Mercy Commons Podcast: Recent Episodes
Mercy Commons Fullerton
Welcome to the audio podcast of Mercy Commons Church. Located in Fullerton, California. We hope these messages give you hope, faith, and encouragement throughout your week. To learn more about Mercy Commons visit www.mercycommons.church.
As Christians, we need to be sober-minded, aware, and resistant to the devil's deceptions. We can learn from Peter's story of denial and restoration. We need to maintain a worldview open to spiritual realities and be critical of modern secular culture's rejection of absolute truth and embrace of neo-paganism. We know the truth. Jesus is the Truth.
The dual roles of elders and fathers in the church overlap significantly. There is an inseparable nature of earthly fatherhood and spiritual fathering, they share similar responsibilities and qualities. In this passage, Peter reflects on the traits of a good shepherd and the deep connection between knowing God and being a father. As spiritual mentors, we are called to lead by example, embodying integrity and character in our roles.
Peter's letters focus on how we are called to live as exiles in the world, distinct yet engaged. We are called to live as obedient children, distinct from the culture around us, while still engaging with it to spread the light of Christ. We embrace our identity as chosen and holy, living out our faith through actions and words, and seeking God's grace daily.
Despite initially embracing Gentile inclusion, Peter withdrew from them under pressure, creating a two-tier church. Paul confronted Peter, emphasizing that righteousness comes through faith in Jesus alone, not by adhering to Jewish customs. This incident highlights the ongoing challenge of maintaining gospel truth and authenticity, as we often fall into hypocrisy when trying to please others. We must continually expose our true selves to God and others, seek His grace, and invite genuine relationships to grow in our faith and align with the gospel.
As the gospel advances and continues to spread, we see the need for bridges to be built to carry the good news. The farther the distance the bridge must span, the more complicated and sturdier the bridge.
Pentecost transformed Peter. The infilling of the Holy Spirit gave power and clarity to the person & work of Jesus. Jesus declares the truth that requires a response. What is our response?
If Jesus had not been raised, Peter would have never known forgiveness … and neither would, neither could, we.
Raman Kapur is a pastor in India and is part of the Advance Network of churches along with Mercy Commons. Raman also ministers to and disciples other church pastors all around India & Nepal. Raman reminds us of the power of the gospel and what it is meant to achieve in the church around the world.
Jesus’s transfiguration was an act of confirmation and continuity. God is affirming Jesus’s identity as the Son of God. He is not another prophet, but the Messiah who must follow the way of the cross. It is also a moment of continuity. This is what God had planned from the beginning. The law and the prophets were fulfilled in Jesus (Moses received the law on a mountaintop, Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal on a mountaintop and now Jesus is affirmed as the Son of God on a mountaintop.) Peter had already confessed Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God six days before seeing His transfiguration.
Confessing Jesus as the Messiah will materially shape who we become, how we live, and what our reward will be.
We shouldn't be surprised when we face difficulty and doubt. Jesus told us to expect storms. To overcome doubt, we are called to take a step of faith and keep our eyes on the Lord.
Peter is a historical figure that the churched and unchurched can connect with. We don’t even really know when he settled his faith in Jesus. Peter was one of the slowest to grasp the gospel of the kingdom because of his inconsistency and humanity but once he did, laid out a powerful vision for what a church, built by Jesus, empowered by the Spirit, and living for the glory of God should look like.
On Good Friday, not only did Jesus take our place on the cross and bear our sins on Himself, but now we have access to His place – the most holy place with direct access to an intimate relationship with Almighty God who is now our Father. This truth is symbolized by the veil that tore the moment Jesus died.
Jesus' kingship is characterized by humility and compassion rather than conventional grandeur and authority. His humble entry into Jerusalem and His meaningful encounters with people such as Zacchaeus contrast His approach to kingship with the worldly expectations of a king. As believers, our life should embody Jesus' example of servitude, humility, and sacrificial love.
Hebrews 13:7-25 // There are three final invitations from the book of Hebrews to the church: to remember, respond to, and pray for leaders; to embrace their identity as outsiders in the world; and to focus primarily on Jesus as the ultimate example and leader. There are complexities of church leadership, including the potential for hurt, the importance of humility, and a Christ-centered approach to both leading and following.
Hebrews 12:18-29 // Jesus Christ surpasses all - from angels to the old covenant - and presents a new, unshakable kingdom that invites us into a living, joyous, and eternal relationship with God. Our charge as believers is to examine our worship and relationship with God. Our lives should be marked by gratitude, acceptable worship, and a deep awareness of the grace and mercy received through Jesus.
Hebrews 12:28-13:3 // The beauty of a life transformed by God. We display our transformed lives by staying on good terms with each other, showing hospitality to strangers, and empathizing with those who suffer.
Hebrews 12:3-17 // The author of Hebrews encourages followers of Jesus to not grow weary by showing that discipline is a result of God’s love. We have a responsibility to ourselves and others while remaining watchful against an unhallowed life.
Hebrews 11:17-12:2 // How do we exercise and grow our faith? It is Christ's work in us that we respond to. It is His work within us that enables us to have faith and run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Hebrews 11:1-16 // Faith unites the soul with God and draws strength from Him. Thus faith is altogether a supernatural thing. That is why faith is so important for us. We are saved by faith. We endure by faith and enter into His rest by faith. It is by faith that the convicted and repentant sinner is saved. It is by faith that Christ dwells in our hearts and by faith that we live. By faith, we stand, walk, and resist the devil. By faith we are sanctified, have access to God, fight the good fight, and overcome the world. By faith, we are justified and have access to grace. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.
Hebrews 10:26-39 // We have been given a clear path of salvation – one way through Jesus Christ. This is an intentional and not accidental plan from God. However, many will refuse this exclusive path. What does refusal look like? What can happen when we allow doubt to take root in our hearts? Judgement day is coming. Choosing to be a part of God's family wraps us in the love, restoration, renewal, justice, and accountability that will take place on that day.
Hebrews 10:19-25 // We are called to be confident. Our confidence should be increased that not only are we welcomed sons and daughters but the finished work of Christ has made us competent ministers and ambassadors of the new covenant. We are called to be personally intentional. Our spiritual growth is not a passive path. We are called to be communally intentional. "Stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together."
Alan Frow (from our Advance Network and pastor at Southlands Brea) gives a message on the gift of shepherds given by Jesus Christ to the church - His flock. Church leaders have the call to lead with Jesus for the feeding and leading of His sheep.
God has been so faithful. We thank Him for 10 years and look forward to many more reveling, proclaiming, demonstrating, and participating in acts of mercy for the joy of Fullerton and the renewal of the world.
COVID showed us what was technologically possible in video conferencing and remote work, and a cultural shift followed. How do I decide now when to show up in person versus checking in online? Why should we care about church now? Right before His death, Jesus offers a prayer on behalf of his disciples—soon to be the first Church—that offers clues to why church still matters.
At Christmas time there is a tension between what we want and what we truly need. We desire a gift that fulfills our deepest needs.
God also bound Himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that He would never change His mind. So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.
Persistent joy expects difficulty & persistent joy is purposeful. We don’t ignore or suppress difficulties, we acknowledge them with faith and hope. Persistent joy has a singular Source. Let’s fix our eyes on the Source of our joy – Jesus Christ.
Advent is about preparing mentally, spiritually, and even physically to create a greater sense of connection and occasion as we celebrate the incarnation of Jesus and also long for and anticipate His second coming.
