2025.04.21 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 13:20–25

Proverbs 13:20–25

Questions from the Scripture text: With whom does the one in Proverbs 13:20a walk? What happens to him? Whose companion is he one in verse 20b? What happens to him? What pursues sinners (Proverbs 13:21a)? What shall be repaid to the righteous (verse 21b)? What does the good man leave to whom (Proverbs 13:22a)? What happens to whom else’s wealth (verse 22b)? How much food is where (Proverbs 13:23a)? What does lack of justice cause (verse 23b)? What is he man in Proverbs 13:24a failing to do? What sort of action is this toward his son? What does the man who loves his son do (verse 24b)? What does the righteous get out of eating (Proverbs 13:25a)? How about the wicked (verse 25b)? 

To what end should we aim our parenting? Proverbs 13:20–25 looks backward to the sermon in last week’s midweek meeting. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should live and parent as those who wish to be satisfied upon the Lord, forever.  

In this little section, Proverbs 13:20-21 establishes the theme, and Proverbs 13:22-25 applies it, especially to what we do with our children, and especially through he image of hunger. One preliminary step to humbling ourselves under the wisdom of others is spending time with those who are wise (Proverbs 13:20), and the needfulness of receiving this instruction is immediately seen in Proverbs 13:21. Just as goodness and covenant love  are hot on the heels of the believer in Psalm 23:6, the same verb tells us that evil is hot on the heels of sinners in Proverbs 13:21a. How very much we need wisdom! It is the difference between having an evil end and a good end (verse 21b).

And there are those whose end we have been especially assigned, by God’s providence, to care for: our children and our children’s children. Proverbs 13:22 teaches not so much a principle (that the good should try to leave an inheritance to children’s children) as a generalized fact (that, ordinarily, godliness is met with multi-generational blessing). Of course, this wealth is especially spiritual—as we remember, from earlier in the chapter, that God Himself (and the righteousness necessary for right relationship with Him) is true riches. This should be the godly’s aim, and hope, for his children and children’s children.

This is why the godly will not leave his children to themselves, or to other children. If, indeed, rod-demanding folly is bound up in their hearts (Proverbs 13:24, cf. Proverbs 22:15), then two things are true. First, the godly ought not to seek “peer groups” for their children and youth. This is to consign them to the fate of the companion of fools: destruction. Let parents instead be their children’s companions, and let them seek for their children other mature believers to be companions. In such good, multigenerational company, children of parents who are pursuing the same biblical wisdom for them may grow safely together in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and with men. Second, the godly must not only employ the rod, but do so instantly. Like their child’s life depends upon it (Proverbs 13:20, cf. Proverbs 22:15, Proverbs 23:13–14). This is what love does, when so much is at stake (Proverbs 13:24b)! 

In the alternating verses (Proverbs 13:23, Proverbs 13:25), the reality and metaphor of hunger is used to illustrate the whole of godliness from the part of diligence. Those poor in Proverbs 13:23 are poor because neither have they been diligent to work their ground (verse 23a), nor have they been good stewards of what it produced (verse 23b). Untrained children exhibit this exact laziness and wastefulness. And, the parent sees in it a glimpse of what their children may be. Notice the imbalance in the contrast in Proverbs 13:25. The difference between the righteous and the wicked can be seen even in their area of focus. For the righteous, it is his soul that he seeks to see satisfied—and it will be (verse 25a)! For the wicked, his stomach is his focus (cf. Philippians 3:19), but even that will always feel like it is needing more (Proverbs 13:25b). The godly desire, for themselves and for their children and children’s children, to have everlastingly satisfied souls!

Who are your companions? Who are your children’s companions? What might change in your disciplining (or your being disciplined), if it was done like your life depends on it? How diligent are you in satisfying your stomach? How diligent are you in satisfying your soul?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for being our good Father, Who gives us both the instruction that we need and the discipline that we need. Grant that we might walk with those wise, with whom we too will become wise, and have our souls satisfied in You, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH119B “How Shall the Young Direct Their Way?” 

2025.04.20 Lord's Day livestreams (live at 10:10a, 11:10a, 3p)

Click below for the:

April 20 Lord's Day Worship Booklet

Matthew 18:1–11 sermon outline

3p song selections & Deuteronomy 4:11–40 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.

