Mission City Church w/ Pastor Josh Hershey

In the beginning of John's Gospel we are told, "For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). Throughout the first six chapters of John, and in Jesus' farewell discourse of John 13-17, the life of Moses is compared and contrasted with the life of Jesus. Jesus is the Greater Moses! When we understand the OT background of John, the beauty of Jesus becomes even greater. We all need to be continually astonished by who Jesus is and what He has done for us! Join us!

Matthew 13 is the third of five kingdom discourses of Jesus in Matthew. In this chapter Jesus is the Greater Solomon. He gives seven foundational parables about His Kingdom and how it should be perceived. The first parable is foundational to the rest. It concerns the centrality of the Word of God to growth in the Kingdom. There are many responses to the preached Word in our world, but the seed is always vibrant and will accomplish its purposes. Join us as we worship the King Jesus, dig into the Word, and understand how the Christ’s kingdom prospers.

In Matthew 10 when Jesus sends out His disciples to witness, He gives them a heads up of what to expect, as well as many witnessing principles. We are to depend on the indwelling Spirit, understand that God’s Family is primary, flee persecution, prepare to be treated like Jesus, and take up our cross and follow Him. Join us as we worship the Lord and digest His Word!

One of the major themes in the Gospel of John is “light and darkness.” Jesus is the Light of the world who shines in the darkness while the darkness does not overcome it. As the Light of God he declares, “I came into this world for judgment, in order that those who do not see will see and those who do see will become blind” (John 9:39). Part of this judgment on the religious leaders who “see” has to do with the destruction of Jerusalem that Jesus prophesied would happen in 70AD. What is referred to as "The End of the Age.” Join us as we unpack this powerful truth and see how it ties into “end times” teaching!

Jesus gave a very important image for His twelve disciples to consider before He sent them out to evangelize about the kingdom. He said, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). Most translations actually say “be shrewd as serpents.” Most Christians don’t think of that as an important evangelistic quality, but it is! Join us as we learn what it means to follow Jesus’ instruction here as we bear witness to this world, especially in this politically charged season.

We have reached the point in our year long bible study where we begin to see how the New Testament speaks about Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old. This evening we will take a journey through Hebrews. A book written primarily to Jews, and so one that brings out many rich themes from the Old Testament and relates them to who Jesus is and what He has done! Jesus is greater than the angels, Moses, Joshua, Aaron, the old covenant, the sacrifices, Mount Sinai, and the blood of Abel. Jesus is GREATER than everything! And when that truth is at the center of our lives we come fully alive! Join us!

The Pauline Revelation in the New Testament is what every believer needs to hear, and be anchored in. When you fall asleep to this message, you really fall from the message of Grace. The Good News, is you can experience the Embrace OF Grace again, and return to the place where you experience Good Fortune and blessing in every area of life.

The “Return” from Babylon is actually not one return. It is three returns. And that is what we are going to look at in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah tonight. They describe the three separate returns of the exiles to Jerusalem under the leaders Zerubabbel, Ezra, and finally Nehemiah. They needed to rebuild the temple, be be immersed in God’s Word, and rebuild the walls. And throughout the entire process the needed much encouragement! Because the enemy sought to not see their lives rebuilt. Join us!

We have about reached the end of Chronicles. At this juncture, we are presented with the lives of one of Judah’s worst king’s (King Manasseh) and one of Judah’s greatest reformers (King Josiah). At the very height of Judah’s sin, God showed great mercy. Mansseh’s life, though full of vile wickedness, is also a testament to God’s abounding grace! And his grandson, Josiah, is a testament to the fact that God desires to heal and restore our lives and societies through the power of His Word. His name means “Yah heals.” Join us as we continue to learn powerful truths about the Kingdom of God!

Today is National Love People Day. I want to hammer home three points for us tonight. First, God is the Almighty Lover. And we only know what the almighty love of God looks like, when we hear the message of the cross. Second, we must allow this almighty Lover to love us. We must say “yes” and “amen” to His work on our behalf and constantly be in view of it. Third, we must allow the almighty Lover to love through us. He is the Vine and we are the branch. The way we LOVE PEOPLE is the very love of God in us. Join us!