Hopewell Associate Reformed Presbyterian

Ordained to Logistical Service in Support of Worship

What are we to see in the ordination and work of the Levites-- Numbers 8-5-26 prepares us for the evening sermon on the Lord's Day. In these twenty-two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that in Christ, our High Priest, all of His saints are designated by God for priestly service as living sacrifices.

Trinitarian, Sanctifying Grace

What do God's children do-- 1John 2-28-3-3 prepares us for the second serial reading in public worship on the Lord's Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God's children abide in Christ and purify themselves as He is pure.

True Love

True love is unto God first, defined by God's law, and determined by God's providence.

Resistance to Tyranny (5): Tactical Options for Individuals, Churches, or Magistrates

Resistance tactic options for individuals, churches, magistrates

Favor and Fellowship from the Throne

For the people who know that the great thing about them is their God, their great God insists that they know His great grace to them in favor and fellowship.

Treasuring Sanctification with Other Saints

Treasuring heaven trains us to treasure holiness and God's holy ones.

The Successful, Saving Resolve of the Suffering Servant

How did the Servant bring many sons to glory-- Isaiah 52-13-53-12 prepares us for the first serial reading in public worship on the Lord's Day. In these fifteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that it was by His suffering that the Servant brought many sons to glory.

Christ Exalted Yesterday, Today, and Forever

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 28-especially explaining how Christ is exalted both as a divine Person and as the glorious true Man over the new creation. --Q28. Wherein consisteth Christ's exaltation-- Christ's exaltation consisteth in His rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day.

Call God's Day What God Calls It

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 89-especially explaining how it is from the Lord Himself that we learn to call the first-day-Sabbath -The Lord's Day.- --Q89. Why is it called the Lord's Day-- Because on that day Christ rose from the dead.

Thanking, Trusting, and Triumphing Forever

What does the life of the redeemed look like-- Psalm 118-1-14 prepares us for the opening portion of public worship on the Lord's Day. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the life of the redeemed is one of thankfulness, trust, and triumph.

Law Fulfilled and Love Defined

What debt may a Christian conscientiously leave outstanding-- Romans 13-8-10 prepares us for the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the only debt that we should leave outstanding is the debt of love.

Treasuring Holiness (and Holy Ones) Together

How does treasuring holiness shape our relationships-- Matthew 7-1-6 prepares us for the morning sermon on the Lord's Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that treasuring our own holiness humbles us and sweetens us to be helpful to others who are treasuring holiness.

Let Every Soul Be Subject to Christ

God, Who rules in all authority, rules over and through each individual authority, demanding that we do good-both in authority and under it.

Fellowship-Facing Favor from Father

How does arranging a lamp connect to 12 days of offering collection-- Numbers 7-89-8-4 prepares us for the evening sermon on the Lord's Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that every one of the Lord's people ultimately enjoy the shining of His favor and the sharing of His fellowship in Christ.

How the Spirit Keeps Us Abiding in the Son and in the Father

What does the Spirit do for believers-- 1John 2-18-27 prepares us for the second serial reading in public worship on the Lord's Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Spirit keeps believers from becoming antichrists by confirming Scripture and biblical teaching to them, so that they abide in God by abiding in Christ.

Holy unto, and Happy in, the God Who Declares Himself by Saving Us

How will the return from exile anticipate ultimate redemption-- Isaiah 51-17-52-12 prepares us for the first serial reading in public worship on the Lord's Day. In these nineteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the return from exile anticipates ultimate redemption by displaying God's glory in saving us.

Worldwide Praise for the God Who Displays Himself in Salvation

Who should praise YHWH and why-- Psalm 117 prepares us for the opening portion of public worship on the Lord's Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that all nations and all peoples should praise and magnify YHWH, especially for His covenant love and faithfulness.

Why the Sabbath Is the Lord's Day

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 88-especially explaining how the Sabbath became the first day of the week by God's self-revelation in Christ. --Q88. What day of the week is the Christian Sabbath-- The first day of the week, called the Lord's Day.

Understanding the Greatness of Christ's Humiliation

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 27-especially explaining how Christ was both infinitely humiliated to become a man and greatly humiliated even as a man. --Q27. Wherein did Christ's humiliation consist-- Christ's humiliation consisted in His being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross- in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a ...

Accumulated Blessedness

The Lord honors His people with participation in His work of blessing them.

Don’t Worry, Be Holy

On account of trusting and treasuring God as Father in Christ, worrying is excluded from any rightful place in the life of a Christian.

Resistance to Tyranny (4): Resistance Options

Trusting, Enjoying, and Glorifying God as Your Father

What difference does treasuring God make in daily life-- Matthew 6-25-34 prepares us for the morning sermon on the Lord's Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that treasuring God demolishes worrying.

How to Treat Everybody

Beyond their mutual love unto one another in the Lord, believers are to treat all other men well for the Lord.

