2026.05.15 Hopewell @Home ▫ Zephaniah 1:4–7

Read Zephaniah 1:4–7

Questions from the Scripture text: What will YHWH do (Zephaniah 1:4a)? Against whom (verse 4a–b)? To cut off what (verse 4c–d)? And who do what (Zephaniah 1:5)? And who do not do what (Zephaniah 1:6)? What must the people do (Zephaniah 1:7a)? In Whose presence? Why—what has arrived (verse 7b)? Who has prepared what (verse 7c)? Whom has He invited (verse 7d)? 

Upon whom does the wrath of YHWH focus? Zephaniah 1:4–7 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the wrath of YHWH focuses especially upon the false worshipers among His own people.  

Judgment begins at the household of God. In Zephaniah 1:1-3, we heard God’s judgment that echoes the flood (Zephaniah 1:2) and undoes the creation (Zephaniah 1:3). Now he zeroes in on Judah—those who have been given YHWH’s Name by which to swear their oaths (Zephaniah 1:5b, cf. Deuteronomy 6:13, Deuteronomy 10:20), but who have combined the divine worship with many idolatries (Zephaniah 1:4-5). Greater spiritual privileges increase our responsibility. God will clean the place where He has put His Name (Zephaniah 1:4). The description is very vivid: “I will stretch out my hand, and I will cut them.” Judgment begins with the household of God (cf. 1 Peter 4:17). How great is our danger, if we think that we can combine drawing near to God in His own worship, while resting upon and delighting in the same things as the worldlings. 

Syncretism is apostasy. Syncretism is the idea that we can combine worshiping the Lord with other worship practices that are not from Him. But this is simply an impossibility: one cannot combine the worship of the Lord with the religious practices of men, because God defines such people as “those who have turned back from YHWH, and have not sought YHWH, nor inquired of Him” (Zephaniah 1:6). This would have been news to the people of Jerusalem; after all, Zephaniah 1:5 says they “worship and swear by YHWH.”  But the prepositions in verse 5b and verse 5c are slightly different, implying that they only swear to YHWH (outward expression of worship), whereas they swear by their king (“Milcom” means “their king,” and the preposition implies that this swearing is the “real” one in their heart). No one can serve two masters, and those who try become functional atheists (cf. Zephaniah 1:12). So God says, of those who attempt to combine His religion with their own, that they don’t worship Him at all. They have turned away from Him.

Better just to be silent. The “noise” that they were making in the presence of the Lord YHWH (Zephaniah 1:7a) was their worship and vows (Zephaniah 1:5b). But the Lord doesn’t want any of it. Whatever they were seeking of Him, He rejects it by saying that they were not seeking of Him at all (Zephaniah 1:6b). But this does not mean that they will get nothing from Him. The reality is much worse than that. They will get wrath from Him! 

The meeting to which they are coming now is not one that they can fake their way through. In this “day of YHWH” (Zephaniah 1:7b), YHWH engages in a solemn ceremony (“prepared a sacrifice,” verse 7c), for which He prepares/consecrates/sets-apart His guests (verse 7d). Idolaters, and other wicked ones, are bold to sin because they have no true sense of the majesty of Him against Whom they sin. But they will! And their mouths will be stopped in His presence (verse 7a, cf. Romans 3:19, Psalm 46:10, Psalm 106:40–42, Habakkuk 2:20). This language of “sacrifice” is frequently used of YHWH cutting off His enemies (cf. Isaiah 34:5–8; Ezekiel 39:17–20; Revelation 19:17–18). It is a slaughter that glorifies God by vindicating His righteousness. Have Judah failed to hold a proper sacrifice to YHWH? Then He will hold one for Himself!

How might you be tempted to feel safe on account of your church membership or worship attendance? What manmade things are you tempted to wish for, or do, in the worship of God? Whom do you think of as being the focus of God’s wrath, and how does this passage inform that? In what ways are you too quick to speak, and too slow to listen, when you are in the majestic presence of the Lord?