Hebrews 9:15-28 // Though we tend to try and save ourselves, Hebrews 9 states that through Christ’s blood, we are offered freedom from sin’s power over us and freedom from needing to prove our salvation from eternal judgment.
Hebrews 9:1-14 // We have access to God through Jesus who has opened the way to the Most Holy Place. Jesus is our eternal, perfect High Priest and He is the perfect sacrifice that cleanses our consciences. Our responsibility is to use our access to God and not to take it casually. The main purpose of this access is to worship our God and Savior.
Hebrews 8:7-13 // The covenant brought by Jesus Christ is new and isn't new. "For if that first covenant had been faultless there would have been no occasion to look for a second. (Hebrews 8:7) The new covenant focus is the internal sphere. Why is our heart targeted? Because it is deceitful, hard, and wounded. Jesus promised us a new heart and covenant. His law on our new heart gives us eternal hope.
Hebrews 8:1-7 // We have tasted the mercy and grace of God. This is only a foreshadowing of the glory that will be revealed when we see our Lord and Savior face to face. While here on earth, our call is to proclaim the gospel respectfully, but boldly to everyone in our lives. As we do, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus the author and perfector of our faith.
Hebrews 6:19-7:28 // Jesus is the better Priest because He is eternal, perfect, and gives us access to the Father.
Hebrews 6:13-20 // How do we keep from drifting? How do we hold on? What do we hold on to? Is there someone or something holding on to us? Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ because nothing can un-anchor Him from us, or us from Him.
Hebrews 5:11-6:1-12 // How do we become mature in our faith? Is it possible to lose our salvation? The issue is not whether someone who has fallen away can be restored. The issue is that if someone is rooted and grounded in the love of Christ, it is impossible for them to fall away. And when there is a God that holds us in the grip of His grace, we cannot fall from His grace because nothing can pry His fingers open. There is a God who holds us fast, and because He holds us fast, we can never fall away.
Hebrews 4:14-5:10 // Thrones are not designed to be welcoming places. They are either telling people to be impressed or to be afraid. The throne of Jesus is unique because He is unique. Jesus is unique because of what He has already accomplished – Jesus has already defeated satan, sin, and death. Jesus is unique because of what He is currently doing. He is interceding for us at the right hand of God. Therefore we should approach the throne of grace not in a fearful or arrogant posture, but boldly!
Hebrews 4:12-13 // The Word of God is living and active. It pierces, separates, and exposes. By the Word of God, all things were created. By the Word of God, we receive the law and prophecy. The Word of God is Jesus Himself.
Hebrews 3:14-4:11 // How do we enter His rest? By faith, through diligence, and with sober obedience.
Hebrews 3:1-14 // Consider Jesus, the One who brought us into the household of God. The better Moses, the better High Priest, the better Apostle, and the better Deliverer.
Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, is also our Brother – He was tempted, remained firm, and currently helps us in our temptation. Jesus is intimately engaged with every aspect of trial, suffering, and temptation, and we have the promise of His presence in temptation.
Jesus is the greatest messenger who offers the greatest message and deserves our greatest attention.
Who is Jesus? The writer of Hebrews is trying to help us understand that when we see Jesus face to face when we encounter Him, the exact imprint and perfect representation of God, we have to step back and just stand in awe. Jesus, God's Son, is the exact imprint, the exact representation of Him. The experience of God that you're going to experience is at the top of this mountain. There is nothing greater than that. When you encounter Jesus, you step back, stand in awe, and feel the weight of His glory. Jesus is the fullest and final revelation of who God is.
Words are powerful. By the word of God, all life is sustained and we are sustained. Words fill us, they bring life and death, and they can heal or harm. How do we speak in a way that glorifies God and edifies others? We must ask God for wisdom. Only He has the ability to guard our mouths and redeem our words and the words said to us.
If you're a Christ follower, you are known, accepted, loved, and forgiven. Our value is not based on output but on the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross. We want to reflect the Kingdom where diligence is pursued, regardless of whether it's rewarded. We want to reflect the kingdom where relationships are valued, regardless of whether that person can do something for me in the context of work, because relationships are important because they have to do with the God image in every single person that we interact with. We do this because this is a place where we can flourish, knowing that our jobs are one way in which we can preach. Behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
We are all sexually disoriented, so how do we reorientate ourselves? Don't fear your desires, don't follow your desires, but fulfill your desires in God's way.
How we view and handle money is a powerful means of testifying to the truth of the gospel. It should set us apart in a unique way from those around us who do not believe.
Proverbs 3:1-8 // As we lean on God and trust in Him to make our path straight, we grow in our ability to make wise decisions.
Proverbs 12:26 // A wise friendship is a space where you are known, loved, and challenged to remind you who you are and how to live.
Proverbs 8:1-14, Proverbs 9:13-18 // Wisdom is knowledge correctly applied, through intimate relationship with the Spirit, for a flourishing life lived for the glory of God.
Proverbs 1:1-9 // Our pursuit of wisdom isn’t the pursuit of a concept. It is truly the pursuit of a Person – of a relationship with Jesus, the One who is wise.
Matthew 4:18-23, Matthew 5:13-16 // The greatest thing that will help us to be resilient disciples of Jesus is to understand that we are here for a purpose. We are the salt of the earth, we are the light of the world, and we are called to be fishers of men. God, where in my life am I able to include people in what I already do so that I can be salt and light to them? And then maybe I will also be able to be a fisherman.
Ephesians 1:3-7, Galatians 4:4-7 // We are adopted by God, our Heavenly Father because of what the Son has done. And it is the Spirit inside us that enables us to cry, "Abba Father." None of this we can do on our own, but there are some things that we can do that will kind of activate that deposit. One of the ways that we can respond is to forgive. Maybe we need to forgive our earthly fathers. One of the gifts that God has given you, as someone that is walking with Jesus, is the ability to offer forgiveness to someone else that you cannot do alone. The Father is enabling you to do so through the Spirit because of the sacrifice of the Son.
Philippians 4:1-9 // We choose joy through pursuit, prayer, and praise. Prayer is us choosing to enter the garrison where Jesus is present and where I know that the peace of God comes by going to God. There are always things happening in our lives that will try to steal our joy. Joy is an emotion that is comfortable being in the presence of other emotions. And just because we are fearful or just because there's a sense of anxiety doesn't mean joy cannot be present. Happiness can't be present in that. But joy has room for those emotions. We can experience joy even in times of difficulty.
Ephesians 4:1-6 // Community builds resilience through shared experiences, shared resources, and shared convictions.
Mark 6:30–38 // The goal of both self-care and self-denial is that others would taste and see that the Lord is good and they can only taste and see that the Lord is good if we are living in a way that shows people the Lord is good. Only Jesus has the capacity, ability, and desire to care for you the way you deserve to be cared for because only Jesus died and rose again for you.
Ephesians 4:1-16 // Christians come together, not because they form a natural collocation, but because they have been saved by Jesus Christ and owe Him a common allegiance. In the light of this common allegiance, in light of the fact that they have all been loved by Jesus Himself, they commit themselves to doing what He says—and He commands them to love one another. In this light, they are a band of natural enemies who love one another for Jesus’ sake. ~ DA Carson
Revelation 21:2-4 // Heaven. Our true home. Why is a view of heaven important for our lives on earth? What is absent from heaven? What will we experience in heaven?
