Our Defeated, Soon-to-Be-Destroyed, Enemy [2026.03.07 Pastoral Letter and Hopewell Herald]

Hopewell Herald – March 6, 2026

Dear Congregation,

We have had a death in the church family this week, and while we rejoice with those who rejoice (Susan), we mourn with those who mourn (the whole congregation, and especially Tom, and Russ & Meredeth, and their family).

It seems an appropriate time for us to remember, again, what the Bible teaches about death—so that we will neither think well of it, nor be overcome by it.

Death is an enemy. It is not part of the original design. It entered the world through sin (“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned”—Rom 5:12). It is not natural. And, although God is always good to us in all things, and especially in the deaths of believers, death itself is not good. 1Cor 15:26 calls it an “enemy.” Do not think well of it. When you desire to depart, for what is better by fair (Php 1:23), desire the departing, not the death. We must not seek to be unclothed of our bodies, but rather further clothed by Christ (2Cor 5:4).

Death is defeated. It is swallowed up in the victory of Christ and the Christian (1Cor 15:53). It is a stingless, victory-less enemy (1Cor 15:55). Christ has subdued it as a humiliated servant that ushers us into His presence (2Cor 5:6–8), at which point we are finally perfected in holiness (Heb 12:14), so that this enemy is bent under Christ’s power unto our gain (Php 1:21), unto Christ’s glory in our body (Php 1:20).

Death will be destroyed. Although Christ has crushed death, defeating him who had the power of death through fear (Heb 2:14–15), He is not done with it yet. “Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.”—1Cor 15:25–26. Out of love for Christ, we should long for this final fulfillment of Ps 110:1.

So, let us despise death as our enemy and Christ’s enemy, but let us not be intimidated by it. Rather, let us take it as an occasion to mourn with those who mourn, while exulting in Christ’s having vanquished it, and coming destruction of it.

Looking forward to exulting in Christ with you in the public worship,

Pastor

Jesus, Almighty Disciple-Maker [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 28:16–20]

For what does the Lord institute baptism? Matthew 28:16–20 prepares us for the morning sermon in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord institutes baptism as a sign of Christ’s authority and power in His gathering church. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2026.03.07 Hopewell @Home ▫ Matthew 28:16–20

Read Matthew 28:16–20

Questions from the Scripture text: Who go to Galilee (Matthew 28:16)? Which mountain do they go to? Whom do they see (Matthew 28:17)? What do they all do to Him? What do some of them do? Who came and spoke to them (Matthew 28:18)? How much authority has been given to Him? Which authority has been given to Him? What are they to make, therefore (Matthew 28:19)? By what two actions are disciples made (Matthew 28:19b, Matthew 28:20)? Into what single name are they baptized? What are they taught to do with Jesus’s commands? How many of them? Who is with them always, as they make disciples? Even until when?

For what does the Lord institute baptism? Matthew 28:16–20 prepares us for the morning sermon in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord institutes baptism as a sign of Christ’s authority and power in His gathering church.  

When Jesus’s disciples are brokenhearted at the Passover, the Lord Jesus instituted the Supper to direct their hearts and minds unto Him, to feed spiritually upon Him repeatedly for the rest of the age. 

And now, when some of them are still doubting after having seen Him multiple times (as we learn from John 21), the Lord Jesus institutes baptism to affirm to them His authority and glory (Matthew 28:18), obligate them to His service (Matthew 28:19), and assure them of His presence and power  unto the end of the age. These are exactly the things to which every single one whom Jesus adds to His church needs to commit. 

In the first century, baptisms were already used as initiations/identifications by set-apart groups. The same had been true of circumcision. Now, Jesus initiates baptism as the mark of the church of His disciples. And what does this mark teach us?

That all authority has been given to Him in heaven and earth. He is God from all eternity. But He became a Man, lived a perfectly obedient life, died an atoning death, and rose again from the dead. His saving work as the Christ is done. His time of humiliation is over. Even in His human nature, He is now exalted. Not only over the earth. But even over heaven! He is, in His divinity, “He who sits upon the throne.” But He is also, in His humanity, the risen and ascended and exalted “Lamb who sits upon the throne.” We must trust in Him and worship Him. Faith.