Cumulative Participation in God's Great Work

How does the Scripture prepare us to hear about departure from Sinai -ch 9-10--- Numbers 7 prepares us for the evening sermon on the Lord's Day. In these eighty-eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Scripture prepares us to hear about departure from Sinai by reemphasizing the preparation of the tabernacle service.

What to Give the God Who Has Everything

What can a saint give to God-- Psalm 116-10-19 prepares us for the opening portion of public worship on the Lord's Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that saints -give- God the worship in which it is God Who blesses them.

Loving Father and What He Loves

What mustn't a Christian love-- 1John 2-15-17 prepares us for the second serial reading in public worship on the Lord's Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that a Christian must not love the world.

Faith Listens to Christ

What must faith do-- Isaiah 51-1-16 prepares us for the first serial reading in public worship on the Lord's Day. In these sixteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that faith listens to Christ.

Our Comprehensive King

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 26-especially explaining how Christ is King over us in every needful way. --Q26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king-- Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to Himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all His and our enemies.

Consecrated Delight

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 87-especially explaining how the Lord commands us to delight in Him above all created things. --Q87. What does the fourth commandment teach us-- To keep the Sabbath holy.

God’s Name upon God’s People

The Lord's appointed worship leader pronounces God's Name upon His gathered people, because God Himself comes to them and blesses them.

God, Our Heart-Shaping Treasure

Christians must count God Himself as their treasure, which means not living for anything else.

Resistance to Tyranny (3): Tyranny a Cause for Repentance

Pure Words of a Trustworthy God

Pastor teaches his family a selection from -the Proverb of the day.- In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that only God's pure words give us true knowledge of Him in Whom we trust.

Heart-Shaping Treasure

What difference does God's secret and open reward make-- Matthew 6-19-24 prepares us for the morning sermon on the Lord's Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that if we learn, by grace, to treasure God in secret -and openly- both now and forever, it will transform our whole self, our whole life.

Truly Reformed Love

True love among believers is a law-defined, grace-sustained, providence-arranged life together.

The God Who Comes to Us and Blesses Us

What is the priest commanded to do to the people in the worship-- Numbers 6-22-27 prepares us for the evening sermon on the Lord's Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord's appointed worship leader must pronounce the Name of God upon His gathered people, because He Himself will come to them and bless them.

Saints in Whom We Delight

Who are the great ones on the earth-- 1John 2-12-14 prepares us for the second serial reading in public worship on the Lord's Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christians are the great ones on the earth, whom we should love with a special love.

Faithless People, and a Faithful God and Savior

What is the solution to Zion's lack of faith-- Isaiah 49-14-50-11 prepares us for the first serial reading in public worship on the Lord's Day. In these twenty-four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God answers His people's lack of faith with His own faithfulness and the perfect faith of the Servant, their Substitute.

Loving the Lord Who Hears

What do we learn from desperate situations-- Psalm 116-1-9 prepares us for the opening portion of public worship on the Lord's Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that desperate situations train us to live in love with the Lord.

Separated Unto God: the Nazirite Vow and the Christian Life

Not only the corporately, but each individually, saints are separated unto God as those who delight in Him, and in whom He delights, especially in-for worship.

God's Chosen Fast

Christians must habitually turn to God as their only Happiness and their only Help, by which He trains our hearts to see and know that this is so in all other happiness or help that He gives us.

Resistance to Tyranny (2): Our Responsibility to the Magistrate

Scripture teaches us that, as citizens, we have several responsibilities to the magistrate-particularly as those who know the kingship of Christ over all things.

Gifts: Christ-Given Roles in Which to Give Ourselves for His Church

By the gospel, the God of glorious mind and mercy transforms sinners from the perversion of their self-willed self-service into members of Christ who sacrifice themselves for other members' good. He gives gifts TO us that are FROM Him and FOR His church.

The When of Worship

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 86-especially explaining how the placement of the fourth commandment indicates the importance of keeping God's appointed worship times. --Q86. What is the fourth commandment-- The fourth commandment is, Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work, but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God- in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manse...

Our Forever Priest

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 25-especially explaining how Christ is our effective and eternal Priest. --Q25. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest-- Christ executeth the office of a priest, in His once offering up of Himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God- and in making continual intercession for us.

Guidance for Our Christ-Given Relationships in the Church

How should we approach relationships in the church-- Romans 12-9-16 prepares us for the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should consider our relationship with each other member of the church to be a Christ-given relationship.

Separated Unto God

What is the point of a Nazirite vow-- Numbers 6-1-21 prepares us for the evening sermon on the Lord's Day. In these twenty-one verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that, all of God's people must be consecrated to Him as holy, finding in Him their happiness and their fellowship.

Knowing that We Know Him

What does walking in the light look like-- 1John 2-3-11 prepares us for the second serial reading in public worship on the Lord's Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that walking in the light looks like loving the brethren.

Weighty Hearing, Speaking, Living

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 85-especially explaining how the way that we speak, hear, and live must respect the weightiness of God's Name. --Q85. What does the third commandment teach us-- To reverence God's Name, Word, and works.