Hopewell Associate Reformed Presbyterian

What must Christians always seek and cling to? Song of Songs 3:1–5 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord's Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christians must be continually active in seeking and clinging to Christ and the experiential knowledge of His love. This passage portrays the soul's journey from spiritual dormancy to active pursuit and intimate restoration with Christ, using the bride's night-time search as a metaphor for the believer's experience of divine absence. The imagery of night and the solitary bed signifies a season of spiritual lethargy, where passive longing fails to yield connection; only when the soul resolves to rise and actively engage the means of grace—through the church, its watchmen, and the Word—is seeking effective. Though initial efforts may not bring immediate relief, the Holy Spirit uses the preaching of the Word to confront and awaken the heart, leading to recovering personal experience of Christ's love. The believer is then called, not only to cling to Christ, but to bring others into that restored fellowship, warning against anything that might disrupt the intimacy of divine communion. Ultimately, the passage calls for continual spiritual vigilance, active faith, and a heart committed to pursuing the nearness of God through faithful practice and repentant humility.

What abilities should we be developing and using? Ecclesiastes 9:13–18 prepares us for the hearing of God's Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that all of our abilities are a stewardship from God, but the most important of these is wisdom. The devotional presents the supremacy of wisdom over strength, highlighting how divine wisdom—though often overlooked or forgotten—holds greater value than military might or worldly power. It illustrates this through the story of a poor, wise man who saves a city yet is ignored afterward, underscoring humanity's tendency to despise quiet, humble wisdom while elevating the loud and foolish. Pastor emphasizes that true wisdom, rooted in the fear of the Lord and drawn from Scripture, is the highest of all God-given gifts and must be sought diligently in personal and corporate worship. It warns that even the most carefully built good can be undone by a single act of sin or folly, urging believers to value wise, gentle speech over boastful noise, and to live with humility, accountability, and reverence for God's sovereign providence.

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 32—especially explaining how Satan deceived the woman, tempting both her and the man. Q32. Who tempted them to this sin? The devil tempted Eve, and she gave the fruit to Adam. The lesson emphasizes that, while the serpent deceived Eve, Adam was not deceived and thus bore greater culpability due to his passive failure to lead and protect his wife spiritually. It highlights the importance of male responsibility in spiritual instruction, drawing from Genesis 2–3 and 1 Timothy 2 to argue that Adam's failure to actively guard his wife from deception—despite being present—constitutes a grave dereliction of duty. The passages underscore the divine order of creation and leadership, where Adam was given the covenant, and thus bears primary responsibility for teaching and guarding the household. Ultimately, the Fall is a cautionary example to affirm the necessity of male leadership in the church and family, rooted in divine design and order.

What is at the heart of the tenth commandment? Deuteronomy 24:17–26:15 looks forward to the hearing of God's Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these forty verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the heart is the heart of the tenth commandment. The devotional presents a comprehensive exposition of the Tenth Commandment's call to contentment, gratitude, and justice, rooted in Israel's identity as redeemed slaves and sustained by God's covenant faithfulness. Central to this teaching is the recurring call to care for the vulnerable—strangers, widows, and fatherless—while maintaining integrity in justice, honesty, and personal conduct, all reflecting a heart that esteems others as made in God's image. The law's applications—from refusing to exploit laborers and maintaining honest weights to preserving dignity in punishment and honoring marital duty—reveal that true generosity flows from a transformed heart that trusts God's provision and rejects covetousness. Gratitude and generosity are not mere duties but expressions of identity and worship, pointing forward to Christ's self-emptying love. Ultimately, the law reveals that holiness is not fragmented but holistic, demanding a life of thankfulness that mirrors God's character.

Though there are times when Christ seems distant or hidden, He still calls to us by His Word and overcomes all obstacles to renew our intimacy with Him.

Though there are times when Christ seems distant or hidden, He still calls to us by His Word and overcomes all obstacles to renew our intimacy with Him.

As the most spectacular sin ever committed, Judas's betrayal models for us several ways that our sins are made more severe

As the most spectacular sin ever committed, Judas's betrayal models for us several ways that our sins are made more severe

How does wise authority bless us? Proverbs 20:2–8 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that wise authorities motivate us to be wise. The devotional emphasizes that wise authority—whether civil, familial, or spiritual—functions as a divine instrument to turn people from folly to wisdom, exemplified by the certainty of a king's judgment, which mirrors God's perfect justice. Examples of this transformation are the rejection of quarrelsomeness, the cultivation of peacemaking, the avoidance of laziness, and the discernment of one's own heart. Pastor underscores that true faithfulness and righteousness are rare, rooted in God's grace, and that the ultimate model of wisdom is Christ, Who alone embodies perfect integrity, faithfulness, and authority. As a result, believers are called to live with humility, diligence, and peace, knowing that their lives are under the sovereign rule of the King of Kings.