Christian baptism also teaches us that we are obligated to be disciples who make disciples. If our risen Lord is in authority generally, how much more over His disciples specifically! And what does He want them (and us) to do? Well, there is a great and primary duty: make disciples. But, there is also something else that He wants disciples to do “observe all thing that Jesus has commanded.” If the church does not teach the whole counsel of God, it is guilty of the lives of its members (Acts 20:26–27). Not all may be teachers, but all must learn. We have a duty to study in order to believe all of Jesus’s doctrine and obey all of Jesus’s commands. Obedience.

And the last big thing that Christian baptism teaches is that this faith and obedience can come only through the grace of ongoing, continual delight in and dependence upon Jesus’s fellowship. “and lo, I am with you always.”

The Lord Jesus had said that He Himself would build His church and that the gates of Hell would not prevail against it (cf. Matthew 16:18). But now the Lord Jesus is leaving, and this group before Him is not very promising. 

There are only eleven of them because one who was numbered among the disciples turned out to be the betrayer. That might dampen your confidence about the new disciples in Matthew 28:19—especially when you consider that even from among the eleven that remain, there are still some who are doubting.

But it is exactly into our consideration of these disciples, and the disciples that they are to be making, that Jesus announces that it is about His authority and power, not ours, and His faithfulness, not ours.

Jesus announces that He has authority in heaven and on earth, and a church that is in heaven and on earth. The resurrected Man before them has authority even in Heaven to pour out the Holy Spirit, for He is a divine Person. They have known since Matthew 3:11 that He would baptize with the Holy Spirit. 

Baptisms were already used as initiations into groups, and now Jesus notifies them that as He is the Second Person of the Trinity, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is the church of the Triune God. He commands that the one Name (singular—one God) into which they be baptized be Triune (three Persons, whose one name is “Father and Son and Holy Spirit”). And so, our baptisms remind us that Jesus has this authority both with reference to His eternal godhood, and with reference to His finished and perfect work as the Redeemer.

When He marks of His holy assembly with this particular sign in this particular Name, we can see that He is saying: “it depends upon My power.” And when He follows by saying, “and lo, I am with you always,” we can hear that it depends upon His faithfulness. That is wonderful news for those whose weakness and unfaithfulness would lead to ultimate failure!

Jesus answers our weakness by His strength in His gospel signs and words.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that we need not do anything. It rather means the exact opposite: that we must do everything. He has marked us as His own, and as those to whom He has committed His power. We ought to obey all His commands merely because we are His creatures, and then again because He has bought us by His blood, and now again because He has marked us off as holy and set apart to Him! Therefore, disciples must be taught to “observe all things I have commanded you.”

Thus, we realize that baptism is not a statement by the new disciple, but by the Lord of the disciples, through those whom He has commanded to mark and teach them. It is a mark that is displayed anew to the holy assembly, whenever it is being applied to a new addition to that assembly. In it, our Lord presents Himself and His Spirit for the worship of His people!

Who is “saying something” in baptism? What is He saying? How are you responding?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for giving us baptism as a sign of Your authority and power to make us into disciples, and to make those whom we teach and baptize into disciples. Forgive us for whenever we are self-reliant in evangelistic work, or when we are neglectful of evangelistic work. Grant that we would keep teaching, keep baptizing, and keep trusting that You will be with us to use these for making disciples of Christ, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP111A “O Praise the LORD” or TPH424 “All Authority and Power”

Blessed REassurance [Family Worship lesson in Song of Songs 6:4–13]

Why does the Bridegroom now address the bride with such affection? Song of Songs 6:4–13 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Bridegroom is assuring the bride that she, and their relationship, have been fully restored. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional presents the restoration of intimacy between Christ and His bride in Song of Songs 6:4–13, illustrating the Lord’s unwavering love, even after spiritual estrangement. Central to the message is the affirmation that Christ’s affection for His church remains unchanged, as He reaffirms her beauty, purity, and unique worth, likening them to Jerusalem and Tirzah—symbols of divine glory and royal dignity. The passage emphasizes not only the restoration of personal affection and praise but also the full restoration of union and glory, where the church is exalted as the beloved, recognized and celebrated by all heavenly saints. Even in times of spiritual barrenness, Christ is portrayed as attentively watching for the first signs of revival, longing to return to His bride with joy and urgency, as His soul flies to her at the slightest indication of life. The devotional concludes with an invitation to embrace this assurance, to walk in renewed confidence, and to experience the deep joy of being seen, cherished, and restored by Christ, who delights in His church and invites others to behold her heavenly glory.