He Is the Greatest! [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 18:1–11]

Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Matthew 18:1–11 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and this must shape how we regard others, and all things. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.19 Hopewell @Home ▫ Matthew 18:1–11

Read Matthew 18:1–11

Questions from the Scripture text: Who came to Jesus in Matthew 18:1? About what did they ask Him? Whom does Jesus call in response (Matthew 18:2)? Where does He set him? How does the introduction to His statement emphasize its solemnity (Matthew 18:3)? What two things does He say they must do (verse 3)? In order to do what? What, then, is His answer to the question (Matthew 18:4)? What else might someone do to one of these little ones (Matthew 18:6)? Little ones who do what? What would be better for the one who does this? Upon what does Matthew 18:7 pronounce woe? Because of what? What must come? Upon whom else does verse 7 pronounce woe? What does Matthew 18:8 imagine causing you to stumble? What should you do to that hand or foot? Why? What does Matthew 18:9 imagine causing you to stumble? What should you do to that eye? Why? To the consideration of whom does Matthew 18:10 return? What must they see to it that they do not do to them? Whom do they have where? And what do those angels always see? Who has come to save little ones (Matthew 18:11)? What sort, specifically?

Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Matthew 18:1–11 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and this must shape how we regard others, and all things.  

Become little ones, Matthew 18:1-3. The disciples are understanding that there is a significant disconnect between the powers of this world and the power of the kingdom. Jesus is coming into a very great and kingly glory, and now they want to know how to get the biggest piece of that (Matthew 18:1). But Jesus employs a little child to illustrate (Matthew 18:2) that their thinking is exactly opposite. The word “converted” in Matthew 18:3 isn’t the changing of a new mind, but a word that means to turn or return. 

Become littler in the light of Christ’s greatness, Matthew 18:4-5. The way up is actually the way down. You cannot even enter the kingdom of heaven without returning to that condition in which your smallness, inability, and helplessness are your unquestioned reality. Christ must be all for you. But even within the kingdom, the path to greatness is to keep going down, keep humbling himself (Matthew 18:4). For, in the kingdom, the greatness is all Christ’s. We are to welcome even little ones with the regard that we have for Him Who is the greatness of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:5). 

This is the ultimate answer to their question, isn’t it? The greatest in the kingdom of heaven is Jesus! Our aim should not be to be great, ourselves, but to treat Jesus as great—receiving the least on account of His greatness is treating Him as great. This is why Christians are to outdo one another in showing honor (cf. Romans 12:10b).

Help other little ones treat Jesus as great, Matthew 18:6-7. Rather than focus upon being greater than others, we ought to be focused upon helping one another treat Jesus as great. Prideful jockeying for status in the church is exactly the opposite, and is  way of causing one another to stumble. Jesus denounces this in shocking terms in Matthew 18:6 and pronounces a solemn woe upon it in Matthew 18:7. The world, by which verse 7 means that which is hostile to Christ, would like nothing more than to cause believers to stumble. Jesus pronounces  woe upon it. But, if we cause one another to stumble, then we become just like the world in that regard, and Jesus pronounces a woe upon us when that is the case.

Cut out anything that keeps you from treating Jesus as great, Matthew 18:8-9. Whatever diminishes Christ to us threatens our very soul. We know that it is not the hand or foot or eye that actually causes us to stumble. But there are certainly activities that we do with our hands, and places that we go with our feet, and things that we look upon with our eyes, that should be ruthlessly expunged from out lives. Choosing sin over Christ, and not caring to correct it, is a reliable indicator that we are not in Him at all.

Treat His salvation as great by greatly regarding those whom He is saving, Matthew 18:10-11. Just who do we think that we are, looking down upon Christ’s little ones. Angels do not look down on them! Indeed, each little one has mighty ministering spirits, sent out to serve them (Matthew 18:10, cf. Hebrews 1:14). They know true greatness; they are familiar with God’s own glory in the highest heaven; and, they still don’t despise these little ones. What’s more, infinitely more, is that the Son of Man has regarded them. This Glorious One has so regarded them that, when they were lost, He Himself came to save them. He humbled Himself to come save them! Just who do we think that we are to look down upon them? Let us regard them out of regard for Him, and in imitation of Him!