Sample prayer:  Lord, help us to remember that judgment begins in the household of God. Don’t let us think of ourselves as the ones who are safe to sin, but as the ones for whom sin is most dangerous. Forgive us those sins, for the sake of Christ, and give us to come to You only through Him, and only in the ways that You have said. So, give us to know the greatness of the majesty of what it is to draw near to You, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP2 “Why Do Gentile Nations Rage” or TPH177 “Before Thee, God, Who Knowest All” 

Shine, and Trust God with the Fruit [Family Worship lesson in Mark 4:21–34]

What should believers do? Mark 4:21–34 prepares us for 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 believers should show the fruit of the gospel in their lives and tell the gospel with their lips. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The kingdom of God is revealed by means of the transformative power of divine truth, which must not be hidden but lived out visibly in the believer’s life and shared boldly with others. Central to this message is the call to heed God’s Word faithfully, for those who truly receive it will be given more, while neglect leads to loss—highlighting both the responsibility and the promise of spiritual growth. The parables of the lamp, the growing seed, and the mustard seed illustrate that God sovereignly works in unseen ways, producing fruit beyond human comprehension, from small beginnings to great expansion. These images encourage faithful stewardship of the Word, trusting that God will bring forth harvest in His time, while also calling believers to live with integrity and witness. Ultimately, the devotional affirms that God’s grace is both the source and the sustainer of spiritual life, inviting believers to depend on Him with confidence and obedience.

2026.05.14 Hopewell @Home ▫ Mark 4:21–34

Read Mark 4:21–34

Questions from the Scripture text: Where is a lamp to be set (Mark 4:21)? What will happen to hidden and secret things (Mark 4:22)? What should believers do with what they hear, according to Mark 4:24-25? What doesn’t a person who scatters seed know (Mark 4:27)? Who makes the things in Mark 4:28 happen? Who enjoys the result in Mark 4:29? How big is a mustard seed? How big is a mustard tree? For how much of Jesus’ public teaching did He use parables? When and to whom did He explain them?

What should believers do? Mark 4:21–34 prepares us for 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 believers should show the fruit of the gospel in their lives and tell the gospel with their lips. 

We continue to hear about those to whom Jesus has “given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God” (Mark 4:10) by giving them “ears to hear” (Mark 4:9, Mark 4:23). The first question for us, of course, is whether that describes me?

Have I responded to the Scriptures as a divine rescue mission to bring me to faith in Jesus Christ, freeing me from slavery to sin and Satan (cf. Mark 3:22–30)? Have I rejected worry to have Christ as my confidence, and rejected worldliness to have Christ as my joy (Mark 4:19)? Do I take His Word, day by day and week by week, as the operating system of my heart—directing how to think about, feel about, and respond to everything and everyone in my life (Mark 4:20)? 

Note that this isn’t the same as doing so perfectly, or even particularly well—but it is a habit of heart and mind in our life of clinging to Christ. Indeed, the Word to which we cling tells us that we will fail often, but it gives us a prescription for renewed faith and reinvigorated repentance whenever we do: coming again and again to Him to whom we eternally belong by His blood.

The next question is: what now? The answer: testify to this gospel by our lives and our lips; be light in a dark world (Mark 4:21). They won’t be in the dark forever. One day, they will know plainly about Jesus—and they will know that you knew, and could have shown them and told them (Mark 4:22). If you had light and hid it, they will find out. That’s the convicting message of Mark 4:22-23. So, Mark 4:24 tells us, remember what to do with what you heard, because in addition to their finding out (Mark 4:22), the Lord Himself responds with reward. Tell others about Christ!

Perhaps you don’t think it will have much effect. This is one reason that we often shrink away from telling others. But Mark 4:26-29 rebuke us in this. Simply put: you do your part, and let the Lord be the Lord. You have no idea when He is going to make that word you speak bear an abundant crop in those who hear. You just scatter the seed, and when the Lord produces the harvest, you rejoice!

