New Mercy Community Church Podcasts: Recent Episodes
New Mercy Community Church
The Bible reveals one irreducible fact: God is for broken people. This channel contains the sermon recordings of the preaching pastors at the New Community Church with services at Hackensack and Edgewater in New Jersey. Our vision is to be "A Church for the Broken" and we hope these messages will help the listeners come to know more intimately the God who is for those who don't have it all together. You can find more media content and information about the church at www.newmercy.cc.
Jesus is the exact representation of the Father. Healing is an expression of God's heart towards us.
John 9:1-111 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was.
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”
But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”
Children are Heaven's dreams birthed onto this side of eternity. We all have a call as a faith community to call forth these Kingdom purposes in our children.
Psalm 139:13-1613 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
We go through certain seasons that seem insignificant and wonder where God is. God will still use those insignificant seasons to honor His children in His own time. This allows us to hope and dream again of what God can do in our lives.
Genesis 29:31-35
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben,[a] for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.”
33 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.[b]
34 Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.[c]
35 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah.[d] Then she stopped having children.
Our God has compassion on those who reject God but also on those who try to earn their own way home.
Luke 15: 11-32
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Our God loves those who are suffering but He does not enjoy our suffering. When we get closer to God's heart, we get to see how much God cares for those who are hurt and desires to heal us.
Mark 5:21-43
21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him.
A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”
32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”
36 Overhearing[a] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him.
After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Our God is a God who seeks after the lost. When we get closer to His heart, we get to see who He is after.
Luke 15:1-101 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Ordination Sunday
This message is a "charge" to the leaders who are getting ordained and also the congregation about what it means to be the body of Christ and how that is so important to the purpose and mission of not only the individual but the entire church community.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[a] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
As we close out the book of Jonah, we'll see that not only has Jonah not changed, but God hasn't either. The mission of God hasn't changed or stopped because the heart of God has been on a mission to restore. The question for us, as was for Jonah, is whether we will join in on God's mission as we know his heart.
Bible Verse : Jonah 4
4 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant[a] and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”
9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”
“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”
Verse : Jonah 3, 1984 NIV
3 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:
“By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
God's heart is compassionate and missional. But sometimes, we choose to run away from God, because we are afraid of what it truly means to be compassionate and missional. Even then, God runs to us and receives us with grace.
VERSE : Jonah 2
1 [a]From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2 He said:
“In my distress I called to the Lord,
and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.
3 You hurled me into the depths,
into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
swept over me.
4 I said, ‘I have been banished
from your sight;
yet I will look again
toward your holy temple.’
5 The engulfing waters threatened me,[b]
the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head.
6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you, Lord my God,
brought my life up from the pit.
7 “When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, Lord,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple.
8 “Those who cling to worthless idols
turn away from God’s love for them.
9 But I, with shouts of grateful praise,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”
10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
As we journey through the book of Jonah, we'll see what the heart of God is all about. In this first sermon, we'll see that our lives are similar to Jonah's life. And how God is calling us to be on mission with Him to join in on the heart of God.
VERSE : Jonah 1
1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”
3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.
4 Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship.
But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6 The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.”
7 Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?”
9 He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”
10 This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.)
11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?”
12 “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”
13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14 Then they cried out to the Lord, “Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.” 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.
Jonah’s Prayer
17 Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
What is on God's heart? We begin a new journey through 2022 to go back to what is on God's heart.
Verse : Jonah 4:9-11
9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”
“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”
We need to see the world from God's perspective, which will give us clarity in our lives.
Mark 8:22-26
22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”
24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”
25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into[a] the village.”
The book of Nehemiah does not end with a "happily ever after" ending. In fact, they once again have similar problems that arise and things get messy. God's restoration process continues, as we learn how to face the constant deficiencies in our lives.
Restoration means a commitment to prioritize corporate worship and to live in obedience to God's law.
Restoration requires us to leave the old for the new. It's God's mercy and repentance which allows us to do that.
Nehemiah 9:1-38
Speaker :Pastor Josh Kim
SERMON TITLE: Saved by Abigail SPEAKER: John Huh
SYNOPSIS: How do you respond when you deal with difficult people in your lives? Abigail teaches us how to be wise and keep peace during conflict.
SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 25:9-35
SERMON TITLE: Jethro's Wisdom SPEAKER: John Huh
SYNOPSIS: God often speaks to us through people who are in our lives. Are we ready to be humble and listen? This story of Moses and Jethro teaches us about what this looks like.
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 18:9-27
Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the Lord had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 He said, “Praise be to the Lord, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.” 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.
13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”
15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”
17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”
24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.
27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.
SERMON TITLE: Batman & Caleb SPEAKER: Won Jae Hudson Yu
SYNOPSIS: There are many characters that are present in this Bible, but the life of Caleb is worth a closer look.
