2025.01.02 Hopewell @Home ▫ Revelation 2:12–17

Read Revelation 2:12–17

Questions from the Scripture text: To which church’s messenger (NKJ “angel”) is Revelation 2:12 addressed? How does Jesus identify Himself in this letter? What two things does He know about them (Revelation 2:13)? And what does He know that they he done in these circumstances? Whom does He specify by name? What had he done? What was done to him? What does he repeat at the end of this verse? How much does He have against them (Revelation 2:14, cp. Revelation 2:4)? Whom do they have there? What doctrine do they hole? Whom had Balaam taught to do what? By getting Israel to do what? Whom also do they have with them (Revelation 2:15, cp. Revelation 2:6)? What does He tell them to do (Revelation 2:16)? Or else Who will come? And do what? Who are individually addressed in Revelation 2:17? What are they to hear? What are they to do? And what will they receive to eat? And what will they receive as a token?

What is worse than persecution? Revelation 2:12–17 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 the world’s pull to fit in with it is a worse attack upon the church than direct persecution.

As we recently learned in Numbers, Balaam was unable to obtain for Balak a frontal assault upon Israel, but he was able to harm Israel more by alluring them to idolatry and immorality (Revelation 2:14). That history now has repeated itself with the church in Pergamos. The frontal attack upon them failed (Revelation 2:13). It was a wealthy city that had shrines for almost every pagan deity. It is no wonder that they had assaulted the church, and that faithful Antipas had been killed. 

Praise God, the church had held fast to Christ’s Name (Revelation 2:13)! But, when the attack came by way of compromise, they had faltered. They even had among them those who gained for themselves by encouraging compromise in worship and marriage purity (Revelation 2:14). They did this by the doctrine of the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:15), reasoning that believers didn’t really “sin” anymore, whatever they did. And so, they had acquired an enemy greater than all of Pergamos and even than Satan: Jesus Himself. They were making an enemy of the One Who has the sharp two-edged word (Revelation 2:12), and He is urging them to repent, lest He come and fight against them with it (Revelation 2:16). 

Once again, there is the warning for the church as a whole—if they do not repent from their inaction by disciplining the Balaam-like Nicolaitans, Jesus Himself will come and fight against them (Revelation 2:16)! If a church does not wish for Jesus to come among them with the sword, it needs to keep its own house in order with discipline. 

And once again, there is an individual application for those to whom the Spirit is giving the ability to listen to what He says: overcome (Revelation 2:17). This is one way of thinking of repentance: overcoming sin. 

Jesus gives overcomers something better than the world is able even to offer: intimate communion with Himself. The manna is not only divinely-provided food of comfort, but it is hidden manna, received in the secret place with the lord. And the white stone is a personal token between the believer and the Lord. 

How could we give up such treasure—such personal intimacy with the Lord—for anything (or everything!) the world has to offer?

What are some ways that worldly worship might make things easier for you in this culture? What are some ways that worldly pleasure might help you “fit in” in this culture? How are you practicing dwelling upon the sweetness of intimacy with Christ?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us, for the world and the devil find a willing and powerful ally in our own remaining fleshliness. Even when fierce attack does not crush us, subtle temptations compromise us. So, give us to repent and overcome, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH508 “Jesus, Priceless Treasure?”

2025.01.01 Midweek Meeting Livestream (live at 4p Central)

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Proverbs 8:12–21 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.

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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.

