2026.03.19 Hopewell @Home ▫ Mark 1:12–20

Read Mark 1:12–20

Questions from the Scripture text: Where does the Spirit send Jesus, right after He is baptized? What does Satan do to Jesus in the wilderness? How long does that happen? What happens to John the Baptist in Mark 1:14? Where does Jesus go, when that happens? What is Jesus preaching? What were Simon and Andrew doing when Jesus saw them? What did He tell them to do instead?

What kind of Savior is Jesus, of what kind of people? Mark 1:12–20 prepares us for the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus is a Savior Who humbled Himself to save a lowly people. 

After a very impressive introduction to Jesus in the Gospel of Mark, this week’s Gospel reading gets “down to earth” very quickly. John the baptizer had announced that the God of Isaiah 40 would show up (Mark 1:1-3), and then Jesus did (Mark 1:9-11). 

But where does He immediately go? This is not at all what we might have expected—a triumphant march to a throne, surrounded by worshipers who sing His praises, and servants’ constant attendance to His every desire. Instead, the Spirit sends Him into the wilderness (Mark 1:12), to have wild animals as His companions, and Satan’s constant attacks to occupy His time (Mark 1:13).

And what happens to Jesus’s herald? He ends up in prison (Mark 1:14a). Not exactly confidence-inspiring for this “kingdom movement.” Where does Jesus go? Into the backcountry (Galilee, verse 14b). What does Jesus start doing? Preaching (verse 14c): “Have your mind transformed from being for-sin to against it, and respond to news of my kingdom by trusting in the good news about Me” (Mark 1:15).

Then, look at where Jesus goes to recruit His first followers and primary helpers: the seaside. Have the nobles gone on a beach holiday? Did the top theology school students take a break to go swimming? No, Jesus is looking for… fishermen?! 

Perhaps it is fitting that the very first mentioned is Peter (Simon, Mark 1:16). His love and enthusiasm for Christ come in admirable bursts. But his mistakes, failings, and foot-in-his mouth moments stick out just as plainly. Mark doesn’t even call him Rocky (Peter) yet, which is a name that Jesus will give him in one of his better moments. Simon is one disciple to whom the rest of us can often relate.

Even with hired men (Mark 1:20), Zebedee still operates from the boat. You get the idea that James and John are quite young. Christ is going to astound us with His power. Astound us with His mercy. Astound us with His wisdom. So, we are going to worship in awe at Christ’s greatness. 

But the passage that we have before us today has us worshiping at His humility. Look at how low God Himself has stooped to save us! Look at what unworthy people He saves, at what lowly places and people He cares about, and at what flawed people He uses! Look at how troubling and discouraging are the circumstances in which He works!

Thus, the Holy Spirit prepares us to worship—and trust in—a Savior, Who became like us in every way except without sin. He prepares us to worship, and trust in, One Who saves people just like us.

In what current situation do you need to be reminded that Jesus is working? What person are you hoping that Jesus will save, but have been discouraged about whether that can happen? Whom have you been too proud or lazy to serve? What in yourself has you tempted to view yourself as unusable or perhaps even unsaveable? Behold Your Savior who is willing to stoop to do it! As Mark will tell us later, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many!” Let us repent and believe the gospel. And let us follow Him in serving/retrieving others.

Sample prayer:  Lord, have mercy on us, sinners. We take heart from the humility to which our Lord Jesus went, for our poor sakes. Truly, we must have His atonement for our guilt, and His resurrection for our liberty. Through Him, forgive us, and free us, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH492 “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds”

2026.03.18 Midweek Meeting Livestream (live at 6:30p)

To tune in for the Prayer Meeting, we recommend that you visit the livestream page.

Witnesses from God for Our Good [Family Worship lesson in Deuteronomy 31:14–29]

What is Moses’s last official act as the leader of Israel? Deuteronomy 31:14–29 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 Moses’s last official act as the leader of Israel is to call three witnesses against them and their future betrayal of the Lord. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: In this passage, God prepares Israel for the transition after Moses’ death by establishing three enduring witnesses to testify against their inherent tendency toward rebellion and forgetfulness. Through the prophetic song, the written Law placed beside the Ark, and the testimony of heaven and earth, God provides lasting reminders of His holiness, faithfulness, and judgment. These witnesses are not merely historical records but living tools to confront the heart’s inclination toward idolatry, especially in times of prosperity when spiritual complacency threatens. Ultimately, the message calls the church to steward these divine witnesses—Scripture, song, and creation—so that they may not testify against us, but instead draw us into deeper faith, obedience, and love for the living God.

