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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2025.01.14 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 129

Read Psalm 129

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wisdom's Competing Offer [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 9]

What does wisdom offer? Proverbs 9 looks forward to the sermon in this week’s midweek meeting. In these eighteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that wisdom offers true conversion and eternal life from God Himself. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.01.13 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 9

Read Proverbs 9

Questions from the Scripture text: Who built what (Proverbs 9:1)? How strongly? What has she prepared (Proverbs 9:2)? How has she invited (Proverbs 9:3)? Whom has she invited (Proverbs 9:4)? To do what (Proverbs 9:5)? Of what does this eating and drinking consist (Proverbs 9:6)? Whom is the person in Proverbs 9:7 correcting? What does he get? Whom does he rebuke? What does he do to himself? So, whom shouldn’t he correct (Proverbs 9:8)? But whom should he rebuke (verse 8b)? What happens if you instruct a wise man (Proverbs 9:9a)? Or teach a righteous man (verse 9b)? What is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10a)? What is understanding (verse 10b)? What will He do (Proverbs 9:11)? For whom is one wise (Proverbs 9:12a)? Who bears the consequences of his scoffing (verse 12b)? What is the foolish woman’s manner (Proverbs 9:13a)? But what does she know (verse 13b)? Where does she make herself known (Proverbs 9:14-15)? Whom does she invite (Proverbs 9:16)? How does she market her offering (Proverbs 9:17)? Of what are the takers of her offer ignorant (Proverbs 9:18)? 

What does wisdom offer? Proverbs 9 looks forward to the sermon in this week’s midweek meeting. In these eighteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that wisdom offers true conversion and eternal life from God Himself.  

This chapter is bookended by two women, who seem at first to be making similar offers. Both invitations come from the highest places of the city (Proverbs 9:3, Proverbs 9:14). Both make their appeal to the simple and those who lack understanding (Proverbs 9:4, Proverbs 9:16). But there are subtle and important differences. 

Wisdom is diligent, working hard in her home (Proverbs 9:1-2, Proverbs 9:5) and including her maidens in searching out those to whom to do good (Proverbs 9:3). But the foolish woman is not busy with her hands and instead makes immodest display of herself (Proverbs 9:13-14). Diligence and humility vs the immodesty of making a display of oneself is an important distinction between wisdom and folly. It is important to note about a woman, and it is important to note about the difference between how wisdom comes and how folly comes.

Also, there is an important difference between how they advertise what they offer. Wisdom offers forsaking of foolishness and direction into understanding (Proverbs 9:6). Folly offers a life in which diligence and understanding are unnecessary, because the sweetness and pleasantness come by way of theft and sneaking (Proverbs 9:17). We must watch against the false attractiveness or easiness. This is the path to enjoying that which is less (in this case, bread and water) instead of that which is of greater substance (e.g. meat and wine), merely because it is easy. But the short cut is not only a path to that which is less; it is the path to death and hell (Proverbs 9:18).

This is because the shortcut is cutting God Himself out (Proverbs 9:10). We must not be the uncorrectable scoffer (Proverbs 9:7-8), so that we will come to Him Himself. All of the instruction in the world is counter-productive unless we are first changed (Proverbs 9:7-9). One ought to be evangelized for conversion, before he can be helped in sanctification.

His best gift is not the multiplied days and added years (Proverbs 9:11), but Him Himself from Whom they come (verse 11a). It doesn’t benefit Him if we are wise (Proverbs 9:12a), or harm Him if we are scoffers (verse 12b). Rather, the giving of the knowledge of Himself is pure generosity, in which He gives Himself to be our eternal life.

What short cuts are you tempted to take in life? Particularly in spiritual life? But what (Whom!) is the proper way for you to pursue any good thing? How should you respond to Him, as He gives it?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for offering Yourself to us. Forgive us for desiring short cuts, in which we would not need repentance or sanctification. But grant unto us that, in dependence upon Your grace, we would respond to Your invitation, seeking to be Yours and to be made as we should be in Christ, through Whom we ask it, AMEN! 

Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH400 “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me”

2025.01.12 Lord's Day Livestreams (live at 10:10a, 11a, 3p)

Click below for the:

January 12 Lord's Day Worship Booklet

Matthew 14:1–12 sermon outline

3p song selections & Numbers 32 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.

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.