The Hymnal: An Explainer

If your family has not yet received a hymnal, make sure you pick one up today. Starting in the New Year the majority of our song selection will come from the hymnal and you are being provided one now to give your time to become familiar with it. Below is an article explaining why we are doing this.

It’s a Fighting Man’s Song Book

I want to speak for a moment about something that is too often overlooked in our churches today: the singing of hymns. In our generation, we are tempted to chase novelty, fresh songs, and catchy choruses. But I want to remind you that there is immense, eternal value in singing the old, rich hymns that have carried the church for centuries. Hymns are not merely sentimental songs; they are vehicles of gospel truth, engines of joy, and instruments of God’s glory. We sing the songs to encourage our own hearts in the walk of faith.

First, consider the content of hymns. Hymns are saturated with Scripture. They are carefully crafted, sometimes over decades, to teach and affirm the truths of God’s Word. When we sing “And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior’s blood?” we are not merely singing words; we are confessing the wonder of the gospel, the miracle of our redemption, the stupendous grace of God in saving wretches like us. Hymns are theological, doxological, and catechetical all at once. They shape our minds and our hearts in ways that fleeting modern songs cannot.

Second, hymns bind the church together across time and space. When we lift our voices together in a hymn, we join a chorus that spans generations. From the reformers to the missionaries in foreign lands, from the persecuted saints to the faithful in our own churches, we are connected in worship. Hymns remind us that our faith is not isolated; it is part of the grand story of God’s glory and the triumph of Christ. Singing together is not just an aesthetic pleasure; it is a declaration of our shared hope and a rehearsal of our eternal story.

Third, hymns stir our souls with delight in God. There is something about the beauty of a well-crafted hymn—the meter, the rhyme, the melody—that lifts our affections and directs them toward Christ. Singing hymns cultivates joy, gratitude, and awe. They help us to pray, to lament, to rejoice, and to exult in the greatness of God. In the words of the Puritans, “The chief end of singing in the church is to delight the heart in God.” Hymns are not mere decoration; they are worship, and they delight God as much as they delight us.

Finally, hymns preserve the heritage of the church. They carry the testimony of saints who lived and died for Christ, who wrestled with sin, who clung to God’s promises in suffering. By singing their words today, we remind ourselves that the gospel is not new—it is eternal. We are heirs of a faith that has been proven true through centuries of trial and triumph.

You have every reason to sing them with vigor, with devotion, with joy. Let them teach you, bind you, move you, and root you in the gospel. In them, the glory of God resounds, the joy of Christ is proclaimed, and your soul is nourished for eternity. Sing hymns, for the sake of God’s glory and the delight of your heart.

The Hymnal: "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" Hymn 723

“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” is one of Charles Wesley’s best-known Advent hymns. He wrote it in 1744, during a time when life in England was very difficult for many people. Wesley was a Christian pastor and leader who often traveled, preached, and spent time among the poor. Because of this, he saw the struggles people faced every day—crowded cities, homeless children, unfair work conditions, and a general lack of hope. These problems deeply affected him and helped shape the message of the hymn.

The hymn grew out of Wesley’s study of the Bible, especially a verse from Haggai 2:7, which describes the coming Messiah as “the desire of all nations.” Wesley believed that Jesus was the answer to the world’s longings—for peace, justice, and salvation. While reading this passage and thinking about the needs around him, Wesley wanted to write a hymn that expressed both the hope of Jesus’ birth and the need for Him to rule in people’s hearts.

Wesley saw that people were not only struggling physically but also spiritually. Many felt trapped by fear, sin, and hopelessness. This is why the hymn speaks about Jesus bringing “release,” giving His people “rest,” and being born to set them free. Wesley believed that Advent—the season leading up to Christmas—should remind Christians that Jesus came to save, to comfort, and to reign. But he also believed Advent should point forward to Christ’s return, when He will bring complete peace and restore all things.

“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” was first printed in Wesley’s small book Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord in 1745. At first, the hymn was not widely known. But over time, it became more popular, especially when it was paired with the tune HYFRYDOL, a well-loved Welsh melody also used for “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” The tune’s smooth and memorable sound helped the hymn spread into churches across England and eventually around the world.

The reason the hymn remains meaningful today is because it connects deep truth with real human emotions. It reminds believers that Jesus came not only to be born in a manger, but to bring freedom, hope, and peace. It also teaches Christians to keep longing for His return. For these reasons, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” continues to be a powerful Advent hymn that speaks to the heart and points people to Christ.

Does Your Pastor Have a Job Description?

In any business looking to hire you can be sure that the managers and HR people have spent a good amount of time crafting a job description. After all if you are going to spend good money on an employee it needs to be very clear what they are being paid for.

Churches should operate with an even greater level of clarity in a vocation where eternal souls are involved. Yet looking at many job postings and reading church bylaws, the functional job description for Pastors vary widely. This is important because a man looking at a church might end up taking a job he doesn’t understand, or a church might hire a man of conviction who pursues a Biblical ministry, that offends them.

Fortunately we have an exceptionally clear book on the matter. The Bible, specifically the New Testament points us to the description of a New Testament Church.

Here is a biblical job description for a pastor, grounded in key Scripture passages that describe the character, responsibilities, and spiritual qualifications of a faithful shepherd:

Biblical Job Description: Pastor (Elder/Overseer)

Title: Pastor / Elder / Overseer (Greek: poimēn, presbyteros, episkopos)

Position Summary:

The pastor is a qualified man called by God and affirmed by the local church to shepherd God’s people through the ministry of the Word, prayer, and oversight. He must model Christlike character, faithfully teach sound doctrine, protect the flock from false teaching, and equip the saints for the work of ministry.

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Preach and Teach the Word of God

• "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching."
  —2 Timothy 4:2

• "He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it."
  —Titus 1:9

2. Shepherd the Flock

• "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly."
  —1 Peter 5:2

• "I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding."
  —Jeremiah 3:15

3. Lead by Godly Example

• "Set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."
  —1 Timothy 4:12

• "Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith."
  —Hebrews 13:7

4. Pray for the Church

• "We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
  —Acts 6:4

• "I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers."
  —Ephesians 1:16

5. Equip the Saints for Ministry

• "And he gave...the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ."
  —Ephesians 4:11–12

6. Guard the Flock from Error

• "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock...I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you...Therefore be alert."
  —Acts 20:28–31

Qualifications:

1 Timothy 3:1–7

• Above reproach

• Husband of one wife

• Sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable

• Able to teach

• Not a drunkard or violent but gentle

• Not quarrelsome or a lover of money

• Manages his own household well

• Not a recent convert

• Well thought of by outsiders

Titus 1:5–9

• Blameless

• Not arrogant or quick-tempered

• Lover of good, upright, holy, disciplined

• Holds to sound doctrine

Accountability:

• Accountable to Christ, the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4)

• Accountable to fellow elders and the congregation (Acts 14:23, Hebrews 13:17)

It’s not enough for a church to use squishy language in it’s job description. Words like “ministry” or “minister at large” are frankly vague enough to be manipulated into whatever shape the prevailing powers in a church want them to mean. By being specific, you can be objective and clear.

So next time someone asks you for a job description of a Pastor I hope you’ll refer back to this article.

Serious About Sanctification: The 3 Fold Understanding of Our Sanctification

Before we move on, lets reexamine where we’ve been. Holiness isn’t just a command for the people of Israel; it's for all of God’s people. While Leviticus repeatedly calls the Israelites to be holy, the same command is found in the New Testament. In 1 Peter 1:14-16, we read, "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'" God has sent the Holy Spirit to help his people live holy lives, to be separate from the world, and to be sanctified. The word "sanctified" means to be made holy, pure, or separate. It’s about becoming more like Jesus and being transformed to reflect him. Charles Spurgeon understood this well, saying, “If I had my choice of all the blessings I can conceive of, I would choose perfect conformity to the Lord Jesus, or, in one word, holiness.”

God’s goal in saving his people is not just forgiveness, but also transformation—restoring them to reflect his holiness. This change happens through sanctification, which can be understood in three ways: Positional, Perfected, and Progressive sanctification.

Positional Sanctification happens when a person is saved. At that moment, God spiritually separates them from the world and sets them apart for his purposes. Through their union with Christ, believers are separated from the power of sin. Though they might not appear much different at first, the foundation for growth in holiness has been laid. This is the first step in becoming holy. God declares them holy, and though many struggle to accept this, it’s true because of what Christ did on the cross. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross made believers holy, forgiven, and righteous before God. Hebrews 10:10 says, "And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Because of Christ's work, we can be closer to God than even the high priest was on the Day of Atonement, making holiness possible for all believers.

Perfected Sanctification is the final stage, which happens when believers are with God in heaven or when Christ returns. While believers are declared holy at salvation, they won’t experience complete holiness until they see Jesus face-to-face. This is the goal for all believers: to be fully transformed into Christ's likeness. As 1 John 3:2 says, "Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." In heaven, there will be no sin or unholiness, and believers will be perfectly holy. Hebrews refers to the saints in heaven as "the spirits of the righteous made perfect," and we can be assured that God will complete his work in us when Jesus returns.

Progressive Sanctification is the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ while still on earth. Even after salvation, sin still remains, and believers must deal with it through the Holy Spirit’s work in their lives. This process is described in 2 Corinthians 3:18, which says, "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." As believers focus on God, the Holy Spirit transforms them to be more like Jesus over time. Sanctification is not a passive process; believers are actively involved, working out their salvation with God's help. Philippians 2:12-13 says, "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." This shows that God’s work in believers enables them to work toward holiness. As John Murray puts it, "God works in us and we also work. But the relation is that because God works, we work."

As believers grow in holiness, it shows in their lives. Discipleship is a key part of sanctification, where every part of life is lived for God's glory. In Leviticus, the Israelites were taught that everything in their lives—how they lived, worked, and worshiped—was under God’s control. Paul reminds us of this in 1 Corinthians 10:31: "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." When believers dedicate their lives to God, it shows their commitment to being holy. This is similar to the burnt offering in Leviticus, where the whole animal was sacrificed to show total devotion. In Romans 12:1, Paul calls believers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. This is true worship and a sign of our dedication to God.

Holiness is a demand from God, and it’s not acceptable for someone to say they are a Christian but live in disobedience. If someone has been saved, they are called to be holy, and this process of sanctification cannot fail. The Day of Atonement foreshadowed Jesus' ultimate sacrifice. Jesus didn’t just forgive sins; he gave believers a new life and purpose, with the promise of complete holiness. If you believe in Jesus’ sacrifice and desire to become more like him, you can be confident that the Holy Spirit will continue transforming you until you are perfectly holy in God's presence.

This is why church exists, it’s a community of the genuinely reforming and transforming. We each have a personal responsibility to pursue our own sanctification. As we do so though we have a community wide influence that creates a culture of mutually edifying transformation. We recognize perfection isn’t possible here on earth, but we acknowledge the command to grow in proficiency as disciples of Jesus.

Serious About Sanctification: Leviticus, The Holiness of God, and Your Understanding

The book of Leviticus helps us understand what it means to be holy—to live in a way that pleases God. Leviticus was written by Moses, and it explains how God wanted the people of Israel to live, worship, and stay separate from other nations. It includes instructions about sacrifices, laws, and daily life.

Sometimes, people today want to skip over Leviticus because the rules seem old or hard to understand. But when we take time to study it, we see that it teaches us important things about salvation (how God saves us) and sanctification (how God helps us become more holy).

One major theme in Leviticus is holiness. The word “holy” shows up over 150 times! God keeps telling Israel to be holy because He is holy. For example:

• Leviticus 11:44: “Be holy, for I am holy.”

• Leviticus 19:2: “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.”

• Leviticus 20:7: “Consecrate yourselves… and be holy.”

God gave Israel many laws to help them live in a way that was different from the sinful nations around them. For example, in Leviticus 19:27–28, God told the people not to cut their hair or tattoo their bodies like the pagans did. These laws weren't about haircuts or tattoos being sinful on their own—they were about being different from the world and devoted to God.

In Leviticus 11, God gave rules about food—what was clean and unclean to eat. These food laws weren’t about nutrition; they were about teaching the Israelites to be set apart. Other nations used animals like pigs in sacrifices to false gods. By avoiding these animals, the Israelites showed they worshipped a different, holy God.

So, is it a sin to eat bacon? No. These laws were symbols to teach God’s people a lesson. God used them to say: “Be different, because I am different.”

Some people think Christians today should still follow some of these Old Testament laws. They try to divide them into "moral" laws and "ceremonial" laws. But that’s not exactly how the Bible talks about them. Leviticus often uses the words “clean” and “unclean” rather than “right” and “wrong.” That’s because these laws were a model—a picture of something deeper. They were teaching tools.

For example, in Deuteronomy 18, a false prophet—someone who lies in God’s name—was to be put to death. That seems harsh, but it shows how seriously God takes idolatry, which is worshipping something other than God. Even today, we should take false teaching seriously and remove it from our lives, even though we don’t carry out the old punishments.

Let’s look at an important story in Leviticus 10. Two priests, Nadab and Abihu, offered “strange fire” to God—something He hadn’t asked for. God sent fire to consume them, and they died. Why? Because they didn’t obey God’s instructions exactly. God was showing that holiness isn’t optional. It’s either holy or it’s not.

God also gave the Israelites a system of sacrifices to show different things:

• Burnt Offering – total devotion to God

• Grain Offering – thankfulness

• Peace Offering – fellowship with God

• Sin Offering – forgiveness for accidental sins

• Guilt Offering – forgiveness for accidental sins plus making things right with others

Let’s focus on two of these:

1. Burnt Offering (Leviticus 1): The animal was completely burned to show full devotion to God. It symbolized the worshiper saying, “All of me belongs to you, God.”

2. Sin Offering: This was for accidental sins. The person would sacrifice an animal, which stood in their place. But this only worked for sins people didn’t mean to commit.

So what about intentional sins? There was no sacrifice for that. That’s why King David said in Psalm 51 that there was no offering he could give for his sin when he purposely had Uriah killed.

But then comes Leviticus 16, the high point: The Day of Atonement. Once a year, the high priest made a special sacrifice for all of Israel. It involved:

• A bull for the high priest's own sin

• A goat for the people’s sin

• A second goat (the scapegoat) that carried away the people’s sins into the wilderness

• A ram as a burnt offering, showing the people’s devotion after forgiveness

This day pointed forward to what Jesus would do on the cross. Jesus is our perfect high priest who had no sin. His blood cleansed us fully, and His death removed our sins forever—just like the scapegoat being sent away. After that, we’re not just forgiven—we’re supposed to live for God.

The point of the Day of Atonement wasn’t just to get rid of sin—it was to dedicate the people to God. That’s the same with Jesus’ death. He didn’t just forgive us; He gave us a new life.

Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Because He loved us first, we respond by loving Him back through obedience.

Jesus also sent us the Holy Spirit to help us obey. In John 14:16–17, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would live inside His followers to help them live holy lives. That’s called sanctification—God making us more like Himself over time.

So what does Leviticus teach us today?

It shows us how seriously God takes holiness, and that He wants us to live in a way that reflects who He is. It reminds us that being a Christian isn’t just about being forgiven—it’s about being transformed. God calls His people to be holy, just like He is holy.

In the next article we will learn how holiness ties into sanctification as the fuel for discipleship.

Serious about Sanctification: Discipleship and the Local Church

Discipleship is one of the core tenets of the Christian life. At its simplest, it means to follow Jesus and to become more like Him. This process is essential for every believer. A true disciple of Jesus will necessarily engage in a lifelong journey of discipleship. Our church is committed to walking alongside every member, supporting each one in their pursuit of this calling. It is my privilege to begin our new series on discipleship with a sermon titled The Holy Church.

In this article we will examine the doctrine of sanctification. Perhaps you’re unfamiliar with the term—that's okay for now. Maybe you have a general idea of what it means, and our study will help fill in some gaps. Even if you already understand sanctification well, this will serve as a meaningful reminder. Often, we don’t consider the "why" behind a process—the purpose it serves—and we can become lost in the details of the process itself. Discipleship is necessary and good for the Christian life, and sanctification is the driving force behind it.

You might be tempted to think of sanctification as a lofty theological concept best left to scholars and pastors. But that can’t be the case for us, and in truth, it shouldn’t be the case for any believer. The reason is simple: God uses this word. Scripture is filled with references to sanctification, and if we fail to understand what it means, we risk misunderstanding God's Word. That misunderstanding can lead to a dangerous disconnect between knowledge and obedience—because if we don’t know what God wants, we likely won’t do what He desires.

Understanding sanctification is essential because it defines who we are—the church.

So what is the church? Is it a building? An institution? No, the church is a people. If you believe—if God has saved you from your sins and eternal punishment, and if He has clothed you in the righteousness of Christ—then you are part of the church, the universal body of all believers. We are gathered here today in a local church, and everyone here who believes is also part of the universal church. Last week, we joined with another local church for a combined service. In that moment, two local churches met together, and every believer in the room was part of the same universal church. The word "church," whether local or universal, always describes a people. Yet we often forget this. We sometimes treat the church as if it were a place or a structure, but it is not tethered to any location or symbolized by any building. One day, God will gather His entire church—His people—into His kingdom, and I guarantee that Saint Peter’s Basilica will not be there.

The word "church" comes from the Greek word ekklesia, which literally means “called-out ones.” God calls His people out—out of the world, out of sin, and out of darkness. But what does He call us to? We’ll get to that shortly.

Some people think that once someone is saved, there is little more to do in relation to God. They imagine that salvation is the end of the journey rather than the beginning. According to this view, once someone has attained salvation, they may feel free to live apart from God—or even worse than before. Some evangelists promote this mindset by going from place to place proclaiming, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved,” which is a beautiful and true message. But as soon as someone professes belief, the evangelist moves on, leaving the new believer without any guidance. What’s missing is a clear explanation of what it really means to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Because true belief always produces action. If you genuinely believe something, you will live accordingly. The Christian life involves far more than salvation alone.

To think otherwise is to misunderstand the very nature of God.

So lets go back to the beginning today and start building our argument for who God is and what Sanctification entails.

If you had to describe God in just one word, what would you choose? Many good answers might come to mind—like "love" or "glorious." But if you asked someone from the Old Testament, they might choose the word "holy." To be holy means to be sacred, pure, and separate from anything sinful or impure. In Isaiah chapter 6, the prophet Isaiah has a vision of heaven, where angels are calling out, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" In Hebrew, repeating a word three times shows something is the highest or most important. So when the Bible says God is “holy, holy, holy,” it means He is perfectly and supremely holy—completely unlike anything else.

The angels also say that the whole earth is full of God’s glory. This means all of creation was made to show how amazing and holy God is. From the very beginning, that was God’s plan. In Genesis, God created the heavens and the earth, and everything was good. It was so good that Job 38 describes angels shouting for joy as God made the world. Then God created people in His image. Adam and Eve were meant to represent God on earth by ruling over creation the way God rules—righteously and wisely. They were supposed to live holy lives by obeying God, trusting Him, and walking closely with Him. God gave them jobs to do, and they did them. He gave them many good things to enjoy, and they received them with thankfulness. He also gave them commands to follow, and they obeyed. God even walked with them like a loving Father. From the start, it was clear that people were meant to live holy lives, just like God.

But things didn’t stay that way. Adam and Eve disobeyed God because they wanted to be like Him in the wrong way. Their sin brought serious consequences—spiritual, physical, and eternal death. Their close relationship with God was broken. They didn’t just lose their place with God; they lost the desire and ability to represent Him at all.

But God had a plan to fix what was broken. He promised to send a Savior—Jesus. And Jesus didn’t just solve the problem of sin and punishment. He also came to restore people so they could once again reflect God’s holiness, just as they were meant to from the beginning. Being saved doesn’t only mean being forgiven; it also means being changed. Some might ask, “If we believe in Jesus and are covered by His blood, doesn’t that make us right with God forever?” Yes, it does. Jesus’ death and resurrection fully paid for the sins of His people. But salvation isn’t the end of the story. God wants His people to grow in holiness because He is holy. This is a major theme throughout the Bible. God’s people aren’t just saved to be safe—they’re saved to be like Him. Holiness is one of God’s top priorities for those who follow Him.

We’ll see how this theme is developed in the Old Testament and carried into the New Testament in the next article. For now, it’s enough to ask you to stop and pray and ask God to grant you increasing understanding regarding His nature, and the active obedience required by genuine faith. This obedience will inevitably lead to increasing personal holiness in your life as a priority of Godward living.

On Church Government

Wheaties—you know, those dry brown flakes pretending to be a tasty breakfast cereal? The people who market them knew no one would want to eat them for the taste alone. So they put pictures of famous athletes on the box. The message was simple: eat your Wheaties, and you too can be great. For many people, talking about how a church is governed feels just as boring as a bowl of Wheaties with skim milk. But the truth is, learning how church leadership works can actually help us do amazing things together. So take a few minutes to learn how we do things here at ABCModesto.

The People

The people of the church—the congregation—are the church. At ABCModesto, we believe that the people are the body of Christ, and our leaders respect that. Our Pastor often says, “If we’re not doing something, it’s because the church hasn’t spoken up or stepped up to make it happen.” The opposite is also true: everything we are doing is because someone in the church said, “This matters,” and got involved. Ministries like Children’s, Worship, Administration, and Benevolence only happen because people care enough to make them happen.

Our Elders

About two years ago, we officially recognized our elders during a family meeting. It was a joyful day as the church affirmed its leadership. Elders guide the church in teaching, discipline, and direction. Usually, someone brings up a need, the elders talk about it, and a plan is shared at a family chat. If the church agrees, we move forward. The elders help ideas grow and keep us grounded in God’s Word. They help answer the question, “Why are we doing this?” while the congregation helps identify “What needs to be done?”

Our Leaders

Alongside the elders, we have a Leadership Team. These are people who lead specific ministries and help organize events, meet needs, and get things done. They help answer the practical question: “How do we do it?” This teamwork between the congregation, elders, and ministry leaders keeps the church moving forward in unity.

What we Are Not

Sometimes people think that being elder-led means the elders control everything. But that’s not true at ABCModesto. Our elders lead the church, but they don’t rule over it. Real authority is shared between the church body and its leaders. If the elders are answering every question—the what, the how, and the why—then you’ve got an elder-ruled church. That’s not us. We follow a principle called mutual submission. That means elders use their role to serve the church, and the church is called to respect and support the elders. This kind of teamwork makes us stronger—like how kneading dough again and again makes it firmer and more useful.

Why Don’t We Vote?

Some people ask, “You don’t vote? Isn’t that unbiblical?” The answer is, we don’t need to vote if we’re working together. In fact, the Bible never shows churches voting, and for most of history, churches didn’t vote at all. Voting is actually a newer idea that comes more from American culture than from Scripture. Also, voting often divides people. Every vote creates winners and losers, and that can harm unity. Ephesians 4:3 tells us to work hard to keep the peace and unity of the church. Voting can make that harder.

Instead, we focus on collaboration. This approach can be slower and a little messier, but it helps bring people together. When you have to work with people who are different from you, the church grows stronger. Collaboration builds unity. Voting often breaks it. Now, there are a few legal times when we do vote, like when forming or closing the nonprofit organization. But those votes are only for legal reasons. For the regular life of the church, we work toward agreement and unity.

Use Your Voice

So what does this mean for you? At ABCModesto, everyone’s voice matters. That doesn’t mean we’ll do everything someone suggests, no matter how passionate they are. But we do want to hear from everyone. In a world where loud voices often drown out others, we aim to make space for the quiet or different voices too. So speak up. Share your ideas. Just do it in truth and with love—that’s the best way to be heard. Also, get involved. It’s the people who show up who help shape what happens. And most of all, pray. Pray for unity. Pray for a humble heart that’s willing to follow even when the final decision isn’t what you wanted. Even the Pastor has to do that from time to time, so you’re not being asked to do anything your leaders wouldn’t do themselves.

Access the By Laws

Finally, we want you to have a copy of our Bylaws, which we adopted in June 2021 when ABCModesto and Baptist Temple joined together. These are always available during our Anchored Connect and Essential classes for new members, and we’re happy to provide them anytime. It’s important to remember that everything we do at ABCModesto is done in the open. We value honesty, transparency, and accountability. So if you ever need something, just ask. Church leadership might still seem as boring as Wheaties, but when we understand how things work, we can accomplish great things—together.

Motivations For Merging

Five Years of Faithful Ministry and a Vision for the Future

Five years ago, ABCM and Baptist Temple merged near the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Baptist Temple was experiencing declining attendance and financial challenges, while ABCM, though growing numerically, lacked a physical building. Combining the strengths of both communities was a strategic decision to fortify our ministry.

Since then, together we have invested significantly in restoring the property at 705 Paradise Road. We've repaired the parking lot, renovated the office building, cleaned the fellowship hall, rebuilt the stage, installed a security gate, constructed a new sign, created spaces for mothers and infants, upgraded plumbing and electrical systems, and reroofed our buildings. These improvements were made with a commitment to good stewardship, offering our best to the Lord who deserves nothing less.

As our facilities improved, we together turned our focus outward, engaging our neighborhood with the same energy. We've hosted Fall Festivals, Community Nights Out, Christmas Concerts, a Christmas store, Vacation Bible Schools, car washes, and for over three years, weekly Tuesday night dinners. We've repaired cars, prepared meals, provided transportation, offered shelter, and assisted those in need. We've initiated a recovery program and provided counseling, welcoming everyone who walked through our doors with open arms.

Despite these efforts and investments, it's appropriate to assess the outcomes. Our outreach hasn't led to significant growth or deeper community engagement. In fact, over the past year, we've seen a steady departure of committed members to other churches, each citing various reasons but sharing common themes.

In response, as your pastor, I see two paths: ignore the situation or take responsibility by praying and studying our circumstances. Though West Modesto is noted for being economically disadvantaged, burdened with narcotic use and homeless, we've always embraced the economically disadvantaged, so that's not a headwind to our ministry. We’ve embrace the hard to love with open arms and clear boundaries. Whether on Paradise, or Miller, we will always have a heart for the least of these because we have the heart of Jesus as the heart of our church. The real headwind is then, that our surrounding community is predominantly Latino and Spanish-speaking. Recognizing this, I began praying for Spanish-speaking partners in Gospel ministry.

These prayers have been affirmed. Our neighboring Spanish church is growing with local community members, while most of us commute to the Westside. Their church is being built from within the Westside community. It became clear that, in time, the Lord might call us to make way for His work in the Spanish-speaking community, signaling a change for ABCM. Initially, I didn't know what that change would entail, but I began praying for God's provision.

Approximately five weeks ago, Calvary Baptist Church (CBC) reached out. Their pastor was retiring, and they sought my assistance in finding a successor. Meeting with their deacons, they outlined their ideal candidate: a younger man, willing to live on a modest income, and commit to a long-term pastoral role—a rare find in California. After praying for CBC, an idea emerged. Our churches are similar in size and finances. CBC's neighborhood aligns well with our ministry, just as the Westside suits the Spanish church. Could this be God's provision? I proposed exploring a merger to CBC's deacons, initiating a journey I now invite you to join.

That's how we've arrived here. What's the motivation for the merger?

I believe we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to act in faith. We can establish a Gospel-centered Spanish-language ministry on Paradise Road, potentially impacting hundreds of lives. Concurrently, ABCM possesses the organization, leadership, procedures, worship ministry, and preaching that CBC lacks. Merging would strengthen and revitalize the ministry on Miller Avenue, enhancing community engagement.and disciple making opportunities. In essence, our goal is to increase outreach opportunities, resulting in greater discipling opportunities. Continuing our current approach won't achieve this. We must pray for change. The needs in our community are too great to prioritize our comfort over Christ's mission.

Any other narratives are mere speculation. This isn't about money or buildings. While these are factors in ministry, they're not my motivation. I've led this church with as little as $2,300 in the bank and would continue with the same dedication if we had $300,000. I've pastored a congregation small enough to meet in my living room and would maintain the same philosophy if the Lord granted us an auditorium filled with hundreds. I'm not pursuing this because I disdain the homeless, the poor, or the economically disadvantaged, nor because I dislike the Westside. If any of these speculations were true, I would expect you to dismiss me, as I would be unqualified to continue as a pastor according to 1 Peter 5:2. If you didn't, you'd be complicit in supporting an unqualified leader.

But these speculations aren't true. My motivation remains steadfast: our church's mission—"We Exist to Glorify God Through the Fulfillment of the Great Commission." Any opportunity that promotes more evangelism, discipleship, counseling, worship, and ministry is one we must prayerfully consider and passionately pursue. There is no other motivation.

What is the Baptist Faith and Message

The Baptist Faith and Message (BF&M) is a historic statement of beliefs adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) to express their core theological convictions. Originally drafted in 1925, and revised in 1963, 1998, and 2000, the BF&M serves as a confession of faith outlining how Baptists understand and apply biblical truth in doctrine, worship, and life.

History and Development

The SBC commissioned the first Baptist Faith and Message in 1925, amid growing concerns about theological liberalism. It was based largely on the 1833 New Hampshire Confession of Faith but adjusted to address contemporary issues of the day. In 1963, under the leadership of theologian Herschel H. Hobbs, the convention revised the statement to emphasize the centrality of Jesus Christ and reaffirm confidence in Scripture during a time of cultural upheaval. A smaller amendment was made in 1998 to add a statement on the biblical view of the family. Finally, a significant revision occurred in 2000, led by a committee chaired by Dr. Adrian Rogers, reflecting the SBC’s renewed commitment to the inerrancy of Scripture, the exclusivity of Christ for salvation, and a complementarian view of gender roles. Each edition of the BF&M reflects an effort to maintain fidelity to Scripture while responding to the doctrinal and cultural challenges of its time.

Core Beliefs

At its foundation, the BF&M affirms the authority, inerrancy, and sufficiency of Scripture. It teaches that the Bible is God's revelation to man, "a perfect treasure of divine instruction," and is the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.

The BF&M articulates a Trinitarian view of God: God the Father as Creator and Ruler, God the Son as Redeemer through His atoning death and resurrection, and God the Holy Spirit as Comforter and Guide. It also emphasizes the total depravity of man and the necessity of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Distinctive Baptist beliefs found in the BF&M include the emphasis on believer’s baptism by immersion and the autonomy of the local church. Religious liberty and the separation of church and state are also strongly affirmed.

The BF&M addresses Christian ethics, family life, and social issues, urging believers to seek justice, practice compassion, and uphold the sanctity of all human life. It remains a guiding document, reflecting the SBC’s commitment to biblical fidelity, evangelistic fervor, and cultural engagement.