When Heidi was born, Natalie and I decided our little four door Saturn compact car wasn’t going to cut it for a family of four with all the baby and toddler gear in tow. There was only one thing to do. It was time to take the plunge and enter the minivan world.
We searched for used cars online and visited a couple dealerships, then settled on a 2005 Toyota Sienna. It was a great van. We bought it with just under 40,000 miles on it, and put another 200,000 miles on it. We drove it to work, to church, to doctor’s appointments, hospital visits, camping trips, and cross country road trips.
Over time, the van began to break down. Hubcaps rolled off. The automatic door broke. The back windshield wiper snapped. The axel and suspension went bad. Emissions needed repairs. The engine was still purring like a cat, but the van was showing its age and other repairs began to add up. Eventually, it just didn’t make sense to keep pouring money into it. After driving that minivan for almost fifteen years, we agreed it was time to trade it in for something newer. A mechanic at our church said any other model would have died a long time ago, but these vehicles were “built to last.” We eventually bought another minivan, another Toyota Sienna but eleven years newer with less miles on it. We like our “newer” van, but nothing will replace that 2005 silver Toyota Sienna in our hearts. It was like part of the family.
There’s a parallel here with marriage. Marriage is not always easy. As you get more miles, little things may start to break down, and there may be some bumps along the way. What’s important is that you keep Christ at the center of your relationship. Marriage is God’s idea, and any husband and wife who depend on the Holy Spirit and follow the instructions in God’s Word can have a marriage “built to last.”
Some time back, I preached on Colossians 3:18-19, which gives excellent counsel to husbands and wives. Together we learned…
The secret to a lasting marriage
Does a wife really have to “submit” to her husband?
How husbands can learn to love like Jesus
An important caveat – “do not be harsh”
Here’s the sermon audio if you’d like to follow along. Consider it a “tune-up” to keep your marriage running smoothly for years to come!
Thanks for listening. For a complete list of all my sermons, please visit the Sermon Hub on my blog.
Last week, I attended a lovely Pastors Breakfast sponsored by the Open Arms Pregnancy Clinic. Pastors were thanked for their support and encouraged to continue speaking on the difficult topic of abortion.
I don’t preach directly against abortion very often, but I do try regularly to point out the sanctity of life and, when appropriate, to mention the evils of abortion as we work through various passages of scripture.
Out of curiosity, I did a search on the word “abortion” in my sermon folder and below are some of the places it popped up. I try to be faithful to the Bible and make contemporary application, while avoiding political soap boxes. How does your church talk about abortion and the sanctity of life?
Sermon Title: The War on Error Sermon Text: 2 Corinthians 10:1-12 “…Strongholds are identity groups. Ideologies become fortified, and then form into communities. Today these include the LGBT community. The pseudo-scientific community that has embraced a naturalist, Darwinian view of human origin. The feminist community, with their insistence on abortion rights. The New Age community that almost deifies nature. There are false religions, self-help gurus, and pseudo-Christian cults. We combat these strongholds not with flesh and blood, but by destroying arguments and every lofty opinion with the truth…”
Title: The Family of God Text: Luke 7:36-50 “…Sometimes the church gains a reputation for what is against rather than what it is for. The world wants to portray us anti-this and anti-that. So the church is seen as anti-gay. The church is seen as anti-abortion. The church is seen as anti-cursing and anti-gambling and you name it. People want to depict us as though, ”you’re just a bunch of miserable, mean-spirited, intolerant, hateful people.’ Can I help us reframe that a bit? Instead of thinking about the fact we’re against all these things, could we start by saying we’re for something? We’re for Christ. We love Christ. Christ died for us. And because He died for us, we want to live for Him and please Him. And Jesus has given us certain instructions of how He wants us to live. So that means that if we love Christ, we’re going to love the things Christ loves. And if we love Christ, we’re also going to hate the things that Christ hates. He didn’t hate this woman in our story, but He did hate the sin. And He said, I will forgive the sin, but as we see in a similar story, he says ‘go and sin no more.’ There was a repentance that led to a change in behavior. We oppose sin not because we claim to be perfect. We certainly know we’re not perfect people. Not because we think we’re better than other sinners out there. We oppose sin because we know we are sinners saved by grace that sent Jesus to the cross, and because we have been saved and forgiven, we want to obey God’s will for our lives, which is a life of holiness and obedience…”
Title: Grace Upon Grace Text: Judges 13 “…In our own days, we have seen a kind of moral decline as well. Over past fifty years or so, we’ve seen a sharp rise in divorce, in unwed pregnancies, in sexual immorality, gay marriage, anxiety, disrespect, addiction, cursing and swearing and profanity, lies, greed, gambling, violent crime, abortion, suicide, sharp drops in church attendance, a renewed interest in witchcraft and the occult. People are searching for purpose and meaning and happiness, seem willing to go almost anywhere, except to the Bible itself. This is a unique opportunity. God has placed us here for such a time as this. It is not the easiest time in church history, but the church has the opportunity to be a shining light against a morally black backdrop…”
