2026.09.11 Hopewell @Home ▫ Jeremiah 1:1–3

Friday, September 11, 2026 ▫ Read Jeremiah 1:1–3

Questions from the Scripture text: Whose speech is this (v1)? Whose son is he? Of what group? From what place? What came to him (v2)? In the days of what king, in what year? And in the days of what other kings, until what year, and what event (v3)?

What are we to think of Jeremiah? Jeremiah 1:1–3 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God prepares His prophet, employs his mouth to speak His own words, and sustains him through a generation of difficult but fruitful service.

God’s perfectly suited servant. Jeremiah (v1) was a common name (as was Hilkiah, his father). The priests of Anathoth were just outside Jerusalem and Judah, in Benjamin. They were descended from Abiathar, whom Solomon banished (cf. 1Ki 2:26–27), for supporting his rival’s attempt at the throne (cf. 1Ki 1:5–19). Although Jeremiah was called from birth to be a prophet (cf. v4), and was from a family of priests, he would have some hard words for the priests (along with the prophets and kings of Israel; cf. 2:26, etc.). The Lord prepares our place and our calling long before we are born. He was perfectly situated to be the man whom God would use for this. And so are you, for however the Lord intends to use you and your life.

God’s mouthpiece to His people. Whose words are these? Well, they are literally the “speech” of Jeremiah (v1). The translation “words” is fine, but it is particularly those words as expressed that is in view; sometimes the word is even translated “action.” But, although they are spoken by Jeremiah, these words (plural) are the word (singular) of YHWH which came to him (v2). We recently saw an important description of how YHWH breathes out the Scripture in Hab 2:2. We have a similar one here. Although he employs the prophet’s faculties in such a manner that they can be called Jeremiah’s words (v1), He puts His own words in the prophet’s mouth (cf. v9) to such an extent that v2 can say that YHWH’s Word to His people came to Jeremiah. Daniel understood this, even as Jeremiah’s contemporary (cf. Dan 9:2), just like Paul quotes Luke (cf. 1Tim 5:8, Luk 10:7), or says that a prophet in his own day would recognize the inspiration of his own writing (cf. 1Cor 14:37).

God’s sustained servant. From the thirteenth year of Josiah (627 b.c., v2) to the third wave of the exile in the eleventh year of Zedekiah (587 b.c., v3) is about 40 years. And we know that Jeremiah continued to prophecy, after the bulk of his prophecy was fulfilled (cf. chs42–43, which are after the fall of Jerusalem). He had to combat superficial revivalism of the people during the reign of their godly king, Josiah (v2, cf. 3:10). He had to combat the outright hostility of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah (v3). And he had to combat the distress of the people over his message that Judah, Jerusalem, and the temple itself, would fall (v3).

For forty years, he preached that this would happen, gaining no converts except his first king, Josiah, and his scribe, Baruch. And, at the last, God fulfilled His Word, which He had put into Jeremiah’s mouth. Sometimes, the Lord calls us to service that has great moments of difficulty and pain. And often, the Lord calls one of His people to a service that, if he had known through what things grace would carry him to persevere, and over what things grace would carry him to overcome, he would scarcely believe it.

But the Lord sustained Jeremiah (as He will you, if you are in Christ) through the whole of the service appointed to him. The sermons and poems which explain and announce the coming judgment (ch1–25), are fulfilled in his own life, right up to and through the exile (ch26–45), which is a warning to humanity as a whole (ch. 46–52). What wonder and gratitude he must have felt, as he came to write this introduction to the book. What wonder and gratitude—and trusting expectation—we ought to feel as we read it, preach it, hear it, and meditate upon it.

What has the Lord called you to thus far? What difficulties are you going through right now? How are you treating the Scriptures as the very words of God? How are you treating His ministry to you as His very Word to you? Why can you be sure that the Lord will sustain you in your service to Him?

Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for the marvelous way that You sustained Jeremiah through a generation of ministry. And thank You for this book of Scripture by which You warn of sin, show the complete reliability of Your Word, and point us to Christ. Thank You for being the God who suited Jeremiah, spoke through Jeremiah, and sustained Jeremiah. Make us confident that You have perfectly suited us to be used by Yourself, and that You will sustain us until our work in this world is done—all by the grace of Christ, through Whom we ask it, AMEN! 