What do we learn about Jesus's betrayal? Matthew 26:14–25 looks forward to the morning sermon in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these twelve verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we are to see treachery, sovereignty, obedience, and sinfulness, as we consider Jesus's betrayal. This devotional centers on the prophesied betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot, revealing profound truths about divine sovereignty, human treachery, and Christ's willing obedience. The betrayal is marked by deep treachery, as one of Jesus's closest disciples, part of His household and family, conspires against Him, highlighting the gravity of apostasy within the covenant community. Yet Jesus affirms that His death is not a tragic accident but the fulfillment of Scripture, demonstrating God's sovereign plan and Christ's intentional obedience to the Father's will. The scene also exposes the brazen nature of sin, as Judas, having heard Jesus's solemn warning and even the curse upon the betrayer, still proceeds with his betrayal, revealing the deceptive and self-justifying character of unrepentant evil. Ultimately, the passage calls believers to profound self-examination, humility, and reliance on Christ's righteousness, recognizing that only through His grace can we be cleansed from our capacity for such betrayal and made obedient like Him.

What can help a backslider? Song of Songs 2:8–17 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 Lord powerfully and eagerly overcomes His bride's separation from Him. The passage presents a portrait of Christ's unwavering faithfulness amid the believer's experience of spiritual distance, using the imagery of a Beloved Who, though seemingly hidden, is actively pursuing and restoring His bride. Central to the message is the assurance that Christ's voice—revealed through Scripture, preaching, and the work of His church—is the primary means by which He overcomes every obstacle. Despite the believer's perceived unworthiness or failure, Christ continues to call her 'My love, My fair one, My dove,' affirming her beauty and value in His eyes, not by her condition, but by His grace. The call to 'rise and come away' is both a command and a promise, rooted in Christ's sovereign power to revive and restore, transforming the most barren season into springtime of renewal. The passage culminates in a heartfelt prayer for Christ to remain ever-present, overcoming all barriers until the final day when shadows flee and His presence is fully experienced.

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 31—especially explaining how we fell by Adam's eating the forbidden fruit. Q31. What was the sin of our first parents? Eating the forbidden fruit. The lesson unpacks the profound theological significance of Adam's transgression, emphasizing that their fall was a catastrophic breach of the covenant of works It highlights that Adam's sin was more severe because he knowingly and willfully rebelled against God's design, failing in his role as head of the family and covenant representative. All humanity was personally and legally represented in him, so that every person inherits a sinful nature and fallen estate due to his transgression. Rooted in 1 Timothy 2:14, the lesson reveals how the fall was both a personal act of rebellion and a corporate event with eternal consequences, making the need for redemption through Christ both urgent and deeply personal.

Without discipline and heeded instruction, a fool comes to harm himself, his household, and his society.

Without discipline and heeded instruction, a fool comes to harm himself, his household, and his society.

The Lord has loved believers greatly, and works in them great love to Himself

The experience of Christ's love can be so great that we need the reality of His love to sustain us under it.

The experience of Christ's love can be so great that we need the reality of His love to sustain us under it.

The Lord has loved believers greatly, and works in them great love to Himself.

What can steady us under the overwhelming love of Christ? Song of Songs 2:3–7 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord's Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ Himself sustains believers in the overwhelming experience of His love. The Song of Songs 2:3–7 presents a rich theological portrait of Christ as the ultimate source of spiritual beauty, refreshment, and safety, depicted through vivid imagery of an apple tree in the woods, a sheltering shade, and a banquet of wine. The bride's experience of Christ's love is both deeply personal and profoundly restorative—she finds delight in His protection, sweetness in His provision, and overwhelming joy in His presence, which sustains her even when she is spiritually overwhelmed. Her plea for the daughters of Jerusalem to sustain her with raisins and apples symbolizes the need for the church to nourish one another with the truth of Christ, not merely emotional experiences, for it is through the reality that sound doctrine describes that Christ Himself catches and upholds the believer. The passage warns against seeking religious affections apart from the solid foundation of Christ's identity and work, emphasizing that genuine intimacy with Him requires both theological truth and personal union through faith. Ultimately, the devotional calls believers to rest in Christ, not in fleeting emotional highs, but in the enduring reality of Him and that union with Him into which He Himself brings us.

God gives life by attending His means with His grace. Those who trust Him for life attend upon His means in dependence upon that grace.

God gives life by attending His means with His grace. Those who trust Him for life attend upon His means in dependence upon that grace.

The beauty of the King is reflected in His bride and contrasted from the world.

The beauty of the King is reflected in His bride and contrasted from the world.

Jesus wants us to live in continual remembrance of His intentionally, effectually dying to take away the guilt and punishment of our sin.

Jesus wants us to live in continual remembrance of His intentionally, effectually dying to take away the guilt and punishment of our sin.

Upon what would Jesus have His disciples focus? Matthew 26:1–5 looks forward to the morning sermon in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these sixteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus would have His disciples focus upon His crucifixion for their sins. The devotional centers on Jesus's prophetic declaration of His impending crucifixion, framed within the context of the Passover and the unfolding divine plan. It highlights the profound irony that while the chief priests, scribes, and elders conspire to kill Jesus, they are unwittingly fulfilling His own sovereign purpose. Jesus, the innocent Son of Man and true High Priest, is both the fulfillment of the Passover Lamb and the willing sacrifice Whose blood covers sinners, not because of their deserving, but by grace. The passage calls believers to live in continual awareness of Christ's sacrifice. The devotional exposes the danger of fearing man more than God, and affirms that even the most wicked intentions are subverted by God's redemptive design.

Folly in any member of a household can cause its ruin.

Folly in any member of a household can cause its ruin.

As the bride considers her beauty, she finds that it is from Christ, and that He beautifies her whole life with Him.

As the bride considers her beauty, she finds that it is from Christ, and that He beautifies her whole life with Him.

How beautiful is the bride? Song of Songs 2:1–2 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord's Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the bride is beautiful with the King's beauty. The passage reveals Christ as the ultimate source and definition of beauty, affirming His identity as the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valleys. He delights in His bride because He has transformed her from a state of thorn-like fallenness into a likeness of Himself. Her beauty is not self-derived but a participation in His, reflecting the divine purpose to conform believers to the image of His Son. Identity with Adam's fallen lineage is replaced by union with the last Adam, urging believers to cultivate Christ-esteem rather than self-esteem, and to treat one another with the same delight and hope that Christ has in His bride.

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 4—especially explaining how God is one, perfect substance, Who exists in three subsistences (persons). Q4. What is God? God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth. The lesson presents an exploration of God's nature, emphasizing that God is a spirit—eternal, infinite, and unchangeable in essence and all His attributes. It clarifies that while God is personal, the question 'what is God?' focuses on His divine substance, which is one in being yet eternally distinct in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The attributes of God—being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth—are not separate parts but inseparable expressions of His unified, simple, and perfect nature, each fully present and unchanging in every moment. Because God is outside of time and space, He is unaffected by creation and remains perfectly consistent in His character, making His knowledge, will, and promises eternally reliable. The lesson underscores that all divine attributes are simultaneously and fully true, reflecting a God who is self-sufficient, immutable, and the ultimate source of all reality, truth, and moral perfection.

How do you get ready for the Son of Man to come in His glory? Matthew 25:31–46 looks forward to the morning sermon in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these sixteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that you get ready for the Son of Man to come in His glory by grace-sustained adoration, affection, and action. This passage reveals that readiness for Christ's return is rooted in divine election and sustained by a life of adoration, affection, and action toward fellow believers. The final judgment centers not on abstract moral performance but on how individuals have responded to Christ's suffering through His mystical union with His people, making acts of mercy toward the vulnerable a reflection of worship and love for Him. True faith is marked by adoration of Christ as YHWH, which produces genuine affection for His redeemed, expressed in tangible acts of service. These actions are not a means of earning salvation, but a fruit of being predestined for the kingdom, and living by God's grace.

Pastor teaches his family a selection from "the Proverb of the day." In this verse of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that laziness is ridiculously self-destructive.

Discussion of proof texts for Larger Catechism question 43, How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?

How should we live, since we are subject to the providence of God? Ecclesiastes 9:1–6 prepares us for the hearing of God's Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that under the providence of God, we should live as those who remember that we must be right with Him before we die. The devotional draws from Ecclesiastes 9:1–6 to emphasize that, in God's sovereign providence, all people—righteous and wicked alike—face the same ultimate fate: death. It warns against judging others' spiritual standing based on their circumstances, whether prosperity or suffering, as such judgments misread God's purposes, and reflect human folly. The central truth is that, while the living know they will die, and thus must live with urgent purpose, the dead know nothing and have no further opportunity for repentance or reward. Therefore, believers are called to live with constant awareness of mortality, not in despair, but in faithful service to God through Christ, Who alone provides righteousness and hope beyond death. The living, even in their weakness, are to be esteemed above the dead, because they still have the chance to turn to God, making every moment an opportunity for grace and repentance.

