Personally Responding to Our Personal God [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 139:13–24]

What does a believer love? Psalm 139:13–24 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twelve verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that a believer loves the Lord, and whatever the Lord loves. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.01 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 139:13–24

Read Psalm 139:13–24

Questions from the Scripture text: Who did what (Psalm 139:13a)? Who wove David, where (verse 13b)? What will David do (Psalm 139:14a)? Why? Of what is this an example (verse 14b)? With what effect upon David (verse 14c)? What was not the condition (Psalm 139:15a)? When (verse 15b)? Where (verse 15b–c)? What did YHWH see (Psalm 139:16a)? In what condition was that substance? Where was what written (verse 16b–c)? When (verse 16d)? What does David think of what (Psalm 139:17a)? At what is he amazed (verse 17b)? How big is this sum (Psalm 139:18a)? What does David experience when he regains consciousness (verse 18b)? What does David wish, in response to God’s glory (Psalm 139:19a)? Why—for what three things (verse 19b, Psalm 139:20a, verse 20b)? What is David’s relation to them (Psalm 139:21)? Why? How much does he hate them (Psalm 139:22a)? s what does he count them (verse 22b)? What does David ask God to do in Psalm 139:23a? To know especially what (verse 23b)? And what (Psalm 139:24a)? In order to do what to David?

What does a believer love? Psalm 139:13–24 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twelve verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that a believer loves the Lord, and whatever the Lord loves.   

David’s relation to God. David knows the Lord as his Creator (Psalm 139:13). This both forges a very personal relationship and a foundation for praise. 

It is his consideration of how the Lord wove him in the womb (verse 13b), that most secret place (Psalm 139:15) that David answers with overflowing praise (Psalm 139:14). 

The personal relationship extends not only into the past, with David’s “weaving,” but into the future, with the Lord’s writing all of David’s days in His own, personal book (Psalm 139:16b–d). God has intertwined David’s story with His own. So, praise (Psalm 139:14, Psalm 139:17-18a) is joined to preciousness (Psalm 139:17a) and personal connection (Psalm 139:18b). 

Those who do not hate evil, and understand themselves to have been abominable enemies as well, will have difficulty with Psalm 139:19-22. But one of the things that the believer hopes that God will see in his heart (Psalm 139:23a) is a true hatred for all that God hates and a true enmity for all that is at enmity with God. 

This is not a vengeful spirit, but includes hating his own remaining sinfulness (Psalm 139:23-24a, cf. Romans 8:13, Galatians 5:17, Colossians 3:5)! One of the believers most earnest prayer requests is for his sanctification—a sanctification in which he must depend upon God for even just the knowledge of his own heart (Psalm 139:23, cf. Jeremiah 17:9).

Rather than walk in the way that is against the Lord, the believer wishes that this God of marvelous work, incalculable thought, and personal love, will lead him in His own everlasting way (Psalm 139:24b). 

How often, and with what mindset, do you reflect upon God’s creating you? When you think about finding the Lord precious, or overflowing with praise of His greatness, in which type of response to Him do you most need to grow? How do you foster hatred for what God hates? How intense is your pursuit of sanctification?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we praise You for the glories of Your wisdom displayed in creating us and redeeming us. And we love You for creating us for Yourself, and redeeming us for Yourself, and for always being with us. Help us to love what You love, and to hate what You hate, until You have brought us into perfect holiness and the full enjoyment of Your glory, forever, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested Songs: ARP139C “You Formed My Mind Within the Womb” or TPH139B “LORD, You Have Searched Me”

Jesus Is Coming Back [Children's Catechism 139—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 139—especially explaining how the great day of Jesus’s return in glory is coming.