2026.03.18 Hopewell @Home ▫ Deuteronomy 31:14–29

Read Deuteronomy 31:14–29

Questions from the Scripture text: Who spoke to whom (Deuteronomy 31:14)? What days were approaching? Whom was he to call? Where were they to go? For what? What did they do? Who appeared (Deuteronomy 31:15)? In what? What did the pillar do? What did YHWH tell Moses that he would do (Deuteronomy 31:16)? What did He tell him that the people would do? Then what will YHWH do (Deuteronomy 31:17)? With what results for the people? What will they say? And what will God continue to do (Deuteronomy 31:18)? What does He tell Moses to do as a witness against them (Deuteronomy 31:19)? What will YHWH have done for them (Deuteronomy 31:20)? And what will they still do to Him? And what will witness against them, as they are being punished for it (Deuteronomy 31:21)? So what did Moses do (Deuteronomy 31:22)? And what did YHWH do (Deuteronomy 31:23)? And what did Moses complete (Deuteronomy 31:24)? Whom did he command (Deuteronomy 31:25)? To put what where (Deuteronomy 31:26)? What would be a witness? What does Moses know about them (Deuteronomy 31:27)? What will happen after his death (cf. Deuteronomy 31:16)? Whom does Moses say to gather (Deuteronomy 31:28)? For what purpose will he speak the words of the song in their hearing? What does he know (Deuteronomy 31:29)? And what will happen to them for this?

What is Moses’s last official act as the leader of Israel? Deuteronomy 31:14–29 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 Moses’s last official act as the leader of Israel is to call three witnesses against them and their future betrayal of the Lord.  

If you’ve ever been surprised by Joshua 24:19, it might help you to remember that back on his ordination day, Joshua heard YHWH tell Moses, from out of the pillar of cloud, what Israel would do after Moses’s death. On that occasion, also, Joshua appeals to the people as witness against themselves (cf. Joshua 24:22), and he erects a stone as a witness against them (cf. Joshua 24:27). 

That is all reminiscent of our passage, today, and God’s three witnesses against the nation of Israel, which testify to how treacherous and evil their turning against God will be.

The first witness is this song (Deuteronomy 31:19). One wonderful reason for singing Scripture is that it makes these words of Christ to dwell richly in us. But the Lord is going to make this song get stuck in their heads for another reason (Deuteronomy 31:21): so that the Lord’s greatness, and His goodness to them, and patience with them, will never be forgotten in the mouths of their descendants. This is so significant, that our passage combines the commission to write this song with Joshua’s ordination, identifying the song as Moses’s last “official” act as the leader of Israel. As for Joshua, the need for strength and courage from YHWH’s being with him (Deuteronomy 31:23) is directly tied to these sure prophecies of Israel’s betrayal and wickedness. For parents who know our own, and our children’s sin, this is a charge to take heart from the Lord to be strong and courageous. Strength and courage are more needful for leading sinners than for facing enemies.

The second witness is the Book of the Law, which was put next to ark of the covenant as a witness against them (Deuteronomy 31:26). It is a wonderful thing to have the written Word of God. But it is also a weighty thing. How many of us have Bibles that testify against us for our not reading them. Or for our reading our own ideas into them. Or for our careless forgetting of what they say. Or our living in disregard of them. The Scriptures that He has given His people are a witness against them. What Moses knew about the rebellion and stiff neck of Israel (Deuteronomy 31:27) was not exclusive to Israel. Indeed, it was written down for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:11). 

The third witness is heaven and earth (Deuteronomy 31:28). All of God’s creation would “be there,” in God’s providence, as Moses spoke the words of the song. His presence is infinitely penetrating; everything, everywhere continually depends upon His being. But, being weak of eyesight and hard of hearing, we do not perceive His presence, or heed its witness against us. So, He has surrounded us with His creation. All of heaven and earth is witness.