Suggested songs: ARP18A “I Love You, Lord” or TPH256 “God Moves in a Mysterious Way”

2026.09.10 Hopewell @Home ▫ Mark 10:1–16

Read Mark 10:1–16

Questions from the Scripture text: Where does Jesus go (Mark 10:1)? Who gathered to Him? What was He accustomed to do with them? What question do the Pharisees ask in Mark 10:2? With what question does Jesus answer in Mark 10:3? What is their answer (Mark 10:4)? What does Jesus say was the reason that Moses permitted this (Mark 10:5)? What does Jesus remind them that God did at the beginning of creation (Mark 10:6)? How had God created man? Of what else does Jesus remind them in Mark 10:7? How many does Jesus say become one flesh in Mark 10:8? Whom does Jesus say is the One who joins a man and his wife together (Mark 10:9)? Who ask Jesus about the same thing in Mark 10:10? What does Jesus say a man does, if he divorces his wife and then remarries (Mark 10:11, cf. Matthew 5:32)? What does Jesus say a woman does, if she does the same (Mark 10:12)? To whom do they then bring little children (Mark 10:13)? What do they want Jesus to do with the children? What do the disciples do to those who brought the children? When Jesus sees it, what does He think (Mark 10:14)? To whom does Jesus say that the kingdom belongs? And to whom are the children an example (Mark 10:15)? What does Jesus then do with the children (Mark 10:16)?

What does Jesus think of marriage and children? Mark 10:1–16 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these sixteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus views marriage as a covenant of God, and covenant children as subjects of the kingdom of God. 

In this passage, we read about two incidents in which the Lord Jesus affirms God’s valuing of marriage and children.

First, on the question of divorce, there are a couple interesting things about Christ’s answer.

There is a truth about the Mosaic civil code here (Mark 10:3-4)  that we could easily miss. God gave unto Israel laws that took into account the hardness of their hearts (Mark 10:5). If you look at the parallel in Matthew 5:32, you can see part of the “hardness of heart” Jesus is talking about. Divorce wouldn’t be necessary, but there are husbands and wives who commit adultery. 

Even more interesting is the theological foundation of Jesus’s teaching on divorce. He doesn’t take us to Genesis 2 first. Jesus takes us to the creation in Genesis 1. He takes us to God creating male and female in His own image (Mark 10:6). The implication is that marriage is about man being in the image of God, man being a covenanting creature of a covenanting Creator.

Only after establishing this first does Jesus take us to Genesis 2, where He twice repeats the math: 2 become 1 (Mark 10:8). This math wasn’t explicit in the text of Genesis 2, but it was obviously implied. Now, Jesus gives His authoritative explanation and application of the passage. Marriage is one man, and one woman, covenanted for life.

But there’s more! Who forms this covenant? Not just the man and the woman. The Lord is the One who joins them together (Mark 10:9). Marriage is the “covenant of our God” (cf. Proverbs 2:17). No wonder God hates divorce! The Scripture that tells us that also tells us one of God’s great purposes for marriage: to produce a godly seed, covenant children (cf. Malachi 2:14-16). 

Now, the Holy Spirit ties the two subjects together again in Mark 10. Look at how serious our Redeemer is about covenant children! He is greatly displeased (Mark 10:14) with the disciples for hindering the little children of these believing parents from coming to Him.

Our Lord doesn’t just love our children because they are ours. He loves our children because they are His. Jesus points out, in Mark 10:15, that children are often better examples of believers than adults. But this isn’t even His strongest statement about them.

In Mark 10:14, Jesus says “of such” is the kingdom. These little children are kingdom citizens in their own right. They have a right of access to the King! In the end, Jesus doesn’t just touch the children as was requested. He takes them up into His arms, and lays His hands upon them, and blesses them (Mark 10:16). How much our Lord loves marriage and children!