In fact, it is the Lord’s pleasure to take even the smallest evangelistic moments to produce the biggest results (Mark 4:30-32). So, let us be generous in our scattering, and see what He might do. What are we waiting for? What good reason could we possibly have for keeping the gospel to ourselves?

After all, since it glorifies God to be the One who opens the eyes, ears, and hearts, we should not be surprised when He takes what we thought would be nothing and makes it great—that way, it is all the more obvious to everyone that God alone has done this!

How many conversations with unbelievers have you had this week? Where and how could you have more? What are some ways of bringing into those conversations what Jesus has done for sinners?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for giving us ears to hear. We confess that, apart from Your grace, we would refuse even the blessed gospel of Christ. And thank You for giving to us to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. Forgive us for how little we show the fruit of Your gospel in our lives. And, forgive us for how we have missed opportunities to tell the gospel to those who will one day see the hidden truth about Christ, and even about us. Give us to love our neighbor, and to love Christ’s glory, enough to be unashamed tellers of the truth about Jesus. We confess that one reason that we haven’t done so is that we have unbelievingly expected that it would do no good. But make us to learn the lesson of the scattered seed, that God is the One Who makes it grow. And make us to learn the lesson of the mustard seed, and expect great things from God, out of the small things that we do. Forgive us, and help us, by Christ, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP180 “Christ Shall Have Dominion” or TPH291 “O, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing”

2026.05.13 Midweek Meeting Livestream (live at 6:30p)

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

Redemption Applied by His Spirit [Westminster Shorter Catechism 29—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 29—especially explaining how Christ, Who has accomplished our redemption, is also the One Who applies it to us, by His Holy Spirit.

Q29. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ? We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The central message of this lesson is that believers are made partakers of Christ's redemption not through their own efforts, but through the sovereign and effective work of the Holy Spirit, Who applies Christ's saving work to individual lives. Drawing from John the Baptist’s contrast between water baptism and the Spirit’s baptism, and Paul’s teaching in Titus 3, the lesson emphasizes that salvation is not based on human righteousness but on God’s mercy, accomplished through the 'washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.' This divine operation—justification, faith, and eternal hope—is not merely imputed but personally experienced as the Spirit indwells and transforms the believer. The tone is both pastoral and doctrinally precise, underscoring the necessity of the Spirit’s work in making Christ’s redemptive sacrifice personally effective. Ultimately, the Holy Spirit is the active Agent through Whom the benefits of Christ’s atonement are applied, securing the believer’s union with Christ and inheritance of eternal life.

Consuming the Stumbling Blocks [2026.05.10 Evening Sermon in Zephaniah 1:1–3]

Men, by whom sin came into the world, must be consumed by God's wrath.

(click here to DOWNLOAD video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The book of Zephaniah confronts the reality of God’s righteous wrath against sin, vividly portrayed through imagery of cosmic judgment and the destruction of all creation, echoing the flood of Noah’s day. Yet amid this terrifying proclamation, the central message emerges: God does not abandon His people, but hides them as His treasured possession in Christ, just as He preserved Noah in the ark. The prophet’s warnings, rooted in divine authority and echoing the language of Deuteronomy, serve not only to convict but to point to the ultimate refuge in Jesus, who bore the full weight of God’s wrath on the cross, rendering it powerless over those who trust in Him. This divine hiding is not a mere escape, but a promise of future glory, where believers will shine with Christ in the kingdom of God, having been preserved from the consuming fire of divine judgment. The sermon calls the hearer to pay close attention to God’s word, not in fear alone, but in faith, recognizing that the same God who judges sin is also the God who hides His people in Christ, securing their salvation through grace.

Fully, Forever Blessed in the Son [2026.05.10 Morning Sermon in Ephesians 1:3b–4]

In Christ, God has given us such immense blessing, that we ought to be blessing Him already with the praise with which we will bless Him forever.

