Baptism a Seal of Regeneration [2026.05.17 Sabbath School in WCF 28.1.e—Hopewell 101]

Baptism is a sacrament of the new testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible church; but also, to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life. Which sacrament is, by Christ’s own appointment, to be continued in his church until the end of the world. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

All Parts of the Body Necessary [Family Worship lesson in 1Chronicles 7:1–19]

What should we do about those who don’t really seem to be as much a part of the church as others? 1Chronicles 7 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nineteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God has a special care for the inclusion in His church of those among His people who seem weak or unworthy. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The passage presents a detailed genealogical record of several tribes—Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, and Manasseh—emphasizing their numbers and valor, not for pride but to affirm God’s sovereign blessing and purpose in every lineage. Though some tribes were small or marginalized, such as Issachar or Naphtali, or descended from concubines and daughters without male heirs, the Chronicler highlights their inclusion and significance as part of God’s unified people. The central theological theme underscores the divine order of the body of Christ, where every member, regardless of perceived status or size, is essential and valued according to God’s will. This historical account serves as a pastoral reminder to the post-exilic community that no part of God’s people is expendable, and all are vital to His covenant purposes. Ultimately, the passage calls for humility, unity, and trust in God’s wisdom in assembling His church, where every individual, by divine design, contributes to the whole.

2026.05.20 Hopewell @Home ▫ 1 Chronicles 7:1–19

Read 1 Chronicles 7:1–19

Questions from the Scripture text: Whose descendant do 1 Chronicles 7:1–5 trace? What do 1 Chronicles 7:2 and 1 Chronicles 7:5 especially note about them? In what quantities? Upon what sort of men does 1 Chronicles 7:3 focus? And what are the ones in 1 Chronicles 7:4 ready for? In what quantity? How? Whose descendants to 1 Chronicles 7:6-12 trace? What do 1 Chronicles 7:7, 1 Chronicles 7:9, and 1 Chronicles 7:11 all note about their quantity and quality? To whose descendants does 1 Chronicles 7:13 refer? What is the only thing that it notes about them? The rest (cf. 1 Chronicles 5:23–26) of whose descendants do 1 Chronicles 7:14-19 trace? Whose particular case is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 7:15 (cf. Numbers 26:30–33; Numbers 27:1–11; Numbers 36:11; Joshua 17:3–6)?

What should we do about those who don’t really seem to be as much a part of the church as others? 1 Chronicles 7 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nineteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God has a special care for the inclusion in His church of those among His people who seem weak or unworthy.  

There is a principle, in these four genealogies, that no group of the people of God are unessential. 

Issachar was an almost-forgotten tribe to the rest of Israel, but the Chronicler insists, twice, that they were a great company of “mighty men of valor” (1 Chronicles 7:2, 1 Chronicles 7:5). He adds that their troops were ready for way, by God’s blessing them not only with wives, but specifically wives who bore them sons (1 Chronicles 7:4). 

Benjamin had been swallowed up in Judah, but three times, the Chronicler insists that they were a great company of “mighty men of valor” (1 Chronicles 7:7, 1 Chronicles 7:9, 1 Chronicles 7:11).

Naphtali might have been considered by many to be second-class, having descended from one of the maid-servants (like Gad, Asher, and Dan). But the Chronicler includes them, in his genealogy of the people of God, with specific mention of their mother, so this cannot be brought against them as a disqualification. Their name, too, was upon the high priest.

Finally, Manasseh was not only split in half, east and west, but his share was endangered by the providence of Zelophehad having only daughters. They became a special test case for how much God insists upon none of His people losing their place or share among the visible church (cf. Numbers 27:1–11, Joshua 17:3–6). 

So, whether these people, themselves, might have felt like outsiders; or, whether others had some reason for not including them among the people of God, this part of 1Chronicles pushes strongly against that.

It is a similar principle to 1 Corinthians 12:12–27. God has arranged the members of His body as pleases Him (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:18). In all of His providence, and even superintending our own choices and vows, it is He who has arranged the Church, and its congregations, as they are.

This means that we must not forsake participation in the body because we feel like outsiders (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:15–17, Hebrews 10:19–25). And, we must not disregard the importance of any others who are part of the body (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:21–26). 

So, let us look to God for blessing to make us strong and fruitful, as He did for Issachar and Benjamin. And let us not despise anyone for the path by which God brought them into the body, as with Naphtali. And, let us insist that even those believers who are hindered by unique situations, would yet have their full share among the body of Christ, as with half-Manasseh and the daughters of Zelophehad.

Of whom, in the broader church, or in your local church, do you tend to be forgetful? What are some reasons why you might feel like you are not part of the body, or why you might not participate in it? Whom do you know to be in a circumstance that endangers them of being thought of or treated as an outsider? What are you doing to make a point of including them?