How does your daily and weekly schedule reflect Jesus’s priority upon marriage and children?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us, for when we have had hard hearts, compounding one sin with another. It is dreadful that You would make peace for Israel by permitting a legal method of divorce. Forgive us, and cleanse us. Make us to treasure our own marriages and our own spouse. And strengthen us against the perversions of our generation against Your design of marriage as one man, and one woman, covenanted for life. Give us to love to give You Your own offspring, bringing to You, for Your own care, those of Your children whom You have entrusted to us. Forgive us for when we have hindered them, for this is greatly displeasing to You. Give us to treat them according to their rights as subjects to have access to their King. And make us to enter the kingdom like children as well. Thus, do with us not according to our sin, but according to Your grace, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP128 “How Blessed Are All Who Fear the Lord” or TPH548 “O Blest the House”

2026.09.09 Hopewell @Home ▫ 1 Chronicles 21

Read 1 Chronicles 21

Questions from the Scripture text: Who stood up against whom by doing what (1 Chronicles 21:1)? So, what does David tell Joab and the leaders of the people to do (1 Chronicles 21:2)? But how does Joab respond (1 Chronicles 21:3)? What does he say that David will end up doing if they do this? Who prevails (1 Chronicles 21:4)? What does Joab report (1 Chronicles 21:5)? What doesn’t he report, and why (1 Chronicles 21:6)? Who responds in what way (1 Chronicles 21:7)? And how does David respond to this—Whom does he ask for what (1 Chronicles 21:8)? To whom does YHWH speak (1 Chronicles 21:9)? What is Gad to tell David (1 Chronicles 21:10)? What do the three things turn out to be (1 Chronicles 21:11-12)? Which does David choose, and why (1 Chronicles 21:13)? What does YHWH do, with what effect (1 Chronicles 21:14)? How (1 Chronicles 21:15)? But why and how does it stop (verse 15)? Who see the stopped Angel (1 Chronicles 21:16)? How does David now pray (1 Chronicles 21:17)? Who has sinned? But what two things does he call the people? Who commands whom in 1 Chronicles 21:18? What does Gad tell David to do? How does David respond (1 Chronicles 21:19)? Who see the angel in 1 Chronicles 21:20? How do they respond? Whom does Ornan see in 1 Chronicles 21:21? How does he now respond to him? What does David ask in 1 Chronicles 21:22? And what does Ornan offer (1 Chronicles 21:23)? But upon what does David insist (1 Chronicles 21:24)? Why? How much does David give him (1 Chronicles 21:25)? Then what does David do (1 Chronicles 21:26, cf. 1 Chronicles 21:18)? How does YHWH answer? What does YHWH now command (1 Chronicles 21:27)? And what does the angel do? So what does David continue to do, where, why (1 Chronicles 21:28)? What/where doesn’t he (1 Chronicles 21:29)? Why not (1 Chronicles 21:29-30)?

What hope do we have, when we are suffering for sin? 1 Chronicles 21 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirty verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the hope that we may have, when we are suffering for our sin, is that YHWH’s compassions are very great. 

Real agency of the devil. When we compare 1 Chronicles 21:1 to 2 Samuel 24:1, we find that it was in YHWH’s sovereign providence that Satan did this, on account of Israel’s sin. We deserve to be given over to the temptations of the devil. When we pray for otherwise, we pray for grace. When the Lord does otherwise, it is grace. So, let us not take lightly that there is an enemy of our souls, who hates us individually and the church corporately whose desire is that we would sin against God.

Real consequences of our sin. The overarching story of this passage is that indeed, YHWH’s compassions are very great (cf. 1 Chronicles 21:13) and that He was providing a place of worship more permanent and glorious than the tabernacle (1 Chronicles 21:25-29). And, in the context of Scripture as a whole, the point is that the Lord was bringing into the world a Prophet better than Gad, a Priesthood better than that of the tabernacle and temple, Mediation better than David’s, and a King better than David. But if we skip straight to these themes, we will miss that God’s grace, and God’s gracious work in the world, can never be an excuse for us for our sin. David’s sin had real consequences. David’s sin had severe consequences. 70,000 funerals in one day. How the land was filled with grief over David’s sin! Let us never misuse sovereign grace to treat sin as a small thing.

Real grace sovereign over all of it. We do not know what manner of striking is indicated in 1 Chronicles 21:7, but David evidently perceived it (verse 7). Grace gave him a soft heart to be genuinely contrite before God (1 Chronicles 21:8). Grace also sent him God’s Word in 1 Chronicles 21:9. Even before there were the three options, or the staying of the Angel’s sword, or the provision of worship that God accepted, grace was operating. When we have a soft heart to see our sin, that’s grace. When God’s Word comes and convicts us of sin but points us to God for mercy, that’s grace.