Hebrews 4:15 // True resilience is a beautiful and it's a wonderful characteristic. It's something that God himself will shape in us as we continue to turn to Him little by little as best we can. Learn to abide in Christ, to connect to Him. Jesus is the source of our resilience. He is our strength. He is the one who gives us a different reality to stand on. When we do that, we find that the resilience that God shapes in us doesn't leave part of our humanity behind. It's not cruel to our emotions and it doesn't mean that you have to deny hurts or pretend that everything is fine so that you can just muscle up and carry on in the same way. As we continue to turn to God, we find that there is an ability to move forward. Not only do we have Christ, but we also have the body of Christ - His church. He sent us himself in human form with a nervous system and full emotions. Jesus came in the flesh. He then gave us His spirit and gave us one another to embody Him and be His hands and His feet through our care and love for each other.
1 Peter 4:12-13, James 1:2-5 // Only a re-imagining of suffering can lead to rejoicing, and only an understanding that something precious is being shaped in me can give me a sense of Spirit-empowered resilience. I can have a sense of joy in the context of suffering because there is a deeper intimacy that I experience with Jesus when I've gone through a time of suffering.
2 Samuel 6:6-12 // We can learn from the life of David that failure can build resilience, but sin builds hardness. When David was faced with the crippling consequences of his sin, he chose to repent and turn to God. Our failures can help build resiliency because we learn more about ourselves, we grow from our mistakes, and learn to ask for help from God and our community of fellow believers.
John 15:1-20 // Resilience is not the sweet fruit from trauma’s tree. It is abiding in Jesus, connection to others, and purpose (fruitfulness). Adversity is inevitable as a follower of Jesus Christ. Life with Jesus is not about what we do, but about how we respond to what Christ's Spirit is doing in us. Being held by God, abiding in Jesus, and being connected to His body (the Church), gives us eternal joy and a resilience that glorifies God.
Luke 24:1–12 // The Resurrection of Jesus Christ was the hinge point in history! We are not saved because we follow His teaching, we are saved because He rose from the dead — He is alive! He doesn’t just live — Christ lives in me! What does that mean for our lives? To be a Christian is someone whose life is transformed, who is able to give and receive comfort, and who has an eternal hope and a current purpose!
Matthew 20:29-21:11 // Jesus came to earth in unexpected ways. He came in humility - not pompous. He didn't come to conquer Rome (worldly enemies) – He came to conquer the curse and bondage of sin and death. When the King comes into our lives, we are tempted to tell Him what we need. But, He actually tells us what we need – we need Him.
Galatians 5:24-6:5 // How can we love others the way that God has called us? This scandalous love can only come by keeping in step with God's Spirit. When we abide in the love of God and walk in the Spirit, it becomes natural for us to love and to also automatically obey the calling of God. We will not do this perfectly, but over time we will see growth and progress. Keeping in step with the Spirit allows us to look out for our brothers and sisters in Christ in a way that is not conceited, provoking, or envious. "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Galatians 5:16-26 // We are in a daily battle between warring desires – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the Spirit. How does God want us to live? We can not just muster up the strength not to give into the flesh. God has called us to walk by the Spirit. In doing so, we will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Faith the size of a mustard seed is part of what we bring to this battle and is one of the main actions we take in walking with the Spirit. We are to believe God will give us everything we need for life and godliness. We are to believe that the light is stronger than the darkness. We are to believe the blow we have dealt the flesh is mortal. Victory is in reach for every Christ follower. You are no longer a slave and it take faith to believe this.
Galatians 5:1-12 // What you see in this letter is Paul, over and over hitting the same thing from multiple angles. He's desperate for the Galatian believers to get what's at stake – the scandalous freedom that we have in Christ and what it means for living a life worth living and throwing off the weights, of sin, the law, and what you yourself and what other people will try to put on you to prove you are a righteous person.
Galatians 4:21-31 // Don't rely on the law for your standing with God. We are under a new covenant paid for by the blood of Jesus. Our faith is not in our works, but in the promise of God to adopt all who trust in Him.
Galatians 4:8-20 // Speaking truth to our brothers and sisters in Christ is not optional. Galatians is a letter by Paul addressing the members of this church who are being led astray by a false gospel. This can and does still happens to this day. As humans, we want affirmation not truth. It is not always easy to hear the truth or to speak the truth. Yet, it is our responsibility to stand up for the truth and God calls us to speak the truth in love.
Galatians 3:24-4:7 // Before Christ came we were under guardianship of the law. Now in Christ, all who believe are sons of God, through faith. We are one in Christ, but not the same. With guardianship and separation over – adoption gives us a new family and Father. The purpose of absolution is adoption. God has grafted us into His family.
Galatians 3:15-23 // "But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." The promise is not a wage. It was the gospel given to us in the Old Testament. Why did God give us the law? It restrains sin, it provokes sin, it reveals sin and it leads us to God's grace. As Jesus spoke, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
Galatians 3:1-14 // It's scandalous to believe that faith is all we need. Nothing we do is enough to save ourselves. We are not enough. There is nothing we can do to justify ourselves to God. Our salvation is found complete in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross!
Galatians 2:11-21 // In this passage, Paul gives a reprimand and a reminder. Peter is struggling with fear of man. He is giving into a false gospel. This is not a gospel difference, but a different gospel – adding to Christ's work on the cross. It altered the truth and Paul had to contend for the truth in public. We must remain firm that it's the gospel plus nothing and the gospel minus nothing. Christ's work is sufficient. The gospel is what helps us find the lie that is promoting the bad behavior (like fear of man). We must continually align ourselves with the gospel.
Galatians 1:11-2:10 // Why did God choose Paul? "Seriously, seriously? You chose this guy, this this murderer to do that?!" What a scandalous choice. A man approving of imprisonment and murder of Christians became the principal missionary of Jesus. Many people reject the gospel because of God's choice. The gospel is scandalous and can rescue anyone. "For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." 1 Cor 1:22-24
Galatians 1:1-10 // The cross of Jesus Christ is a scandal, it is an offense, it baits us, it can cause us to stumble. The cross is where brutality and sacrificial love collide, where perfect justice and boundless mercy meet. It has been viewed as immoral, outrageous and shocking and so it is. The implications of the cross are no less scandalous. We are a people saved by and shaped by the crucified and risen Christ, called to live a crucified life in a world determined to explore autonomy, pleasure and individualism. Galatians will remind us that the cross of Jesus Christ and the power of the Spirit enable us to live life in a curious mixture of holiness, engagement, suffering and joy, while being able to discern and reject false gospels.
Pillar 1: We have been rescued by His mercy, so we REVEL in His mercy. Pillar 2: We DISPLAY His mercy by the way we live as a family. Pillar 3: We have been called to PROCLAIM His mercy to those in our spheres of influence/relationship. Pillar 4: We PARTICIPATE in acts of mercy for the common good of the world and the glory of God.
Matthew 2:1-12 // At Christmas time it is very easy to give into our wants. The world tempts and entices us with empty wants that will never satisfies our true needs. We often don’t long for what we need. JESUS is the gift that satisfies our needs and our wants. “If death ruled because of one person’s failure, those who receive the multiplied grace and the gift of righteousness will even more certainly rule in life through the one person Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17
Luke 2:21-35 // Christ has come! Salvation now has a name. It is in Him – Jesus Christ. Salvation is also personal, it’s His presence, and it’s a blessing for all. Salvation is comprehensive. It delivers us from darkness and removes our shame. However God’s salvation was not easy. Simeon prophesied the pain that Mary would go through seeing the suffering of her Son. “We do not come to a set of doctrines. We do not come to a church. We do not even come to the gospel. All these are vital. But most truly, we come to a person, to Christ himself.” ~ Dane Ortlund.
