Mission City Church w/ Pastor Josh Hershey

In Matthew 6 Jesus teaches about *how* His disciples should pray. We pray different than the pagans and the hypocrites. We pray to “in secret” to our Father “who is in the secret place.” We pray for His kingdom to come, for His will to be done, on earth as it is in heaven! We pray for provision and deliverance from evil! This is the central section of the Sermon on the Mount. Just as prayer is central in Jesus’ teaching, so it should be in all our lives. Join us in our first FULL SERVICE live-stream!

The first part of LEVITICUS is about the five different offerings God wanted to be approached with at His House. Join us as we dig into why these sacrifices were important and how they apply to our relationship with God today!

At the end of Matthew 5 Jesus reaches the height of what fulfillment of the law and prophets looks like. What perfection, or full maturity is. It looks like being ‘an imitator of our Father in heaven’. The way this effects not only our neighbor, but also our enemy, is something contrary to worldly wisdom. It is kingdom of God wisdom! Join us as we unpack Jesus’ concrete examples of how we can bring love and redemptive justice to our communities.

In the beginning of His ‘Sermon on the Mount’, Jesus is showing how He is the fulfillment of 'the law and prophets.' He is showing us how we are to ‘let our light shine before men.’ Last week we saw how He began by unpacking the first commandment which deals with love of our neighbor — ‘You shall not murder.’ After this He moves to commandments 7-9. ‘Do not commit adultery.’ ‘Do not steal.’ ’Do not bear false witness.’ Jesus has come to bring a total healing in our lives! Down the very core of the motivations of our hearts! Join us as we dig his teaching on lust, marriage, and taking oaths (Matthew 5:27-37).

THE KINGDOM OF GOD — YOU SHALL NOT MURDER

We have reached the section of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus begins to unpack part of the Old Testament law, showing how He brings it to fulfillment. He begins with the first of the ten commandments that have to do with “loving our neighbor.” That is, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). Jesus shows how this goes much deeper than just physical murder. It has to do with hating another without cause, as well as demeaning and dehumanizing another. Jesus is always about bringing reconciliation and wholeness! This is part of the way that our light shines before men. And the only way we can fulfill His Word, which we all fall short of(!), is by receiving the new creation heart that Jesus gifts us! As we live from Christ within, we can treat every human being around us with honor, dignity, and respect. Join us!

When God cuts a covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai it is a marriage. Israel becomes His bride. In this new arrangement there are new ways of life Israel is to follow. The first thing God does is give Israel ‘Ten Commandments.’ What were these commandments all about? What were their purpose? Join us and find out.

Jesus said that "not one jot or tittle" will pass from the law until all was fulfilled. Join us as we unpack what this means and what it means for our righteousness to "surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees." Once we have this exceedingly great righteousness, it can begin to be exhibited in our lives. We can be salt and light to our world around us.

The history of the Exodus from Egypt is one of the great controlling narratives of Scripture. It is an important framework in the way we explain the Gospel and understand what it is all about. The themes of the Exodus occur again and again in Scripture, throughout almost every book from Genesis to Revelation. Listen in!

Join us as we continue to journey through the ‘Sermon on the Mount.’ Just like God at the beginning told Adam and Eve, His image bearers, to “take dominion” over His very good creation He created for them, so Jesus gives His new creation people a vocation. We are to be salt and light. We are to be a ‘priestly people’ unto the Lord, and signposts of the Father’s love and goodness! Join us as we discover what it means to be SALT and LIGHT. Two substances that are integral to the Old Testament.

Jesus’ first ‘kingdom sermon’ begins by showing the paradoxical nature of the kingdom He was bringing. He blesses states that the kingdoms of this world do not considered ‘blessed.’ Last week we looked at the first four beatitudes. This morning we will look at the last four. “Blessed are the merciful…”, “Blessed are the pure in heart…”, “Blessed are the peacemakers…”, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake…” Ultimately, all eight beatitudes are played out in dramatic form at Calvary by the King Himself! Join us!