Grace makes David not only contrite about his own sin, but confident about God’s mercy. All three options are under the sovereign providence of God. The famine option seems to be rather directly done by God. But there is something about the Angel of YHWH that David perceives. He is a messenger not only of justice and vengeance, but of “compassions that are very great” (1 Chronicles 21:13). Now, this Angel is sent by YHWH, but also is YHWH Himself, into Whose hands David asks to fall. He is not only a messenger (for that is what “Angel” means), but He speaks by the prophet (1 Chronicles 21:18) just as God does. And David is exactly right; His compassions are great. YHWH relents of His own accord, and the Angel stands at the ready (1 Chronicles 21:15). The sacrifice is not in order to stop the plague, but a privilege that the Lord gives David in order to respond to the stopping of the plague. Grace gives David to see the Angel, with sword drawn (1 Chronicles 21:16). Grace prompts David to respond as Mediator for the very people who were suffering for his sin: “these sheep” … “Your people” (1 Chronicles 21:17). The sacrifice is an answer to that prayer (1 Chronicles 21:18). 

We also see the effect of grace upon Ornan. Grace makes him courageous before the power and justice of God, even as his sons dive for cover (1 Chronicles 21:20). Grace gives him humility before the Lord’s anointed (1 Chronicles 21:21). Grace gives him generosity to contribute sacrificially, abundantly, even completely (“I give all”) to the Lord’s worship (1 Chronicles 21:23). 

Finally, grace provides the temple ground. Here is the most expensive parcel of land in the Bible: six hundred, not of silver, but of gold (1 Chronicles 21:25). And here is a place where YHWH gives David to see that He receives the worship there (1 Chronicles 21:26-27), so that David is encouraged to offer God worship that God Himself has provided and approves of (1 Chronicles 21:28-30). 

Stepping back to see the bigger picture, we see that Christ is a Mediator Who has no sin of His own. Instead of suffering for His sin, His people are blessed for His righteousness. He is the Angel of YHWH, a holy and just Avenger, but Whose distinguishing characteristic is that His compassions are great. He is a King Who is perfectly obedient, a Prophet Who announces God’s grace to us, a Priest Who brings us near to God with acceptable worship. And He gave all for that worship. And it is accepted. Hallelujah.

How have you suffered for your sin? Who else has suffered for your sin? What do you deserve for the devil to do to you? How are you resisting him? Whom has the Lord sent to you to announce His grace? How has the Lord given to you to come near to Him for worship? 

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us. For, we have given in to Satan’s incitements to trust in Your good gifts to us, rather than trusting in You Yourself, Who gave them. We know that, like Israel, we deserve to be given over to his hand. And, like David, our sin has been costly for those whom You have placed under us. So we come to You, hoping in the fact that You have placed Christ over us. For the sake of His righteousness and sacrifice, forgive us. Show that Your compassions are very great in how You deal with us. We thank You for the worship that You have purchased for us, not at the cost of six hundred pieces of gold, but at the cost of Christ’s own precious blood. For His sake, forgive us, cleanse, us and receive us, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP52B “From My Sins, O Hide Your Face” or TPH434 “A Debtor to Mercy Alone”

2026.09.08 Hopewell @Home ▫ Job 16

Read Job 16

Questions from the Scripture text: Who answers in Job 16:1? What has he heard (Job 16:2a)? What does he call them (verse 2b)? What does he ask about their words (Job 16:3a)? And about their answer (verse 3b)? What could he do (Job 16:4)? But what would he do instead (Job 16:5)? For whom does this not seem to be working (Job 16:6)? What is the most recent affliction from the Lord (Job 16:7)? What is the ultimate effect of this (Job 16:8)? How does it feel to Job like He is treating him (Job 16:9)? How, in particular, is the lord doing this (Job 16:10)? How does Job describe his friends and their counsel (Job 16:10-11)? What does their treatment of him amount to in Job’s eyes (Job 16:12-14)? How has Job responded in his grief (Job 16:15)? With what effect upon him (Job 16:16)? Despite what condition of his heart and of his life (Job 16:17)? What does he want done with his anguish (Job 16:18)? Whom, especially, does he wish to see it and to bear witness (Job 16:19)? Who have done what (Job 16:20a)? To Whom does he look for help instead (verse 20b)? For what hope does he long (Job 16:21)? To get him through what (Job 16:22)?