Respond to Faithful Preaching While You Have It [Family Worship lesson in Amos 8]

Why must we make use of the opportunity that we have to repent at the hearing of the Word? Amos 8 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that our opportunity to respond to the hearing of the Word is a limited time offer, and when it is withdrawn, there will be nothing but judgment.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.01.01 Hopewell @Home ▫ Amos 8

Read Amos 8

Questions from the Scripture text: Who shows whom what (Amos 8:1)? What does He ask him (Amos 8:2)? What does Amos answer? Then Who says what to whom (cf. Amos 7:8)? What (Amos 8:3a) will be turned into what (verse 3b), says Whom (verse 3c)? What will come with that wailing (verse 3d), accompanied by what new sound (verse 3e)? What are those whom He now addresses doing to whom in Amos 8:4? What did they wish were over more quickly (Amos 8:5)? To do what? And even what (Amos 8:6)? Who has sworn to do (or not do) what (Amos 8:7)? What should the land do (Amos 8:8a)? And who else should do what (verse 8b)? What will happen to the land (verse 8c–e)? What will happen in that day (Amos 8:9)? What will He do to what (Amos 8:10a)? And what will He do to what else (verse 10b)? What will He bring upon them (verse 10c–d)? With what intensity (verse 10e–f)? What days are coming (Amos 8:11)? A famine of what? What will they do to seek it (Amos 8:12)? With what success? Who won’t withstand this (Amos 8:13)? What is behind all of their other sins (Amos 8:14)? And what will happen to them?

Why must we make use of the opportunity that we have to repent at the hearing of the Word? Amos 8 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that our opportunity to respond to the hearing of the Word is a limited time offer, and when it is withdrawn, there will be nothing but judgment.

Israel thought of the agricultural year as going from grape/olive harvest, through the sowing and harvesting of the fields, and then finally the collection of the summer fruit. The point of this vision is that all opportunity for repentance has elapsed (cf. Amos 7:8). 

They practice, indeed barely tolerate, the religion that God has commanded: new moons (Amos 8:5b, cf. Numbers 28:11–15), Sabbaths (Amos 8:5d, cf. Numbers 28:9–10), feasts (Amos 8:10a), and songs (verse 10b). But what they really love is earthly wealth (Amos 8:5). Those who disregard God for their business and pleasure won’t scruple much about disregarding those who are made in His image (Amos 8:4, Amos 8:6). The more vulnerable the better! 

And what they really trust in is their government (Samaria, their capital city) and the ways of worship they have invented (Jeroboam’s copy of the Bethel worship up in the far north of Dan, and apparently another form of false worship in the far south of Judah at Beersheba). Undoubtedly, they consider themselves orthodox observers, and even their additions as being made in honor of the Lord. 

But what they have neglected, He will remove. The language of “your feasts” and “your songs” (Amos 8:10) implies that they are not keeping them as the Lord’s feasts or the Lord’s songs. But He is going to replace even the songs of the temple (Amos 8:3) first with the wailing of dying, and then the silence of being overwhelmed by death and bereavement. But there is a worse famine, and a worse silence, and a worse fainting… the famine and fainting of the hearing the words of YHWH preached (Amos 8:11). 

This should alarm us. For, even at this advanced stage of spiritual decay, at least Israel are brought to seek earnestly (and unsuccessfully) for the word of YHWH (Amos 8:12). But we belong to an age more in line with 2 Timothy 4:3–4, where the less spiritual food, and the less nutritious it is, the better, in the minds of many. 

Our opportunities for responding rightly to the hearing of the Word will not last forever. The season of ripe fruit comes. While the Lord gives you opportunity, use it! Delight in His appointed holy day. Trust only in His Word. Apply your regard to Him in a regard for the least of those created in His image. Take your life from Him, through hearing His Word, as much as He continues to give you opportunity.

How do you feel about the Lord’s Day? Its commanded worship? The hearing of the Word on it? What religious activities that aren’t from the Bible are you in danger of preferring? How has God been patient with you? How are you responding to that patience, while there is still time? What may you expect, if you do not take advantage of this time?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us, for we have trusted in ourselves, and in our plans and efforts. When our hearts resist Your holy day, we often fail to see the greatness of the evil in us. Our disregard for the weak and vulnerable exposes our lack of love for You, and for Your image in them. We have not made good use of the opportunities that we have had to hear Your Word. Forgive us, and help us, while there is still time. For we ask it through Christ, His righteousness, and His sacrifice, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP51A “God, Be Merciful to Me” or TPH51C “God, Be Merciful to Me”

Holiness Satisfied in Wrath and Mercy [2024.12.29 Evening Sermon in Numbers 31:1–24]

God's holiness must be satisfied—either in wrath or in mercy.