Luke 2:6-20 // “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” The host of angels proclaim the birth of Jesus! To whom was this song sung? To lowly shepherds known for their dishonesty and thieving. Not the recipients you would expect of this most glorious news. The angel’s song gives us courage to conquer our fears – fear of the mundane, rejection, and the darkness of the world.
Luke 1:25-55 // Mary’s response to the announcement by Gabriel, shows us her immense faith and in the Lord. Being pregnant and not married in those days was a death sentence. Yet, Mary trusted that God would take care of her. She magnified the Lord’s name, “From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored because the Mighty One has done great things for me.”
Luke 1:5-25 & 57-80 // Advent is a season of both reflection and expectation. Songs are important because we sing to express the posture of our hearts and we sing to re-posture our hearts. These four songs are monuments to us, marking the incredible moment where God broke into our natural world, our history. And they serve to posture our hearts to expect that God fulfills His promises and Christ will come again. Zechariah’s song reminds us how we can posture our hearts: by celebrating God's graciousness and shouting God's faithfulness in all seasons. As we enter into the season of Advent, Zechariah’s Song can help us posture our hearts by reminding us to trust that God remembers us, to hope in His Word, and to embrace the centrality of Christ.
Philippians 4:10–23 // Our call as believers is to be content. However the world we live in a world constantly tempting us to be discontent with our current state. We pursue contentment through the practice of gratitude. No matter what we have or don't have, who is in our lives, what season we are in, what unexpected situations we face, or the emotions we carry – we can be content in all these circumstances through Christ who gives us strength. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving.
Judges 14-16 // The story of Samson, part 2. The unrestrained pursuit of legitimate desires in illegitimate ways leaves us blind, captive, and broken. How do you know you are pursuing legitimate desires in an illegitimate way? – When our prayers are immature (Judges 15:18-19). When we repeat destructive patterns (Judges 16:4-7). When we rely on our own strength (Judges 16:10-13). When we trust the wrong people (Judges 16:15-17). When we can’t discern the presence of God (Judges 16:10-13).
Judges 13-14:4 // The story of Samson. When we first are introduced to Samson, we are told about his mother. However, she is never named. Yet we have confidence that she was not unknown to God. God sees us, knows us, and loves us. Psalm 139:1-6. Samson’s mother was barren before she gave birth to her son. When we consider fruitfulness is our lives – we must remember that it is expected however seasons are normal. Barrenness is not death. What brings unfruitful character in our lives? Anxieties, cares, pursuing riches, and our desire for comfort and convenience. Our calling is to be rooted and grounded in God’s love, to abide in Him and so to avoid a life of trying harder. Rest in the Lord.
Judges 11 // The story of Jephthah. A man who was affected by the sins of his father and committed sins as a father. Two important questions: what are we like? What is God like? We know that we are flawed, fickle, and forgetful. YET, God is good and God is great. Sins of a father leave us feeling rejected. God is not limited by our failures or the failings done to us. Our hope is in a good Father who brings belonging out of abandonment. Sins as a father lead to repeated cycles of sin. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we know have the power through the Spirit to break sin cycles in our lives and in the lives of our family even from generations to generations. How can we be better at remembering the goodness and greatness of God? Mention Him. Speak truth over our lives. Speak the Scripture. Meditate on Him. Gather our thoughts and fix our minds on God. Magnify Him. We must magnify our own view of God. We can’t make Him bigger than He already is, but our life’s journey is to increase our understanding of Him.
Judges 8 // Gideon goes from threshing wheat to threshing flesh. He goes from stopping idolatry to leading people back into it. He goes from humility to hubris. How can we guard against collapse in our lives? Beware of turning God out. Are we expecting to hear from Him? How do we listen to His voice? In what ways do we tune Him out? Beware of feeding anger. Scripture warns about anger giving a foothold to the enemy. What makes you angry? How do you guard against it becoming destructive? Beware of living like a king. Gideon acknowledges God’s kingship with his lips, but not with his life. He acquires wealth and wives. He names his son “My father is king.” He creates a golden ephod that becomes a snare. Are there ways that we acknowledge God with our lips but not with our lives? What is competing for his place on the throne? Jesus is a better king than anything that we’re tempted to put in his place: money, sex, power, comfort, convenience. Remember that God is “the one who protects us from falling.” We should pursue the right safeguards and practices, but ultimately it’s His grace and faithfulness that keep us from collapse.
Judges 6:11-32 // This week we look at the story of Gideon. The Lord’s first commandment to him was to go and tear down his family altar to Baal. An altar is a place in our hearts where we are worshipping an idol. Tearing down these altars is a messy business because it exposes our idolatry and areas in our hearts that rely on something or someone else more than God. The grace and mercy of God is to give us the strength to replace these altars that keep us thirsty (like drinking salt water) with the Living Water that quenches that longing our hearts and the thirstiness of our dry souls for Jesus.
Judges 4:6-5:2 // Insecure faith is still faith! “True faith takes its character and quality from its object. Its strength therefore depends on the character of Christ. Even those of us who have weak faith have the same strong Christ as others!” ~ Sinclair B. Ferguson
Judges 3:7-30 // In chapter 3 of Judges, we learn from Israel’s mistakes. They forgot the Lord their God and it lead to them doing what was right in their own sight. Their disobedience led to their captivity. God’s discipline is designed to help us remember who the Lord is. We are called to remind ourselves and others who God is and who we are in Him. 2 Peter 1:3 // By His divine power the LORD HAS GIVEN US EVERYTHING we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of the One who called us by His own honor and glory.
Judges 21:25 // The book of Judges shows that without a God above us all, things spiral out of control. When we allow the idolatry of the land to live in our hearts, we forget that Christ is where truth resides. This book has many challenging stories that ultimately show God's judgement is merciful and meant to bring us back to Him.
Ephesians 5:18-21 // God wants us to sing together because it unites us as believers and is an act of warfare against the devil. It also creates an environment of faith and expectation.
James 5:16 // Confessing our sin to God gives us fresh access to His ongoing grace and keeps us from being crushed by hidden sin. When we confess to each other, we foster a culture of humility, honesty, and healing.
Romans 12:9-13 // Hospitality is about being and eating together. It is having an open heart, hand and home in order to display who God is, advance the Gospel and bring God glory. Jesus showed us how to do this through how he spent time with people and how he invites us now into his home.
Ephesians 4:25-32 // We sometimes have a hard time forgiving one another because we forget that it is a command from God. It’s easy to misunderstand what forgiveness is and bitterness or deception can block us from offering it. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
John 15:8-17 // The most profound way we can save one another is to seek and to save that which is lost.
Hebrews 10:19–25 // To consider one another and stir up one another we need to be known, loved, and challenged.
Galatians 6:1-5 // Burdens are those things that we carry together? How do we help one another and assume personal responsibility?
Romans 12:9-18 // How do we avoid a phony and insincere community? We need to settle that community is commanded, compelling, challenging, and Christ-centered.
Daniel 1:1-21, 6:1-27 // In the face of pressure, God calls us to be a faithful presence. Because we are made in the image of God — here to make the invisible God visible. You’re the priest of your office or classroom or home or job site. You’re God’s representative.