What hope is there for those who cannot get comfort from others or from themselves? Job 16 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty-two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the only true hope that a sinner can have is Jesus Himself comforting him with the gospel of Jesus Himself as his Mediator.

Job’s friends are his most recent and greatest affliction (Job 16:1–5). Their false gospel of “do better, and you’ll be blessed” has been founded upon the false assumption of “you must be much worse than other people for this to have happened to you” and “see how wicked you are that think God would approve of you and do good to you.” They have no concept of God’s grace to forgive sinners, or God’s gracious work in sinners’ lives. Job could hear fleshly rubbish like that anywhere (Job 16:2a), and it was useless comfort (verse 2b) to the point that he wished it would just stop (Job 16:3). If the roles were reversed, he would not speak like they have (Job 16:4), but give them genuine comfort (Job 16:5).

And Job has been unable to comfort himself (Job 16:6-14). Not only is his friends’ speech failing him, but his own speech thus far has not helped him (Job 16:6). Here is a place where you may get more help than Job has, dear reader. Receive God’s Word not as you trying to convince yourself of its truth, but as the Lord Himself addressing you with that truth. If, by grace, you receive it that way, you will find that there is a great difference in the comforting power of the gospel when you receive it as addressed to you and offered to you by Jesus Himself. But, Job’s speech is not relieving his grief (verse 6a), because he is receiving his circumstances as if they are a word from the Lord, and that “word” seems to be hatred (Job 16:7-9). In fact, the switch from the singular (about the Lord, Job 16:7-9) to the plural (about the friends, Job 16:10) indicates that their gospel-less treatment of him has been fully abusive in a way that reminds us of what was done to Christ at His trial (cf. Matthew 26:67, Mark 14:65, Luke 22:63). Job views the friends and their “comfort” as weapons of judgment whom God Himself has set upon him (Job 16:11-14).

So Job’s situation has become quite dire (Job 16:15-17). The type of grief usually seen in the most intense moments has become a permanent condition for him (Job 16:15), and the grief has physically consumed him (Job 16:16). And all of this is amplified because he is not aware of any unrepented sin (Job 16:17). We must remember that this is also God’s own assessment of him (cf. Job 1:1, Job 1:8, Job 2:3).

Despite all of this, Job clings to God in gospel hope (Job 16:18-22). He insists that his grief must be answered, rather than ignored (Job 16:18), and that it is God Himself (Job 16:19) Who will see (Job 16:18a) and hear (verse 18b) it and give answer. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar have been useless friends (Job 16:20a), but God will not be (verse 20b). The only conundrum is who can be so great as to plead with God (Job 16:21a), yet so lowly as to be a man’s Friend (verse 21b). Jesus Christ, the God-Man is the answer to this! For those who would cling to eternal hope in the brief, hard life of this world (Job 16:22), Jesus Christ is the only answer.

When have you felt like you were so miserable that no one else could comfort you, and you couldn’t even comfort yourself with good doctrine? What is your experience of receiving the Word as Jesus Himself addressing you with it? Why is Jesus able to be your heavenly Witness? Despite the glory of His Person, how is Jesus also able to plead with you as for His friend?

Sample prayer: Lord, we are so thankful that You have made Yourself our own witness in heaven, in the Person of Jesus Christ. Thank You for giving Him to us as our Mediator, so that He pleads with God for us as a man pleads for his friend. Since others cannot comfort us, and our own speech cannot relieve us, grant unto us to know Jesus Himself addressing us in His Word. Especially in worship, give us to know Jesus Himself addressing us in the reading, singing, praying, and preaching of His own Word. Help us in the worship, for we are small and weak. But give us to worship by grace—by what is in Jesus for us, we ask in His Name, AMEN! 

Suggested songs: ARP11 “My Trust Is in the Lord” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace!”