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

Jesus’s Priceless Treasure [2024.12.29 Morning Sermon in Matthew 13:44–53]

Jesus treasures the church, and so should we.

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

What/Whom to Pray For [2024.12.29 Sabbath School in Westminster Confession of Faith 21.4—Hopewell 101]

We continue studying through the Scriptural doctrine that our congregation confesses. This week, we continued Westminster Confession chapter 21—considering Article 4, and whom we pray for, when we follow the Bible for the content of our prayers.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The LORD Who Builds His House and Yours [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 127]

How can we be happy and secure? Psalm 127 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that only the Lord gives happiness and security. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2024.12.31 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 127

Read Psalm 127

Questions from the Scripture text: What sort of song is this (superscript)? By whom? Who must build what (Psalm 127:1a)? Or else what (verse 1b)? Who must guard what (verse 1c)? Or else what (verse 1d)? What else is vain (Psalm 127:2a–c)? What does YHWH, Who works in all things at all times, do (verse 2d)? What else does He give (Psalm 127:3)? In what two ways is this giving described? What are children like (Psalm 127:4a)? In whose hand? Especially when one has them when (verse 4b)? Who is happy (Psalm 127:5a)? What do these children not do (verse 5b)? What shall they do (verse 5c)?

How can we be happy and secure? Psalm 127 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that only the Lord gives happiness and security.   

Laborers build houses (Psalm 127:1b), and watchmen guard cities (verse 1d). These are real and important tasks. But they are only accomplished in dependence upon the working of YHWH in His providence (verse 1a, c). 

So, if we think that, by trusting in our effort and extra zeal, we are going to have a better outcome, then it is vain for us to do that also (Psalm 127:2a–c). The believer must see all of God’s providence as coming in love (“His beloved,” verse 2d). Therefore, they must submit to God’s loving design for us: that we would need things like sleep and receive that sleep as a love-gift.

Another thing that we are to receive as a love-gift from the Lord are grace-grown children whose speech the ungodly cannot withstand (Psalm 127:5b–c, cf. Acts 6:10). Begetting, bearing, and (especially) raising children is hard work! But it must not be done by trusting in the things that we do (right and wise, hopefully) as parents. Rather, they are a “heritage” (Psalm 127:3a) or a “reward” (verse 3b)—both words meaning something that cannot be produced by effort but must ultimately be given by God.

Certainly, there is God-given wisdom involved. The parent in v4 is styled as a “warrior.” But it is the Lord Who makes them arrows, by grace, Who also makes parents warriors, by that same grace. We must cling to this if we are going to follow the biblical value of beginning to fill our quiver (Psalm 127:5a) in our youth (Psalm 127:4a). (Compare this to the biblical value of marrying in one’s youth, cf. Proverbs 5:18, Malachi 2:14). If we are depending upon the Lord for wisdom, and trusting His grace to produce the outcomes, it removes a significant obstacle in the hearts and minds of those who wish to have children but are hesitating.

Shall we build our households with godly children, and guard our future gates with godly children? How happy we would then be! Therefore, let us not only be directed by the Lord’s Word, but do so in dependence upon the Lord’s grace.

Over what have you been fretting, as if it depends upon you? What would it look like to trust God for it, even as you obey?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for loving us, and for giving unto us every good thing as a love-gift. For, indeed, You have given us Christ, and therefore will freely give us all things together with Him. Do so, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested Songs: ARP127 “Unless the LORD Build Up the House” or TPH127A “Unless the Lord the House Shall Build” 

Jesus's Water-Sign [Children's Catechism 126—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 126—especially explaining how Jesus uses the washing with water as a sign marking members of His church.

Q126. What sign is used in baptism? The washing with water.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)