2025.09.17 Midweek Meeting Livestream (live at 6:30p)

To tune in for the Prayer Meeting, we recommend that you visit the livestream page.

Man's Eternal Soul [Children's Catechism 18—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 18—especially explaining how God has created man with an eternal soul.

Q18. What did God give Adam and Eve besides bodies? He gave them souls that could never die. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) The lesson explores the profound significance of the human soul, asserting that it is a unique creation of God, distinct from the spirit of beasts and possessing eternal life. Drawing from Genesis, 1 Corinthians, and Ecclesiastes, it argues that God’s act of breathing into Adam’s nostrils signifies the infusion of an immortal soul, guaranteeing both resurrection for the righteous, conformed to Christ, and a terrifying judgment for the unrepentant. Ultimately, the lesson emphasizes that the existence of this eternal soul underscores the paramount importance of caring for one's soul as the most vital responsibility entrusted by God, rooted in His covenantal purposes and the promise of redemption.

Responding to God How He's Shown Us [Family Worship lesson in Micah 6:1–8]

How should we repay God for all His goodness? Micah 6:1–8 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word read in the public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that believers should repay God for His goodness in the way that He says to in His Word. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Pastor's devotional explores God's indictment of Israel, highlighting the contrast between divine grace and the people's unfaithfulness, ultimately revealing that true worship isn't what man comes up with, but what God has shown. Drawing parallels to Christ's redemptive work, the message emphasizes that God desires the people themselves, urging listeners to recognize God's goodness and respond with imaging Him, loving Him, and fellowship with Him.

2025.09.17 Hopewell @Home ▫ Micah 6:1–8

Read Micah 6:1–8

Questions from the Scripture text: With what command does Micah 6:1 begin? Who is speaking (verse 1a)? What does He command them to do (verse 1b)? How publicly are they to plead their case (verse 1c)? Whom else will the mountains hear (Micah 6:2a)? And who else will hear Him (verse 2b)? Why (verse 2c)? What will He do (verse 2d)? What does He call them in Micah 6:3a? What rhetorical questions does He ask (verse 3a, b)? What does He invite them to do (i.e. if they can, verse 3c)? What three things had He done (Micah 6:4)? What does He urge them to do (Micah 6:5a)? Of what else does He remind them (verse 5b–d)? In order to drive home the truth about what (verse 5e)? What does v6 imply will be the people’s response, and what questions do they ask about that response (Micah 6:6)? What does he imply about the proposed answers in Micah 6:7? What do Micah 6:8a-b remind about the answer? What three requirements has He shown them (verse 8c–e)? 

How should we repay God for all His goodness? Micah 6:1–8 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word read in the public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that believers should repay God for His goodness in the way that He says to in His Word.

The Lord now prosecutes Israel publicly and loudly (Micah 6:1-2). Specifically, he makes the point that their guilt against Him is aggravated by all of His special goodness to them (Micah 6:3). He has redeemed them (Micah 6:4a–b), provided for them godly leadership (verse 4c), and guarding them against the most determined enemies (Micah 6:5a–c), along their entire journey (verse 5d). He has shown forth not only His great salvation, but especially His righteousness, His justness in all dealings with them (verse 5e). But God’s people go astray whenever they try to come up with their own way of worship. They treat God as if He wants calves, rams, or oil in repayment (Micah 6:6-7b). This misses that the point of the sacrifices is to draw near to Him ourselves, and it ends up in the most extreme wickedness of child sacrifice (verse 7c–d). But the wickedness begins with trying to come up with how to serve God ourselves, which is a sin against His goodness and faithfulness to have already spoken to us clearly (Micah 6:8a–b). What He requires of us is that we be conformed to His image (doing justly, verse 8c), to love His character (love covenant-love, Micah 6:4d), and to live in worshiping fellowship with Him (Micah 6:8e). Dear reader, has God not been marvelously good to you as well? Do not come up with your own response; learn from Him how to respond, and do so by His grace.

What are some of the ways that God has been wonderfully good to you? How does He want you to respond?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for redeeming us, just like You brought Israel out of Egypt; and, for giving us everything needful, just like You gave Israel good leadership; and for being with us every step of the way, just like You were with Israel from Acacia Grove to Gilgal. Forgive us for when we have come up with our own ways of repaying You, rather than doing justly, and loving Your steadfast love, and walking humbly with You. We have deserved Your chastening. But forgive us for Christ’s sake, and conform us to Him, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH341 “Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed”

2025.09.16 Hopewell @Home ▫ Ecclesiastes 4:13–16

Read Ecclesiastes 4:13–16

Questions from the Scripture text: What sort of youth is it better to be (Ecclesiastes 4:13a)? Than what sort of king (verse 13b)? From what conditions might this hypothetical youth rise to the throne (Ecclesiastes 4:14)? Who end up following him (Ecclesiastes 4:15)? And being ruled by him (Ecclesiastes 4:16a)? But how long does this last (verse 16b)? What does he conclude about honor and power (verse 16c)?

