Welcome to Hopewell!
Hopewell ARP Church is a Biblical, Reformed, Presbyterian church, serving the Lord in Culleoka, TN, since 1820. Lord's Day Morning, set your gps to arrive by 11a.m. at 3886 Hopewell Road, Culleoka, TN 38451
Thursday, November 14, 2024
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)
2024.11.14 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 eight 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”
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
2024.11.13 Midweek Meeting Livestream (live at 6:30p)
Click below for the:
November 13 Prayer Meeting Folder
Proverbs 5:7–14 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.
IF you are unable to get the stream to work, or simply wish to save on data, you can listen in simply by calling 712.432.3410 and entering 70150 at the prompt.
Elementary, Foundational Doctrines [2024.11.10 Evening Sermon in Hebrews 5:12–6:3]
The way that Christ commands His church to operate is a foundational doctrine, together with basic doctrines of God and salvation.
Deacons as Faith-Multipliers [2024.11.10 Morning Sermon in Acts 5:42–6:7]
Deacons are prescribed by Christ to support the ministry of the Word, by which He works powerfully in His church
True Liberty Submits to Authority [2024.11.10 Sabbath School in WCF 20.4—Hopewell 101]
We continue studying through the Scriptural doctrine that our congregation confesses. This week, we continued Westminster Confession chapter 20—considering Article 4's biblical doctrine that, since true liberty embraces Christ's rule over us, true liberty submits to the authority that Christ has set over us for our good.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
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)
2024.11.13 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”
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
A Song for Those for Whom the Great Day Is a Day of Gladness [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 97]
How do people respond at YHWH’s judgment? Psalm 97 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 at YHWH’s judgment, the whole creation is undone and re-done, the wicked are put to shame, and the righteous are filled with gladness. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
2024.11.12 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 97
Read Psalm 97
Questions from the Scripture text: With what declaration does the psalm begin (Psalm 97:1a)? Which subjects rejoice over this reign (verse 1c)? Where do most of the images in Psalm 97:3-5 come from (cf. Exodus 19:16–18, Exodus 24:17; Deuteronomy 4:11; Judges 5:5; Hebrews 12:18–21)? What attributes were gloriously declared from there (Psalm 97:2b)? What else declare His righteousness and display His glory (Psalm 97:6, cf. Psalm 8:3–4; Psalm 19:1–6)? What does this do to those who deny or exchange this glory for idols (Psalm 97:7, cf. Exodus 20:4–6; Romans 1:18–25)? Who have an opposite response to the idolaters (Psalm 97:8)? Over what do they especially rejoice (verse 8c)? What do they rejoice that these judgments display about Yahweh (Psalm 97:9)? What must those who love Him and His judgments hate (Psalm 97:10a)? What is YHWH specifically doing for them (verse 10b–c)? What does He call them? What does He produce for whom (Psalm 97:11)? How are they to respond (Psalm 97:12)?
How do people respond at YHWH’s judgment? Psalm 97 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 at YHWH’s judgment, the whole creation is undone and re-done, the wicked are put to shame, and the righteous are filled with gladness.
Let the earth rejoice! Psalm 97:1–6. This Psalm launches with the Romans 8:18–25 hope. One day, the creation will have been “delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:21). For now, however, “the whole creation groans and labors” (Romans 8:22). Why, then, is it rejoicing in v1? Because, together with the “new song” Psalms on either side of it, this Psalm looks to “the revealing of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19), the day when the bodies of those adopted sons will have been redeemed (cf. Romans 8:23).
The Lord often makes display of His power and wrath and righteousness by way of the creation. No such display was greater than the flood in Genesis 6–9, and the display at Sinai in Exodus 19 communicates the same. Psalm 97:2-6 pick this up with the clouds and darkness and fire and earthquake. The mountain itself seemed to melt (Psalm 97:5), just as Sinai flowed (“gushed,” Judges 5:5). All peoples can see the heavens which declare His righteousness (Psalm 97:6a) and glory (verse 6b, cf. Psalm 19:1–6).
Let all be put to shame who serve carved images, Psalm 97:7. How foolish all idolaters will be exposed to have been, the moment their life in this world is done, or the moment that Christ appears in the sky! Right now they “boast” in their idols (Psalm 97:7b), but those idol-gods will be humiliated before Yahweh (verse 7c). The wicked may seem to have the godly in their grasp, but even out of their hand, YHWH will deliver His saints (Psalm 97:10c). Dear reader, it is profoundly shortsighted to live for anything other than the Lord as your purpose. It is profoundly short-sighted to desire anything apart from the Lord as your pleasure. It is profoundly short-sided to depend upon anything apart from the Lord as your power. Have Him as all of these, or you will be put to shame at the very worst time—and forever.
Zion hears and is glad, Psalm 97:8-12. For their part, the Lord’s people join in the gladness of the creation. Or rather, it is the Lord’s people’s gladness that the creation enjoyed. For Romans tells us that the glorious freedom belongs to the children of God, and the creation joins us in it. The emphasis is clearly gladness. Zion is glad (Psalm 97:8a). The daughters of Judah rejoice (verse 8b). Gladness is sown for the upright in heart (Psalm 97:11b). The righteous rejoice in YHWH (Psalm 97:12a).
YHWH Himself is the object of this gladness. He comes with benefits like judgments, preservation, and deliverance. But it is His exaltation (Psalm 97:9) in these things that is the point. God’s people go by many names here: Zion, daughters of Judah, His saints, the righteous, the upright in heart. But perhaps the most striking is “You who love YHWH” in Psalm 97:10a. He Who set them apart to Himself as saints has given them love for Himself so that they would indeed be righteous.
Doesn’t your love for YHWH just make you hate evil? It’s a wonderful chain reaction. His calling gives us love for Him. Our love for Him makes us hate evil. All things are moving toward His redeeming the called and destroying all wickedness. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Weekly, we may visit not burning, black, dark, storming Sinai (cf. Hebrews 12:18–21) but glorious Zion with the rejoicing company there (cf. Hebrews 12:22–24), from which the Mediator speaks, Who will shake all things as a consuming fire, but bring us into and unshakable kingdom (cf. Hebrews12:25–29). What an excellent song for this Christian worship is Psalm 97!
What evidence is there that you love God? What evidence that you hate evil? How glad are you? From this Psalm, upon what might you meditate to increase in gladness? When especially do you get to do this?
Sample prayer: Lord, we thank You that You have given to us to belong to You and to know already, by faith, things that are not seen and not yet. Give to us to love You, to hate evil, and to rejoice over You, Who will surely put an end to all evil. Hasten the day when the earth is glad with us, as we rejoice over Your ultimate exaltation! But even as we wait, give us to partake of the joy of that day in the glorious assembly each week, when we join the congregation of the firstborn in Zion above, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested Songs: ARP97B “Since You Love the LORD” or TPH97B “The LORD Reigns, Let the Earth Be Glad”
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