Nehemiah 2:1–8 // How do we build the kingdom of Heaven in and through our work? We must prayer and prepare for opportunities. We must be flexible in our roles, but concrete in our identity in Jesus Christ and the purpose He has for us. We must have humble courage. Pray for our bosses, lead by example, be a servant leader, forgo our rights and know the our ultimate opposition is not the people we deal with, but the spiritual principalities and powers behind the scenes.
Acts 18 // What is our understanding of work? Within our work there is a unique and special opportunity only open to the sons and daughters of God.
Genesis 1:1-27 and Genesis 2:7,8,22 // Whatever work you’re engaged in – the pull to either find your worth in what you do or to look for ultimate fulfillment in your work can be so strong. We’re going to make stops along the highway of identity and idolatry as they relate to our work, but our destination this morning will be to marvel at the immense value God ascribes to each one of us and the satisfaction that is available to us in our Lord.
Ecclesiastes 2:17–26 // How do we respond when work is a place of stress and disappointment or a boring, gray place? We usually respond with either cynicism or idealism – putting too little or too much value in our work. The healthy perspective is worshiping God through our work. Focus on the completed work of Jesus on the cross and allow Him to use our jobs to create eternal significance.
Numbers 10:11-36 // God wants a people who believe Him and follow Him. The Bible is a unified story of God redemptive plan for humanity through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. We are here on earth to be a blessing to the world. We have the good news and must invite others to join us! We are holy because of Jesus alone.
Hebrews 12:18-24 // Christian churches need to constitute in their practices - especially in their practices of worship - alternative plausibility structures that can embody and experience the presence of the divine in a way that directly challenges the suffocating naturalism of the dominant culture.
Psalm 105:16-24 // Sometimes God does not seem to be at work in our work, in fact sometimes He seems to be completely absent. Yet, God is shaping us in every situation. God is shaping creative service & humble boldness – all motivated by love.
Genesis 1:26-30 // How do we joyfully engage in our secondary calling? It must flow from our primary call - to love God and love others.
Luke 4:16-21 // The day the job defines us is the day, we are no longer useful for God in our job. How do we work with excellence without letting our jobs define us or become our identity?
Philippians 2:5–18 // There are two frontiers of the Gospel – the innermost part of my heart and the uttermost parts of the world.
Psalm 103:1-22 // God created mothers so that we would receive love through them that would one day help us recognize Him. God’s love is made tangible in mothers through His nurturing love, His gentleness & tenderness, and His sacrificial love. God knows us and yet loves us as we are.
Acts 2 // The Church continues the work that Jesus started during His time on earth. The baton is passed to the Church and the Holy Spirit empowers us to run! Remembering that the gathered, physical church helps us to stay the course.
Luke 24:36-43 // Jesus eats with the disciples, teaches them, commissions them, and then leaves them. The ascension joined earth to heaven! Christ’s ascension reinstates what was lost in the garden – intimacy, purpose, and power. We believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible!
Luke 24:13-32 // What did Jesus disrupt through His life, death, and resurrection? Jesus disrupted who has access to God, where we gain access to God, and what we have to do to gain access to God. We now no longer have to fear death! Sin can be dealt with and suffering has meaning. The future is full of hope!
Luke 23:32-56 // What holds us back from seeing the beauty and reality of Jesus and what he did on Good Friday?
Luke 19:28-48 // Christ is the long awaited Prince of Peace! His peace is unlike anything we could ask for or imagine. His peace is also disruptive. Christ leads with absolute humility, disrupting long-held expectations of what Messiah would look like. Christ leads with absolute authority, disrupting a culture more concerned with religious systems than true discipleship. We embrace the peace he offers through worship and submission.
Luke 20:19-26 // If there is conflict, the choice – for a follower of the Kingdom of God – is to submit to and serve the One in Whose image you were made. We are stamped with an image. What does that mean? With God, we have enormous value. Am I looking for the Imago Dei in people – especially those who frustrate me?
Puran Rasaili is a pastor in Nepal and is part of the Advance Network of churches along with Mercy Commons. Puran also ministers to and disciples other church pastors all around Nepal. Puran shares how God is at work in both Nepal and India and how our partner churches are doing.
Luke 20:1-19 // The Parable of the Wicked Tenants. How does agriculture and architecture help us enter the Kingdom? We can’t long for Jesus’ return when we aren’t fruitful and grateful, or when we believe we are in charge and in control. “God will judge, not because God gives people what they deserve, but because some people refuse to receive what no one deserves [the unmerited grace and mercy of God]. If evildoers experience God’s terror, it will not be because they have done evil, but because they have resisted to the end the powerful lure of the open arms of the crucified Messiah.” ~ Miroslav Volf
Luke 19:11-26 // PROBLEM: It is difficult to stay faithful to the work Jesus calls us to in the face of social & spiritual opposition. Fear, Impatience, and Unbelief can cause us to waste much of our life building with hay & stubble rather than building God's kingdom. Showing the love of Christ in and through our lives is the basis of multiplication in the Kingdom.
Luke 18:31–19:10 // There is a lot of irony regarding the issues of sight, vision, and perspective. The blind man that can see what the disciples can't see. The short ruler who wants to see the Savior. The Savior that sees the seeker.
Luke 18:18-30 // The way into the kingdom is through the cross, and it will cost you everything. Jesus saw the rich young ruler’s heart and knew that what he really wanted was to keep his idols and bring them into the kingdom with him. “Turn from your sin and trust in Christ alone who can save. Even though this rich young ruler went away sorrowful and unsaved, Jesus knew what He was doing as an evangelist. I pray your response will not be like that of this young man.” - C.H. Spurgeon
Luke 18:15-17 // How does the example of children help us receive and enter the Kingdom? By embracing our powerlessness, growing in trust and forgiveness, & develop vulnerability and resistance. “Christ’s own joy, comfort, happiness and glory are increased and enlarged by His showing grace and mercy, in pardoning, relieving and comforting His members here on earth.” ~ Thomas Goodwin
Luke 17:20-37 // George Eldon Ladd said, “The Kingdom of God is His kingship, His rule, His authority.” We can add that the Kingdom of God is the Father's reign inaugurated by His Son's obedience, administrated through the power of the Spirit, and furthered by the church’s obedience. Our text has an encouragement, a warning, and an admonition. Jesus encourages His disciples to persevere in their faith, warns them of the possibility to be deceived, and admonishes them to be prepared.
Luke 17:7-10 // We are called to live a live of hidden holiness and faithfulness. Why is sacrificial faithfulness so important? Because it shapes our character, its provides a grid for decision making & relationships, and is the basis of our flourishing. Labor out of love, not obligation or for recognition.
Luke 17:1-6 // Jesus truly understands relationships. He understands that people hurt, offend, and misunderstand each other – often and with regularity. Jesus knows that a big part of the reason for that is that we face an enemy who lies to us, we face our frail human condition that has rebellious and undisciplined desires and we face the patterns and influences of the world, ideologies and values as well as relational norms and behaviors from our families of origin.
Luke 16:1-15 // Looking at the parable of the unjust steward. The world commended him for his shrewdness and cleverness, but God calls us to a higher standard. The Kingdom financial ethic is clear. Money is not evil, but it is uncertain. Being financial faithful is a strong indicator of spiritual faithfulness. Does the way I think about, handle, pursue, and plan financially reflect Kingdom values or worldly values?
