Mission City Church w/ Pastor Josh Hershey

ACTS (PART 26) — MIRACULOUS HEALINGS AND PERSISTENT PERSECUTION

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!

ACTS (PART 25) — PERSUADED TO CONTINUE IN THE GRACE OF GOD

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!

LOOK UP, SINNER! A SIN-OFFERING IS WAITING FOR YOU!

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!

ACTS (PART 24) — PAUL’S POWERFUL PREACHING IN PISIDIA

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!

THE IMPORTANCE AND POWER OF FASTING

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus proclaimed, “When you fast…” (Matt. 6:16). He assumed His followers would fast after His earthly ministry was complete and He ascended into Heaven (Matt. 9:15). Jesus fasted (Matt. 4:2). Anna fasted (Luke 2:37). Cornelius fasted (Acts 10:30). The leaders at Antioch fasted (Acts 13:2). Paul wrote that he was “in fastings often” (2 Cor. 11:27). The Old Testament is also filled with stories of fasting (Ex. 34:28, Lev. 16:31, Judg. 20:26; 1 Sam. 7:6; 2 Chr. 20:3; Ezra 8:21; Esther 4:16; Isaiah 58; Jonah 3:5; etc.). Join as we dig into the Word and discover why God wants us to fast, the different kinds of fasts in Scripture, and the impact fasting has on our lives.

ACTS (PART 23) — “SENT OUT BY THE SPIRIT—THE CYPRIAN MISSION”

We are diving back into the book of Acts! In Acts 13 God sends Saul and Barnabas on a brand new missionary adventure. During a season of worship, prayer, and fasting God speaks to them and sends them out. They boldly traverse land and sea to fulfill the purposes God has for them. God also has new things for you this new year! New assignments, new journeys, fresh encouragement! The same Spirit who equipped Saul and Barnabas, and sent them out, is the same Spirit at work in your life!

A SAVIOR HAS BEEN BORN

Merry Christmas! The night Jesus was born an angel of the Lord declared, “there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). Jesus is our Savior! He has come to save us from our sins (Matt. 1:21). This is very Good News! God loves us so much that He became flesh in order to rescue you and me! Join us as we sing, watch our kid’s reenact the Christmas Story, and hear the Gospel!

THE COURAGE TO CARRY

Christmas reminds all of us that we can respond to the message of Redeeming love.  But it is very important for us as believers to have the COURAGE—and the FAITH to take on the assignment! CHRIST IN YOU! This is what Mary did!  This is what Joseph did! As we look at the Christmas story we too can be encouraged to carry CHRIST IN US to our world too! Join us as we worship!

GOD’S PERSPECTIVE ON MARRIAGE (PART 4)

Join us as we worship the LORD and conclude our mini-series on what the Scripture has to say about marriage. We can all be edified by Scripture's teaching on this foundational relationship in society. God desires marriages to flourish and prosper! Jesus had quite a bit to say about the subject of divorce, as did the Apostle Paul, and we will conclude our series by diving into that deep, important, and wise instruction. We will especially seek to conform to Christ’s teaching in Matthew 19 and Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 7.

NEW CREATION REALITIES—WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH LOVE?

Join us for our Bible Study! The last chapter of the book we have been journeying through, New Creation Realities, is all about LOVE! In Romans we are told that "the love of God has been POURED OUT in our hearts" (Romans 5:5). The Weymouth Translations puts it like this, "the love of God has FLOODED our spirits." Love is the nature of God, the first fruit of the Spirit, the greatest commandment, and the virtue we are called to "increase and abound" in more than any other! (1 Thessalonians 3:12)