The wisdom that YHWH blesses shows up especially in how we use words and how we work.
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, March 06, 2025
Wisdom in Our Words and Work [2025.03.05 Midweek Sermon in Proverbs 12:1–14]
The wisdom that YHWH blesses shows up especially in how we use words and how we work.
Ready to Face the Lamb? [Family Worship lesson in Revelation 6:12–17]
How should we live, under the Lamb’s sovereign authority over history? Revelation 6:12–17 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 we should live as we will wish we had on the day of the wrath of the Lamb.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
2025.03.06 Hopewell @Home ▫ Revelation 6:12–17
Read Revelation 6:12–17
Questions from the Scripture text: What does John do in v12? What does the Lamb do? What six things happen in v12–14? What seven categories of men are named in v15? What do they do? Where do they hide? What do they ask the mountains and rocks to do (v16)? In order to hide them from Whose face? And Whose wrath? What day do they think has come (v17)? What rhetorical question do they ask? What is its implied answer?
How should we live, under the sovereign authority of the Lamb over history? Revelation 6:12–17 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 we should live as we will wish we had on the day of the wrath of the Lamb.
The Lamb exercises His sovereign authority of history not only in the triumphal progress of the church (v1–3), the sorts of things that Jesus calls merely the beginning of sorrows in Mt 24:7–8 (v3–8), and even the persecution of Christians (v9–11). But there is a time coming when the Lord will sovereignly shake all the powers of this world until they fall.
Sun, moon, and stars signify authority. They are created to “rule” (cf. Gen 1:16), and their falling down signifies a shakeup in rule (cf. Gen 37:8–10). In Mt 24:29–31, Jesus teaches that the coming of the Son of Man will come at the end of the age of tribulation (which age spans the entire time between His two comings). It is the same event as we see here, complete with the mourning of all of the tribes of the earth, and it immediately precedes the sounding of the last trumpet.
If the people in v15 had acknowledged or believed that the Lamb was upon the throne, they would not be in the position that they find themselves in the sixth seal. Alas, this age is full of those whose eyes are opened too late. The wrath of the Lamb is worse than the wrath of a Lion. For, they will look upon Him Whom they pierced. They will look upon the One Who died for sinners, the Lamb Who was slain, but Whom they rejected. And the wickedness of their rejecting Him will be compounded by the greatness of what He has done for those whom He redeemed.
The face of Him Who sits on the throne is a terrible prospect for them, in all His beauty and glory. They would rather be crushed by the whole of creation than bear the gaze of the Creator Whom they have denied. They would rather suffer anything else than endure the brilliance of the glory of the Lamb expressed upon them as fury, which glory had previously been offered to them as favor.
The point of the seal seems clear: we must live under the sovereign authority of Jesus, throughout the time between His two comings, as we will wish that we had when the great day of His second-coming arrives. Most of all, we must have Him Himself. We must have the white robes from the fifth seal, and be resting in Him, or else we will not be able to bear having His face look upon us.
There are all sorts of frightful men, and movements, and powers in this world. But they will all be shaken quite easily, like ripe figs falling in a storm, when the true Power shows Himself upon His return.
Are you dressed in the white robe of the righteousness of the Lamb? What might you change in order to live in the manner that you hope to be found upon His return?
Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for how easily we fear the powers and movements of this world and this age, when they shall be suddenly shaken and fall to the ground at the coming of our Lord Jesus. And forgive us for how often we do not live as we would wish to be found living upon His return. And forgive us for how much we have taken for granted the salvation that enables us to stand even in the great day of His wrath. Forgive us, and cleanse us, we ask in the Name of the Lamb, even Jesus, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP98 “O Sing a New Song” or TPH389 “Great God, What Do I See and Hear”
Wednesday, March 05, 2025
2025.03.05 Midweek Meeting Livestream (live at 6:30p)
Click below for the:
March 5 Prayer Meeting Folder
Proverbs 12:1–14 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.
Guilty of Not Knowing God [Family Worship lesson in Hosea 4:1–10]
What does forgetfulness of God deserve? Hosea 4:1–10 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that forgetfulness of God deserves to be forgotten and given over our sin, but God is gracious when, rather than giving us over to our sin, He frustrates us in our pursuit of it.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
2025.03.05 Hopewell @Home ▫ Hosea 4:1–10
Read Hosea 4:1-10
Questions from the Scripture text: What is commanded in Hosea 4:1a? Who is commanded (verse 1b)? What is He speaking, that they must hear (verse 1c)? What two things re missing (verse 1d)? Why—what else is missing (verse 1e)? What five habits demonstrate this (Hosea 4:2a–b)? Which is especially unchecked (verse 2c–d)? Therefore, what will mourn (Hosea 4:3a)? And who will waste away (verse 3b)? And what (verse 3c–e)? What mustn’t anyone do (Hosea 4:4a)? Why, what are they like (verse 4b)? So who stumbles, even when (Hosea 4:5a)? And even who stumbles (verse 5b)? And what will the Lord do to whom (verse 5c)? Why are the people being destroyed (Hosea 4:6a)? How have they come to the point where they do not know Him (verse 6b)? How will the Lord respond (verse 6c)? What have they forgotten (verse 6d)? Whom will He forget (verse 6e)? What had God done for them (Hosea 4:7a)? And what did they respond by doing to Him (verse 7b)? So, what will He now do to them (verse 7c)? What do they eat up (Hosea 4:8a)? Upon what do they set their heart (verse 8b)? Who will share in the same response from God (Hosea 4:9)? What will He take from them (Hosea 4:10a)? What will He frustrate (verse 10b)? Why (verse 10c)?#
What does forgetfulness of God deserve? Hosea 4:1–10 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that forgetfulness of God deserves to be forgotten and given over our sin, but God is gracious when, rather than giving us over to our sin, He frustrates us in our pursuit of it.