Sample prayer: Lord, we praise the wisdom and generosity in which You have arranged the members of Your body, just as pleased You. Thank You for the reminder, from 1Chronicles, that You are often blessing and using parts of the body that we don’t even notice. Forgive us for how we have absented ourselves from the body because we felt like outsiders. And, forgive us for how we have not regarded others as essential to the body. We thank You for the special provision that You made for the daughters of Zelophehad. And, we ask for Your forgiveness for how we have not made special effort to include those whose situations endanger them of exclusion from the body. But You have welcomed us in Christ, so please forgive us in Christ, and make us to be like Him in the welcoming of others, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

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

Miserable Non-Comforters [Family Worship lesson in Job 2:11–13]

What makes Job so alone? Job 2:11–13 prepares us for the opening part of public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Job’s worst loneliness is not having gospel-speaking friends. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The passage portrays a profound moment of human suffering and the inadequacy of worldly wisdom in the face of deep grief, as Job’s friends arrive after a long journey to mourn and comfort him. Though they weep and tear their robes, their silence for seven days and nights reveals their inability to offer genuine comfort, not out of indifference but due to the depth of Job’s anguish and their lack of gospel-centered truth. Their failure highlights the contrast between human attempts at consolation and the divine comfort found only in the gospel of Jesus Christ, Who Himself endured forsakenness to provide eternal solace. The passage calls believers to move beyond superficial sympathy and instead be filled with the transformative, Christ-centered comfort that can sustain others in any trial. Ultimately, Job’s suffering becomes a shadow of Christ’s own, underscoring that true comfort comes not from human wisdom but from the faithful character of God revealed in His Son.

2026.05.19 Hopewell @Home ▫ Job 2:11–13

Read Job 2:11–13

Questions from the Scripture text: Who heard what (Job 2:11)? From where did each come? What had they made together? To go where? And do what two things? With whom? From where do they raise their eyes (Job 2:12)? What can’t they do? So, in what three ways do they respond? Then what do they do (Job 2:13)? Where? For how long? What don’t they do? Why not?

Why is Job so alone? Job 2:11–13 prepares us for the opening part of public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Job’s worst loneliness is not having gospel-speaking friends. 

Much time passes in Job 2:11. These are men of renown, on par (“friends”) with Job for greatness, each in his own region. There is much back and forth of their couriers for arranging this expedition. In Job 7:3, Job tells us that it has been months. That is a very long time to be alone and in pain, especially when the wife of your youth is afflicting you instead of comforting you.

But there is a problem with these three friends. As we will sadly learn in the rest of the book, there is no gospel in their mouths. They do not have a comfort with which they “may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble” (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:4). So, although they intend to mourn with Job and comfort Job, they never get there. When they are still afar off, they discover that his case is even worse than they anticipated. So instead of mourning with him, they wail at him. And their mourning is not that for a suffering man but for a dead man. Worse still, they have nothing to say. The word translated “comfort” in Job 2:11 refers to spoken comfort. But, they don’t have words that can stand up to the greatness of Job’s grief (Job 2:13).

If you do not have a solid hope in the Lord Himself, then you have probably been in this place: where someone’s grief is so big, that you don’t have anything to say that can stand up to it. But God does not forsake those who are His in Christ, in the worst of their trials. In fact, it is precisely in the very worst of their trials that He is drawing near to them, and drawing them nearer to Himself. This, too, we will discover in the rest of the book. Job’s agony will pull from his heart some of the most astounding confessions of faith in God and Christ in all of Scripture (cf. Job 19:25–27). And God will give to Job to know Him in a way that far exceeds even how he has known Him before (cf. Job 42:5).

We must hold on to true gospel comfort, for dear life, ourselves, if we are to speak it with confidence and love to others.

What is your go-to comfort? When have you needed it the most? How ready is it on your lips? What will it stand up to?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we praise You for the comfort of the gospel. Make us draw near to You through Christ, knowing You will never forsake those whom You have so loved as to give Jesus for them and to them. Grant that Your Spirit would comfort and gladden us in a way that penetrates our souls, and is always ready on our lips, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP23B “The Lord’s My Shepherd” or TPH231 “Whate’er My God Ordains Is Right”

In a Low, Miserable Condition [Children's Catechism 53—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 53—especially explaining how Jesus was born in a low condition, and underwent the miseries of this life.

Q53. What kind of life did Christ live on earth? A life of poverty and suffering. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The lesson presents Christ's earthly life as a profound expression of divine obedience and intimate delight in God, rooted in Scripture such as Isaiah 53 and Philippians 2. While acknowledging His profound poverty and suffering—evidenced by His humble birth, lack of permanent dwelling, dependence on others, and constant persecution—the central emphasis is on His perfect conformity to the Father's will. The narrative underscores that His suffering was not incidental but intentional, fulfilling God’s redemptive plan through self-emptying humility. The tone is both reverent and instructive, inviting listeners to see Christ’s life not merely as a record of hardship but as a model of faithful surrender. Ultimately, His life reveals the depth of God’s love and the cost of salvation.