(click here to DOWNLOAD video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The sermon unfolds the profound truth that believers are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ, by God’s eternal, loving choice before the foundation of the world. Central to this message is the triune God’s sovereign grace, revealed in the personal, complete, and eternal union with Christ, Who is both the source and the substance of all spiritual life. The blessing is personal because it is not abstract or impersonal, but rooted in a living relationship with Christ, the eternal Son, in Whom believers are chosen, adopted, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. This union guarantees a future of unbroken holiness and blamelessness before God, not as a human achievement but as a divine work fulfilled in Christ. The sermon calls for worship, gratitude, and a life marked by joy, peace, and holy obedience, all flowing from the certainty of being eternally secured in Christ for the praise of God’s glorious grace.

Baptism: a Seal of Ingrafting into Christ [2026.05.10 Sabbath School lesson in WCF 28.1.d—Theology Simply Explained]

Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ,(a) not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church,(b) but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace,(c) of his ingrafting into Christ,(d) of regeneration,(e) of remission of sins,(f) and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life:(g) which sacrament is, by Christ’s own appointment, to be continued in his Church until the end of the world.(h) (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The lesson centers on baptism as a sacred sign and seal of union with Christ, emphasizing that true faith involves being spiritually engrafted into Christ, the true vine, where believers are no longer dead in sin but alive in Him. Drawing from Romans 6:3–5 and Galatians 3:27, it explains that baptism symbolizes not merely ritual washing but a profound spiritual reality: dying to sin and rising to new life in Christ, a union that secures all of Christ’s benefits and demands total allegiance. The preacher underscores that this union is not partial or conditional but comprehensive—believers receive the whole Christ, and Christ receives the whole believer, making continued sin incompatible with genuine faith. Through pastoral insight and biblical exegesis, the message confronts the dangerous logic of using grace as license for sin, instead calling for a life of obedience and sanctification rooted in the believer’s identity in Christ. Ultimately, baptism serves as a divine guarantee and a continual call to live as one who has been united to Christ, walking in newness of life and resting wholly in Him.

The Centrality of Christ's Priesthood [Family Worship lesson in 1Chronicles 6]

Why are the Levites so central to Israel? 1Chronicles 6 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eighty-one verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Levites are central to Israel because their priesthood anticipates the great benefits and privileges into which Christ Himself brings us. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: This passage centers on the tribe of Levi, particularly the priestly line of Aaron and the Levitical musicians, highlighting the centrality of worship in God’s people. The detailed genealogies trace the unbroken lineage of high priests from Aaron to Jehozadak and Joshua, affirming divine preservation of the priesthood despite exile. The chronicler emphasizes the Levites’ roles in music and service, underscoring that their ministry—especially the singing—anticipates Christ, Who is both the ultimate High Priest and the One Who leads worship in the heavenly sanctuary. Unlike other tribes, Levi received no territorial inheritance, as God Himself is their portion, pointing to the believer’s eternal inheritance in Christ. The devotional concludes with a call to recognize Christ as the sole mediator, the true temple, and the source of all worship, inviting believers to serve as a priesthood of all believers through Him.

2026.05.13 Hopewell @Home ▫ 1 Chronicles 6

Read 1 Chronicles 6

Questions from the Scripture text: Whose families do 1 Chronicles 6:1–3 trace? What direct line do 1 Chronicles 6:4-15 trace? Which two events receive special mention in this line (1 Chronicles 6:10, 1 Chronicles 6:15)? What branches are traced further in 1 Chronicles 6:16-30? Upon which priestly service do 1 Chronicles 6:31-47 focus? Who appointed them (1 Chronicles 6:31)? When was this initiated (1 Chronicles 6:32)? In anticipation of what? Who joined their fathers in this? What is noted in 1 Chronicles 6:39, 1 Chronicles 6:44? What other service is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 6:48? And whose service, where, is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 6:49-53? With repetition from which line (cf. 1 Chronicles 6:4-8)? Finally, what provision is listed in 1 Chronicles 6:54-81?