In what situations have you been tempted to desire to be seen as great? What would it look like for you to be happy to be small in those situations? What would it look like for you to be treating Christ as truly great?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we thank You for the humility of Jesus Christ, Your everlasting and glorious Son. Thank You that, even when He came to be the glorious Son of Man, He humbled Himself further and further until He had given Himself on the cross for us. Please, give us the humility to consider ourselves as little babies, by comparison to His incomparable greatness, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP131 “My Heart Is Not Exalted, Lord” or TPH131B “Not Haughty Is My Heart”

The Greatest Miracle [Family Worship lesson in Deuteronomy 4:11–40]

How are we to know God? Deuteronomy 4:11–40 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirty verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we must know, draw near to, and worship God only in the manner in which He Himself has given us to do so.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.18 Hopewell @Home ▫ Deuteronomy 4:11–40

Read Deuteronomy 4:11–40

Questions from the Scripture text: Where had they come (Deuteronomy 4:11)? What was the mountain like? Who did what from where (Deuteronomy 4:12)? What did they hear? What did they see? What, specifically, did He declare (Deuteronomy 4:13)? What else did He do with this covenant/commandments? And what did He command Moses to do (Deuteronomy 4:14)? So that the people might do what? Where? To what must they take heed (Deuteronomy 4:15)? Why—what didn’t they see? When? From where did YHWH speak? What would they do, if they do not take heed to themselves (Deuteronomy 4:16)? Of what might they make an image (Deuteronomy 4:16-18)? What else might they serve in worship (Deuteronomy 4:19)? But from Whom are they gifts? In order to serve whom? How are Israel different from the rest of the world—Who brought them out (Deuteronomy 4:20)? From where? To be what? With whom was YHWH angry (Deuteronomy 4:21)? On account of whom? What did He swear? What must Moses do instead (Deuteronomy 4:22)? To what must they take heed (Deuteronomy 4:23)? Lest they do what? By making what? What makes it so urgent that they worship only as He has given (Deuteronomy 4:24, cf. Hebrews 12:29)? Whom will they beget (Deuteronomy 4:25)? Where? By doing what? In Whose sight is this evil? To what does it provoke Him? Whom/what does he call to witness in Deuteronomy 4:26? What will happen to them if they do act corruptly (verse 26)? And what will YHWH do to them (Deuteronomy 4:27)? How many will remain? What will they do there (Deuteronomy 4:28)? Until they do what from there (Deuteronomy 4:29)? What will happen if they seek Him? In what manner? To what point will they be brought (Deuteronomy 4:30)? What will they do in this distress? What is the character of their God (Deuteronomy 4:31)? What will He not do to them? What will He not forget? About what period does Moses now tell them to ask (Deuteronomy 4:32)? Whether what has happened? What is the “great thing” to which he is referring (Deuteronomy 4:33)? And what else (Deuteronomy 4:34)? Why did YHWH do such great things (Deuteronomy 4:35)? What great thing does He repeat in Deuteronomy 4:36? What is another reason that He did these great things (Deuteronomy 4:37)? What new, great thing does this verse mention? What did He do to whom? And what did He do to whom in Deuteronomy 4:38? What two things are they to do with what fact (Deuteronomy 4:39)? How are they to respond to this reality (Deuteronomy 4:40)? With what outcome? 

How are we to know God? Deuteronomy 4:11–40 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirty verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we must know, draw near to, and worship God only in the manner in which He Himself has given us to do so.

We really don’t get how glorious a thing it is to hear the Word of God. This passage puts hearing His Word (Deuteronomy 4:11-14, Deuteronomy 4:33, Deuteronomy 4:36) right up there with the greatest signs and wonders against Egypt (Deuteronomy 4:20, Deuteronomy 4:34, Deuteronomy 4:37) and the Amorites (Deuteronomy 4:38). 

Indeed, hearing His Word is the manner in which He has given us to know Him. He did not give them to see any likeness (Deuteronomy 4:12, Deuteronomy 4:15). This is why it is so wicked to worship Him by way of any form that we make (Deuteronomy 4:16-18, Deuteronomy 4:23) or any creature that He has made (Deuteronomy 4:19). To do so is to act corruptly, to do evil to His face, and to provoke Him to anger (Deuteronomy 4:25). 

YHWH has given Himself to us! And YHWH, Himself, therefore is the only One Who can establish how we worship Him or draw near to Him. The living God has saved a people to be His own inheritance (Deuteronomy 4:20). And He is determined that they would come to count Him as their inheritance (Deuteronomy 4:29), seeking Him with all their heart and turning to Him (Deuteronomy 4:30), which He will bring about in mercy (Deuteronomy 4:31). 

