Change is Good!

If you are going to grow, change is inevitable. You cannot grow if you don’t change, because growth is change. And if the church is going to grow, there is going to be changes made. Today we celebrate the 86th Homecoming of our 89 year old church! This church was born in during the great depression. It has seen and survived the entirety of the Struggle for Civil Rights, Black Power Movement, Wars, Reagan and the war on drugs which was really the war on Black people with drugs, (elaborate) And I do believe that this church will remain until the Lord comes back to get her. But, in order for that to happen we cannot do ministry the same way it was done when the church was founded. This means that the church must be the church and not follow the pattern of the legalism of the Judaism. In other words we have to do ministry in Love and in Relationship with Christ and not with the Legalism and Religion of Pharisees. We must be a Christ centered community of believers and not a religious social club with members. We here here at the Mount have a great Loving church that works together and loves the God and his word but let us not become complacent with ourselves and get in our own way that we think we still don’t have room to grow and changes to be made.

The only thing that does not change is God. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. But even God in his full immutability does not doe things the same always.

(Summarize Parable)

1. People over Prejudice (v.29-32)

. Levi is Jesus’ newest recruit. (talk about who he is) If you put your prejudice over people you might miss out on Matthew. And he throws a party for Jesus and guess who is there. The Pharisees.

It is possible to eat with tax collectors and sinners and not collect taxes and sin.

2. Relationship over Religion (v.33-35)

The Pharisees and the disciples of John the Baptist had a religious tradition of fasting on Mondays and Thursdays. So it must have been one of those days because they see them eating. They then question the disciples credibility as being religious. Jesus’ answer is an illustration about the bridegroom. They Pharisees were concerned about an outward religion instead of being in relationship with Jesus and the people at the party.

fasting to be seen?

3. “New” not just what you “Know”(v.36-39)

(The Parable)

There is a common phrase that makes rounds in leadership circles. It what has commonly been called “The Seven last words of a dying church” The seven last words of a dying church are this. “We’ve never done it that way before” (Exegete v.39)

New wine that is better?

Don’t miss out on what God is doing because you’re stuck on what God has done.

If you’re stuck on radio you’ll never get High Definition. If your’re stuck on gas you’ll never get a Tesla. If your’re stuck on MSDos you’ll never get a tablet. Photo Albums…Instigram. Vinal…Stream

Photo Albums…Instigram. Vinal…Stream

Vinal…Stream

Chuck taylors…Jordans

The Jews were stuck on the Law and couldn't see Jesus as their Savior.

The wanted the bulls and goats…missed the Lamb

grain offerings…bread of life