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 27—especially explaining how sin is horrible because it is against God. Q27. Did Adam keep the covenant of works? No; he sinned against God. The lesson centers on the profound moral and theological significance of Adam's failure to uphold the covenant of works, emphasizing that his sin was not merely a violation of a divine rule but a personal offense against God Himself—both as Creator and covenant Lord. It underscores the gravity of sin by highlighting God's holiness, sovereignty, and the intimate relationship established in the garden, where Adam was called to live in obedience to God's moral and ceremonial commands. The failure to obey, particularly in the act of eating from the forbidden tree, reveals the depth of human rebellion against a holy and personal God, a pattern that resonates as the nature of all human sin. The reflection serves as a sobering reminder that all believers, having been brought into covenant relationship with God through His grace, are called to recognize the seriousness of sin against a holy and loving God. Ultimately, the lesson calls for humility, self-examination, and a deeper appreciation of God's righteousness and the cost of disobedience.

How is marriage to be honored? Deuteronomy 22:13–23:14 looks forward to the hearing of God's Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these thirty-two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that marriage is to be honored by guarding the purity of the marriages of men, and also by safeguarding the purity of the church as betrothed unto God. This passage applies the seventh commandment, 'You shall not commit adultery,' to both individual marriages and the collective holiness of Israel as God's betrothed people. It establishes a legal framework that protects the sanctity of marriage by safeguarding a woman's virginity, punishing false accusations with severe penalties, and ensuring justice. The laws distinguish between cases of guilt and innocence, emphasizing the importance of public accountability, and the protection of vulnerable women, especially in contexts where help was unavailable. Beyond individual morality, the passage extends this principle to the spiritual life of the nation, requiring ritual purity in the camp—such as the exclusion of eunuchs, illegitimate births, etc.—because God dwells among His people. Ultimately, the law calls the people to reflect the purity of their covenant God, mirroring the sacred union between Christ and His church, and to live in a way that honors both marital fidelity and divine consecration.

God in His manifold goodness to His children has poured out His love on us.

What do godly parents hope for their children? Proverbs 19:16–23 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that parents hope in God to bless their discipline and instruction, unto their children's fearing YHWH, unto their life and joy. This devotional presents a call to cultivate the fear of YHWH as the foundation of true life and lasting satisfaction. It emphasizes that obedience to divine instruction—applied by godly parenting—preserves the soul, while neglect leads to spiritual death. One example of this life is compassion for the poor, not as mere charity but as an act of reverence toward God's image. The text underscores that genuine wisdom comes through heeding counsel and enduring discipline, especially in youth, as unchecked rebellion and indulgence lead to wrath and repeated consequences. Ultimately, the goal is a life trusting God's eternal counsel, where even trials are received with joy under His providence, resulting in abiding satisfaction and freedom from evil's grasp.

How does the Bride respond to the Bridegroom's praise? Song of Songs 1:16–17 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord's Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Bride responds to the Bridegroom's praise by praising both Him and her fellowship with Him.

How much of God's work can man figure out? Ecclesiastes 8:16–17 prepares us for the hearing of God's Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that man cannot even begin to find out all of God's work, let alone comprehend it all. The devotional centers on the humility required to find true happiness, rooted in the recognition that human wisdom cannot comprehend the full scope of God's sovereign work in the world. No matter how diligently one seeks to understand the mysteries of life and divine providence, God's wisdom remains beyond human grasp. Pastor warns against the danger of equating happiness with theological mastery, instead calling for trust in God's incomprehensible wisdom and goodness. Acknowledging that God knows all and has all things in perfect order—is presented as the antidote to anxiety and the foundation of lasting joy. It concludes by calling us to rest in God's sovereignty, remembering that true contentment comes not from understanding God, but from trusting Him.

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 26—especially explaining how God threatened Adam with spiritual, physical, and eternal death. Q26. What did God threaten in the covenant of works? To punish Adam with death if he disobeyed. The Covenant of Works threatened Adam with death as the penalty for disobedience, not merely physical demise but the immediate severance of his intimate fellowship with God, which was the very essence of his life. Though Adam was created as a living being, animated by an eternal soul and sustained in divine communion, his sin instantly severed his fellowship with God, resulting in spiritual death and the beginning of physical decay. This death was not deferred but began immediately, marking the collapse of his original state of divine intimacy and the onset of mortality. The threat encompassed both the temporary separation of soul and body and the everlasting consequence of eternal condemnation, though redemption through the Gospel ultimately reversed this fate. The lesson underscores that the penalty of disobedience was not just biological death but the loss of the life-giving relationship with God that defined Adam's existence.