The Lord has done this to make them to know Him as the one, true God (Deuteronomy 4:35), because He had set His love upon their fathers (Deuteronomy 4:37). Here is the great thing that God does in covenanted love: He makes a people to know Him Himself as the only true God (Deuteronomy 4:39)! And this is the basis of our obedience (Deuteronomy 4:40): it is a right response not only to the fact that God is the one, true, and living God, but that He has particularly made us to know Him. 

What is at stake in their response to Moses’s sermon is not just good behavior. What is at stake is that they would know, with their whole lives, that YHWH alone is God, and that YHWH had given Himself to be their own covenant God and taken them to be His own covenant people. 

Breaking any of God’s commands violently rejects this glorious reality. But what does so, most of all, is to worship God in any way that He has not commanded. This is why, when He came by way of His Word alone, He presented Himself as a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24). He is committed to the true reality about Himself and how He gives Himself to us. And now that He has given Himself to us in His Son, this is not diminished, but rather intensified (cf. Hebrews 12:28–29)!

What does it mean to you that the Lord, the Creator, has given you to know Him in truth? How does this help you detest any kind of worship that the Lord Himself has not commanded? What are some common examples, today, of uncommanded worship in evangelical churches? What are some examples of it, even in professedly “Reformed” churches?

Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for loving us and determining to bring us to know You in truth. Forgive us for the ways in which we have chosen our imaginings over Your reality, and bring us to repentance in Christ. Through Him, bring us near to Yourself in truth, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP115A “Not Unto Us, Lord” or TPH135 “O Praise the Lord! His Praise Proclaim!”

The Prevailing of Persecuted Preaching [Family Worship lesson in Revelation 11:1–14]

What is the story of the age during which demonic hordes have been permitted to wreak havoc upon the earth? Revelation 11:1–14 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the story of this age has not been so much those things that warn about the wrath, but the power of the gospel that urges us to flee the wrath to come.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.17 Hopewell @Home ▫ Revelation 11:1–14

Read Revelation 11:1–14

Questions from the Scripture text: What was John given (Revelation 11:1)? To measure what three things? What was he to leave out (Revelation 11:2)? Why? What would the nations do? For how long? To whom would the Angel give His power (Revelation 11:3)? What would they do? For how many days? In what attire? As what are the two witnesses described in Revelation 11:4? Before Whom do they especially stand? Over what is He called “Lord” here? What proceeds from their mouth (Revelation 11:5)? What does it do to their enemies who want to harm them? How sure is this to happen? What powers do they have by their prophesying (Revelation 11:6)? When are these preachers permitted to be killed (Revelation 11:7)? How? Who will gloat over them (Revelation 11:9-10)? Why? According to whose example (Revelation 11:8)? For how long? But what will happen then (Revelation 11:11)? With what effect upon those who see them? What do the prophets hear in Revelation 11:12? From where? What does it say? What do they do? Who sees this? What happens at that time on earth (Revelation 11:13)? And what falls? With what effect on how many? And what effect on the rest? What do they finally do? What does this conclude (Revelation 11:14)? What is now coming quickly? 

What is the story of the age during which demonic hordes have been permitted to wreak havoc upon the earth? Revelation 11:1–14 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the story of this age has not been so much those things that warn about the wrath, but the power of the gospel that urges us to flee the wrath to come.

In the face of the demonic hordes of the fifth and sixth trumpets, chapter 10 gave us a heavenly perspective on the power of Christ to reign, and His assignment to His servants to preach. Now, in Revelation 11:1–14, John sees the same thing from the vantage point of the earth. 

There is an emphasis upon measurement here (Revelation 11:1). Everywhere in the New Testament, the new temple of God is the church. By the time that the early church unanimously tells us that Revelation was written, God had used Rome to destroy Herod’s temple. Is God’s establishment on earth destroyed? Not at all! It’s measure is far greater than it had ever been before Christ. This is just as we would expect under the gospel.

God knows the “measurements” of the nations as well (Revelation 11:2), but they are not the focus of the history between the two comings of Christ. They tread God’s holy city—not, now, the earthly Jerusalem of Revelation 11:8, but the true Jerusalem, the church, which the Spirit also calls the Israel of God (cf. Galatians 6:16). The full Israel, including the fullness of the spared remnant and the ingrafting of the remnant from the nations. The time between Christ’s comings is focused upon the gathering in of the fullness of this remnant (cf. Revelation 6:11), not so much upon those who hate them and reject their witness.