Title: The Prophet Returns Text: 1 Kings 18:1-19 [At the height of COVID] “…It saddens me that marijuana dispensaries are allowed to stay open, while churches are still closed and told to meet online. Abortion clinics are still performing deadly procedures, while churches are told their life-giving services are ‘non-essential.’ This shows something is drastically wrong with the priorities of our culture…“
Title: Jesus’ Public Ministry Text: Mark 1:35-45 “…Jesus’ ministry was one of both healing and preaching, but preaching was top priority. Mercy ministry is important, but our ultimate goal is to spare people eternal suffering. John Piper says it this way – “We care about all suffering now, especially eternal suffering later…Let’s be like Jesus. In every social issue from abortion to alcoholism, from AIDS to unemployment, from hunger to homelessness, let’s give the help that we would like to receive if it were us. And at every moment in that love, let us feel an even greater urgency to pray and speak and work to rescue people from everlasting suffering through the gospel of Jesus…”
The Dead Sea Scrolls are now on display at the Reagan Library, and our church is planning a field trip there this Friday.
Last Thursday, I taught a seminar to explain the significance of the scrolls, and how to get the most out of a visit:
Here’s the slideshow that goes with that presentation…
Summary and basic outline of my talk:
Introduction Stephen shares his personal experience of visiting Israel, including swimming in the Dead Sea, boat rides on the Sea of Galilee, and exploring caves and tombs. He expresses his love for Jerusalem, highlighting its rich history dating back to King David and the time of Christ. Stephen mentions visiting the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, where he saw a permanent display of the Dead Sea Scrolls. He recounts his experiences of seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls at various locations, including the California Science Center and the Reagan Library. Significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls Stephen explains the popularity of the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibits and their relevance to people of different faiths. He emphasizes the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls for Christians, as they provide a tangible connection to ancient biblical documents. Stephen discusses the field of apologetics, which defends the faith and the truth of the Bible. He quotes Proverbs 30:5-6 and Revelation to highlight the importance of preserving the Word of God without adding or subtracting from it. The Jesus Boat and Ancient Warfare Artifacts Stephen introduces the Jesus Boat, a replica of an ancient boat found in the Sea of Galilee during a severe drought in the mid-1980s. He describes the process of extracting the boat from the mud and the tests that dated it to the time of Christ. Stephen explains the significance of the Jesus Boat in the context of biblical stories, such as Jesus calling the disciples and the miraculous catch of fish. He also mentions other artifacts on display, including catapult rocks and spear tips, which provide insights into ancient warfare. Archeology and the Dead Sea Scrolls Stephen explains the process of archeology, particularly the study of ancient cities and tells. He describes the layers of civilization found in these tells, with the oldest layers at the bottom and the newest at the top. Stephen discusses the different periods, including the Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Roman period, and their significance in biblical history. He provides a historical perspective, linking the periods to biblical figures like Job, Abraham, and King David. Discovery and Preservation of the Dead Sea Scrolls Stephen recounts the story of the Bedouin shepherd who discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls in a cave in the late 1940s. He explains that the scrolls were found mostly in clay jars and were largely undecayed due to the dry climate of the Dead Sea area. Stephen describes the process of recovering and documenting the scrolls, including the use of modern technology like lasers and MRI equipment. He highlights the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls in confirming the reliability of the biblical text over thousands of years. The Dead Sea and Qumran Community Stephen provides a geographical overview of the Dead Sea, including its location, depth, and the surrounding areas like Jericho and Qumran. He explains the significance of Qumran, a community of ancient Jews who were messianic and avid documenters of biblical and extra-biblical texts. Stephen describes the caves near Qumran where the scrolls were found and the challenges of accessing these remote locations. He mentions the shrine of the book in Jerusalem, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls and other ancient artifacts. The Scrolls on Display at the Reagan Library Stephen lists the specific Dead Sea Scrolls that will be on display at the Reagan Library, including fragments of Exodus, Psalms, and the Book of Tobit. He explains the significance of the paleo-Hebrew script found in some of the scrolls and its historical context. Stephen discusses the extra-biblical texts, such as sapiential literature and the