This week we are going to talk about Old Covenant/New Covenant

Covenant: Literally, a contract. In the Bible, an agreement between God and his people, in which God makes promises to his people and, usually, requires certain conduct or commitment from them.

PARABLE (New Wine Skins)

Matthew 9:14-17 (NLT) 14 One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?” 15Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not, but someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before. 17 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.”

• Jewish leaders and John’s disciples are upset as to why Jesus is not fasting.
• Jesus answers the questions with a parable that touches on something that was “Old Covenant” then and now. This was the Jewish religion.

Exodus 19:5-6 (ESV) 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

Deuteronomy 9:11 (ESV) And at the end of forty days and forty nights the LORD gave me the two tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant. The 10 Commandments – How God wanted His people to live…

• God put these laws in place to instruct the people as to how they were to properly worship God and love others. The laws where not there to rule over them but lead them to good relationships with God and others.

GOD PROMISES A NEW COVENANT

Jeremiah 31:31 (ESV)”Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,

WHY A NEW COVENANT? ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

1. IT’S A HEART CONDITION

Matthew 9:15 (NLT) Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not, but someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

• If the fasting was for the purpose of connecting with God, then they total missed that face that God was right there with them in the flesh.
• They cared about their own rules and laws

Matthew 6:16-18 (ESV) 16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

2. JESUS’ NEW COVENANT TEACHING

Matthew 9:16-17 (NLT) 16 “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before. 17 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.”

“New wine” What is it?

• The new covenant between God and man through Jesus.
• His death on the cross and His blood poured out for the forgiveness of sin.
• His resurrection.

Good news for us!

Romans 8:1-2 (ESV) 1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

• We are new creations in Jesus.

Questions to discuss in Life Group or with your family and friends:

Passages to consider: Matthew 9:14-17; Mark 2:18-22; Luke 5:33-39

1.  How did God use the sermon to impact your thinking this week?
2.  Read Mark 2:18-22 (read it 2-4 times) Who is Jesus talking to? What is he responding to?
3.  How would wineskins be impacted by the wine aging process?
   1. ) What would Jesus be helping his hears understand through this story? (Think about what picture he painted in their mind through it.)
4.  How has knowing and following Jesus changed how you view God, yourself and others, even what is important and valuable?
   1. ) How has it challenged what you think life is about and how life should be lived?
5.  Read Ephesians 4:20-24 (25-5:1) What ‘old’ are you putting off?
   1. ) What ‘new’ are you putting on?
6.  What is your response to what Jesus is saying in this week’s parable? With whom can you share the story or your response?