The Court Calls to Order, Hosea 4:1a. The first half of the verse appears small and insignificant. This is all the more reason to draw it out on its own. Otherwise, we might miss what a grave thing is going on here. What will follow is not news-reporting. It is not even “point of view” at the end of the news cast. These are not social comments made by an appalled, upstanding citizen. This is the Word of Yahweh, and He begins by declaring that there is a formal dispute between Himself and the people.
The Charges Read, Hosea 4:1b. The words translated “truth” and “mercy” have a much broader meaning. Most importantly, they are two singular attributes of YHWH. The “knowing” here has at least three aspects. We are quite familiar with objective knowledge, knowing about something. There is also personal, intimate knowledge, seen in its most intense example when the word is used to describe marital intimacy—a use made frequently in Scripture and not to be ignored in this context, where YHWH is Israel’s husband. Thirdly, the verse gives a sense that knowledge of YHWH (or the lack of it) may be equated to imaging His own character.
The Evidence Brought Forth, Hosea 4:2. Here we see what the evidence of not knowing YHWH looks like. When we speak of “just wanting to know” Him, let us remember that such knowledge involves not so much mystical, sentimental experience, but rather eradication of sin.
The Judgment Pronounced, Hosea 4:3. The penalty for lack of knowledge, and rampant violence (Hosea 4:2c–d, cf. Genesis 6:11) is complete and utter destruction. The intentional highlighting of the destruction of fish may be meant to declare that this destruction will be greater even than that in the time of Noah, when the fish were preserved. There is no greater sin, and no greater judgment, than to fail to know the Lord (cf. Romans 1:21, 2 Thessalonians 1:8).
A Reminder of Man’s Place, Hosea 4:4-5. People are not in a place to argue with God (cf. Romans 9:20-21). Yet, the people are like a priest who instead argues with Yahweh. He should be a mediator between others and YHWH, but he contends with the Lord instead. How instinctively our flesh bristles against providence, or God’s Word, or sound doctrine. We are so easily contentions. May the Lord give us sweet, gentle humility toward Himself.
A Reminder of the Covenant, Hosea 4:6-7. In Hosea 4:6, all the “you”s are singular. YHWH is speaking to Israel as if they were a priest (continuing the metaphor begun in Hosea 4:4). We have two explicit covenant references. First, Israel was to be the mediator of God’s grace for all nations by virtue of the Abrahamic covenant (Hosea 4:6c, cf. Genesis 12:3). Second, remembering the Law (Hosea 4:6d) was an explicit, covenant command, and the blessing of descendants the most basic covenant blessing (Hosea 4:6e). The command is transgressed, and the blessing is revoked. Finally, grievously, Deuteronomy 8:18-19 has come to pass. It is a great privilege and blessing to be God’s covenant people, who draw near to Him as priests. Let us not take it for granted or squander it.
Grace in Judgment, Hosea 4:8-10. The image of v8a is of a people who sustain themselves with evil, desiring it like food, and then are even gluttonous for it. The same verdicts declared against the priest in Hosea 4:4-7 are now declared to apply to the people in Hosea 4:9, making clear that Israel as a whole was that priest. Yet, Hosea 4:10 is really a word of grace. YHWH will frustrate their desires, which is chastening, but not judgment! Instead of giving them over to their sin (which would be judgment indeed), YHWH declares that He will frustrate their sin. What is the reason for this grace? That it was Himself Whom they had forsaken. This seems like strange logic to us, but His relationship with them is so important to Him, that rather than give them over to sin, He will frustrate their efforts. May the Lord so do to you, with your sins, dear reader.
In what times and ways are you most prone to forgetfulness of God? What use do you make of your privilege of drawing near to Him and interceding for others? How has He frustrated your sin? (or, more alarmingly, how has He permitted you to persist in it?)
Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us, for we have been like Israel in Hosea’s day, failing to image Your faithfulness and steadfast love. Rather than knowing You in all our ways, we have often been forgetful of You. We ought to draw near to You in sweet submission, but instead we have stiffened our necks against Your Word and providence. We have deserved to be forgotten, together with our children. Do not give us over to our sin, we pray, but frustrate all our sinful pursuits. Forgive us, and restore us to repentance, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested Songs: ARP51AB “God, Be Merciful to Me” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace”
Tuesday, March 04, 2025
The Love That Causes All Things [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 136]
How does God exercise His steadfast love? Psalm 136 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty-six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that everything that God does is done in steadfast love toward His people. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)
2025.03.04 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 136
Read Psalm 136
Questions from the Scripture text: What is the theme of this Psalm (Psalm 136:1b, Psalm 136:2b, Psalm 136:3b, Psalm 136:4b, Psalm 136:5b, Psalm 136:6b, Psalm 136:7b, Psalm 136:8b, Psalm 136:9b, Psalm 136:10b, Psalm 136:11b, Psalm 136:12b, Psalm 136:13b, Psalm 136:14, Psalm 136:15b, Psalm 136:16b, Psalm 136:17b, Psalm 136:18b, Psalm 136:19b, Psalm 136:20b, Psalm 136:21b, Psalm 136:22b, Psalm 136:23b, Psalm 136:24b, Psalm 136:25b, Psalm 136:26b)? What three things is He, in Himself (Psalm 136:1a, Psalm 136:2a, 3a)? What does He do (Psalm 136:4a)? What was the first great display of this (Psalm 136:5a, cf. Genesis 1:1, Genesis 1:6–7; Psalm 136:6a, cf. Genesis 1:9–10; Psalm 136:7a, Psalm 136:8a, Psalm 136:9a, cf. Genesis 1:14–18)? What act was a singular display of a “great wonder” (Psalm 136:10a, Psalm 136:11a, Psalm 136:12a, Psalm 136:13a, Psalm 136:14a, Psalm 136:15a, Psalm 136:16a, Psalm 136:17a, Psalm 136:18a, Psalm 136:19a, Psalm 136:20a, Psalm 136:21a, Psalm 136:22a)? What ongoing covenantal acts are some more “great wonders” (Psalm 136:23a, Psalm 136:24a)? What ongoing creational acts are other “great wonders” (Psalm 136:25a)? What does Psalm 136:26a call Him in summary?
How does God exercise His steadfast love? Psalm 136 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty-six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that everything that God does is done in steadfast love toward His people.
YHWH is the God Who is (Psalm 136:1a). From Him, and beneath Him, are all other powers (Psalm 136:2a, Psalm 136:3a), so that His doing of great wonders is “alone” in its divine uniqueness (Psalm 136:4a).
This, He has displayed in all creation (Psalm 136:5-9) and providence (Psalm 136:25-26) in heaven and earth.
But, especially, He has displayed it in His dealings with His people (Psalm 136:23-24). The Exodus (Psalm 136:10-15), conquest of the land (Psalm 136:16-20), and possessing of the land (Psalm 136:21-22) were the great display of His salvation in the Old Testament, and an image in history of the ultimate salvation.
But, while the Exodus, and (infinitely more so) the cross, are singular displays of His covenant/steadfast love (better than NKJ’s “mercy”), the point of the Psalm is that everything that He does is done in that steadfast love. It doesn’t just “endure forever” in that it is never exhausted. Rather, it is eternal because it is an integral aspect of Who God is.
Secondly, everything that God does is done in His steadfast love because His covenant love to the church is the great project of all of history. That love is in Christ Jesus our Lord (cf. Romans 8:39) from before the world began (cf. Romans 8:29). It had no beginning, it cannot have an end, and it is uninterruptedly behind everything that the Lord does.
Oh, dear Christian, may this Psalm penetrate your soul so that you see God’s steadfast love to His church in everything that happens at all times!
What is going on in the world right now that you need to remember comes in God’s steadfast love toward you? What is going on in your life right now that you need to remember comes in God’s steadfast love toward you?
Sample prayer: Lord, we praise You, for You are love. You are the only, true and living God, the God of gods and the Lord of lords, Who alone do great wonders. And, all of these wonders, You do in Your steadfast love toward us. Whether creating heaven and earth and all this vast creation, or redeeming Your people out of every trouble, You do everything in Your steadfast love toward us. Indeed, this is because You have loved us with an everlasting love in Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, in Your steadfast love, which endures until now, and endures forever, receive us in Jesus Christ—both now, and forever—we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested Songs: ARP136 “Thank the LORD, for Good Is He” or TPH136 “O Thank the LORD, for He Is Good”
Monday, March 03, 2025
Anatomy of Rebellion and Repentance [2025.03.02 Evening Sermon in Deuteronomy 1:19–46]
We must treat God as God, by a repentance that comes from God
Beholding, Entering, Possessing [2025.02.23 Evening Sermon in Deuteronomy 1:6–18]
Obedience is an expression of the faith that it is not we who are accomplishing, but God Who is giving, what He has promised.
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