2026.03.06 Hopewell @Home ▫ Song of Songs 6:4–13

Read Song of Songs 6:4–13

Questions from the Scripture text: Whom does the Bridegroom address (Song of Songs 6:4a)? What does He say about her beauty? What does He say about her loveliness (verse 4b)? About her awesomeness (verse 4c)? What request does He make in Song of Songs 6:5a? Why (verse 5b)? What does He complement in verse 5c–d? In what manner? What does He complement in Song of Songs 6:6? In what manner? What does He complement in Song of Songs 6:7? In what manner? To whom does He compare her (Song of Songs 6:8)? What does He call her in Song of Songs 6:9a? How do verse 9b–d describe her uniqueness? Who sees her in verse 9e? What do they call her (verse 9f)? Who see her in verse 9g? What do they do (verse 9h)? What question does Song of Songs 6:10 ask? What four things does verse 10 note about her? Where has He gone (Song of Songs 6:11a)? To see what three things (verse 11b–d)? What happened to His soul (Song of Songs 6:12b–c)? How suddenly (verse 12a)? What does He quadruply urge (Song of Songs 6:13a–b)? To whom (verse 13a)? For what purpose (verse 13b)? What does He say is to be seen in the Shulamite (verse 13c–d)? 

Why does the Bridegroom now address the bride with such affection? Song of Songs 6:4–13 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Bridegroom is assuring the bride that she, and their relationship, have been fully restored. 

Full restoration of affection and praise (Song of Songs 6:4-7). Things had gone quite ill with the bride’s relation to her Bridegroom in Song of Songs 5:2–3. How will things be, now that they are reunited? We find that the Bridegroom speaks directly to her, not about her, and that His address is one of fully restored affection. 

He addresses her as “My love” (Song of Songs 6:4a), using a feminine form of the same word translated “friend” in Song of Songs 5:16. She is His. And she is correct about His love to her; she is His love. 

He affirms that she is both delightful and dignified. Her delightfulness is communicated both by the word translated “beautiful” (Song of Songs 6:4a) and the one translated “lovely” (verse 4b), as well as the name “Tirzah,” which means “pleasant.” Her dignity is admired metaphorically as Tirzah (frequently a royal city in the north) and even Jerusalem (not only a royal city in the south, but the place where God has made His Name to dwell on the earth). This is further emphasized by “awesome as a bannered one.” Although the word “army” isn’t actually used, the word-picture is there with the hosts paraded out, their shining armor glistening, banners unfurled. 

He affirms that she is as beautiful to Him as she has ever been. His love for her is as great as He Himself is, so that it is “His equal,” as it were, in Song of Songs 6:5a–b. The description of her adornment (verse 5c–d), her capacity for feeding in purity and fullness (Song of Songs 6:6), and her humility and affection (Song of Songs 6:7), is taken, almost word for word, from parts of Song of Songs 4:1–3. When a believer, or a church, has been backslidden and restored, there may be some fear or question of whether things “can ever be the same” again, between them and the Lord. Here, He affirms that her beauty to Him is just as it was then.

Full restoration of union and glory (Song of Songs 6:8-10). She had called Him the “chief among ten thousand” (cf. Song of Songs 5:10). He now affirms that even if there were available the greatest queens (Song of Songs 6:8a) and concubines (verse 8b), even all of the virgins in the world (verse 8c), He would have eyes and heart only for her. The church is the Lord’s special focus in all of creation and providence (cf. WCF 5.7), and in Song of Songs 6:9a–d, He hammers this home with the repetition of the word “one.”

They are so united that, just as the church has this view of Christ, so also the church comes to value the church in this same way (Song of Songs 6:9c–d). Those who are elevated to spiritual royalty must also come to this same opinion of her (verse 9e–h). This is implied by the use of the question in Song of Songs 6:10. The moon has a derivative beauty from the sun (verse 10b), and the sun has particularly given its clarity and brilliance to her (verse 10c). The darkness of night (cf. Song of Songs 3:1, Song of Songs 5:2) has been thoroughly vanquished, so that she now shines like the morning (Song of Songs 6:10a). And those who see all of this about her, and her relationship with Bridegroom, must come to be impressed with her (verse 10d) in the same way that He is (cf. Song of Songs 6:4c). 

