous, and we deserve death and Hell. So we praise and thank You for giving us Christ as our substitute and covering us by His blood. Forgive us for when we order our lives around something other than You and Your salvation. Grant unto us not only to live out of the knowledge of Your salvation, but to communicate this to our children. Save them, too, we pray in Jesus’s Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP51B “From My Sins, O Hide Your Face” or TPH196 “At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing” 

2026.11.03 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 104:1–15

Read Psalm 104:1–15

Questions from the Scripture text: What does the Psalmist command his soul to do (Psalm 104:1a)? What does he call YHWH in verse 1b? For what does he first praise Him (verse 1b–c)? For which creatures does he praise God in Psalm 104:2? And what part of creation in Psalm 104:3? And whom in Psalm 104:4? For what action does he praise God in Psalm 104:5? And what part of it in Psalm 104:6-9? In what way does He leave water on land (Psalm 104:10)? For what purpose in Psalm 104:11? And what other in Psalm 104:12? And what other in Psalm 104:13? What does He provide for what creatures in Psalm 104:14? What three things has He especially given man, for what three purposes, in Psalm 104:15? 

For what does our soul bless the LORD? Psalm 104:1–15 looks forward to the opening portion of the public worship of God on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fifteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that our souls are to bless the LORD for His Creator-goodness to all His creatures and especially to ourselves. 

In the previous Psalm, our souls blessed the LORD among those blessed hosts who will bless Him forever. Now in this Psalm, our souls bless the LORD among those needy creatures who have a mighty Creator.

God is glorious in Himself, Psalm 104:1-4. YHWH, our God, is very great (Psalm 104:1b). And how has He given to us to begin to conceive of is greatness? With things like light itself (Psalm 104:2a), the heavens (Psalm 104:2-3a), the clouds (Psalm 104:1b), and the wind (Psalm 104:3c). We see these, and we don’t see the greatness of God Himself; we see “clothes” that He has set out for us by which we can see an infinitely greater (but invisible) greatness. That’s His “clothing.” Then there are His servants, who are also invisible to us (Psalm 104:4a) and sometimes appear as flames of fire (verse 4b, cf. Isaiah 6:2). There is a similarity here to the display of Solomon’s greatness in 1 Kings 10:4–5. The Lord has made all this display to take our breath away with His glory!

God acted generously in the creation, Psalm 104:5-14. These verses praise especially the work of the first three days of creation, preparing where the creatures would live. An established earth, gathered seas, and grown plants were all expertly and lovingly designed for the good of His creatures. Even the creature’s neediness—the thirst of the donkeys (Psalm 104:11), vulnerability of birds (Psalm 104:12), and hunger of cattle and men (Psalm 104:14) are all part of the plan for the creature to enjoy the goodness of God’s design.

God acts graciously in providence, Psalm 104:15. Before the Psalm turns back to the creation in the portion that we hope to have next week, Psalm 104:15 focuses on what God does for man as His special creature. God made us capable of gladness so that He would gladden us (verse 15a). God made us capable of a blessed countenance, that images His blessing by His countenance, so that He would make our face shine (verse 15b). God made us capable of resolve, diligence, and courage, so that He would strengthen our heart (verse 15c). 

Later, He would make use of the common elements of bread and wine to communicate to us that Christ gives Himself immediately to us to be our strength and our gladness. So, He both makes creational provision for how these are affected by our bodies and spiritual provision directly to our souls. Thus, He has arranged His providence so that by responding to the provision of wine and oil and bread as means, we would glorify the God Who has made us in His image to enjoy Him.

Let us learn from this portion of the Psalm to reflect make us of God’s goodness to all His creatures  to stir our hearts up to praise—and especially things like wine, oil, and bread… every good provision of His providence, throughout every day, as opportunities to enjoy Him Who gave us to know Him.

What examples of the goodness and beauty of creation has the Lord especially presented you with? What good use are you making of things like wine, oil, and bread for the purpose of turning your heart to the Lord in joy and strength?