Why is noble kingship vanity, apart from God? Ecclesiastes 4:13–16 looks forward to the call to worship in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that, apart from God, even noble kingship is vanity, for it is short-lived and quickly forgotten.

The final circumstance, in chapter 4, for which the worship of God is a remedy, is the fleeting nature of honor and power. Even a great king quickly becomes old and senile (Ecclesiastes 4:13b). Only Christ’s kingdom is forever.

It’s better to have the possibility of kingship out in front of you, even if you are poor like David (Ecclesiastes 4:13a, b) or in prison like Joseph (Ecclesiastes 4:14a). 

But, even if by wisdom (Ecclesiastes 4:13a), one ascends to the throne (Ecclesiastes 4:15b), and all stand with him for a time (Ecclesiastes 4:15a, Ecclesiastes 4:16a), his honor quickly fades after a few short years (verse 16b). 

Without the God with Whom worship reacquaints us, even genuinely noble rise to genuinely effective reigning ends up fleeting as a vapor, lasting as grasping the wind. How necessary is the knowledge of God and fellowship with Him, and therefore how useful is true worship!

What honorable, useful position do you hope to attain by wisdom? But, what (Who!) alone can give it lasting value?

Sample prayer:  Lord, even being a wise king on the earth is a short-lived nobility. But, to be Your worshipers is an everlasting honor. Thank You for gathering us to Yourself for that which is truly and lastingly honorable. By His blood, Christ has made us kings and priests unto You, O God. Grant unto us the ministry of Your Spirit to give us to worship with the wisdom in which we will reign with Christ forever, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP90B “O Teach Us How To Count Our Days” or TPH212 “Come, Thou Almighty King” 

2025.09.15 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 17:10–15

Read Proverbs 17:10–15

Questions from the Scripture text: What is effective upon a wise man (Proverbs 17:10a)? What are less effective upon whom else (verse 10b)? What does the evil man seek (Proverbs 17:11a)? With what response from God (verse 11b)? What is even more dangerous than what else (Proverbs 17:12)? What wicked thing might a man do (Proverbs 17:13a, Proverbs 17:15a)? With what result for him (Proverbs 17:13b, Proverbs 17:15b)? What happens when strife begins (Proverbs 17:14a)? So, when should it be stopped (verse 14b)?

How must a fool be handled? Proverbs 17:10–15 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that a fool must be rebuked and disciplined for his own good, carefully engaged at the optimal times, and not quarreled with but also not vindicated.

In Proverbs 16:31–17:6, we learned how to respond to the godly and wise. Now, having considered the harmfulness of the fool (Proverbs 17:7-9), we are instructed bout how to deal with a fool.

Fools need rebukes and blows, Proverbs 17:10. But the fool is not like the wise. We must not expect it to have an effect easily or quickly. Still, the evil man is in great danger; if he continues in his rebellion, the cruel messenger (death) will ultimately punish him (Proverbs 17:11; cf. Proverbs 16:14, Proverbs 2:18). It is for the sake of both others, and for the fool himself, that he must be both rebuked and punished. Covering transgressions with love (Proverbs 17:9) must not be permitted to mean sweeping folly under the rug.

Fools must be handled with care, Proverbs 17:12. In the midst of his folly, the raging fool is uniquely dangerous. He is one who rewards evil for good (Proverbs 17:13a) to the Lord, most of all, but also to men, and even to the rest of the creation. Not only will death be sent against him (Proverbs 17:11b) in a definitive way, but hard providence will continually befall those associated with him (Proverbs 17:13b). Therefore, the one who handles him must be careful.

Fools must not be permitted to prolong a quarrel, Proverbs 17:14. One of the best ways to avoid the fool in the particular condition in Proverbs 17:12 is to drop quarrels preemptively (Proverbs 17:14b). Not everything that the fool wants to quarrel over is worth it, and once the damage is done, it cannot be undone (verse 14a), so don’t take the bait. This must be balanced, however, with the strength to maintain justice. The one who is in authority does not have the liberty to permit the fool to be justified, or to condemn the just (Proverbs 17:15a). This would be to have a contention with God Himself (verse 15b)! It is part of the burden of leadership to take both (prevention of contention and maintenance of justice) into proper consideration.

What fools must you deal with? How are they receiving the rebukes and blows that they need? If you are the fool, how are you receiving these? When are the fools that you are dealing with most “dangerous”? How are you managing your engagement with them to navigate those moments? How skilled are you at dropping quarrels? In what situations are you responsible for maintaining justice?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we thank You for Your patience with our folly. Forgive it, for Christ’s sake, and deal wisely with us until our folly has been eliminated. Give us grace to deal properly with others when they are foolish, and thus make us to be a blessing to our family, our church, and our community, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP14 “Within His Heart the Fool Speaks” or TPH400 “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me” 

2025.09.14 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.

