Singing with Grace in the Heart [2025.01.12 Sabbath School in Westminster Confession of Faith 21.5—Hopewell 101]

We continue studying through the Scriptural doctrine that our congregation confesses. This week, we continued Westminster Confession chapter 21—continuing in Article 5 with what Scripture says about congregational singing and the manner in which we should do it.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Faith-full Church Members [2025.01.12 Evening Sermon in Numbers 32]

Believers must participate faithfully, before God’s face, by faith, in the life of the church.

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Responding to Christ’s Power [2025.01.12 Morning Sermon in Matthew 14:1–12]

We must respond to Christ's resurrection power by acknowledging Him, submitting to Him, committing to Him, and hoping in Him

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God’s Generosity in Christ [2025.01.05 Evening Sermon in Numbers 31:25–54]

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift, Who supplies all our needs (namely Himself!) according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

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Too Familiar with Jesus? [2025.01.05 Morning Sermon in Matthew 13:54–58]

We must never let our familiarity with Jesus rob us of our wonder. Thus, let us not question Him, but take Him at His Word in all of His answers to our questions, receiving Him Himself as our God and Savior.

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

Experimental Hearing [2025.01.05 Sabbath School in Westminster Confession of Faith 21.5—Hopewell 101]

We continue studying through the Scriptural doctrine that our congregation confesses. This week, we continued Westminster Confession chapter 21—considering the first part of Article 5, and the type of reading, preaching, and hearing that the Lord commands in the public worship of His people.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Joy of the LORD [2025.01.08 Midweek Sermon in Proverbs 8:22–36]

With the delight that He has in Himself, within the Godhead, the LORD delights to create and redeem mankind—a delight into which He brings the redeemed, by means of His Word

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Help for a Persecuted Church [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 129]

What hope is there in persecution? Psalm 129 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the church can look back to deliverances, and forward to judgment, for encouragement in persecution. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.01.14 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 129

Read Psalm 129

Questions from the Scripture text: What sort of song is this (superscript)? What have “they” done (Psalm 129:1a, Psalm 129:2a)? How often? Since when? Who is to say this (Psalm 129:1b)? But what has not yet happened (Psalm 129:2b)? Whom were they like, and what did they do (Psalm 129:3)? But Who, of what character, has answered (Psalm 129:4a)? How (verse 4b)? What does Psalm 129:5 will to happen, to how many, of whom? What do Psalm 129:6-7 will them to be like? What should these Zion-haters not receive (Psalm 129:8)? 

What hope is there in persecution? Psalm 129 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the church can look back to deliverances, and forward to judgment, for encouragement in persecution.   

The church has survived many a vicious attack (Psalm 129:1a, Psalm 129:2a). The “let Israel now say” (Psalm 129:1b) implies the necessity of taking this remembrance to heart so long as there is persecution left to endure. The church is still there (Psalm 129:2b). She is an anvil that has worn out many hammers. Her persecutors may be cruel and persistent (Psalm 129:3), but the Lord is righteous through all of this (Psalm 129:4a), and He sets the boundary for what they are able to do (verse 4b). 

The church’s enemies will not survive. Their hatred and enmity will fail at last (Psalm 129:5). Though they seem to have success, it will only be like the growth of grass (Psalm 129:6a). Grass is used elsewhere as a metaphor for that which is short-lived (cf. Psalm 103:15–16; Isaiah 40:6–8). But this is even more brief, because it is not the grass of the field, but grass of a housetop, which lacks depth of soil. The wicked are not only short-lived (v6Psalm 129:6) but fruitless (Psalm 129:7), because they lack the blessing of the Lord (Psalm 129:8b) and therefore the blessing even of the godly (verse 8c). When the church comes to worship, let her look back at the Lord’s many deliverances, and look forward to the Lord’s sure judgment. Thus, let her not fret in any present persecution!

From what has the Lord delivered you? What will happen to all the enemies of the church? 

Sample prayer:  Lord, though they have afflicted Your people frequently and furiously, it has always been under Your righteous sovereignty. And You have protected and preserved Your people. All flesh is like grass, but Your Word endures forever, and so shall those who are under Your blessing. Grant that Your blessing would be upon us, and that all the godly would bless us in Your Name, we ask in Christ’s Name, AMEN!

Suggested Songs: ARP129 “Time and Again They Greatly Did Oppress Me” or TPH129 “From Youth They Have Afflicted Me” 

The Singular, Triune Name into Which We Are Baptized [Children's Catechism 128—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 128—especially explaining how we are baptized into the singular Name of the triune God.

Q128. In Whose Name are we baptized? In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)