His desire to enjoy His bride (Song of Songs 6:11-13). Finally, although NKJ sees a change in speaker here, that is not indicated by the grammar of the original, and there is not a good reason literarily or theologically to think that is the case. The Bridegroom continues, now, to reassure her of how it has come to be that He so delights in her and urges others to do so as well. Though He was hidden to her, He was always giving close attention to His garden, even when she was not particularly fruitful. So, even when there were only nuts (seeds, Song of Songs 6:11a), He was looking for the first shoots (“verdure,” verse 11b), eagerly awaiting the budding (verse 11c) and blooming and fruiting (verse 11d).

And such is His desire for her that the very beginnings of her spiritual recovery sent Him flying to her as on chariots (Song of Songs 6:12). How ready the Lord Jesus is to communicate His fellowship to the church! Further, He urges her to do the same—a double doubling of the command to return, so that she might be enjoyed by Him (Song of Songs 6:13a–b) and all who are like minded to Him. As He turns to the multitude with a second question (verse 13c, cf. Song of Songs 6:10), He explains that the church is not only the most glorious thing in this world, but that her glory is actually other-worldly. “Mahanaim” (Song of Songs 6:13d) was a name that Jacob gave to a place where he was permitted to perceive God’s camp overlaying his own (cf. Genesis 32:1–2). In the church, we see an intersection of heaven and earth. How very much Christ desires to enjoy her, and if our hearts are conformed to His, we will have the desire to know that fellowship as well!

When have you been restored from backsliding? When has your church? How are these expressions of Christ’s restored affection helpful to you in such a situation? How does your desire to know the church’s fellowship with Christ match His own desire for her fellowship?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we thank You for calling Your church Your love, and for praising her beauty to You, and her preciousness to You. Come, speak affectionately to Your bride, and make her to know Your full delight in her. Grant that all might have their hearts and minds conformed to yours, so that they will see and love Your beauty in Your bride, we ask in Your Name, AMEN!

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

True Riches [2026.03.04 Midweek Sermon in Proverbs 22:1–9]

What is truly valuable is to be known by God and have good favor from Him.

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

A Heavy Message of Comfort [Family Worship lesson in Nahum 1:1]

What sort of book is Nahum? Nahum 1:1 prepares us for the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In this verse of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Nahum is divine Scripture that hangs the weight of certain judgment around the neck of Nineveh, and all the enemies of God. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The book of Nahum delivers a solemn and weighty prophecy against Nineveh, portraying God’s inevitable judgment on evil. Though Nineveh had previously repented in the days of Jonah, Nahum reveals that its sin has now reached a point of no return. The prophecy, given as a vision and later inscribed in Scripture, underscores that God’s word is the ultimate authority for faith and life. The name Nahum, meaning 'comfort,' highlights the deep solace found in God’s certain destruction of evil. The prophet’s obscure origin emphasizes that true significance lies in divine appointment and faithful service. Ultimately, the message calls believers to take sin seriously, flee to Christ, and find lasting peace in the certainty of God’s righteous judgment.

2026.03.05 Hopewell @Home ▫ Nahum 1:1

Read Nahum 1:1

Questions from the Scripture text: What is the first thing that this little book calls itself? Against whom is this burden? What else does the burden call itself? What does it say are the contents of this book? Who had this vision? Where was he from? 

What sort of book is Nahum? Nahum 1:1 prepares us for the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In this verse of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Nahum is divine Scripture that hangs the weight of certain judgment around the neck of Nineveh, and all the enemies of God. 

Nahum is another (cf. Jonah) three-chapter book dealing exclusively with one pagan city. That there is one of these in Scripture is surprising. That there are two sends the message that we should pay close attention. Whereas Jonah proclaimed the free offer of the gospel, and God’s care to all His creatures, and especially for sinful men, Nahum comes later, as a warning of what comes if we do not cling to God in repentance and faith.  

The burden. Instantly, we feel the heaviness of the message. “Heavy” (“burden”) is the first word in the book. This warning is not being used to bring Nineveh mercy via repentance. It is tying a massive weight around Nineveh’s neck, which will surely sink it. And your sin will do so to you, too, dear reader, lower than the grave, if you do not take its warning and turn to God in repentance from sin and faith in Christ.

