The Ends of the Godly and the Evil [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 21:10–18]

What is the difference between the righteous and the wicked? Proverbs 21:10–18 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the wicked and righteous are opposite in heart, hand, way, and destiny. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: Proverbs 21:10–18 presents a profound contrast between the righteous and the wicked, revealing that their destinies are shaped by the condition of their hearts, the nature of their actions, and the objects of their delight. The wicked are defined by a heart that desires evil, a hand that ignores the cries of the poor, and a love for pleasure and luxury that leads them astray from the path of understanding. In contrast, the righteous are marked by a transformed heart that delights in justice, a life of disciplined action, and a love for God and neighbor that sustains them in the narrow way. The passage underscores that God’s providence and judgment are not arbitrary but reflect the moral order: the wicked are ultimately destroyed, not only in this life but in eternity, while the righteous are delivered, even as the wicked serve as a ransom for their salvation. This divine ordering calls all people—especially those who have wandered from wisdom—to repentance, humility, and reliance on God’s grace, which alone can change the heart.

2026.02.09 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 21:10–18

Read Proverbs 21:10–18

Questions from the Scripture text: Whose soul desires what (Proverbs 21:10a)? Who finds what in his eyes (verse 10b)? What happens when the scoffer is punished (Proverbs 21:11a)? What further happens, when he is subsequently instructed (verse 11b)? What does the righteous do (Proverbs 21:12a)? To do what (verse 12b)? What does the man in Proverbs 21:13a do? What will happen to him (verse 13b)? What does a gift in secret do (Proverbs 21:14a)? What does a bribe in the bosom pacify (verse 14b)? What do the just get out of doing justice (Proverbs 21:15a)? What do workers of iniquity get out of it (verse 15b)? From what does the man in Proverbs 21:16a stray? Where does he end up resting (verse 16b)? What happens to the man who loves pleasure (Proverbs 21:17a)? And to the man who loves wine and oil (verse 17b)? Who is a ransom for whom (Proverbs 21:18a)? And who for whom in verse 18b?

What is the difference between the righteous and the wicked? Proverbs 21:10–18 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the wicked and righteous are opposite in heart, hand, way, and destiny.  

Our passage divides into three subsections, contrasting the righteous and the wicked. The sections cover their desires (Proverbs 21:10-12), their actions (Proverbs 21:13-15), and their loves and paths (Proverbs 21:16-18). The problem of the wicked is first in his heart (Proverbs 21:10-12), and then in his hands (Proverbs 21:13-15) and feet (Proverbs 21:16-18). And each section contrasts the outcomes that they experience.

The wicked’s heart desires evil (Proverbs 21:10a) and despises his neighbor (verse 10b). He needs it to be changed, which can come only by God’s grace. The two step process in Proverbs 21:11 begins with grace-attended discipline, that makes the scoffer wise (verse 11a), and continues with grace-attended instruction that gives him knowledge in his newfound wisdom (verse 11b). The righteous one (not necessarily God, as NKJ suggests) considers the wicked’s house to overthrow them (Proverbs 21:12)—both, overthrowing wickedness in his own home; and, if the righteous is in authority, for overthrowing the wicked who are under him.

The wicked’s hand is also evil. It is unmoved by the cry of the poor (Proverbs 21:13), but easily moved by the prospect of sinfully obtained wealth (Proverbs 21:14). But the wicked isn’t only overthrown by the righteous (Proverbs 21:12), he also experiences different providence than the righteous. The just man comes into joy by way of doing justice (Proverbs 21:15a); but, however enjoyable the wicked man thinks working iniquity is, providence inevitably brings him destruction (verse 15b). 

Finally, the wicked’s path is evil. He wanders from the path of understanding (Proverbs 21:16a), because his love is of pleasure (Proverbs 21:17a) and luxury (verse 17b), rather than of God and neighbor. His destination is not in the assembly of the righteous, but in the assembly of the dead (Proverbs 21:16b). Whatever wealth he may have in the short term, he will end in the worst poverty imaginable in the long-term (Proverbs 21:17). The wicked and unfaithful will perish, while the righteous and upright are delivered (Proverbs 21:18). Though God is righteous and just in condemning them, why permit them to have lived at all? As a ransom—in His saving love and wisdom toward the righteous.