2025.09.13 Hopewell @Home ▫ Matthew 22:34–40

Read Matthew 22:34–40

Questions from the Scripture text: Who heard what (v34)? What did they do? What occupation does one of them have (v35)? What is his purpose in asking? What does he call Jesus (v36)? What does he ask about? Who answers (v37)? What is His answer? What two things does He call this commandment (v38)? How does He compare the second to the first (v39)? What does He say the second is? What does He say about the two commandments?

What obedience does God require? Matthew 22:34–40 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seventeen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God requires obedience that is covenantal, commitment, complete, comprehensive, and consequential.

The Pharisees would have been happy that the Sadducees were silenced (v34). This testing of Jesus (v35) was not an attempt to get Him killed as before. When Mark records this (cf. Mk 12:28–34), we see something of a rapport between Jesus and His questioner. 

This is the last attempt to question Him (v46, cf. Mk 12:34), and between this passage and next (v41–45), Jesus displays His superior, comprehensive knowledge of the teaching of all of Scripture in the law (v37–40) and the gospel (v42–45). 

Here, He teaches that obedience to the law is
covenantal (“the Lord, Your God,” v37),
commitment (“love”),
complete (“all… all… all”),
comprehensive (“heart… soul… mind”), and
consequential (love for God requires love for God’s image, and application in all of life). 

How has love for God been factoring into your thinking and feeling about what to do? How had love for neighbor been factoring into it?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for loving us. Grant to us that we would love You with all that we are, for we ask it through Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP49A “Hear This, All Earth’s Nations” or TPH393 “Spirit of God, Dwell Thou Within My Heart”

Necessity of Covenant Obedience [Family Worship lesson in Deuteronomy 7:12–16]

Why is covenant faithfulness necessary? Deuteronomy 7:12–16 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that covenant faithfulness is necessary for covenant blessing. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Pastor's devotional explores the intertwined concepts of unconditional election and covenant faithfulness, drawing from Deuteronomy 7 to illuminate God's character as both a gracious giver of blessings and a just sustainer of covenant relationships. It emphasizes that while God's love and promises are freely given, obedience is not meritorious but a necessary response to His grace, enabling the enjoyment of His goodness and preventing spiritual corruption. The sevenfold blessing detailed in the passage represents complete divine favor, highlighting that true blessing lies not merely in material prosperity but in enjoying the goodness of God Himself, ultimately fulfilled through the faithful covenant head, Jesus Christ.

2025.09.12 Hopewell @Home ▫ Deuteronomy 7:12–16

Read Deuteronomy 7:12–16

Questions from the Scripture text: What three things will they do (v12)? How will YHWH respond? According to what? What three primary things will He do to them (v13)? What seven things will He bless? In what land? How much will they be blessed (v14)? What will He take away from them (v15)? With what will He not afflict them? Whom will He afflict? What, then, must they do (v16)? What two things must they not do? Why not?

Why is covenant faithfulness necessary? Deuteronomy 7:12–16 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that covenant faithfulness is necessary for covenant blessing.

Unconditional election (v6–8) doesn’t eliminate the need for obedience; it requires it (v12a). For, God elects His people into covenant with Him (v12b)—in which covenant, blessings are contingent upon covenant faithfulness. Covenant faithfulness is met with covenant blessing. 

God elects in love, sustains faithfulness in love, and then blesses that faithfulness in love (v13a). God’s covenant blessing for Israel is experienced in sevenfold material fruitfulness (v13b). The nations that they are replacing treated material blessings as an end in themselves and ended up manufacturing all sorts of wickedness in false worship of that fertility. Material blessings are real blessings, and for Israel they are covenant blessings. But when Israel enjoys them (or when you enjoy them), they are enjoying not just the material thing but the covenant love of God. 

This blessing is a response to their obedience, but it is in accord with His promises. Their obedience protects them from all curse (v14–15a), but that very curse falls upon their enemies (v15b). This is the reason for complete destruction of those cursed people whom YHWH delivers to them (v16a): God is urgent with them so that they will not be ensnared to serve their gods

In what material blessings have you enjoyed God’s love and goodness to you? In what blessings do you hope to? What covenant faithfulness is required of you? What is your hope for that faithfulness?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for the covennt love in which You chose us and made promises to us. Since covenant faithfulness is required, on our part, for that blessing, make us faithful by Your grace. We thank You that Christ has been perfectly faithful on our behalf. Bless us for His sake, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH434 “A Debtor to Mercy Alone”