The Lord keep us from forsaking Him, lest His comfortable presence forsake us, dear reader. The Lord keep our churches from breaking covenant with Him, because Christ will never break covenant with Him. He would remove our lampstand first. The Lord keep us from doing evil in His sight and provoking Him to anger through the work of our hands.

What would your Bible witness about your use (or not) of it? What would it witness about your behavior? In what circumstances are you most forgetful that you are in the presence of God? What does the creation witness about you in those circumstances?

Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for failing to take Your Word as a witness in our lives. Forgive us for doing evil in Your sight and provoking You to anger through the work of our hands. Truly, You have left us with the Scriptures as witness, and even with all of heaven and earth as witness against us. By Your Spirit, soften our hearts, and give us repentance, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP34C “O Sons and Daughters, Come” or TPH174 “The Ten Commandments”

The Bride’s Crowning Beauties [2026.03.15 Evening Sermon in Song of Songs 7:1–9a]

The Lord delights in His church as the place where His elect have safety and growth.

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

Who Can Endure His Wrath? [2026.03.15 Morning Sermon in Nahum 1:1–6]

Though YHWH is slow to anger, it is not from inability to judge, nor unwillingness. And, He tells us about His wrath, so we will respond rightly to it by faith, as if we had already seen it by sight—by fleeing to Jesus from the wrath to come.

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

Partaking of Christ Himself [2026.03.15 Sabbath School lesson in WCF 27.1.3—Hopewell 101]

The sacraments signify Christ and His benefits, as evidenced in 1Cor 10–11, by the Spirit's instruction that, when we come to the Lord's Supper, it should be Christ Himself of Whom we come to partake.

(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The lesson centers on the theological significance of sacraments as divine signs and seals of the covenant of grace, emphasizing that they point not to human institutions or rituals, but directly to Christ and His redemptive work. Ultimately, the sacraments are presented as multidimensional invitations to remember Christ’s past work, experience His present presence, and anticipate His future return, all within the context of a living, unified body.

The Bride's Crowning Beauties [Family Worship lesson in Song of Songs 7:1–9a]

How much does Jesus adore and enjoy the church? Song of Songs 7:1–9a prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord Jesus is captivated with delight in His bride. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional presents the church as the beloved bride of Christ, emphasizing her beauty in the divine actions and spiritual qualities that reflect His grace. It unfolds a theological vision where the church’s feet—her godly actions—are celebrated as beautiful footprints of divine workmanship, the work of Christ’s own skillful hand. Her nourishing ministry, depicted through wine and wheat, reflects the means of grace through which Christ sustains His people, while her watchful purity, likened to ivory and royal towers, underscores the importance of spiritual vigilance and doctrinal integrity. The devotional culminates in the bride’s adorning beauty—her godly character, modesty, and worship—portrayed as surpassing earthly splendor, with her hair like purple and her stature like Mount Carmel, signifying her royal identity and spiritual fullness. Ultimately, Christ goes to great lengths to delight not only in the church’s works but especially in her worship, where her breath is like apples and her speech like fine wine, affirming that true worship is the highest expression of her love and the greatest delight to her Bridegroom.

2026.03.17 Hopewell @Home ▫ Song of Songs 7:1–9a

Read Song of Songs 7:1–9a

Questions from the Scripture text: What does the Bridegroom praise (Song of Songs 7:1a)? What does He call her (verse 1b)? What does He praise in verse 1c–d? In what way? What two things does He praise in Song of Songs 7:2? In what manner? And what, in Song of Songs 7:3? In what manner? What does He praise in Song of Songs 7:4a? How? And in verse 4b–c? How? And in verse 4d–e? How? What does He praise in Song of Songs 7:5? In what manner? How does He summarize His praise in Song of Songs 7:6-7? And how does He describe His desire to delight in her (Song of Songs 7:8-9)? 

How much does Jesus adore and enjoy the church? Song of Songs 7:1–9a prepares us for the opening portion of public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord Jesus is captivated with delight in His bride. 

Not only have His expressions praise of her, and desire for her, not diminished, but now we see that they have even greatly increased. She had praised Him from head to toe in Song of Songs 5:10–15, and now He literally mirrors it, praising her from feet to head in Song of Songs 7:1–5. 

It is this composite that is the main force of the passage, but without becoming creative, we are to learn from some of the details of His adoration and affection. 