community rule of the Essenes, and their historical value. He emphasizes the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls in confirming the accuracy and reliability of the biblical text. The Role of Scribes and the Masoretic Tradition Stephen explains the role of scribes in copying and preserving the biblical text over centuries. He highlights the work of the Masoretes, a group of highly trained scribes who produced accurate copies of the Bible in the Middle Ages. Stephen discusses the significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls in supporting the fidelity of the Masoretic tradition, which is the basis of modern Hebrew Bibles. He provides examples of the close agreement between the Dead Sea Scrolls and later manuscripts, demonstrating the reliability of the biblical text. Practical Tips for Visiting the Reagan Library Exhibit Stephen provides practical tips for visiting the Reagan Library exhibit, including the importance of arriving early to avoid crowds. He advises visitors to read interpretive signs and make biblical connections to enhance their understanding of the artifacts. Stephen suggests taking advantage of the commemorative booklet available in the gift shop to document the exhibit. He encourages visitors to explore other parts of the Reagan Library, including the presidential travel area and the Air Force One exhibit. Closing Remarks and Final Questions Stephen concludes the presentation with a reminder of the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls in confirming the reliability of the biblical text. He encourages visitors to ask questions and seek further information from docents and other knowledgeable individuals at the exhibit. Stephen provides final logistical details, including the meeting time and location for the field trip to the Reagan Library. He opens the floor for any final questions and comments from the attendees.
Membership and loyalty clubs are an everyday part of life. We have gym memberships, wholesale shopping clubs, hotel and frequent flyer clubs, app subscriptions, and so much more. I noticed the other day that our local carwash even has a separate “members only” entrance from the “guest” entrance. In some cases, membership comes with special perks and incentives like extended hours, VIP lanes, discounts, referral bonuses, and cashback rewards.
That’s not what we mean when we talk about church membership. Church membership doesn’t give you a priority entrance or premier seating. There’s no secret handshake. No backstage pass. And sorry, you don’t get cashback rewards on your tithe. (In fact, the Bible warns against partiality or bribes).
What then is church membership? Church membership is a group of believers uniting together (we might even say covenanting) as a local church to honor God, care for one another, and obey the great commission.
There are a lot of modern misconceptions about church membership, so we recently spent a couple weeks digging into the subject. In part one, I explain the purpose of church membership and walk through the first two commitments of our church member covenant. We learn…
UNITED IN MEMBERSHIP (PART 1 OF 2) PASTOR STEPHEN JONES CALVARY CHURCH WEST HILLS JULY 6, 2025
Introduction • Membership and loyalty clubs are an everyday part of life. There are gym memberships, hotel and frequent flyer club membership, movie theaters, timeshares, HOAs, etc. E.g. (see photo) Carwash – members only vs. guests. Separate entrances. In some cases, membership comes with certain perks like extended hours, VIP lanes, special discounts, referral bonuses, and cashback rewards. • But that’s not what we mean when we talk about church membership. Church membership doesn’t give you a priority entrance, or premier seating, or secret handshake, no VIP lounge with better donuts, or backstage pass to hang out with the worship band. You don’t get cashback rewards on your tithe. In fact, the Bible warns against partiality and bribery. • Church membership a group of believers uniting together (or we might even say “covenanting”) as a local church to honor God, care for one another, and obey the great commission. Our Church Covenant • From Article V of our Church Constitution & Bylaws. Member Covenant – “Having received Christ as my Lord and Savior and been baptized, and being in agreement with Calvary Church’s statements, strategy, and structure, I now feel led by the Holy Spirit to unite with the Calvary Church family. In doing so, I commit myself to God and to the other members to do the following: I will protect the unity of my church by acting in love toward other members, by refusing to gossip, and by following the leaders. I will share the responsibility of my church by praying for its growth, by inviting the “unchurched” to attend, and by warmly welcoming those who visit. I will serve the ministry of my church by discovering and using my gifts and talents, by seeking to be equipped by my pastor to serve, and by developing a servant’s heart. I will support the testimony of my church by attending faithfully, living a godly life, and by giving regularly.” • Each of these statements are then backed up by scripture. I think you will be hard pressed to find anything unbiblical in that list. If you can assent to this statement, I would encourage you to join Calvary Church West Hills. It is my prayer that if you haven’t already joined the church, that you will do so as a result of these next two messages. • There’s a scary word in that covenant I read for you. It’s the word “commit.” Many of us are hesitant to make that kind of commitment. • Four commitments. We will focus on just the first two today.