Q139. Will He come again? Yes; at the last day Christ will come to judge the world.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The True Riches [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 13:6–11]

What is the true riches? Proverbs 13:6–11 looks forward to the sermon in this week’s midweek meeting. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the true riches are the Lord Himself, and the righteousness by which He provides Himself to us. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.03.31 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 13:6–11

Read Proverbs 13:6–11

Questions from the Scripture text: What guards the man whose way is blameless (Proverbs 13:6a)? What does wickedness do (verse 6b)? What does the one in Proverbs 13:7a do to himself? But what does he truly have? And what does the one in verse 7b do to himself, but what does he truly have? What does the man in Proverbs 13:8a motivated? Who is more difficult to motivate in this way (verse 8b)? What truly makes the difference between joy and perishing (Proverbs 13:9)? What truly enables someone to live well (Proverbs 13:10)? What happens to the sort of wealth in Proverbs 13:11a? How is it gained? What happens to the sort of wealth in verse 11b? How is it gained?

What is the true riches? Proverbs 13:6–11 looks forward to the sermon in this week’s midweek meeting. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the true riches are the Lord Himself, and the righteousness by which He provides Himself to us.  

Proverbs 13:6 was the conclusion to the first section of the chapter, but it also functions as the introduction to this section. Men tend to think that wealth will guard them and prevent them from being overthrown, but it is actually righteousness that does this. This is echoed in Proverbs 13:10, which again teaches righteousness as the true riches, which gives life and joy.

We were prepared for this section by Proverbs 13:4 which introduced the concept of riches. Now, we find that there’s riches, and then there’s riches. 

One may accumulate material riches, but have nothing of the true wealth toward God (Proverbs 13:7a, cf. 1 Timothy 6:17; Luke 12:21), and one may be materially poor but rich in the Lord (Proverbs 13:7b). This is the true riches.

Proverbs 13:8 teaches one benefit of material wealth. One may be motivated to humble himself by it, in order to hear rebuke. 

The contrasting danger appears in Proverbs 13:10. Pride, which is often associated with riches, prevents someone from hearing rebuke, and turns even well-given counsel into strife.

There is nothing wrong with wealth itself, and one of the ways that we can see whether we have a right view of it is by how we go about accumulating it. If righteousness is our true wealth, then we will refuse to gain material wealth by dishonesty (Proverbs 13:11a). But, if righteousness is our true wealth, it will be by diligent labor that we gather material wealth, and we ourselves will grow great by way of righteousness (verse 11b).

What makes you feel truly wealthy? Is this “sane” in light of this passage? How are you seeking the true wealth? How do you go about accumulating material wealth? 

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for giving Yourself to us as our true wealth. And thank You for giving Your righteousness to us in Christ, as the riches by which this wealth is obtained. Grant that we would have the humility to be well-advised by You, and make us rich toward You forever in Christ, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP16A “Keep Me, O God” or TPH400 “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me”

2025.03.30 Lord's Day Livestreams (live at 10:10a, 11:10a, 3p)

Click below for the:

March 30 Lord's Day Worship Booklet

Matthew 16:27–17:13 sermon outline

3p song selections & Deuteronomy 3:12–22 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.

Hearing Our God and Savior [Family Worship lesson in Mathew 16:28–17:13]

What sign does Jesus give for the glory that awaits us on the other side of our cross? Matthew 16:28–17:13 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the sign that confirms coming glory is faith’s own glimpse of Jesus’s glory. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.03.29 Hopewell @Home ▫ Matthew 16:28–17:13

Read Matthew 16:28–7:13

Questions from the Scripture text: How does Jesus introduce the prophecy in Matthew 16:28? How many would see? What would they see? Before what? How many days later does Matthew 17:1 occur? Whom does Jesus take? Where? What happens to Him there (Matthew 17:2)? What does His face look like? What do His clothes look like? Who appeared to them (Matthew 17:3)? What were they doing? Who speaks up (Matthew 17:4)? To Whom does he make what suggestion? What interrupts him (Matthew 17:5)? What comes out of the cloud? What does it say about Jesus? What does it command them to do? How do the disciples respond to this (Matthew 17:6)? Who relieves them (Matthew 17:7) How? What does He do? What does He say? What do they do in Matthew 17:8? What do they see? Where do they go in Matthew 17:9? What does Jesus say not to do? Until when? Who ask what question in Matthew 17:10? What does Jesus answer in Matthew 17:11-12? What has been done to this “Elijah”? What do they know in Matthew 17:13?

