“New Wine Needs New Wineskins”
Isaiah 43:18–19 | Luke 5:37–38
A Fresh Word for a New Season
Imagine this with me: You’ve got brand new wine, bubbling with energy and life, but all you have are old, dried-up wineskins. You try to pour the new wine in—and suddenly boom—they burst. The wine spills everywhere, and the container is ruined. Why? Because the old wineskins just couldn’t stretch anymore.
That’s the picture Jesus gave us in Luke 5:37–38. He said:
“No one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins… No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.”
Jesus wasn’t just giving wine storage advice—He was speaking about life, faith, and the Kingdom of God. He was saying: When God does something new, we can’t hold onto old ways of thinking, old habits, or old systems. We need to be open, flexible, and ready to stretch.
That’s why God also spoke through the prophet Isaiah:
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up—do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:18–19)
God is always on the move. The question is: Are we willing to move with Him?
Why This Matters Now?
– Let’s be real. Many churches today feel stuck.
– Worship feels more like a routine than a revival.
– Meetings go long, but don’t lead to much.
– The next generation is missing.
– Technology feels confusing or threatening.
– We keep saying, “We’ve always done it this way.”
That’s the sound of an old wineskin mindset—rigid, afraid to change, and resistant to growth. But when God pours out new wine—new people, fresh energy, bold ideas—we need new wineskins to receive it.
That means: new hearts. New attitudes. New ways of doing church.
What Does This Kind of Transformation Look Like?
Let’s look at two real people from the Bible who had to become “new wineskins” before God could fully use them.
Moses: From Prince to Shepherd to Prophet
Moses started out as a powerful prince of Egypt, raised in Pharaoh’s palace. He had influence, education, and strength—but he also had pride. When he saw an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite, he took justice into his own hands and killed the man. Moses had good intentions but the wrong heart—and it cost him everything. He ran for his life and ended up alone in the wilderness.
For 40 years, Moses lived in the desert, far from the spotlight. No more palace. No more power. Just sheep and silence. And yet—this is where God began to reshape him.
– Moses learned to listen, not just lead.
– He learned humility, not just strength.
– He learned to walk in faithfulness, not just ambition.
By the time God met him in a burning bush, Moses wasn’t the same man anymore. He had been softened. Stripped of ego. Humbled. He didn’t feel ready—but that’s exactly when God said, “Now you’re the one I can use.”
Moses became a new wineskin—and through him, God poured out a powerful new chapter for His people.
It reminds us of this promise from God in Ezekiel 36:26:
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
That’s exactly what God did for Moses—and what He wants to do for each of us. He doesn’t just change our circumstances—He transforms our hearts.
Paul: From Religious Extremist to Messenger of Grace
Paul’s story is just as radical. Before he met Jesus, he was known as Saul—a zealous Pharisee who followed all the rules but completely missed God’s heart. He was so convinced he was right that he started persecuting Christians, even hunting them down.
But on the road to Damascus, everything changed.
A bright light knocked him to the ground. A voice from heaven asked, “Saul, why are you persecuting me?” It was Jesus.
Saul was blinded for three days. But during those days, something deeper happened—his spirit woke up. When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer Saul the persecutor, but Paul the preacher of grace.
He left behind status, comfort, and control to follow the Holy Spirit wherever He led—whether to Gentile cities, lonely prisons, or small house churches.
Paul had become a new wineskin. And through him, God poured out the message of salvation for the whole world.
What About Us?
God is still saying today:
“Forget the former things… I’m doing something new.” (Isaiah 43:18–19)
We don’t have to stay stuck in the past. We don’t have to keep saying, “But this is how we’ve always done it.”
The Church is meant to be alive, creative, and full of movement. It’s time to make room for new wine.
How Do We Begin?
Here are a few ways we can become “new wineskins” together:
🟡 Be open to change – Not just to be trendy, but to be ready for the people God wants to reach next.
🟡 Empower the next generation – Let the young lead. Let them dream. Make space for their ideas.
🟡 Use technology as a tool – Livestreams, social media, even AI—these can help us connect with real people, right where they are.
🟡 Build a real community – Let’s be the kind of church that listens, welcomes, and walks with people through their mess.
🟡 Trust the Holy Spirit – He’s the one who changes hearts, leads the way, and fills us with the power to do what we could never do on our own.
The Invitation
God is pouring out new wine—
New dreams.
New leaders.
New passion.
New purpose.
But here’s the big question: Are we ready to be new wineskins?
Let’s not hold onto the old just because it’s comfortable. Let’s step out, stretch, and trust that God is doing something beautiful—even in the wilderness.
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up—do you not perceive it?” — Isaiah 43:19
Date: Saturday, June 14, 2025
Time:
Location: 2nd Floor, Phoenix Hall, Davis Community Church (DCC), 412 C Street, Davis, CA
Culinary Highlights by Our Talented Chefs:
Helpers & Volunteers:
Suggested Donation: $10 or more to help cover the cost of fresh sashimi and ingredients
Contact:
916-217-5470
catalyst@nextg.org
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Please Note: There will be no Intercultural Classes on this day.