Luke 15:1-32 // Looking at the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. Types of lostness: unintentional wandering off (the sheep), unconscious lostness (the coin), active rebellion (younger son), ignorant self-righteousness (the older son). Questions to ask in our lostness: where is the Shepherd, where is the flock, where is my home? Questions to ask about other who are lost: are they like the lost sheep, the lost coin, or the prodigal son?
John 11:12-44 // Reminders from this past season: God is present, loving, and powerful & we are both stronger and weaker than we think. Three invitations as we enter this next season: have deeper faith, enter into risky, costly obedience, and active participation in the church.
Ephesians 2 // Our personal sanctification and holiness, is connected to the beauty, power and attractiveness of the body of Christ. And the state of the world is connected to the health of the Church of Jesus Christ. The hostility in humanity will only find true peace through the cross. Remember that you were once without God and without hope in the world. Remember that you are now citizens of the Kingdom who has access to the Father. Be devoted to Him, His people, and His purposes.
Luke 2:3-20 // The shepherds inform our decision to fear. It speaks to our: Fear of the MUNDANE, Fear of REJECTION, Fear of the DARK/NESS. If Christ is in you, then every “mundane” action you perform as unto Him is an explosion of light, of the Good News, because the mundane and the impossibly glorious collide.
Luke 1:26-38 // Certainty, clarity, courage. Zechariah asking for certainty. Mary seeks clarity. God gives her courage.
Luke 1:5-25 // Advent is about making room mentally, spiritually, and even physically in the clutter of our lives to allow a greater sense of connection and occasion as we celebrate the incarnation of Jesus and also long for and anticipate His second coming.
Luke 14:1-24 // It’s party season. In today’s passage, Jesus compares His Kingdom to a party — and lays out some expectations about what that party should look like.
The story of Boaz and Ruth is an example of generosity – the kind of generosity that God has shown to us.
Luke 12:49-59 // Jesus’ life and message redefines what true peace is and what it costs.
Luke 11:1-12 + Luke 18:9-14 // Prayer is about surrender and intimacy first, before it is about direction and provision. When we know who our Father is and we know who we are – we prayer with impudence and humility.
Luke 8:1-3 + Luke 9:1-6 + Luke 10:1-12 // We are the Lord’s ambassadors sent to represent Him in this world. We are also neighbors looking for opportunities to show mercy in the name of Christ. But at the heart of it all is devotion to Christ. We must be worshippers who take time to listen to His word and to commune with Him. As God’s ambassadors: who are we, what do we do, and how do we do it?
Luke 8:4-15 + Luke 13:6-9 // The most important aspect of a parable is what it reveals about Jesus and His Kingdom, how it functions and therefore how we as His followers should function. Fruitfulness in Formation (fruit of the Spirit) and Fruitfulness in Mission. Am I becoming more like Jesus? Am I engaged in the Great Commission?
Luke 7:36-50 // Our self-righteousness hinders our ability to stand in awe of a Christ who redeems even the most wicked, depraved, and broken of us, because it blinds us from the reality that we are those things. Who do I reject because they don’t live up to my standards or expectations? What ways do I let my self-righteousness control how I interact with Christ and others? Look to Christ. He sees you, He welcomes you, and He knows you.
Luke 7:18-35 // Expectations are tricky and dangerous. Cynics expect nothing from anybody - or the polar opposite - naive persons have high expectations and believe everyone. No matter where we land along the spectrum there is always a gap between reality and our expectations. Jesus exposes and confronts our expectations.
Luke 6:1-11 // How do we rediscover the lost art of the Sabbath rhythm? How do we establish strategic rhythms of rest that allow us to heal and recover so that we avoid injury or burnout and continue to progress in our journey of becoming more like Jesus? A strategic prescription for deep and effective rest: Stop. Rest. Delight. Worship. When we spend time with God, the lies that satan has planted in our minds are uprooted and our true identity is restored in our Creator.
Luke 5:27-32 // Jesus intentionally and individually pursues us. Pursued people are generous, awkwardly inclusive, and joyful! Holiness is not the enemy, self-righteousness is.
32I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
Luke 4:16-44 // What was Jesus’ agenda here on earth? His motivation was always His identity before activity. It is His identity that gives His activity authority. Spend time with God. Knowing that we are children of God and spending time with the Father will align our motivations with God’s heart. There is so much in our lives that try to pull our attention and distort our view of Jesus. Our number purpose is to operate out of our identity in God. That relationship will guide every action of our lives.
Luke 4:1-14 // How can we be prepared for temptation? How do we understand how we are tempted? Satan tempts us to give in to sensual desires. Our flesh also tempts us to pursue praise and significance. We resist temptation by admitting and confessing it, re-orientating our lives, and restraining/replacing things that are leading us into temptation.
Luke 1:1-4, Luke 3:10-22 // Jesus engages in strategic hospitality, over and over, using the common and beautiful tool of a table to pursue sinners. The fact that food was used as a literary device as well as the fact that Luke intentionally records these moments of eating shows us the earthy, gritty reality of how Jesus operated as well as showing us what the new kingdom is like. It is not about ideas and philosophy, it is as concrete and practical as the meal we are eating. Everywhere He went, he brought the table with Him—offering his Words and Himself as food and drink.
God reveals His majesty unexpectedly by establishing strength through babies. (Psalm 8:1-2) Firstly, through a blessed lineage of miraculous fertility. Secondly, through the unsuspecting war cries of babies. God also reveals His majesty unexpectedly by appointing humanity to rule creation. (Psalm 8:3-8)
The entire canon of Scripture sees the emergence of life as a threat to the principalities and powers… [It is no surprise then] that God’s enemies would seek to destroy. The devil’s chief strategy is always to ruin relationship. – Todd Chipman
God in His wisdom invites His creation into meaningful participation that has an impact! God is deeply concerned with the treatment of those who are lowly, orphans, poor, destitute, or needy. Through the incarnation, we see the ultimate act of participation in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
How does one encounter God in a way that causes them to proclaim His love and faithfulness to people within and outside the body of Christ? Individuals who have been transformed long to speak of their transformation. Altered people love to build altars that speak of what has led to their alteration. Psalm 40:5 – "Lord my God, no one can compare with You. You have done many wonderful things. You have planned to do these things for us. There are too many of them for me to speak completely about."
The way we pursue and offer forgiveness is a powerful demonstration of the mercy of God. This week we are looking at Psalm 51:1-19. "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions."
Psalm 23 invites us to revel in God by reveling in His name, in His care for us, and in His house. In the Lord, we have all that we need, He restores our souls, and guides us on the right path. As sheep, our only job is to stay close to the Good Shepherd.
What is important about the book of Psalms? The psalms point to Jesus, were sung by Jesus, and help us connect to Jesus. Why should we pay attention to the psalms? They are a powerful devotional and prayer tool, they validate our human experience, and they connect our present to our past.
“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” The problem is we don’t love, nourish, attend to, and protect our body. When we don’t, it’s not neutral - it is opposite.
The Blessed: Abraham and Sarah show us that we inherit a relationship with a faithful God and access to the power of life.
The Bondservant: Through Hagar the bondservant, we see that we inherit a relationship with a present King and access to the well of life.
The Bridegroom: Ultimately, it is through relationship with the bridegroom that we inherit our true identity as blessed bondservants.