Sample prayer:  Oh YHWH, our God, You are very great! You are clothed with honor and majesty! You have made light itself, as if a garment to tell us Your greatness. You stretched out the heavens like a beautiful curtain to tell us the greatness of the One Who made this house and rules over it. Your perfect wisdom and love are on constant display in Your care for the creatures. But You have displayed that wisdom and love most of all to us. Just as You made wine to gladden the heart, be the gladness of our hearts in worship now. Just as You made oil to make our face shine, come now and be the brightness of Your people’s countenance. Just as You made bread to strengthen man’s heart, come now by Your Spirit, and grant that Your Son would be the true bread that strengthens our heart in this worship, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP104A “My Soul, Bless the LORD!” or TPH104B “My Soul, Bless the LORD!” 

2026.11.02 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 29:22–27

Read Proverbs 29:22–27

Questions from the Scripture text: What sort of man does Proverbs 29:22 describe? What effect does he have on others and on himself? What is the problem with the man in Proverbs 29:23a? With what result? Who will be honored instead (verse 23b)? Against what sort of man does Proverbs 29:24 warn? What other fault does he have? What can trap you (Proverbs 29:25)? But what keeps you safe from that? From whom do many seek justice (Proverbs 29:26)? Where can it actually be found? What do the unjust and the upright think about each other (Proverbs 29:27)? 

How can you avoid getting involved with the sort of people who will destroy you? Proverbs 29:22–27 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that trusting in the Lord, and pleasing Him, is the path to maintaining honor and righteousness.

With this section, the proverbs collected in the time of Hezekiah (cf. Proverbs 25:1) come to a conclusion. 

This section is basically a warning against the unjust man, in his various forms, whom Solomon’s son is to abominate (Proverbs 29:27a), and whose own abominating of himself his son is to expect (verse 27b).

The unjust man is characterized by anger (Proverbs 29:22). If this is a prevailing fault with you, it must be dealt with, because it harms both the community of which you are a part (stirring up strife there, verse 22a) and you yourself (making your transgressions multiply, verse 22b).

The unjust man is characterized by pride (Proverbs 29:23). Don’t be attached to such a man, because he will pull you to the bottom with himself, like an anchor. It is those who are humble in spirit who retain honor.

The unjust man is characterized by dishonesty in material things and speech (Proverbs 29:24). No ruler (or anyone else) should attach himself to such a man. To do so is to “hate his own life”! Watch out for such people, and don’t get entangled with them. And by the grace of God renounce such conduct yourself.

One reason that rulers, and other people, end up accommodating the unjust man is because they either want to please them, or they are afraid of what they might do to them. This is the “fear of man” that “brings a snare.” Man-fear traps you in self-destructive connections with the ungodly.

Thankfully, Proverbs 29:25 gives the solution: trusting in YHWH. If you trust in the Lord, it will deliver you from the fear of man. So, resist the urge to please everyone who seeks your face (Proverbs 29:26a), and seek instead to do whatever YHWH says is right (verse 26b). Justice is maintained by faithful submission to Scripture, not by trying to do what men expect!

Which of the characteristics of the unjust man are you most in danger of bearing? And with which types of unjust men have you made the mistake of connecting yourself? How are you developing trust in the Lord? By what mechanism are you assimilating and applying His Word in order to please Him?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for giving us Your Son, Jesus Christ, the Righteous for the unrighteous. For His sake, forgive us. By His grace, transform us. Make us the sort of people that it would be good for others to have as friends. And give us wisdom to choose Christlike people for our own friends, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH16A “Preserve Me, O My God”

2026.11.01 Lord's Day Livestreams (live at 10:10a, 11:10a, and 3p)

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2026.10.28 Midweek Meeting Livestream (live at 6:30p)

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2026.10.25 Lord's Day Livestreams (live at 10:10a, 11:10a, and 3p)

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Learning Christ [Family Worship lesson in Ephesians 4:20–24]