What sign does Jesus give for the glory that awaits us on the other side of our cross? Matthew 16:28–17:13 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the sign that confirms coming glory is faith’s own glimpse of Jesus’s glory.  

Jesus has been teaching them about following Him to glory through a cross (cf. Matthew 16:24-27), and now He promises a sign: some standing there will actually get to see that glory with their eyes (Matthew 16:28).

Six days later (Matthew 17:1), exactly that happens. And they see that Jesus is God, Jesus is Christ, and Jesus is Savior. They had confessed this about Him already. But they were just beginning to learn what this all means. So are we. We have only just begun to know His greatness and is grace.

Jesus is God. That is evident from His face shining like the sun and clothes as white as light (Matthew 17:2). It is even more evident from Moses and Elijah, who do not shine like He does, appearing as His prophets (Matthew 17:3)—Peter was mistaken to desire three tabernacles on the mountain (Matthew 17:4), when he already had Jesus Himself in ordinary life. It is even more evident from the glory cloud that appears with such brightness that it overshadows the One Who is shining like the sun (Matthew 17:5)! It is most evident in the Word that is spoken, “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus is Christ. He is the anointed. He is the Prophet. Even with Moses and Elijah there, the Voice says to hear Jesus. After all, they were His prophets (cf. 1 Peter 1:10–11). It was the Sprit of Christ Who spoke through them, and He proclaimed the very thing that Jesus has been teaching: “the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.” The prophecy of Malachi 4:5 was fulfilled in John the baptizer, the last of the prophets ( (Matthew 17:11-13). But in these last days, God has spoken to us by His Son. When we hear Moses, we are to hear Him. when we hear Elijah, we are to hear Him. Rather than proposing our own spirituality ideas, as Peter did, we must hear Him. And now, we hear Him not only as our God, but as our Prophet.

Jesus is Savior. When we hear Him, we hear Him inviting us to come behind Him. True, that path takes us through a cross (cf. Matthew 16:24), but it takes us through to glory, and how great is this glory! He is the beloved, well-pleasing Son. And those who trust in Him are beloved in Him and well-pleasing in Him. What God declares about His only-begotten Son, He declares about His adopted children, whom He has taken to Himself in Him. 

And Jesus is Savior in our sanctification and glorification, not just our justification and adoption. Those who are in Him are being made well-pleasing like He is. In ourselves, we are not well-pleasing. Of Whom were he disciples greatly afraid in v6? God? Christ? If they understood correctly: both! But, Jesus comes and touches them ( (Matthew 17:7). Because He has come to us, and touched us, and joined Himself to us, we are safe from the guilt of our sin, and we are being cleansed from the presence of our sin.

Ultimately the preaching of Christ—the apostles saying Who He is (cf. Matthew 16:15)—is only effective by His own attending it with His saving power, by His Spirit. So, it is His prerogative to dictate when they may proclaim Him ( (Matthew 17:9). And proclaim Him they did, even recalling this very incident, and the glory that was set before them (cf. 2 Peter 1:16–18). Yet, Peter had learned that, even as an eyewitness of His majesty, he was to find the prophetic Word more sure than his own experience (cf. 2 Peter 1:19). 

Ultimately, we can glimpse His glory in this superior way: by faith that responds to Christ’s Word. And as we do so, we glimpse the glory unto which He takes us through our cross. Behold His glory by faith. Hear Him!

Have you believed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God? How have you continued to learn what this means? When and how have you especially seen Him as glorious? What is your hope, in the midst of your crosses? 