The number “two” is very important here. Just as it is used for completeness by the idea of “doubling” in Hosea 10:10 (of the completeness of Israel’s sin) and Isaiah 40:2 (of the completeness of Christ’s atonement), so also it is used here of the completeness of the church’s preaching. Note that the preaching of John (cf. John 10:11) and other specifically sent servants (cf. Romans 10:14–15) is testimony. They are called “witnesses.” This is not witness or testimony about their experience. It is bearing witness to Jesus Christ Himself (cf. 1 John 1:1–3). 

The number “two” is also important here by way of halving. Forty-two months, and on thousand two hundred and sixty days, are both half of seven years. The Lord often highlights how He is shortening days of hardship and grief (cf. Matthew 24:22). In this case, what is being shortened is the church’s persecution (Revelation 11:2), as well as her grief in preaching the gospel to a world in desperate need of repentance (Revelation 11:3). It is useful for gospel-preachers to learn here that, though the mode of our evangelism with respect to Jesus is joy over Him, the mode of our evangelism with respect to the spiritually dead is with grief over them. Warning the dead to flee the wrath to come is something to be done “in sackcloth.” 

The Lord also shortens the days in which the world appears to have defeated the church and her preaching of the gospel. Each preacher is assigned by God  specific length of life, and only when his work is done, is the enemy permitted to send him to glory (Revelation 11:7). This is also true of periods of revival and reformation, which have had a specific length of time, before the world arises in the spirit of Jerusalem (Revelation 11:8) and rejoices (Revelation 11:9-10) over what they think is the demise of the church, and the true faith (what we would call the Reformed faith, since the use of that word in connection with the 16th century revival). But, they are terrified, again, when gospel preaching is revived (Revelation 11:11-12). The Lord shortens the days of darkness that come between these revivals. The time between the comings of Christ centers upon His sovereign work in saving through the preaching of the gospel.

While the nations rage, and reject God and Christ, and rejoice whenever the gospel seems silenced and the church seems dead, they are not the true power of the age. The preaching of the gospel comes with the same power now as in the days of Elijah (Revelation 11:6a) and Moses (verse 6b). It is the preaching of the gospel that shakes the earth (Revelation 11:13a—and heaven, too, cf. Hebrews 12:25–27) and either kills or gives life (Revelation 11:13b).

The first two woes, the fifth and sixth trumpets, have highlighted demonic activity on the earth as a reminder that God’s wrath, Christ’s wrath, is coming. But the interlude in chapters 10–11 have reminded us that the story of this time period is not the activity of those demons, but the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the conquering ministry of the gospel throughout that period (cf. Revelation 6:2)! 

Dear reader, there is a temptation to think that the story of our life and our day is what the powers of hell are doing, or what the powers of the world are doing. But, the story of your life and our day is especially what Christ Himself is doing through His powerful gospel, and how you are responding to it. This ought to bring comfort and conviction, and enable you to “overcome.” This has been the primary applicational response throughout Revelation. Overcome! Overcome in the way that we will especially read about when we come to Revelation 12:11. Overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of your testimony. And, when the days of your witness in this world are completed, overcome by loving not your life, even unto death.

When you think of “witnessing,” about Whom are you giving witness? How do the numbers in this chapter help you think more correctly, believingly, and healthily, when the days of suffering or spiritual decline seem to you to be too long? How do the last several chapters help you think about the primary story of your life, and of the world in this age?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we see how very much Your Word teaches us to focus upon Your church, and her witness to Christ, in this age. Forgive us for how we have failed to have the same focus! And forgive us, for when our hearts have not had the grief of sackcloth over the woe of an unbelieving world under the wrath of God. Grant that we would have confidence in Your exercise of Your own power through the preaching of the gospel. Forgive us for when we have been fearful and anxious and unbelieving before the world. Grant that we would overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of our testimony, and that we would love not our lives, even unto death, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP2 “Why Do Gentile Nations Rage” or TPH389 “Great God, What Do I See and Hear?” 

2025.04.16 Midweek Meeting Live Stream (live at 6:30p)

Click below for the:

April 16 Prayer Meeting Folder

Proverbs 13:20–25 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.

Made to Plow for Repentance [Family Worship lesson in Hosea 10:3–15]

How does the church respond to judgment? Hosea 10:3–15 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that some in the church respond to God’s judgment in a way that just brings more of it, but His focus is especially upon the others, whom He causes to respond to His judgment with repentance that is met by His mercy. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)