Living by grace, Song of Songs 7:1. The feet and thighs are an obvious place to start, because He has just described her as dancing “the dance of the two camps.” Indeed, the word in Song of Songs 7:1a is more literally “steps,” and the curving in verse 1c may well refer to motion rather than shape (the word for “jewels” only appears in the singular elsewhere, and the plural here may also imply motion). The bride is lovely not only in herself, but especially in her actions. And we see two more beauties in these actions: her status (prince’s daughter, verse 1b) and their source (the work of the hands of a skillful workman, verse 1d). Her beauty is not her own; it comes by her royal (re!)birth, and it comes as the skillful work of Another. How beautiful is the work of the Spirit in those who are God’s children.

Means of grace, Song of Songs 7:2-3. Song of Songs 7:3 reprises Song of Songs 4:5, lacking that the twins feed among the lilies. But, taken with Song of Songs 7:3, the bride’s beauty in provision is much richer than nourishment. There is the wine for refreshment and celebration, and the wheat for energy and strength. And not just wine, but mixed/spiced wine (Song of Songs 7:2a–b). And not just wheat, but heaps of it, and adorned with lilies (verse 2c–d). She is equipped for all that the saints need, and she is beautiful in her provision of it. Of course, as with the wine and bread of the Lord’s Supper, the point is not the means of grace, but the Lord of grace Himself.

Guarded by grace, Song of Songs 7:4. He praises her preciousness and purity (white) by the ornamental tower of ivory in Song of Songs 7:4a. The purity and peace of her eyes has been communicated by the figure of a dove before, and the pools by the gate in verse 4b–c convey the same idea. The nose is another tower, keeping vigilant watch in the direction of Damascus (verse 4d–e). The implication is diligence against enemies, especially the greatest enemy of sin. Taken altogether, the images of verse 4 focus upon her purity and peace, maintained by watchfulness. 

Adorned by grace, Song of Songs 7:5. Finally, the description arrives at her head and her hair. This part of her adornment has been compared twice to a flock of goats, must recently in Song of Songs 6:5. And on those occasions, we have noted that the true adornment represented here is modesty and good works (cf. 1 Timothy 2:9–10), and a gentle and quiet spirit (cf. 1 Peter 3:3–4). In this case, there is greatness and glory of this adornment, as indicated by the mountain and the purple. 

Delighted in by the Groom, Song of Songs 7:6-9. The last thing He says about her tresses is that a king is held captive by them (Song of Songs 7:5c), and now the section concludes by His demonstrating that she has indeed captured His heart. He summarizes her as “fair and pleasant,” bringing together words that He has already used to describe her, but the image of the palm tree is brand new. He zooms out to take her in as a whole. The palm is tall, straight, and slender. Exalted dignity. And there is a focus here on the breasts, that by which she would nourish their children. The image is not meant to be physical or sensual, as he switches from twin gazelle babies to clusters of dates and clusters of grapes. The abundance of her provision for the saints is sweet to Him like dessert. He puts forth great effort (“taking hold of its branches” (Song of Songs 7:8b) means a climb to the top of the tree) to take delight in her ministry of teaching and praise—her breath (verse 8d) and her palate (Song of Songs 7:9a).  

As the Bride, and members of her, it should be our delight to be delightful to Christ. God give us to live godly, attend upon His means in the church, be spiritually watchful, and adorned with modesty, gentleness, and good works.

What acts of obedience and service do you do, unto the delight of Jesus? What use do you make of the means of His grace? How do you maintain watchfulness for purity and peace? How is your life adorned by humility and gentleness?

Sample prayer:  Lord, come and delight in Your bride. Delight in her feet, her movements that are the result of Your own skillful work. Delight in the nourishment that she provides—the pure milk of the Word, and the bread and wine of fellowship with Christ. Delight in her purity, like ivory, and her peacefulness like pools. Delight in her nourishing her offspring, and enjoy the sweets of her mouth. We are amazed that You, the all-glorious King would take such delight in us. Come, by Your Spirit, and make us to take delight in delighting You, we ask in Your Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP45B “Daughter, Incline Your Ear” or TPH403 “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken”

The Mercy of Discipline [2026.03.11 Midweek Sermon in Proverbs 22:10–16]

God blesses His discipline and instruction unto our deliverance from folly.

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