2026.09.07 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 27:11–22

Read Proverbs 27:11–22

Questions from the Scripture text: How does Solomon address him in Proverbs 27:11a? What does he tell him to do? Unto what end? What would the father be able to do then (verse 11b)? Who sees the evil, in this way, in Proverbs 27:12a? And what does he do in response? What should one take from whom (Proverbs 27:13a)? And when should one hold it, for what purpose (verse 13b)? What does the man in Proverbs 27:14a do? But with what kind of voice? And when? So, how is his blessing received (verse 14b)? What sort of experience does Proverbs 27:15a describe? As an analogy for whom (verse 15b)? How unrestrainable and uncontainable is she (Proverbs 27:16)? What does the iron in Proverbs 27:17a do? Who sharpens what of whom (verse 17b)? What does the man in Proverbs 27:18a enjoy as a consequence of what? And what does the man in verse 18b enjoy as a consequence of what? What is the face in the water like (Proverbs 27:19a)? And what is a man truly like (verse 19b)? What is never full (Proverbs 27:20a)? And what else have a desire that cannot be satisfied (verse 20b)? What are used to show the quality of what (Proverbs 27:21a)? And what else shows the quality of whom (verse 21b)? How difficult is it to get the foolishness out of a fool (Proverbs 27:22)? 

What are some benefits of friendship? Proverbs 27:11–22 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 friendship guards us from harm, strengthens and sharpens us, and is a proving ground for our character.

This week’s passage (Proverbs 27:11-22) follows the same pattern as last week’s (Proverbs 27:1-10): telling us to heed a good friend (Proverbs 27:1-2, Proverbs 27:11-12), then warning us about the harm of bad friends (Proverbs 27:3-6, Proverbs 27:13-16), then giving some general truths about friendship (Proverbs 27:7-10, Proverbs 27:17-22).

First, in this case, the friend to heed is the father (Proverbs 27:11), who forewarns him of harm (Proverbs 27:12). We must not live by our own wisdom. Parents are a reminder that God gives wisdom to others for us, and especially to those over us. If we proceed and suffer, we have ourselves to blame for it.

Second, in Proverbs 27:13-16, he warns about three different sorts of harmful friends: the naïve, the inconsiderate, and the contentious. The naïve may not guard his own interests, being surety for those upon whom he cannot count, so don’t you be naïve too; require a pledge/collateral from him (Proverbs 27:13). He’s not the person to whom to entrust yourself in friendship. The inconsiderate may offer what he thinks is blessing, but it’s a curse (Proverbs 27:14), because he does not consider such things as timing and intensity of his “blessing.” The argumentative friend wears upon your soul in such a penetrating fashion that the weariness cannot be restrained (Proverbs 27:15). Verse 15 implicitly reminds us that the most important friend that a man will choose, and about whom he must heed all of this wisdom, is his wife.

Third, Proverbs 27:17-22 give important, general truths about friendship. By ourselves, we grow dull, but the companionship of a friend sharpens us again to usefulness (Proverbs 27:17). Friendship is naturally designed by God to refresh us to usefulness.

For, God has ordained for us to enjoy the fruit of the service that we render, even to a master, let alone a friend (Proverbs 27:18). In the context of a friendship passage, verse 18 cuts against the fleshly tendency to be inclined against a master, encouraging us to see him as a friend to us, given by God (cf. Ephesians 6:5–9). Friendship rewards the effort put into it.

Proverbs 27:19 indicates that what appears in the water is a reflection of a man’s face, but his heart is reflected in the sort of friend/man that he is. And Proverbs 27:21 teaches us that friendship brings out the true character of a man, just as the crucible brings out the true character of a metal. Friendship is a proving ground for character.

Proverbs 27:20 is similar to Proverbs 27:8, Proverbs 27:10. The grass is not greener on the other side. Be careful of coveting different friends, rather than the one that God has given you. When you get into the habit of looking for friends to move on to, the eye with which you do that looking will never be satisfied. This is true of covetousness in general. And in the context, it is especially true here: be grateful for, and faithful to, the friends whom God has given you.

Finally, Proverbs 27:22 reminds us of the folly of being companions with people who are in the harmful category (Proverbs 27:3-6, Proverbs 27:13-16), but whom we are hoping will change when we have them as companions. That is foolish thinking and volunteering to be harmed. Don’t take fools for your companions hoping that they will change; see grace change them first. 