So, be alarmed, when your heart desires evil (Proverbs 21:10a), or you are unmoved by your neighbor’s misery (Proverbs 21:13), or are motivated by wealth to compromise (Proverbs 21:14), or crave pleasure or luxury (Proverbs 21:17). These should all drive you to ask God to make His Spirit bless discipline and instruction to you (Proverbs 21:11), that you may become wise!

When do you find your heart desiring evil? What neighbor’s misery have you not cared enough about? When have you been tempted to compromise truth or right to obtain wealth? What pleasure or luxury do you love so much that you’re in danger of wandering out of the way? How have you responded to God’s discipline and instruction? To what end do you have good hope of coming?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You that You have not left us to perish in sin. Change our hearts so that our hands are moved by truth and right. Deliver us and bless us, through Christ, we ask in His Name, AMEN! 

Suggested songs: ARP119I “According to Your Word, O Lord” or TPH51C “God, Be Merciful to Me”

2026.02.08 Lord's Day Livestreams (live at 10:10a, 11:10a, and 3p)

To tune in for the Lord's Day streams, we recommend that you visit the livestream page.

Christ's Family [2026.02.07 Pastoral Letter and Hopewell Herald]

Hopewell Herald – February 7, 2026

Dear Congregation,

We’ve been learning much, from Song of Songs, about the desires and delights of Christ. In Mark 3:34–35, Jesus says, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”

Sometimes, we speak of one another as “church family,” but the truth and reality is much better: that Jesus has made us to be His own family.

It truly is a wonderful thing that we are about to do—entering heaven with Him, Who presents us there, saying, “Here am I and the children whom God has given Me” (Heb 2:13).

Looking forward to going to heaven with you, Christ’s family,

Pastor

 

Audio lessons to help you prepare for the Lord’s Day:

▪Theology Simply Explained — CC38, The Holiness Needed for Heaven 
▪Theology Simply Explained — WSC15, The Fall as Covenant-Breaking
▪Song of Songs 4:16, “The Desires of the Delightful Bride”
▪Deuteronomy 29:2–21, “Covenant with God, Now and Forever”
▪Ecclesiastes 11:1–6, “Delighted, Dependent Diligence”
▪Matthew 27:26–44, “An Overpowering Salvation”
▪Song of Songs 5:1, “Glorious Answer to Prayer”
 

LORD'S DAY – February 8, 2026 

9:50 a.m. Breakfast Line Opens

10 a.m. Sabbath School
We are preparing our minds and hearts for public worship by studying our Confession of Faith from Scripture, affirming that Scripture is our only ultimate authority, but also discovering that what we confess is thoroughly Scriptural.

11 a.m. Public Worship

▫Children’s Catechism for February 8. Q38 Can anyone go to heaven with this sinful nature? No; our hearts must be changed before we can be fit for heaven. [CC 38 Simply Explained: “The Holiness Needed for Heaven”]

▫Shorter Catechism for February 8. Q15. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created? The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created was their eating the forbidden fruit. [WSC 15 Simply Explained: “The Fall as Covenant-Breaking”]

▫Songs for public worship on February 8:  TPH400 [mp3], ARP22A [mp3], ARP2 [mp3]

Scripture Text for first portion of worship service
Song of Songs 4:16

Scripture Readings and basis for confession of sin and petition for help
Deuteronomy 29:2–21
Ecclesiastes 11:1–6

Sermon Scripture text and topic
We will be hearing the sermon from Matthew 27:26–44 about “Against YHWH and Against His Christ”

Lord’s Supper! (Please see the section at the end of the Worship Booklet on how rightly to prepare for and take it).

1 p.m. Coffee Fellowship and Catechism Class

1:30 p.m. Fellowship Lunch
▫Memory Verse for February 8, Matthew 27:41–42, Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.”

3:00 p.m. Evening Praise and Preaching

We will be singing at least ten Psalm selections and hearing the sermon from Song of Songs 5:1 about “Enjoying the Church with Christ”

Hopewell this Month

Hopewell’s Presbytery Prayer Focus for February
Madison-Monrovia ARP in Harvest, AL

February Psalm of the Month
ARP22A My God, My God

Upcoming Events

• Wednesday, February 11, Midweek Prayer Meeting. 6:30 p.m. in the Chapel. We will hear a sermon from Proverbs 21:10–18 then pray until 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 11, Session Meeting, 8 p.m. in the Pastor’s Study
• Saturday, February 14, Covenant Child Celebration Brunch, 10a in the Fellowship Hall
• Saturday, February 14, Storm Debris Cleanup, 12p
• Saturday, February 28, Men’s (and future men) breakfast, 7a in the Fellowship Hall