Protecting Unity • Romans 14:19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. • Context of Christian liberty. (see 14:2). Don’t quarrel! (14:1) Don’t despise (14:3). Don’t pass judgment! (14:3, 4, 13). Rather, know what you believe (14:5, 22-23), honor God in all you do (14:6, 8, 18), avoid stumbling blocks (14:13), pursue peace (14:19), and welcome others (14:1), knowing you will one day give an account before God and want to hear the words “well done” (14:10-12). • Out of five chapters on practical theology at the end of Paul’s letter, two of them are dedicated to the subject of church unity. • So what Paul is saying is use your newfound liberty in Christ, your spiritual strength, and any authority God has granted you, to serve others. Authority and submission. Biblical authority does not mean domineering. In fact, just the opposite. Leadership is the God-given privilege of providing vision, influence, guidance, and example for the benefit of others. Spiritual leadership is servant leadership. • …By acting in love toward other members. Romans 15:5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus. Cf. 1 Pet. 1:22; Jn. 15:12. • Think about the concept of right of way in traffic. In some countries, the biggest vehicle on the road gets the right of way. A pedestrian yields to a bicycle, a bicycle to a car, and a car to a van, and a van to a bus. But Jesus says in Matthew 23:11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. • …By refusing to gossip. Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. • …By following the leaders. Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. • Harmony. Cf. Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. • Personal Example: Dr. Plew in the Master’s Chorale. 60 person choir. But there’s a sense in which we had one-voice. Had to blend – in dynamics, in timbre, to listen and match the pitch of others, all while following the conductor. • >>A church member agrees first of all to protect unity, and expects others to do these same. Neither our members nor our leaders will be perfect, but these will mark a healthy, godly church. They would be good for a family as well. Sharing Responsibility • Rom. 14:19 “So then let us pursue what makes for peace.” Who is the us? Cf. 1:7 “to all those in Rome who are loved…” ch. 16 giving personal greetings – 16:1, 5, 6, 6-7… • Love this expression – “share the responsibility.” If you’ve ever played a team sport, you understand this all too well. Take basketball for example, five players on the court at time, all different positions. One might be a captain. One might be taller, a better, scorer, ball-handler, or rebounder, or defender, but all of them are important. • One of the most ridiculous aspects of COVID was the invention of the term “non-essential” worker. In the church, there are no non-essential members. Now, that’s not to say that the church ceases to function. But it will not be as healthy, as fruitful, or as bright a witness if some members fail to do their part and exercise their spiritual gifts. • That would be like saying one of the body parts are non-essential. Sure, you can survive without an eye, or an ear, a thumb, or a second kidney. But do you really want to? Every had your foot fall asleep? The blood circulation gets cut off and suddenly your foot is numb, and you walk with a heavy limp. The same thing happens with a church has members who have “fallen asleep.” • By praying for its growth. 1 Thessalonians 1:2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, • By inviting the unchurched to attend. Luke 14:23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. • By warmly welcoming those who visit. Romans 15:7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. • Compare a consumer driven church versus a service oriented driven church. Conclusion • John MacArthur says it well in Biblical Doctrine: “To become a member of a church is to formally commit oneself to an identifiable, local body of believers who have joined together for specific, divinely ordained purposes. These purposes include receiving instruction from God’s Word (1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:2), serving and edifying one another through the proper use of spiritual gifts (Rom. 12:3–8; 1 Cor. 12:4–31; 1 Pet. 4:10–11), participating in the ordinances (Luke 22:19; Acts 2:38–42), and proclaiming the gospel to those who are lost (Matt. 28:18–20). In addition, when one becomes a member of a church, he submits himself to the care and the authority of the biblically qualified elders whom God has placed in that assembly.” • How does membership help in practical, down-to earth terms? – Classes are easy to schedule, provide regularly. Some larger churches even offer on a continuous cycle – Gives us an opportunity to hear people’s testimonies and profession of faith – Gives leaders a chance to get to know, shepherd, assimilate, disciple members – Provides spiritual protection. Helps protect against false teachers – (remember Pastor Walter’s teaching from Jude last week) – Provides legal protection, an opportunity for “informed consent” regarding church beliefs and practices, and special teaching such as Jesus’ words on church discipline – Greater Transparency. We can provide a copy of our statement of faith and bylaws to members. People stay more informed. It gives us a chance to go over governing documents, resulting in more educated voting members. Along these same lines, it allows… – Congregationalism, where regenerate church members have the opportunity to prayerfully vote over some issues in the church such as approving the annual budget, calling a new pastor, or church discipline cases. You definitely want born-again, like-minded Christians to be making these important decisions! Next week, we will continue this study…
On Tuesday, April 11, 2000, IBEX took an afternoon field trip to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. This museum includes some priceless treasures including the ossuary of the High Priest Caiaphas and the famous Dead Sea Scrolls.
The Dead Sea Scrolls are housed in a special exhibit called the “Shrine of the Book.” The large water fountain resembles the lid of a jar like those where the scrolls were found. We already had opportunity to visit the caves at Qumran where the scrolls were found. Now, we got to see the scrolls themselves, preserved and on permanent display.
Why are the Dead Sea Scrolls significant? Until 1947, our oldest surviving manuscripts of the Hebrew Scriptures dated to around 1000 AD. When the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, we suddenly had manuscripts that pre-dated our oldest scrolls by a thousand years! Compared side-by-side, they confirmed the Masoretic Text (MT) was incredibly accurate and well preserved.
One of the most significant finds was a massive scroll of Isaiah that contains all 66 chapters. Robinson and Harrison explain, “From Cave 1 came a complete copy of the book of Isaiah, known to scholars as &1QIsaa;. Surprisingly well preserved, it comprised fifty-four columns of clearly written Hebrew script inscribed on seventeen sheets of leather that had been stitched end to end. When unrolled it measured about 7.3 m (24 ft) in length, and was approximately 30 cm. (1 ft) in width… Aside from differences in orthography and the use of certain consonants as vowel letters, the text of Isaiah in &1QIsaa; was identical with that in the much later editions of the MT.” (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
There are some minor differences in various scrolls, even in the two copies of Isaiah found. This might be because the text of Isaiah was preserved and passed down in different parts of the world, like an ancient game of telephone. “Isaiah A” includes vowel points and may have been for a less fluent Hebrew reader. “Isaiah B” seems to be a more pure form of Hebrew. But they are still very close overall and the differences are negligible in English.
As we explored the museum, I began to better grasp the flow of history and periods of archaeology:
Neolithic Period (Shortly after Noah’s flood) – Early pottery. Oldest known building is a tower in Jericho. Chalcolithic Period (before 3000 BC) – Chaeleo (copper) + lithic (stone). Surprising sophistication and craftsmanship. Basalt bowls and ivory fertility objects found in Beersheba. Early Bronze Period (3000-2200 BC) – Copper implements. Large urban settlements. Fortified cities. Writing develops in Mesopotamia and Egypt. Intermediate Bronze (2200-1550 BC) – Fewer cities. Mostly nomadic. Some jars and spear heads found. Beginning of alphabetic script in Phoenicia and Canaan. The time of Abraham and the patriarchs. Middle/Late Bronze (1550-1200 BC) – Period of the exodus under Moses and conquest under Joshua. Classic Canaanite culture (as far as craftsmanship) was far superior to Israelite culture. Advanced weaponry like ax heads and sickle swords. Anthropoid sarcophagus found in Beit Shan. Iron Age (1200-586 BC) – Iron technology. A loose tribal confederation gave way to wider rule under Saul, David, and Solomon, then division of Northern and Southern tribes. Many items have been found during this time such as a a bronze bull in Manasseh, proto-aeolic capitals on top of pillars, the Tel Dan inscription, and ivory pomegranates from Solomon’s temple.
One special exhibit are two silver amulets found by Gabi Barkay at the tombs of Ketef Hinnom in 1979. These small amulets contain the priestly blessing from Numbers 24-26 and predate the Dead Sea Scrolls by several hundred years, making them the oldest known surviving biblical text in the world.
Photo courtesy Wikipedia
Later periods of archaeology include the Persian, Hellenistic, Hasmonean, and so forth, but much of Old Testament biblical archaeology took place during these earlier times.
A final highlight was seeing the actual Seat of Moses from the synagogue of Chorazin. We had seen a replica in the Galilean town, but here they had the original on display.
25 years ago, I had the privilege of traveling to Israel for a semester through the Master’s College IBEX program. To celebrate the 25th anniversary, I’m sharing highlights from my journal, emails, and photos.Feel free to share your own IBEX memories here as well!
Pinch Of Clay 