Of what have your parents forewarned you? How are you avoiding being naïve, inconsiderate, or contentious? How are you being careful not to have such people for your companions? How has friendship refreshed and strengthened you? How are you showing thankfulness for your friends?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for friendship. Please give us wisdom both in being friends and in benefitting from friendship. And most of all, thank You for giving us Christ, to be the Friend Who sticks closer than a brother. Help us by His grace, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP15 “Within Your Tent, Who Will Reside” or TPH520 “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”

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2026.09.05 Hopewell @Home ▫ Ephesians 3:20–21

Saturday, September 5, 2026 ▫ Read Ephesians 3:20–21

Questions from the Scripture text: What is God able to do above (v20)? How much above? According to what power? To Him be what (v21)? In what? By Whom? Unto how many generations? For how long?

By what are our prayers limited? Ephesians 3:20–21 prepares us for the morning sermon in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that prayer according to Scripture is not limited by what we ask, or even what we can think, because it is answered according to God’s pleasure and power.

God does according to what His unsearchable wisdom intends and thinks, and prayer reaches out for what God Himself has intended to do, rather than an attempt to change anything to what we would have God do for us.

So, apostolic prayer acknowledges its own limitations. It asks, as well as possible, according to Scripture, but it does not stop there. He is able to do what we ask. He is able to do what we ask or think. He is able to do all that we ask or think. He is able to do above all that we ask or think. He is able to do abundantly above all that we ask or think. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. Here are those unsearchable riches (v8) of God’s manifold wisdom (v10)! Prayer, being made by the Spirit through union with Christ, reaches for that which takes its dimensions not from us and our thoughts, but from God Himself!

And behold how God has emboldened us to make such a request: He has already been demonstrating the power by which He will accomplish all that His wisdom has intended! This transformed Pharisee who hated Christ and the nations is now writing not to an individual but to a church that is made up not only of Jews but especially of reconciled believers from those once-alienated nations! Almighty power has accomplished redemption already in Christ. Almighty power is producing a church that will at last be perfectly glorious with the glory of God Himself, having been filled with the fullness of God (v19).

How can this happen? Because it is not only by the power of God that this is being accomplished but in the second Person of the Godhead that this occurs in the church: “by Christ Jesus” (v21). That is to say that it is by grace. Union with Christ. Christ’s worthiness as our worthiness. Christ’s power as our power.

But it is not ultimately for the glory of the church that the apostle prays, for the church is not his ultimate and highest love. It is ultimately for the glory of God that a believer must pray, since it is God who must be the believer’s ultimate love.

The apostle prays not only for the saints, but for their God and their Savior. Love issues forth in a desire before God that love’s object would receive what is good and right. And when loves object is God, it prays for His glory. Thus, it is good to end every prayer, which itself is an act of love unto God, with a petition for His infinite and everlasting glory—even as our Lord Jesus modeled for us when instructing us in prayer. Let not just our prayers, but all of our worship, indeed all of our actions, and our very lives and beings, end in His praise!

What place do your prayer limitations have in your prayers? What place does praise have in your prayers?

Sample prayer: Lord, give us to pray according to Your plan and power, so that we may do so in wonder, humility, and great confidence. By Your Spirit, make us to pray in light of Your greatness and goodness, with a sincere delight in Your glory, we ask through Christ, AMEN! 

Suggested songs: ARP98 “O Sing a New Song to the Lord” or TPH425 “How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place”

How Christ Is King [Children's Catechism 68—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 68—especially explaining Christ’s various actions as our King.

Q68. How is Christ a king? Because he rules over us and defends us. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The lesson explores the nature of Christ's kingship by drawing parallels between His role and the earthly reign of King David. It highlights how Christ fulfills the promises made to David by gathering all believers, governing through His Word and Spirit, and establishing spiritual and civil administrations. The text emphasizes Christ's ultimate victory over Satan, sin, and death, contrasting His complete rule with David's limited successes. This kingship is characterized by both authoritative governance and protective defense for His subjects. The central message affirms that Christ rules over and defends His people in fullness.

Are You Going to Hell? [Family Worship lesson in Mark 9:43–50]

What do those who are entering life do? Mark 9:43–50 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 those who are entering life are in the business of putting sin to death. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional examines Mark 9:43-50 to explain the dual nature of God's fire as both purifying for believers and condemning for the unsaved. It emphasizes that mortifying sin is not a means to earn salvation but evidence of genuine faith and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Pastor clarifies that hell involves eternal conscious punishment, described through imagery of unquenchable fire and an undying worm, representing inner agony. True sanctification is presented as a work completed by Christ, assuring believers of their ultimate glorification despite present struggles. The message calls listeners to rely on the Spirit's power to fight sin and rest in the certainty of God's preserving grace.