Why are the Levites so central to Israel? 1 Chronicles 6 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eighty-one verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Levites are central to Israel because their priesthood anticipates the great benefits and privileges into which Christ Himself brings us.  

Just as with the order of camping in the wilderness, the Levites occupy the center of the genealogies in 1 Chronicles. 

The Lord redeems a people in order to make His presence to dwell among them. We are also reminded of this by the fact that the Levites were spread throughout Israel (1 Chronicles 6:54-81). This was, in part, because the Lord was their portion (cf. Deuteronomy 10:9). But it was also so that the Levites would be throughout Israel, to teach them God’s judgments and law (cf. Deuteronomy 33:10). 

The Lord also provides mediators to atone for His people. We see this in the double repetition of the high priests’ line in 1 Chronicles 6:4-8 and 1 Chronicles 6:49-53. It began with Levi, came into a new phase with the temple (1 Chronicles 6:10), and was preserved despite the exile (1 Chronicles 6:15). The mention of Jehozadak is important, because is son Joshua (or Jeshua, cf. Ezra 5:2) would be high priest for the returned exiles. The chronicler here puts his legitimacy beyond a doubt.

The Lord gives to His people to praise Him. It is interesting that the priestly singers are given seventeen verses (1 Chronicles 6:31-47), and the rest of the service of the tabernacle is given just one (1 Chronicles 6:48). These singers were specially appointed by David (1 Chronicles 6:31) in anticipation of the temple (1 Chronicles 6:32). 

Thinking about our Lord Jesus’s priesthood, it becomes clear why the Levites would be so “central” in the chronicler’s account after the exile. They needed to be encouraged that God’s plan to bring the Christ into the world was still in full force, and they needed to take up the responsibility of rebuilding the temple and resuming the priestly service in it. Two other contemporary books (Haggai, Zechariah) emphasized this. 

Jesus ministers the presence of God to us. He is “God with us,” Immanuel. Christ’s Spirit comes to dwell in us; He unites us to Christ and enables us to draw near to God through Christ. We realize how wonderful true Christian worship is, as we see the importance of the priesthood that anticipated God’s presence with us in Christ.

Jesus is the Mediator Who atoned for us once for all. This He did at the cross. Then, He ascended into glory—that reality of which the Holy of Holies was a shadow copy—consecrating our worship there by virtue of His blood. And not only did He ascend, but He is our anchor there, and we enter past the veil through Him.

Jesus leads us in praise to God. He is the great Singer in Christian worship (cf. Hebrews 2:12). He leads us in praise to God. The fact that we all sing is a great privilege of New Testament worship, for the melody now is not played upon priestly instruments but by the grace of Christ in the heart (cf. Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16). 

How is drawing near to God, through Christ, central to each day of your life? How is it central to each week of your life? How do your habits reflect the importance of drawing near to God? Why do you need Jesus to be Your Priest? What use are you making of His provision of atonement? What does it mean to you that Jesus is the One Who leads us in praise?

Sample prayer: Lord, we thank You for the priesthood of Christ. Please forgive us for how we have taken for granted the marvelous privilege that we have, that we may draw near to You in Him. We confess that we have much neglected this privilege, failing to appreciate it in our hearts and failing to make good use of it in our habits. And thank You for His offering His own blood as an atoning sacrifice at the cross. Sometimes, we have made too little of our sins, rather than seeing how dreadful they must be to require such a Priest and such a Sacrifice. At other times, we have made too little of His atonement, continuing under the weight of our guilt, rather than knowing our full and free forgiveness in Him. Finally, we thank You for the honor of singing Your praise in the public worship. How marvelous that Jesus sings through us! But we have often failed to sing in the awareness of the glory that was occurring. Please forgive us, and cleanse us from our sin, through Christ, in Whose Name we ask it, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP51B “From My Sins, O Hide Your Face” or TPH456 “Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners”