Mission City Church w/ Pastor Josh Hershey

Join us as we journey begin a journey to Easter by entering deeply into Christ’s redemptive sufferings from Gethsemane to Golgotha. Christ’s journey from the garden to the tomb was the greatest display of LOVE the world has ever seen! This morning we will be exploring Christ’s suffering in a garden called “olive press.” It is here that Jesus began to be “crushed” for our sin and “pour out” His redemptive blood. It is here that His ‘birth pangs’ of suffering He had been experiencing turned into full on ‘bloody labor’. It is here that He fully embraced the will of the Father in Heaven to drink the cup of wrath and pay the price for every sin. It is here that surrounded by darkness, and the hordes of hell, Jesus fell prostrate in prayer and was strengthened by an heavenly angel. Nothing could stop Him! Though weighted with the sin of the world, and in the deepest agony man has ever known, Jesus rose resolved to conquer sin, death, hell, and the grave!

As Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke are ministering in Philippi they come into contact with a young slave girl who was possessed by a 'Python spirit'. After bringing deliverance to her 'in the name of Jesus Christ', the slave owners are deeply upset because the evil spirit was a source of profit for them. So, they have Paul and Silas beaten and thrown in the inner cell of a dark dungeon! Torturously locked in stocks. But, at midnight, during a time of prayer and praise, God ’suddenly’ delivers Paul and Silas, and even brings salvation to the jailor! Join us as we worship, fellowship, and also celebrate a water baptism together.

Toward the beginning of his second journey, Paul and Silas pick up two more members for their trip—Timothy and Luke—two very important characters in the New Testament. This second journey is one especially directed and led by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit ‘forbids’, ‘does not permit’, and also gives a ‘vision’ concerning where Paul and his missionary team is meant to go. This is the same Spirit we have in our lives. He still desires to lead and guide believers today! You and me! Join us as we worship, fellowship, and open up to the Spirit’s direction for each one of us.

Join us for our Midweek Bible Study! We will be looking at Galatians again and tie it into what we have been learning from Acts. We specifically will be looking at Galatians 5-6 and the themes of ‘walking in the Spirit’ and ‘serving one another through love’. True freedom is not autonomy, rather, it is being yoked to Jesus led by the Spirit! The Gospel of Grace does not produce prideful people, but rather humble and gracious people who serve one another through love!

After the ‘Jerusalem Council’ in Acts 15 we see how the church was greatly encouraged by the gospel of grace. We also see how they sought to be gracious to one another and live in such a way where there could be unity and peace. Yet, though unity is something we strive for, perfect unity is not always possible. Sometimes, on nonessential elements of the faith, we have to learn to agree to disagree. That is ultimately what Paul and Barnabas had to do regarding the strategy of their second missionary journeys. And in the end, God blessed both of them as they were commended to the grace of God by the church! For they were at very least ‘united in heart’. Join us as we worship!

We have reached the central chapter in Acts—chapter 15. After Paul and Barnabas’ missionary journey in Galatia, the apostles and major leaders in the church get together in Jerusalem to discuss the role the Law should play in the lives of Gentiles. There is a lot to glean from this chapter in terms of understanding how the grace of God in Christ must undergird everything in our lives, as well as how we can be gracious to others who don’t quite yet grasp the full implications of the finished work of Christ. The enemy wanted to halt the pure message of the Good News of Jesus, as well as divide the church, but he failed!

In Acts 14 Paul and Barnabas continue and conclude their ministry in the Roman province of Galatia. Their preaching is followed by great miracles and great persecution. One miracle in particular is highlighted. A man who is born blind is healed by faith! Though many believed as a result of the Gospel preaching and miracle ministry, others were enraged. In fact, Paul was stoned and thought to be dead! Yet, even after being chased out of multiple cities, and being beat to a pulp, at the end of their first journey Paul still decided to go to those dangerous areas and encourage the new believers instead of taking a far easier road home. God was with Paul and Barnabas every step of the way, testifying to His Word, and empowering them to complete the assignment on which He had sent them!

Paul’s preaching in Galatia caused a great stir! After his sermon, Gentiles “begged” him to preach to them (13:42). And the days leading up to his second sermon Paul “persuaded” the the religious devout in the city to “continue in the grace of God” (13:43). By the time Saturday rolled around, “almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God” (13:44). Wow! Though many embraced the message, others rejected it. And Paul later wrote a letter to this community encouraging them to 'stand fast' and ‘continue' in the grace they had received. Christ and Him crucified must remain central in our lives! Join us as we worship and dive into the word!

The story of Cain and Abel is very relevant and packed with Gospel truth! Join us tonight as we unpack this story and especially meditate on an important detail that is overlooked by many Christians today. When Cain sinned by not bringing a proper offering in faith, God graciously gave him a way out! Sadly, he did not take it. The truth is, God ALWAYS has a way out of sin for you and me. And it all has to do with the Provision of Jesus! Our Sacrificial Lamb whose desire is for you and me!

Paul and Barnabas risked much danger as they traversed 150-miles over sea and 112-miles over land to preach to the Galatians in Pisidia. But the went because the love of Christ compelled them! Paul couldn’t wait to preach the Gospel to Jew and Gentile alike! The sermon Paul gives in the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia in Acts 13 is his longest recorded sermon in Acts. A sermon that details God’s faithfulness to Israel climaxing in Jesus Christ. A sermon of great comfort and warning. The Gospel truth about our Savior in whom we have forgiveness and justification that we need to continually pay attention to!