2026.09.03 Hopewell @Home ▫ Mark 9:43–50

Thursday, September 3, 2026 ▫ Read Mark 9:43–50

Questions from the Scripture text: What should you do with even a hand that “caused” you to sin (v43)? Where is it better to go without a hand, rather than to go into hell? What never happens to the fire in hell? What never happens to their worm in hell (v44)? What should you do with even a foot that “caused” you to sin (v45)? Where is it better to go without a foot, rather than to go into hell? What never happens to the fire in hell? What never happens to their worm in hell (v46)? Where is it better to go with just one eye, rather than to be cast into hell fire (v47)? What never happens to their worm in hell (v48)? What never happens to the fire in hell? What must happen to everyone with fire (v49a)? What will happen to every sacrifice (v49b)? What must we have in ourselves (v50)? What must we have with one another?

What do those who are entering life do? Mark 9:43–50 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 those who are entering life are in the business of putting sin to death.

In this passage, there’s much of warning about hell. Remember from last week, in talking about the value of Christ’s Name, the Holy Spirit emphasized the value of little ones upon whom He has placed His Name.

In this week’s passage, Jesus continues that theme, but turning us to consider its application to ourselves. What might cause us to stumble into sin, and by that sin to stumble into hell?

There was a popular NAPARC preacher who used to say that “being homosexual doesn’t send you to hell; failing to believe in Jesus does.” But we must be careful not to be wiser than the Lord (cf. 1Cor 6:9-11). Refusing to trust in Christ is certainly a sin, and those who do so will go to hell for that sin, but they will also be going to hell for all of their other sins as well.

Hell is nothing to trifle with. It is internal (worm) and external (fire), continual, retributive punishment from God. It is not simply “getting what we want, by being far from God.” No, God is everywhere (cf. Psalm 139), and the punishment in hell comes from the glory of His presence (2Thess 1:9). He compares that to being eaten alive from the inside out, and burned alive from the outside in—forever.

Yes, the righteousness and sacrifice of Christ are bigger than all of our sin. But consider this: one sin is as bad as an eternity of hell, for hell is the proper punishment of that sin. How much, then, should we do to avoid sin—we who have been saved by Christ and love Him?!

All those whom God has justified, God will surely glorify, and is surely sanctifying. If holiness is not being produced in you, then you may be sure that you will not enter into the blessedness of God (cf. Heb 12:11–14).

So, the real question in this passage is: what are you willing to cut out of your life in order to stop sinning? Obviously, we are responsible for our own sin. “My hand made me do it” (or foot, or eye) is not a good excuse. Sin comes from the heart, not from the hand, or foot, or eyeball. And thank God for that, or else we would need to open up a triage unit for those who obeyed this passage! We cannot blame God, like Adam, “this woman that You gave me; she made me do it!”

But there are certainly situations that we choose to be in, and relationships that we choose to enter or continue that become occasions for stirring up all manner of sin within our hearts, into which situations also we commit wicked behavior.

So, we have two options for fire: purifying fire upon a life lived as a living sacrifice, or punitive fire in condemnation of a life lived for oneself. This dual use of the image of fire appears also in Matthew 3:11-12. We may not find it pleasant to endure suffering and discipline in this life, as the Lord fits us for heaven by making us holy.

But, of the two fires, that is the one that is far to be preferred. And those whose lives are living sacrifices should not be surprised when it comes. Did our Lord not suffer far more than we ever will? And has He not been comparing His suffering to ours these last several passages of this gospel?

What situational/relationship choices are you making, despite the knowledge that they lead to sin? What fire is the Lord putting you through to prepare you for glory?

Sample prayer: Lord, we confess to You our ongoing sin. Please be faithful and just, both to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all remaining unrighteousness. Forgive us for when we are so earthly-minded as to indulge our desires, instead of living as those who belong to heaven and to life. Make us to be ruthless with all remaining sinfulness, we ask through Christ, AMEN! 

Suggested songs: ARP24 “The Earth and the Riches” or TPH464 “The Beatitudes”