An Overpowering Salvation [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 27:26–44]

How must we respond to the dying Christ? Matthew 27:26–54 looks forward to the morning sermon in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty-nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we must respond to the dying Christ by abandoning all resistance to Him, and trusting Him Who ruled over all things to die for us. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional centers on Jesus's divine kingship and sonship, amid relentless mockery and resistance from Roman soldiers, passersby, and religious leaders. Pastor highlights humanity’s innate rebellion against God’s authority, rooted in unregenerate hearts that demand signs or rational justifications before believing. Yet, in sovereign providence, even the smallest details—such as the casting of lots for His garments, the use of sour wine mixed with gall, and the conscription of Simon of Cyrene—are shown to be divinely orchestrated for redemptive purposes. Jesus’s refusal of the pain-numbing drink reflects His intentional, conscious sacrifice, maintaining full mental clarity to fulfill His mission of atonement, evangelism, and care for others even in agony. Ultimately, the devotional calls believers to abandon skeptical resistance, to 'kiss the Son' in faith, and to trust in Christ for salvation and blessing. The tone is both convicting and comforting, urging repentance while affirming God’s faithful, meticulous work in salvation..

2026.02.07 Hopewell @Home ▫ Matthew 27:26–44

Read Matthew 27:26–44

Questions from the Scripture text: Whom did Pilate release (Matthew 27:26)? What did he do with Jesus? What did the soldiers do to Jesus in Matthew 27:27? What did they do to Him in Matthew 27:28? What did they do to Him in Matthew 27:29? How did they mock Him? What did they do to Him in Matthew 27:30? What did they finally get around to doing in Matthew 27:31? Whom do they find in Matthew 27:32? What do they compel him to do? To what place do they come (Matthew 27:33)? What do they give Him (Matthew 27:34)? But what does He do with it? What do they do to Jesus in Matthew 27:35? And with His garments? Why (cf. Psalm 22:18)? What do they proceed to do (Matthew 27:36)? What do they put over His head (Matthew 27:37)? Whom do they add in Matthew 27:38? What do passers-by do (Matthew 27:39)? Saying what (Matthew 27:40)? Who else join (Matthew 27:41)? Saying what (Matthew 27:42)? What do they say that they will do, in what circumstance? How else do they mock (Matthew 27:43)? Who joins all of this mocking (Matthew 27:44)? 

How must we respond to the dying Christ? Matthew 27:26–54 looks forward to the morning sermon in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty-nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we must respond to the dying Christ by abandoning all resistance to Him, and trusting Him Who ruled over all things to die for us.

For the soldiers, it was not enough to crucify Jesus as assigned (Matthew 27:26). They show that their participation in the spirit of Psalm 2:1–3 by the extra effort for mockery in Matthew 27:29-31.  

But the Lord is also going above and beyond. Simon is compelled to carry the cross to Golgotha, and later his sons, Alexander and Rufus, are known both to Mark (cf. Mark 15:21) and Paul (cf. Romans 16:13) as eminent believers. Though not via His humanity, the Lord Jesus is working here to bring His elect, literally, to behold Him and His cross. Furthermore, the Lord Jesus rejects the pain-numbing cocktail in Matthew 27:34, insisting upon enduring the cross as clear-mindedly as possible. Seemingly random details fulfill prophecy, demonstrating that the Lord is sovereignly superintending all of this (Matthew 27:35, cf. Acts 4:24–28). 

Finally, Matthew 27:36-44 pull together all parts of humanity in their Psalm 2:1–3 collusion. The soldiers, the passers-by, the chief priests and scribes and elders, even the robbers who were crucified with Him. Be careful that you do not join them, dear reader, with demands of what sign from Jesus would convince us to believe. They said, “let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him” (Matthew 27:42). The Lord Jesus is in the midst of giving the fullest demonstration that He is God, Who came to die for sinners, and they are setting terms of faith. Don’t set terms, dear reader. Trust in the dying God-Man to be your Savior!

When do you find yourself doubting Christ? Whom would you be joining if you do? What do you need to do instead? Where must you get the grace to do so? 

Sample prayer:  Lord Jesus, thank You for ruling and overruling all things to die for us. Forgive us, for we often are sluggish to believe, or even resistant. Don’t let us join the nations that rage, and the kings and peoples that plot in vain. Make us those who kiss the Son, those blessed who trust in Him, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP2 “Why Do Gentile Nations Rage” or TPH341 “Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed”

Countering Contentious Wifery [2026.02.04 Midweek Sermon in Proverbs 21:10–18]

A godly wife keeps the home as a place of peace and thriving for her husband, but a contentious wife robs her house of both of these.