How do we change our conduct? Ephesians 4:20–24 prepares us for the morning sermon in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we put on the new man by learning Christ. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional explores the transformative process of sanctification described in Ephesians 4, emphasizing that believers are called to put off the old self and put on the new man created in righteousness and holiness. It reasons that this renewal is not achieved through human effort alone but through hearing and being taught by Christ, Who addresses His church through the preaching of the Word. The central theme is that the truth of Scripture is found in Jesus, and it is through the Spirit’s work in this teaching that believers are united to Christ and conformed to Him. Pastor highlights the importance of viewing the public ministry of the Word as a direct encounter with Christ, rather than merely receiving human instruction. This perspective shifts the focus from personal weakness to the active, ongoing work of Christ in shaping the believer’s thoughts, affections, and will toward glory.

2026.10.24 Hopewell @Home ▫ Ephesians 4:20–24

Read Ephesians 4:20–24

Questions from the Scripture text: What does Ephesians 4:20 say they had done with Christ? Whom had they heard (Ephesians 4:21)? By Whom had they been taught? What is in Jesus? What are they to put off, concerning what (Ephesians 4:22)? What happens to the old man, according to what? How may we be renewed (Ephesians 4:23)? What are we to put on (Ephesians 4:24)? From where did this new man come? In what was he created?

How do we change our conduct? Ephesians 4:20–24 prepares us for the morning sermon in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we put on the new man by learning Christ. 

Why is our theological learning from Christ’s Word and Christ’s undershepherds (Ephesians 4:11-12), and our theological maturity and stability (Ephesians 4:13-14), and our theological fellowship and ministry unto one another (Ephesians 4:15-16) such a necessity for the growth of the church in Christ?

Because our growth in Christ and walk with Him is, in large part, a function of the mind.

It is in the futility of their mind that the Gentiles walk (and in which we are no longer to walk), Ephesians 4:17.

Having their understanding darkened is a great harm that has come to them as a result of being alienated from the life of God (Ephesians 4:18a).

Ignorance is what we have from ourselves, apart from Christ.

Blindness is the natural/original condition of the heart.

If these things are not addressed, we will lose the ability to feel shame at what is lustful, or filthy, or covetous (Ephesians 4:19).

Over-against this breakdown of the mind (cf. Romans 1:18, Romans 1:19, Romans 1:20, Romans 1:21, Romans 1:22, Romans 1:25, Romans 1:28), our passage presents:

Christ as someone Whom we “learn” (Ephesians 1:20)

Christ as someone Whom we “hear” (Ephesians 4:21a) by the means He has provided in Ephesians 4:11

Christ as someone by Whom we are “taught” (Ephesians 4:21b)

Christ as someone in Whom all “truth” is based and to Whom all truth connects (Ephesians 4:21c)

So we see the apostle piling up the language of the mind in connection with Jesus. And if it’s a corrupt mind that leads to the conduct of Ephesians 4:19, then we are not surprised that putting off that conduct (Ephesians 4:22) and putting on the new man (Ephesians 4:24) is described in terms of putting off what is according to “deceitful” lusts and putting on that which is in “true” righteousness and holiness.

We are to be renewed in the spirit of our “mind” (Ephesians 4:23).

And the first instruction about our conduct toward one another is:

Put away “lying,” (Ephesians 4:25a) and

Let each one of you speak “truth” with his neighbor (Ephesians 4:25b).

Christian life is preeminently theological life. Christian growth is preeminently theological growth. Are you called to be a rigorous theologian? You are, if you are a Christian!

How are you nurturing your mind in Scripture and doctrine? How is it shaping your conduct?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for giving Jesus to us as the One Whom we hear, and Whom we learn, and in Whom is the truth. Please give us to put off our former conduct and put on the new man, created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP19B “The Lord’s Most Perfect Law” or TPH172 “Speak, O Lord” 

Revealing the Intentions of Our Hearts [Family Worship lesson in Jeremiah 2:29–37]

How does the Lord address and expose our idolatry? Jeremiah 2:29–37 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord addresses and exposes our idolatry through affliction, His Word, tokens of His covenant love, and frustrating our idolatrous efforts. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)