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for making the light of the knowledge of Your glory shine in our hearts in the face of Jesus Christ. Grant that we would be willing to endure whatever cross through which You bring us to that glory, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP72C “May Waving Grain on Hilltops Thrive” or TPH45B “My Heart Doth Overflow”

Applying God's History with Us [Family Worship lesson in Deuteronomy 3:12–22]

How should we respond to the memory of God’s great and gracious dealings? Deuteronomy 3:12–22 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should respond to God’s greatness and grace with trust, praise, thankfulness, obedience, and courage.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.03.28 Hopewell @Home ▫ Deuteronomy 3:12–22

Read Deuteronomy 3:12–22

Questions from the Scripture text: What does Deuteronomy 3:12 say about the land where this sermon is being preached (verse 12)? What are its boundaries? To whom did YHWH give it? To what land does Deuteronomy 3:13 refer? Whose kingdom was it? To whom did YHWH give it? What had all this land previously been called? Who took Argob and Bashan (Deuteronomy 3:14)? What did he call it? To which son of Manasseh did YHWH give Gilead (Deuteronomy 3:15)? How do Deuteronomy 3:16-17 describe whose possession? Then what did Moses do to them (Deuteronomy 3:18)? Whom did he say had done what for them? Now who were commanded to do what? Whom would they leave behind (Deuteronomy 3:19)? What special consideration was made? Until when did they need to do this—what two things would YHWH give whom (Deuteronomy 3:20)? Then what may the men of valor do? Whom else did Moses command (Deuteronomy 3:21)? When? Of what does he remind him? What does he promise him? What command (prohibition) does he give him (Deuteronomy 3:22)? Why mustn’t he fear?

How should we respond to the memory of God’s great and gracious dealings? Deuteronomy 3:12–22 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should respond to God’s greatness and grace with trust, praise, thankfulness, obedience, and courage.

As he introduces his final sermon, Moses is winding down the historical review of their relationship to YHWH, their own covenant God, Who binds them to Himself and to His law. He will then remind them of why this has to be his last sermon, as he cannot enter the land with them (cf. Deuteronomy 3:23–29). Then, He will urge upon them the importance of keeping God’s law (especially the second commandment, chapter 4), restate the Ten Commandments as the “text” for the sermon (chapter 5), explain and apply that law to the life of Israel as a nation-church (chapters 6–26), before establishing the blessings and curses of their covenant with God as it is established going forward (chapters 27–34).

Here, then, is the end to the historical review of their relationship thus far with the Lord. Having reminded them of the Lord’s power and faithfulness in giving them victory over Sihon and Og (cf. Deuteronomy 2:26–3:11), Moses now reminds them of the commandments given at the time, as he applies to them the lessons learned on this side of the Jordan, in preparation for their calling as they cross over into the land.

Trust Him for His faithfulness. He has begun to give an inheritance to His people, as He promised (Deuteronomy 3:12-13a).

Praise Him for His greatness. That which He gave them used to be called “the land of the giants” (Deuteronomy 3:13b). 

Thank Him for His generosity. Behold all that He has given to Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh (Deuteronomy 3:14-17). 

Obey Him, as He commands you. The reason that these men of valor from the two-and-half tribes are with the rest of Israel is that the Lord has commanded them. One might say, “if YHWH Himself fights for them (cf. Deuteronomy 3:22), why would they need their brethren to come fight with them?” The Lord, Who fights for them, and Who gives them the land, has commanded them to. It is an honor and a privilege to be used by Him. And it is our duty to do whatever He says.

Have courage in Him, as He glorifies Himself in doing you good. They had what the Lord did to Egypt in their cultural memory. But what He did to Sihon and Og, they had seen with their own eyes (Deuteronomy 3:22). You, too, dear Christian have seen that the Lord’s dealing with you in your life tracks with His glory and grace in all of Scripture and history. Not only have you seen this in many other events and moments, but you have especially seen this in your conversion. Fear nothing that is before you, for YHWH your God Himself works in your behalf!

What biggest thing has the Lord done in your own life? What are some other things that He has done? How have these been causes for your praising Him? Thanking Him? Trusting Him? Obeying Him? Having courage?

Sample prayer: Lord, we praise and thank You for Who You are in Yourself, and Whom You have shown Yourself to be in our lives—especially in our conversion. Grant that we would always remember this—always remember that You are perfectly faithful. Make us to count obedience as a privilege and honor, and give us courage to do everything as those who have You Yourself, especially in Christ, and by His Spirit—we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP78B “O Come, My People” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace”