Sign of the Covenant [Family Worship lesson in Genesis 17:9–14]

What is circumcision? Genesis 17:9–14 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that circumcision is a sign that points us away from ourselves and unto the grace of God.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.24 Hopewell @Home ▫ Genesis 17:9-14

Read Genesis 17:9-14

Questions from the Scripture text: Who speaks to whom in Genesis 17:9? What does God tell Abraham to keep? Whom else does God say must keep His covenant? What obligation does God call “My covenant” in Genesis 17:10? Who must be circumcised? Who else gets included in the command in Genesis 17:11? When must a child be circumcised (Genesis 17:12)? What two groups are specified in verse 12, then reaffirmed in Genesis 17:13, as being required to have the sign applied to them? How long does the covenant with Abraham last? What if someone does not receive the sign—what shall happen to him (Genesis 17:14)? Why?

What is circumcision? Genesis 17:9–14 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that circumcision is a sign that points us away from ourselves and unto the grace of God.

God has already covenanted Himself to be and do many wonderful things for Abraham. So, when God says “this is My covenant” and gives Abraham a responsibility, we must not think that the emphasis is upon what Abraham does.

In fact, Genesis 17:11 further explains Genesis 17:10 by saying, “it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.” Of course the sign is an obligation—so important that God threatens to cut off whomever rejects it (cf. Genesis 17:14)! But it is an obligation to be reminded that this covenant is from the grace of God and depends upon the grace of God.

Dependence upon God’s grace is inherent to the sign itself—coming as it does only upon males, and specifically in their flesh in a way that reminds them of how their children also come from their flesh. A man’s children are already federally guilty and genuinely fallen in him. They already have a father on earth. They need a Father in Heaven through Christ! They need a new representative to deal with the guilt of sin and a new nature to deal with the power of sin. Notice that God keeps saying MY covenant, MY covenant, MY covenant. The sign demonstrates this in at least three ways:

First, there is the substance represented by the sign. The sign is of a promise that belongs to Him. The sign is of a power that comes from Him. 

Second, there is the type of action assigned in the sign. The sign itself is presented as passive—something that is done to the males in Genesis 17:10, Genesis 17:11, Genesis 17:12, Genesis 17:13, Genesis 17:14… not something that they themselves do. It is an obligation, but it is one that is ultimately kept on their behalf by those already in the covenant. 

Third, there is the ordinary timing of the sign. Yes, there are some who come into the covenant less naturally—purchased with money, joining the household of God from the outside. But for those whom the Lord brings into the covenant from the start, the sign is applied to them before they could do or decide anything for themselves.

The sign is GOD’s sign. But the fact that it points us away from ourselves and unto Him is exactly why it’s also so vital. To reject the sign would be to reject the thing signified—essentially to miss that God is declaring to us that salvation depends upon (and is most certainly secured by) the Lord!

It might slip our notice, as we look at the rest of this passage, that Abraham spends the entire passage on his face. We would do well to come with the same posture of heart toward God, as He says MY covenant, MY covenant, MY covenant.

God is the One who initiates this covenant. Abraham does not have a choice in the matter. He did not make a decision or a commitment to bring himself into this binding relationship. Of course, he must decide and commit, but these were not optional for him.

God is the One who makes all of the promises. Promise to forgive. Promise to make holy. Promise to defeat death. Promise to give land. Promise of everlasting relationship. Yes, there are demands of Abraham, explicit and implicit. Faith. Obedience. Service. Worship. Even the application of the sign itself—which implies his obligation to yield to all of these things. But this is God’s covenant, and it has at its core God’s promises.

God is the One who will sustain both sides of the covenant. We saw this with the smoking pot and flaming torch in chapter 15. We heard it earlier in this chapter with the glorious statement that God Almighty would exercise that power in sustaining Abraham’s walk. In between, in chapter 16, all we had was Abraham’s failure.

Ultimately, this is a picture of Christ Himself. It is in Christ that God keeps all of these promises in your life and mine! The sign has changed but the substance is the same.

What aspects of circumcision are the same in baptism, as this covenant continues? When were you baptized? How often do you reflect upon it and look to Christ?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for giving us a covenant sign that points us to Your power and promise and is applied to us by others, rather than something that we ourselves do. Forgive us for treating the sign as something that we do, and for treating our Christianity as something that depends upon us. Grant that, by Your sure grace, we would walk zealously in Christ Jesus, in Whose Name we ask it, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH234 “The God of Abraham Praise”

An Almighty Covenant to Sanctify [Family Worship lesson in Genesis 17:1–8]

What do believers who have been stumbling along in their own strength need? Genesis 17:1–8 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 believers need to be turned away from themselves to the Lord Who covenants them to Himself—and Himself to them.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.23 Hopewell @Home ▫ Genesis 17:1-8

Read Genesis 17:1-8

Questions from the Scripture text: How old was Abram in Genesis 17:1? How much time has passed since chapter 16? Who appears to Abram? What does He call Himself? What does He command Abram to do? What will YHWH make between Himself and Abram (Genesis 17:2)? What will He do? How does Abram respond in Genesis 17:3? How does God respond to that? What does God proceed to say about Himself in Genesis 17:4? What outcome will this have for Abram? What else is God changing for Abram in Genesis 17:5? What are some of the details in Genesis 17:6 about what God will do for Abram? With whom is this covenant established (Genesis 17:7)? How is this covenant relationship described? What else does God give them in this covenant (Genesis 17:8)?

What do believers who have been stumbling along in their own strength need? Genesis 17:1–8 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 believers need to be turned away from themselves to the Lord Who covenants them to Himself—and Himself to them.

It has now been another 14 years that the Lord has not spoken to Abram—14 years of Abram living with the consequences of his sin. Yahweh shows up and announces, “I am God Almighty!”

Abram has every reason to expect to be destroyed, but instead this announcement of God’s power is the prelude to sustaining him. Not “be banished from before Me and suffer” but “walk before Me and be blameless.”

What follows is statement after statement of God’s commitment of Himself to Abram—and God also committing Abram to Himself. 

This mutual commitment is called a “covenant,” and establishes that wonderful relationship: He will be “God to you and your descendants after you.”

This is so powerful that it even changes Abram’s identity—changes his name: Abraham.

And the Holy Spirit comes to us in the New Testament and tells us that when we trust in Christ as Abraham did, then we too are objects of this almighty power, objects of this unswerving commitment, this identity-changing relationship with the Lord.

What do believers who have been stumbling along in their own strength need? This is the question we see presented in Abram, who has been dealing with the consequences of the Hagar choice for thirteen years, as this passage opens.

Such believers need the power of God Almighty at work in them. We might think that “I am God Almighty” is the prelude to destroying a sinner, since that is what Abram is. But it is instead the prelude to sustaining a saint, since that is also what Abram is: “I am God Almighty, [so] walk before Me and be blameless”!

Such believers need the presence of God Almighty pressed into them. The knowledge that we are before His face is a help against all fear of men, and even against service of self.

Such believers need the purity of God’s standard applied to them. Be blameless. Not the run-of-the-mill blamelessness in the eyes of men, either. Blameless in the eyes of God! Only one who has been shown God’s grace in Christ can have this as a standard, because only Christ’s sacrifice and righteousness can be the sure fulfillment of such a standard on our behalf, and only Christ’s life in us can be a sure hope that we will one day be conformed to such a standard.

Such believers need the promise of God Almighty covenanted to them. We who are so deserving of wrath need God’s glorious swearing of Himself to us as an encouragement to our faith (cf. Hebrews 6:13-20). It was not for His sake that God entered into such a commitment, but for ours.

Such believers need the propriety (ownership) of God pronounced upon them. One way that God reaffirms that He has special ownership of Abram is by changing his name. “You are Mine, so you will be called what I call you.” And so He calls us saint, brother, believer, sons of God, etc. in the Scripture.

Such believers need the prosperity (fruitfulness) of God’s commitment held out unto them. What sad consequences we endure daily from our fall in Adam. But God’s salvation in Christ is even more effective. Genesis 17:6, Genesis 17:8 present the opposite of Abraham’s current experience. And as God tells us throughout Scripture of the effects of His gospel, we expect this opposite-fruit to continue.

Such believers need the persistence of God’s covenant affirmed to them. Persistence across generations: just as the fall comes upon our children simply because they are ours, all of these covenant benefits are held out to them by God, also because they are ours. And persistence across time. This is still the same covenant that we are in when we believe in Jesus. It is an everlasting covenant that belongs to all who have the same faith in Christ as Abraham (cf. Romans 4:11-18, Galatians 3:7, Galatians 3:29).

What are some things God has committed Himself to do by His power for you? What are some things that He has brought you into a commitment to do toward Him?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for covenanting us to Yourself and Yourself to us. Forgive us for trying to walk, or to be blameless, through our own strength. Be God to us, and to our children, forever, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP87 “The Lord’s Foundation” or TPH461 “Blessed Are the Sons of God”

A Song to Fill Us with Last-Day Joy—Today! [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 98]

Who is to praise YHWH, in what manner, in the last day? Psalm 98 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that in Day of Judgment, believers from all nations will sing and shout joyfully over the Lord, together with a liberated creation. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.22 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 98

Read Psalm 98

Questions from the Scripture text: What does this Psalm call itself (superscript)? What does Psalm 98:1a command us to do? To Whom? What sort of song? Why (verse 1b)? What is the first of thee marvelous things, and how did He gain it (verse 1c)? What has He done about this salvation (Psalm 98:2a)? What did it show about Him (verse 2b)? In Whose sight has He revealed it? What two things has He remembered (Psalm 98:3a)? Unto whom? Who have seen this (verse 3b)? What does verse 3b call it? What new command does Psalm 98:4a give? What sort of shout? Unto Whom? By whom? What does the shouting burst into (verse 4b)? What two things are they to do in this singing? What command does Psalm 98:5a give? Unto Whom are they to Psalm? With what? With what four priestly instruments (Psalm 98:5-6a)? What command does Psalm 98:6b repeat? What sort of shout? Unto Whom? What office does He hold? What else is commanded to do what (Psalm 98:7a)? How much of it? What else (verse 7b)? And who else? What else is commanded to do what (Psalm 98:8a)? And what else to do what else (verse 8b)? Before Whom? Why, what is He doing (Psalm 98:9a)? Why is He coming? How will He judge whom in verse 9b? And how whom in verse 9c?

Who is to praise YHWH, in what manner, in the last day? Psalm 98 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that in Day of Judgment, believers from all nations will sing and shout joyfully over the Lord, together with a liberated creation.  

A new song for a new day. Like Psalm 96, this Psalm commands a new song. And, like Psalm 96, all creation is singing it at the coming of YHWH to judge the earth. The Lord has given us instruction in Scripture about His coming to judge the earth, not only so that we will live soberly in light of eternity, and so that we will be confident about His vindicating and avenging us eventually, but so that we will sing His praise for it already, now! So that we will shout joyfully over Him, now!

Marvelous works of the marvelous God. The first reason given for singing is, “for He has done marvelous things” (Psalm 98:1b). God’s works aren’t just actions, they are revelations. Because it is “His right hand” that gains the victory and “His holy arm” that gains the victory (verse 1c), His victory is a “making known” (Psalm 98:2a) and a “revealing” (verse 2b). He doesn’t just do marvelous works; He displays that He is a marvelous God!

Covenantal redemption with cosmos-wide celebration. The fulfillment of the great commission (cf. Matthew 28:18–20) is behind this song. In His salvation, the Lord remembered (acted upon) His steadfast love and faithfulness toward the house of Israel (Psalm 98:3a). But the Israel that He has gathered is “in the sight of the nations” (Psalm 98:2c), so that “all the ends of the earth have seen” this salvation. Indeed, “all the earth” not only sees but shouts (Psalm 98:4a) and sings (verse 4b). And the whole creation joins in (Psalm 98:7-8). It is eager for the “great reveal” of the sons of God (cf. Romans 8:19), at which time it will be delivered to participate in their freedom (cf. Romans 8:21).

Noisy, joyous worship. Psalm 98:4-6 are bookended with a command to “shout joyfully” (Psalm 98:4a, Psalm 98:6b). The command to sing in v4b is technically a command to “burst out.” Song is the content of this bursting out. The whole creation joins, roaring (Psalm 98:7a) and clapping (Psalm 98:8a) and rejoicing (verse 8b). And dwellers of the whole world (Psalm 98:7b) round out the company. There is an amplitude commanded in this component of worship. 

But there is also an attitude commanded: “joyfully” (Psalm 98:4a), “rejoice” (verse 4b), “joyfully” (Psalm 98:6b). At the time of the temple, the Levitical priesthood would assist and accompany this joy by a bevy of instruments (cf. 1 Chronicles 15:16, 1 Chronicles 25:1, 1 Chronicles 25:6): harp, psaltry, trumpets, horn (Psalm 98:5-6a). The Great High Priest accompanies by the melody of His grace in the heart (cp. Ephesians 5:19b with Colossians 3:16c).  At the heart of all of this noisy, joyous, priest-assisted song is the ”Psalming” of God. Psalm 98:5a literally, begins, “Psalm YHWH!”

The great occasion of worship. What occasions this great worship? YHWH coming to judge (Psalm 98:9a–b). Ever since man fell, unrighteous and in crooked judgment has plagued mankind. But the world (verse 9b) is destined to be judged by the Lord. He will judge it with righteousness (verse 9b). He will judge all the peoples with uprightness (verse 9c). This would not be good news for a guilty or unatoned people, for it would mean their condemnation. But what we see here is a new creation earth full of a new creation people. They are in Christ (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:17). As those redeemed by His blood, and righteous before God in Him, His judgment is a deliverance not a condemnation (cf. Romans 8:33–34). They are freed by His salvation to rejoice over His judgment.

Do you rejoice over the judgments of God? What would free you to do so? What place does looking forward to the Great Day of His judgment have in your thoughts and affections? How are you praying for and participating in the spread of the gospel?

Sample prayer:  Our Father in heaven, thank You for giving Your Son to be our great Prophet, Priest, and King. In Him, You have declared Yourself to us. In Him, You have consecrated us and led our worship. In Him, You have ruled over us and defended us, and will vindicate us in the last day. Now, grant the help of Your Spirit, so that we would always know You in Christ and come to You through Christ, in Whose Name we ask it, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP98 “O Sing a New Song to the Lord” or TPH98A “O Sing a New Song to the Lord”

The Chief End of Children [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 13:20–25]

To what end should we aim our parenting? Proverbs 13:20–25 looks forward to the sermon in this week’s midweek meeting. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should live and parent as those who wish to be satisfied upon the Lord, forever. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.21 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 13:20–25

Proverbs 13:20–25

Questions from the Scripture text: With whom does the one in Proverbs 13:20a walk? What happens to him? Whose companion is he one in verse 20b? What happens to him? What pursues sinners (Proverbs 13:21a)? What shall be repaid to the righteous (verse 21b)? What does the good man leave to whom (Proverbs 13:22a)? What happens to whom else’s wealth (verse 22b)? How much food is where (Proverbs 13:23a)? What does lack of justice cause (verse 23b)? What is he man in Proverbs 13:24a failing to do? What sort of action is this toward his son? What does the man who loves his son do (verse 24b)? What does the righteous get out of eating (Proverbs 13:25a)? How about the wicked (verse 25b)? 

To what end should we aim our parenting? Proverbs 13:20–25 looks backward to the sermon in last week’s midweek meeting. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should live and parent as those who wish to be satisfied upon the Lord, forever.  

In this little section, Proverbs 13:20-21 establishes the theme, and Proverbs 13:22-25 applies it, especially to what we do with our children, and especially through he image of hunger. One preliminary step to humbling ourselves under the wisdom of others is spending time with those who are wise (Proverbs 13:20), and the needfulness of receiving this instruction is immediately seen in Proverbs 13:21. Just as goodness and covenant love  are hot on the heels of the believer in Psalm 23:6, the same verb tells us that evil is hot on the heels of sinners in Proverbs 13:21a. How very much we need wisdom! It is the difference between having an evil end and a good end (verse 21b).

And there are those whose end we have been especially assigned, by God’s providence, to care for: our children and our children’s children. Proverbs 13:22 teaches not so much a principle (that the good should try to leave an inheritance to children’s children) as a generalized fact (that, ordinarily, godliness is met with multi-generational blessing). Of course, this wealth is especially spiritual—as we remember, from earlier in the chapter, that God Himself (and the righteousness necessary for right relationship with Him) is true riches. This should be the godly’s aim, and hope, for his children and children’s children.

This is why the godly will not leave his children to themselves, or to other children. If, indeed, rod-demanding folly is bound up in their hearts (Proverbs 13:24, cf. Proverbs 22:15), then two things are true. First, the godly ought not to seek “peer groups” for their children and youth. This is to consign them to the fate of the companion of fools: destruction. Let parents instead be their children’s companions, and let them seek for their children other mature believers to be companions. In such good, multigenerational company, children of parents who are pursuing the same biblical wisdom for them may grow safely together in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and with men. Second, the godly must not only employ the rod, but do so instantly. Like their child’s life depends upon it (Proverbs 13:20, cf. Proverbs 22:15, Proverbs 23:13–14). This is what love does, when so much is at stake (Proverbs 13:24b)! 

In the alternating verses (Proverbs 13:23, Proverbs 13:25), the reality and metaphor of hunger is used to illustrate the whole of godliness from the part of diligence. Those poor in Proverbs 13:23 are poor because neither have they been diligent to work their ground (verse 23a), nor have they been good stewards of what it produced (verse 23b). Untrained children exhibit this exact laziness and wastefulness. And, the parent sees in it a glimpse of what their children may be. Notice the imbalance in the contrast in Proverbs 13:25. The difference between the righteous and the wicked can be seen even in their area of focus. For the righteous, it is his soul that he seeks to see satisfied—and it will be (verse 25a)! For the wicked, his stomach is his focus (cf. Philippians 3:19), but even that will always feel like it is needing more (Proverbs 13:25b). The godly desire, for themselves and for their children and children’s children, to have everlastingly satisfied souls!

Who are your companions? Who are your children’s companions? What might change in your disciplining (or your being disciplined), if it was done like your life depends on it? How diligent are you in satisfying your stomach? How diligent are you in satisfying your soul?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for being our good Father, Who gives us both the instruction that we need and the discipline that we need. Grant that we might walk with those wise, with whom we too will become wise, and have our souls satisfied in You, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH119B “How Shall the Young Direct Their Way?” 

2025.04.20 Lord's Day livestreams (live at 10:10a, 11:10a, 3p)

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Matthew 18:1–11 sermon outline

3p song selections & Deuteronomy 4:11–40 sermon outline

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He Is the Greatest! [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 18:1–11]

Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Matthew 18:1–11 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and this must shape how we regard others, and all things. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)