“For the natural man is wholly occupied about the things of this world, and he seeks felicity here … but Christ, by the preaching of the gospel … reforms all our earthly affections, and so having striped us out of the vices of our flesh, he separates us from the world.”
- John Calvin
“In the biblical view, a miracle is a signal that God is, for a moment and for a special purpose, walking down paths he does not usually walk. A miracle is not a sign that a God who is usually absent is, for the moment, present. It is only a sign that God who is always present in creative power is working here and now in an unfamiliar style.” – Lewis Smedes
The ability to be truly patient is connected with who you believe has the power in the situation. If you believe you do – you can’t exercise true patience. James calls that arrogant. If you believe that a person, government, or boss does then you aren’t really exercising patience you are just submitting to a power relationship. But if you believe that God is in control you are able to exercise a Spirit-empowered patience.
Hoarding vs. Saving – Jesus helps us to see where our hearts are drawn away from God. What am I doing with the resources God has placed in my hands? God rescues, redeems, and invites His people to do the same.
Everyone has a war internally. It is our fanatical pursuit of “what I want and believe I deserve” that amplifies the war in our souls. Only God gives the grace and the ability to fight the battle. When we surrender to Him we resist the devil and the devil will flee. Imagine the freedom of no anxiety, competition, fights and quarrels. Imagine a stable and joyful soul, a deep satisfaction and certainty that your Father is good and powerful regardless of the craziness of the world. That is God’s promise if we draw near to Him.
James says that we all stumble in what we say, and that no human being can tame the tongue. Why is that? Because a tongue issue is really a heart issue. It is from the overflow of the heart that the mouth speaks. We cannot fix our hearts, but God can create in us a new heart. From the overflow of this new heart, the mouth will speak new things. The exceedingly great resurrection power of God is in us, He has given us everything we need for life and godliness.
"My BROTHERS and SISTERS, show NO PARTIALITY as YOU HOLD the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of GLORY. " Where do we go wrong? We allow cultural pressure to dictate our actions. We all have blind spots. We treat people as an IT rather than a THOU. Remember John 15:7-12, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples."
James warns against DEAD faith, DEMONIC faith and calls us to a DEMONSTRATIVE faith. Claiming belief in Jesus Christ without affection and submission is demonic. Your faith is alive, spiritual, and active when it is exercised on behalf of others.
www.mercycommons.church
Don’t place too much of your identity on the things of this world. Ephesians 2:6-7 (ESV) “made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
How do we have a life of impact during our time on earth? It starts with the Father – as we sit in His presence and spend time with Him we will understand more and more who He is and who we are in Him. A life of impact is also shaped by the character of God, it is fixated on the Perfect Law [Jesus Christ] and is not satisfied with empty religion!
Our joy rests on the willing sufferings of Christ. Jesus has rescued us from the foulest form of suffering, that we could be cast away from and separated from God, that we would have no way to atone for our sin, that we have no way of being healed of the abuse and shame we suffered. It was His joy to endure the cross, pain, suffering trial and shame so that He can bring us everlasting joy in the midst of temporal suffering and pain.
Brad Sarian leads Restored LA in Northridge and inspired us and equipped us to fulfill our evangelical mandate: to love Jesus and make Him known.
The word “empty” is a complicated word. It is not associated with positive things. In that moment, when Jesus’ followers found the empty tomb – it was not good news, it was confusing, mystifying even frightening. Jesus appeared in His resurrected body to His followers and taught by word and tactile touch, that He was King over the natural and spiritual world they did not understand immediately but were beginning to. Today we celebrate the historical fact of an empty tomb, we celebrate that when people arrived at find the tomb filled with the body of Jesus they found it empty! Resurrection Sunday is called so because it wasn’t just an empty space, HE WAS NOT THERE BECAUSE HE IS ALIVE!
Mercy Commons is part of a global network of churches called Advance, a movement of churches partnering together to advance the gospel by planting and strengthening churches. PJ Smyth (together in team) leads Advance and we had the privilege of having him come and teach at Mercy Commons and strengthen us as we desire to make much of Jesus.
The Church that Jesus is building is a beacon of the Good News. That there is Someone who can free you completely from the bondage self and sin, from the idols of autonomy, from the oppression of self centred and selfish living and invite you into a story full of risk, adventure joy and meaning.
What does it mean to take up your cross like Jesus asked us to do? We are not aimlessly carrying a heavy weight – we are following Jesus. We are modeling His way of life. Taking up yourself Jesus’ character and mission.
God has called His Church to play offense not defense. As we spread the hope and message of the Gospel, the Church will spread to the ends of the earth. Remember: The gates of death won't hold us back or hold us in, Our offense will look different than the world's, and The Church is not dependent on human religious performance. The Church is not dependent on human religious performance because Jesus is going to build HIS Church. Our focus is to prevail IN HIM [Jesus], by abiding in Him and as we abide in Jesus it will lead us to action to continue the spread of His Church.
In Jonah, God challenged the idea that you can’t be MERCIFUL if you are JUST. What love looks like to our enemy. Loving our neighbor is a way that we DEMONSTRATE and PARTICIPATE IN the mercies of God.
Jonah, the rebel prophet, built a shelter from the hot sun while selfishly waiting for God to destroy Nineveh. Like him, we too, build shelters from the pain rather than engage God. How do we avoid the Jonah trap? Look inward, upward, outward.
The problem: “How to not allow the most significant accomplishments of your life’s work to amount to a devastating emotional and spiritual breakdown.”
When Christian believers care more for their own interests, their own groupssecurity and comfort or their own cause more than for the good and salvation of others, they are sinning like Jonah.
“There is no such thing as…not worshiping. Everybody worships. The only choice we have is what we choose to worship.” - Wallace
Did Nineveh experience true revival? How does our call as disciples change the city we are in? Sometimes God will use disasters as instruments of mercy. Sometimes he will use negative events to grab our attention. In a world that seeks to medicate our pain, numb it, ignore it, we can miss the message of God. Pain humbles us and opens the door to repentance.
Just like Jonah we have all heard God’s voice to arise, go, and share the Gospel with our neighbors and even our enemies. We must remember we carry a scent and our message carries a scent. The message: no one is innocent, we are all active rebels; we are spiritually impotent; only God can save; no one is beyond God’s grace – even our “Ninevites.” The scent of this message should not be disguised.
Repentance is more than remorse. Repentance begins with embracing reality. However, sin distorts our view. So God brings us to the end of ourselves. Our opinion of our abilities can delay our repentance. Repentance is a lifelong journey home. Remember, Someone greater than Jonah is here! Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer!
www.mercycommons.church
“Sin hardens the conscience, locks you in the prison of your own defensiveness and rationalizations and eats you up slowly from the inside.” ~ Keller
“Each Christian will so consider his neighbor, so consider himself a debtor to his neighbors, because of the image of God in them, that each Christian will exercise kindness toward them and set no other limit than the end of his resources.” ~ Jon Calvin
The temptation, is to put our hope in a new year because it represents a change. That the calendar change will magically make this year better than the last. And my desire is that we don’t see another 2020, but that is not where I put my hope. So what can we do to make 2021 a different year. A more successful year? What can we do to develop the endurance needed to break through the habits and hangups and not have a repeat of the year before?
I believe the change is a shift in our focus from resolution to commission.
www.mercycommons.church
God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.
