Date: 12/18/2016 Title: New is Better than Old Speaker: Pastor George Gracie Scripture: Matthew 9:14-17 In Matthew 9 Jesus is questioned why his disciples did not follow the Jewish stringent tradition of fasting. Jesus responded by stating that he did not come to patch up Jewish traditional religiosity with the grace found in Him. Rather, the grace found in Christ stands alone. Likewise, when Christ comes into us he gives us a new life rather than being added to or patching up the old one.
Date: 12/11/2016 Title: Life Changing Call Speaker: Pastor George Gracie Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13 In Matthew 9 Jesus meets Matthew where he is at and calls him from his sinful life to “follow me”. This resulted in accusations against Jesus because he associated himself sinners. Yet, Jesus points out that his entire ministry is to show mercy to sinners, calling them from their lives of sin into following after Him. As followers of Christ, we should be so blessed to have the same charge leveled against us.
Date: 12/4/2016 Title: The Charge Given Speaker: Pastor George Gracie Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-5 In 2 Timothy, Paul charges his young protégé Timothy to “always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” Although it is easy to treat this passage a merely being applicable to young pastors, it is actually a charge to all believers to fulfill whatever ministry to which God has called them.