Mission City Church w/ Pastor Josh Hershey

FROM GETHSEMANE TO GOLGOTHA — THE RELIGIOUS TRIAL (PART 3)

This morning we will be exploring Christ’s trial before the most important religious leaders in all of Judaism after He was arrested in the garden. Christ first goes before Annas for a brief interrogation, and then is led to be tried before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin. The Supreme Court of Israel sits in judgment over the Supreme Judge! During the trial Jesus reveals His identity as the Divine Son of Man who will rule at the right hand of the Power in heaven. A reign that would begin from that moment forward. A reign that we can ‘see’ and ‘perceive’ even today! He was the Ultimate Judge in that trial room! In response, the Supreme Court demanded His death and began to pummel Him, spit on Him, and tear out His beard in a symbolic stoning. A suffering for sin endured for you and me! Also, during this trial and torture, Jesus’ lead apostle, Peter, undergoes a trial of his own. He ends up denying Christ three times and even curses Him. Yet, with a compassionate look of hope and grace from Jesus, Peter’s heart is broken and he begins to be restored! Join us!

JUDAS COMMITS SUICIDE

Join us for our Midweek Bible Study. We will be unpacking the tragic story of Judas in Matthew 27:3-10. We will be looking at how the Gospels speak of Judas up to the point of his suicide, why Judas returned the money he betrayed Jesus for, what genuine repentance looks like, and ultimately why he committed suicide. A sobering subject! We also we spend time looking at the prophet fulfillment of the chief priests buying a field with the third shekels and see how prophetic fulfillment in general works. Ultimately, all of this should get us to run to Jesus and place our faith in Him! 

FROM GETHSEMANE TO GOLGOTHA — THE ARREST (PART 2)

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 arrest in the garden. After an intense struggle in prayer, Jesus rose from the ground with great fortitude to face His captors. Though a multitude came out in the dark night with lanterns, torches, swords, and clubs, they fell prostrate before ‘the Light of the World’. They fell prostrate before the Great ‘I AM’. Jesus was in full control that night. Join us as we worship and learn and marvel at our Lord’s reactions to Judas, Peter, Malchus, and the entire arresting mob!

JESUS’ PRAYERS IN THE GARDEN

Join us we worship, dig a little deeper into Jesus’ prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane, and spend some time praying. From the garden narratives we learn that prayer must be humble, relational, persevering, fervent, yielding, and prevailing!  The predominant request being, “THY WILL BE DONE.” We want to see the perfect will of God accomplished in your life! Will you watch and pray for us for an hour? 

FROM GETHSEMANE TO GOLGOTHA — THE GARDEN (PART 1)

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! 

ACTS (PART 30) — DELIVERANCE FROM DEMONS AND DUNGEONS

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. 

ACTS (PART 29) — THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES DIRECTION

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.

WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY - GRACIOUSNESS IN GALATIANS

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!

ACTS (PART 28) — UNITED IN HEART AND MISSION

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!

ACTS (PART 27) — GRACE AND GRACIOUSNESS

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!