C.S.Lewis
www.mercycommons.church
The Son sacrifices, the Father adopts, the Spirit seals. What are the implications of adoption? We have security, intimacy, and family.
www.mercycommons.church
The Government of the Mighty God brings about three things to establish peace: (1) to destroy what needs to be destroyed, (2) to establish what needs to be established, and (3) to judge what needs to be set right.
www.mercycommons.church
The Problem: Darkness, confusion and distress fall upon those whom do not believe in & follow the path lit by the counsel of Jesus. When you submit to worldly counsel: It causes us to become distressed, anxious fatalists, and causes us to roam through the land. In contrast, what do the words of our Wonderful Counselor teach us? Isaiah 9:2-7 and Isaiah 8:20-22.
www.mercycommons.church
How are we held together as partners and friends on mission? By recognizing and honoring tenacious loyalty. By being resolute and restoring. By challenging and encouraging each other to love and good deeds.
How do we partner with the One who holds all things together? Pray. Walk. Talk. Have a prayer life that is marked by steadfast devotion and vigilant gratitude. Pause, Rejoice, Ask, Yield.
As followers of Jesus, motivated by the love of Jesus, we must do what Jesus does and partner with God in confronting the systems which oppress people and deny their core personhood.
The world and media sources encourage contemptuous attitudes towards each other. God to stand for truth and to stand united with our brothers and sisters in Christ. How can we dismantle contempt? Through creating a culture of honor. By bearing with and forgiving one another. And by learning from one another.
As we continue in Colossians chapter 3, we ask trusted members of our community questions regarding obedience, submission, relationships, and discipling children.
What is God's vision for your life and how does your view of Jesus affect your future? In Colossians 3:1-11, Paul encourages us to look up to Jesus, look in to our idol-loving hearts, and look out to love our neighbors.
This week we are looking at Colossians 2:18-23.
"Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism [taking delight in false humility] and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God." What does it look like to be qualified? Enjoy our bodies not be ruled by them, be truthfully loving not proud, live supernaturally submitted lives connected not isolated, freedom is found in connection, power comes from connection.
We are made in the image of God, in the image of this Word made flesh. The book of Revelation tells us that the saints overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony – holding fast to the story of who Jesus is –and what He has done for us, a story of absolute substance.
The whole point of delusions is that you don’t know that you are being conned. Am I in danger of being deluded? Yes, if you are depleted, exhausted, isolated, or separated. In the second chapter of Colossians, we learn how to protect ourselves from delusion and how to say strong together as a body of believers with Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
The treasure of the Gospel – “Christ in you.” And know that because Christ is in us, we can live for his kingdom, instead of our comfort. We can grow into maturity, instead of following our own path. We can be empowered by his strength, instead of relying on our own power.
Colossians 1:15-23 is one of the most beautiful, poetic, powerful and empowering portraits of our Savior. It is all about the preeminence of Jesus Christ. He is before all things and in Him ALL THINGS hold together. This week we focus on God’s sovereignty over the spiritual realm. Spiritual warfare is real and happening all around us. How can we respond?
When we speak of held together in Him, we mean that not only is God is the source of all things, but that He is active in and through us to restore the world to His original design.
How do we reboot our lives? Through reengaging with God’s Word, His presence and His people.
How do we reboot our lives? Through reengaging with God’s Word, His presence and His people.
In these dark times, seek out the Lord's presence where you know you can find him. Cling to one another until dawn breaks. And KNOW this – no one covered by the blood of Jesus Christ can be disqualified from the kingdom of God. If He can use me He can use you to do great things for our good and His Glory.
What does it mean to be a person of honor? How was Boaz a foreshadow of Jesus our Redeemer?
This week Nick Saltas continues our series in the book of Ruth and shares with us how to make decisions when times are desperate.
God's plans and purposes can not be stopped. His strong, sovereign hand is at work in the shadows.
What has your relationship with Jesus looked like during COVID-19? Do you feel comfortable bringing your full self to God? Listen to Part 2 of our series through the book of Ruth.
Part 1 in our Summer sermon series on the book of Ruth. This message begins the story of Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi.
Where does wisdom come from? As we continue to look at the life of Joseph, we see that true wisdom is formed on a journey of life, a journey of death, and a journey of resurrection.
In today's sermon, we look at the story of Joseph. Joseph was his father's favorite son and it caused his brothers to be extremely envious. What is envy? What does envy do to us? And how does the story of the prodigal son teach us to deal with envy?
Relationships are a huge part of our lives. Looking at the unresolved relationship between Jacob and Esau we can understand what our responsibility is and how to deal with conflict between each other. As we wrestle with God and others, what do we learn about ourselves?
In this week's sermon, we unpacked how God ministered to Jacob during his 20-year sojourn while he was away from his homeland. Listen and see how God can change us through difficult circumstances.
This week we look at Jacob and Esau and see what the process and ramifications are of making decisions for short term gain that lead to long term pain.
We had the pleasure of affirming Chris Johnson as an elder this Sunday! Alan Frow (from our Advance Network) visits to install him onto the elder team, followed by an excellent preach on the gift of shepherds given by Jesus Christ to the church - His flock.
Genesis 22 tells the story of the Lord who provides in the midst of trials. He graciously gives us all things, not even withholding His only Son.
The story of Genesis 16 reminds us that God is the Lord who hears us and sees us and out of his great compassion, acts on our behalf.
This week we looked at the failures of Genesis 1-12 and how God initiated his rescue of humanity through His covenant with Abraham.
Part 2 of our mini-series on Word and Spirit. We explore why we need the Holy Spirit daily to accomplish all the things that Jesus has for us in 2020. Because of the Holy Spirit we can experience both lasting spiritual development and expansive global mission.
This morning, we look at the Greatest Story - the Bible. Why should we read it and how should we read it?
During our Candelight gathering, Nick goes over the "code for Christmas." Reminding us that we need to live with active joy, that no one is beyond the grace of God, and our proclamation of the Gospel spreads hope.
Twilight: the period of the evening between daylight and darkness. As we continue our Advent series, we look back at what has happened and look ahead to what has yet to happen. God's promise to return, to permanently scatter the night and usher in a new day. How are we to live as we wait?
This Sunday, we begin our Advent series. Jason Newell kicks off Advent with part 1: Night. Darkness is an all-encompassing reality that must relent to the slow and sure progress of the light of day. In the shadow of night, how do we look ahead to the break of dawn? What do the Scriptures tell us about the light of God's salvation?
What is contentment and where does it come from? In a world of instant gratification, how does Christ's strength give us peace?
How do we know we are relationally healthy? In Philippians 4:2-9, we see how important it is for Christians to be at peace with one another. We can do this by choosing to rejoice in the Lord, not be anxious but instead submit our requests to God, and to meditate on good things. In all these, the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Our good friend, Matt Martinez visits from Capital City Church in Sacramento and continues our series in Philippians. In chapter three, Paul exhorts us to forget our old life, our pride, our abilities, our earthly flesh and press on toward the goal – our upward call in Christ Jesus.
The narrative that fuels our life determines a lot about how we think. In Philippians 3:1-11 we see that the story of Jesus is the fuel for Pual's life. As Paul reflects on how he thinks about life, he warns against righteousness and encourages people to abide in Jesus.
Shawn continues our series in the book of Philippians. This week's passage isn't just the travel plans of Paul and Timothy, it's all about imitation! Two ordinary men who imitated an extraordinary King! Humility is not self-centered, it is not first others-centered, it means we are Christ-centered.