This introduction also tells us something about the way in which God is revealing this weighty Word.

The burden begins as a “vision.” That is to say, it is something that He shows to Nahum that he could not have seen in any other way. While unbelievers suppose Nahum has to have been written later, in order for the book to be aware of the doom of Nineveh, internal evidence puts the date between 663 and 654 b.c. “No Amon” is another name for Egypt’s Thebes, which fell in 663. But Egypt recovered Thebes in 654, so the comparison in Nahum 3:8–10, which implies that Egypt is still seen as unable to help Thebes, places the book before that date. What that means is that, at the time of writing, Nineveh is currently at the height of its military dominance and financial affluence. Its inevitable, horrific destruction wouldn’t make any earthly sense at the time, and certainly no one could have foreseen its downfall from there. But God gives a vision; He gives Nahum to see what no one could, apart from divine revelation. 

But the burden continues as “the book.” It is written down for our instruction (cf. Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11). The Lord has breathed out, by causing to be written down, whatever we need to be furnished for every good work (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16–17). The God Who can effortlessly give visions, Who could have spoken to us immediately by His Spirit, has chosen to give us a book (cf. Revelation 22:18–19). The Lord has given you His Word in Holy Scripture, dear reader. But He commits His Word to writing so that we might be the more sure, and consider it with the seriousness due unto the very Word of God.

Comforting destruction. Considering the nature of the book, it may seem odd, at first, that the name of its author is, literally, “comforting.” But, Assyria had conquered the northern kingdom and has ruthlessly oppressed Judah for the better part of a century. God’s judgment is sure, just, and complete against all evil. The inevitability and completeness of Nineveh’s judgment is truly a great comfort to the people of God. God’s judgment is certain. Every evil will be fully repaid. And, for those whose sins have been atoned for by Christ, that is a great comfort.

Lasting significance. I would love to draw some help for making use of the book from the fact that Nahum is “the Elkoshite.” But we simply don’t know what to make of it. Elkosh is almost certainly a place, not a person or family. But, our best guesses at the location are either a city in Galilee, according to the early church, or southwest of Jerusalem, according to recent archaeology. For us, the lesson may just be that God knows, but we don’t. God saves, and employs, those who are insignificant to the world. Great Nineveh is going to be destroyed, but unknown Nahum, from unknown Elkosh, is redeemed and lastingly useful. May the Lord bless to us this little, heavy book, dear reader.

How have you responded to God’s warnings of the judgment due to your sin? What use do you make of the written Word of God? How do you take comfort from the doctrine of God’s sure and full judgment? 

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for giving us to know, from Your Word, what we could not have known in any other way. And thank You for giving us Your Word in writing, that we might be sure of it and treat it with all the weightiness of Your Word. Forgive us for taking Your Word too lightly. Forgive us, especially, for how lightly we have taken the warnings of Your Word. Finally, Lord, we thank You for the comfort of knowing that You will fully repay all evil. Forgive us for how we have not taken that comfort to heart, and have unnecessarily feared the wicked, or desired to take vengeance into our own hands. Thank You that You have atoned for our sin in Christ. For His sake, forgive us, and make us to be like Him, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP7B “God Is My Shield” or TPH385 “The Lord Will Come and Not Be Slow” 

2026.03.04 Midweek Meeting Livestream (live at 6:30p)

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

Leading in Believing [Family Worship lesson in Deuteronomy 31:1–8]

How must a man lead the people of God? Deuteronomy 31:1–8 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that those who lead the people of God must do so as those who are trusting in the Lord, and leading others in trusting in Him. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional emphasizes that while Moses’ departure and Joshua’s appointment mark a transition in earthly leadership, the people’s hope must remain fixed on God alone. The repeated command to be strong and of good courage is not mere encouragement but a divine mandate grounded in God’s faithfulness, calling each generation to trust Him rather than fear, even in the face of daunting challenges. Pastor underscores that every leader—whether in family, church, or nation—must first be a believer-in-chief, relying not on personal ability but on God’s sustaining presence. Ultimately, the call is to live by faith in Christ, the true Leader and Deliverer, who promises to be with His people always, empowering them to fulfill their God-given duties with courage and obedience.