How to Be a Good King [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 25:1–5]

What must a king do? Proverbs 25:1–5 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that a king must be under God, over the people, and surrounded by the godly. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional centers on Proverbs 25:1–5, emphasizing that true royal glory lies in the humble pursuit of God’s revealed truth, reflecting the divine pattern where God conceals mysteries while kings are called to diligently seek what He has made known. It underscores the king’s duty to govern according to Scripture, rejecting secular or natural law frameworks that marginalize divine revelation, while also calling for the people to honor and pray for their leaders, recognizing the depth of their burdens and the limits of human understanding. The metaphor of refining silver illustrates the necessity of removing wickedness from a king’s inner circle, highlighting that trusted counselors must be spiritually pure and godly, as their influence shapes the integrity of leadership. This principle extends beyond political rulers to all believers, who are called to examine their own hearts and surround themselves with faithful, Christ-honoring companions. Ultimately, the passage calls for humility, discernment, and spiritual vigilance in both governance and personal relationships, rooted in submission to God’s revealed will and trust in His sovereign counsel.

2026.05.18 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 25:1–5

Read Proverbs 25:1–5

Questions from the Scripture text: Whose Proverbs are these (Proverbs 25:1)? Whose glory is it to do what (Proverbs 25:2a)? And who else’s glory to do what (verse 2b)? What created things are unsearchable (Proverbs 25:3a)? What else in the creation is unsearchable (verse 3b)? What does who take out of what, in order to make what for himself (Proverbs 25:4)? What must whom else take away from where (Proverbs 25:5a), in order to do what for himself (verse 5b)?

What must a king do? Proverbs 25:1–5 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that a king must be under God, over the people, and surrounded by the godly.

Chapters 25–29 are another section of Solomon’s proverbs (Proverbs 25:1). The Spirit carried men along to select, from his 3000 (cf. 1 Kings 4:32), those which were inspired by God as holy Scripture. These, being originally prepared for his son, and then selected by godly Hezekiah for his, it is not surprising that it begins with instruction for how to be a good king.

The first rule for being a good king is that you are not God. The secret things belong to God, and the king cannot know them (Proverbs 25:2a). But God has also revealed things, and these things, it is the duty of the king to search out (verse 2b). He must reign according to the revealed will of God.

The second rule for being a good king is that you are not the subjects. As a king gathers information about the circumstances, and mines the depths of Scripture with the help of his council, he must not expect the people to understand all of his decisions. It will simply be beyond them (Proverbs 25:3). He must not live and reign for their approval. Also, subjects ought to be humble and honor those in authority, who have information that the subjects simply don’t, and whose hearts are not known to the subjects. The judgment of charity (a.k.a. “benefit of the doubt”) is due to all, how much more to kings.

The third rule for being a good king is to be selective about your council. When the silversmith makes the jewelry for himself, he is extra careful to purify it fully (Proverbs 25:4). For a king, there is no finer “jewelry” than for his reign to be righteous (Proverbs 25:5b). By this, he is adorned in a way that no crown could ever do. So, he must be even more careful than the silversmith to surround himself with no men who are as “dross”—none who bring any impurity at all into the equation. He must surround himself with like-minded lovers of God and His Word. 

Though few of us will be kings, many will be in authority of some kind. Even if we are not, for all of us, there are principles here for humility, diligent study, rejection of man-fear, judgment of charity, and availing ourselves of good counsel. Best of all, we have not only God as our King in His triune glory, but also our Lord Jesus, our Mediator, our Christ, as King over heaven and earth. And we shall share in His reign forever, perfectly conformed to His character in all of these ways.

In what situation are you especially trusting the secret things to God? What use are you making of special revelation, and the ways that He brings it to you? For whose approval are you tempted to live, even though they cannot possibly know all that you must consider before the Lord? To whom do you owe more charity, rejecting the temptation to judge decisions that you do not fully comprehend? With what counselors (“councilors”) have you surrounded yourself?

Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for giving us Jesus Christ to be our King of kings. Grant that we, and our lesser authorities, would be governed by His Word. Give us neither to live for the approval of men, nor to be quick to judge those whom You have set over us. Grant us good counselors, and receptiveness to their good counsel—all of which we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH73B “Yes, God Is Good to Israel” 

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Determined to Adoption [Family Worship lesson Ephesians 1:5–6]

What is predestination? Ephesians 1:5–6 prepares us for the morning sermon in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that predestination is God’s good pleasure to adopt children by His glorious grace. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional unfolds the doctrine of predestination as a profound expression of God’s eternal love, rooted not in human merit but in the good pleasure of His will. From Ephesians 1:5–6, it emphasizes that the substance of predestination is adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, not merely forgiveness or justification, highlighting God’s desire to expand His family. The source, standard, and success of this divine plan are all grounded in God’s grace—His unearned, self-giving love that culminates in believers being accepted in the Beloved, already pleasing to God through union with Christ. The ultimate purpose is the praise of God’s glorious grace, calling for a response of worship, deep comfort, and joy.