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

Glorious Answer to Prayer [Family Worship lesson in Song of Songs 5:1]

How does Christ answer the prayers of the bride? Song of Songs 5:1 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In this verse of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ answers the prayers of the bride instantly and abundantly. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional unfolds the profound intimacy between Christ and His church, drawing from Song of Songs 5:1 to reveal Christ’s joyful, abundant presence and delight in His bride. Central to the message is the divine provision of communion—Christ not only answers the bride’s prayer for His coming but declares His full enjoyment of her, having gathered her myrrh and spices, eaten her honeycomb, and drunk her wine and milk, symbolizing His pleasure in her sanctified character, works, fellowship, and nourishing grace. He affectionately calls her garden, sister, and spouse, affirming her identity in Him, while extending the invitation to all believers to partake in His joy as His own friends and beloved ones. The tone is pastoral and celebratory, emphasizing that Christ’s presence is not only real but actively communicated, assuring believers of His delight and inviting them to savor His nearness, the fruit of His Spirit, and the joy of eternal fellowship. Christ’s provision is not only for the church corporately, but for each individual believer, who is personally cherished and invited into the eternal enjoyment of His delights.

2026.02.06 Hopewell @Home ▫ Song of Songs 5:1

Read Song of Songs 5:1

Questions from the Scripture text: Where does the Beloved say He has come (Song of Songs 5:1a)? What three things does He call her? Whose? What has He gathered (verse 1b)? Whose? What has He eaten (verse 1c)? Whose? What has He drunk (verse 1d)? Whose? Whom does He call (verse 1e, g) to also do what (verse 1e)? What else does He also call them also to do (verse 1f)?

How does Christ answer the prayers of the bride? Song of Songs 5:1 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In this verse of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ answers the prayers of the bride instantly and abundantly. 

The bride’s last request was that the Beloved would come to His garden and eat its pleasant fruits. Behold, how He answers while her words still hang in the air. He declares her to be His: His garden, that produces the pleasant fruits; His sister, Who is near to Him and like nature with Him; His spouse, Who is united and bound to Him forever. Behold how quickly the Lord Jesus comes to His own, when they ask.

He answers not only quickly, but abundantly. She asked only that He would come and eat, but He answers that He has also gathered. Her myrrh and spice, her likeness to Him, is His own, and He has gathered. And He has drunk, both the wine of refreshment and celebration, and the milk of nourishment—He has been satisfied with every sort of good thing from His bride.

What a comfort it is to the church, when the Lord comes to her and communicates, by His Word and Spirit, that He is indeed present with her, and the He is indeed pleased with her! Such a season in the life of the church is to be much sought after, and much rejoiced over and thanked for.

Finally, we see that He answers not just the bride corporately, but the members of the church individually. Elsewhere, the bride has called them the “daughters of Jerusalem,” but here, He calls them “friends” and “beloved ones.” That in which the Lord Jesus delights, He gives to His beloved ones to delight in. He needs no benefit from the church, but He invites His friends to enjoy the same provision, strengthening, refreshing, and nourishment that He has sampled with such pleasure. Where Christ enjoys the fruits of His work in the church, He calls believers to come and enjoy and benefit. 

What fruit and fragrance (graces) is your church producing that Christ enjoys? What sense, or evidence, do you have of His pleasure in it from Scripture? How are you answering His summons to eat, drink, and enjoy it yourself?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for the fruit and fragrance that Your Spirit produces in Your church. And thank You for answering our prayers for Your presence and pleasure in her. Now, grant that we would answer Your summons to eat and drink from what Your church has to offer, we ask in Your Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH400 “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me”

Becoming Transmitters of Wisdom [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 5:1–2]

Pastor teaches his family a selection from “the Proverb of the day.” In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us the action (listen diligently), attitude (bow our ears), and addition (dispense wisdom to others with your lips).(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional, on Proverbs 5:1–2, calls believers to actively and reverently engage with divine wisdom through attentive listening and humble submission. It emphasizes that true wisdom is not merely acquired through external practices but cultivated through intentional worship, meditation, and a posture of reverence before God’s Word. The passage highlights a transformative purpose: to preserve discretion and guard knowledge so that one’s words may pass wisdom to future generations.