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 13:1, 26-33; Numbers 14:1-4, 20-24; Joshua 14:6-12
SERMON TITLE: The Shunammite Woman SPEAKER: Tina Min
SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 4:8-17
8 One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. 9 She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. 10 Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.”
11 One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there. 12 He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite.” So he called her, and she stood before him. 13 Elisha said to him, “Tell her, ‘You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’”
She replied, “I have a home among my own people.”
14 “What can be done for her?” Elisha asked.
Gehazi said, “She has no son, and her husband is old.”
15 Then Elisha said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. 16 “About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.”
“No, my lord!” she objected. “Please, man of God, don’t mislead your servant!”
17 But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.
SERMON TITLE: The Story of Rizpah SPEAKER: Won Jae Hudson Yu
SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 21:1; 7-14
During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord. The Lord said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.”
The king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the Lord between David and Jonathan son of Saul. 8 But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab,[a] whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite. 9 He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed them and exposed their bodies on a hill before the Lord. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.
10 Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds touch them by day or the wild animals by night. 11 When David was told what Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, had done, 12 he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. (They had stolen their bodies from the public square at Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.) 13 David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up.
14 They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.
SERMON TITLE: Longing for peace SPEAKER: Won Jae Hudson Yu
SYNOPSIS: All of us desire peace. Paul shares his secret to true peace in Jesus.
SCRIPTURE: Philippians 4:1-9
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Final Exhortations
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
SERMON TITLE: Pressing On Towards Joy SPEAKER: John Huh
SYNOPSIS: In today’s passage, Paul uses a sports analogy to teach us about perseverance - what it means “to press on toward the goal to win the prize.”
SCRIPTURE: Philippians 3:4-14
though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
SERMON TITLE: God who finishes what He starts SPEAKER: Lisa Yu
SYNOPSIS: How do we grow as Christians? We grow when we begin to fully understand that we must walk out in obedience what God has already put in us. We are lights in the world only to the degree that we are obedient to the commands of Christ.
SCRIPTURE: Philippians 2:12-18
Do Everything Without Grumbling
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[a] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
SERMON TITLE: Rejoicing in Shackles SPEAKER: John Huh
SYNOPSIS: Finding joy and rejoicing in God is not easy, especially when we are in the middle of a life's storm. In today's passage, Paul teaches us how to thrive in midst of turmoil when he states, "to live is Christ, die is to gain."
SCRIPTURE: Philippians 1:18b-26
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[a] 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
SERMON TITLE: God who finishes what He starts SPEAKER: Won Jae Hudson Yu
SYNOPSIS: God always finishes what He starts.
SCRIPTURE: Philippians 1:1-11
Greeting
1 Paul and Timothy, servants[a] of Christ Jesus,To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers[b] and deacons:[c]2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace,[d] both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
SERMON TITLE: A Life of Significance SPEAKER: Rebekah Lee
SYNOPSIS: Paul reminds the Ephesians how God’s salvation is significant to us.
SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 2:1-10
Made Alive in Christ
2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
SERMON SERIES: Meeting Jesus - Encounters that Transform SERMON TITLE: Beauty in the Broken SPEAKER: Won Jae Hudson Yu
SYNOPSIS: Jesus encounters a broken woman who shows beauty in her brokenness.
SCRIPTURE: Luke 7:36-50
Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman
36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[a] and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
SERMON SERIES: Meeting Jesus - Encounters that Transform SERMON TITLE: Seeing in the Dark SPEAKER: John Huh SYNOPSIS: In today's passage, a blind beggar encounters Jesus and receives healing. Let us see, along with Bartimaeus, how Jesus teaches us to see in the darkness.
SCRIPTURE: Mark 10:46-52
Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight
46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
SERMON SERIES: Meeting Jesus - Encounters that Transform SERMON TITLE: Jesus' Healing Touch SPEAKER: Tina Min
SYNOPSIS: Jesus is wanting and able to bring life to any areas where life is leaking. He sees you and wants to heal you.
SCRIPTURE: Mark 5:21-42
Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him.
A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”
32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”
36 Overhearing[a] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him.
After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.
SERMON SERIES: Meeting Jesus - Encounters that Transform SERMON TITLE: The Feeding SPEAKER: Won Jae Hudson Yu SYNOPSIS: What can we learn from the miracles of Jesus? The incredible feeding of the 5000 reminds us of Jesus' heart for His people. SCRIPTURE: Matthew 14:13-21
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Sermon Series: Meeting Jesus - Encounters that Transform
Sermon Title: Garden of Gethsemane
Speaker: Cathy Jang
Synopsis: Does Jesus fully and completely understand our disappointments? In His darkest night, we are able to see that Jesus intimately and personally understands but also desires us to walk with Him in our disappointments.
Scripture: Mark 14:32-42
Gethsemane
32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”
35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba,[a] Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Sermon Series: Meeting Jesus - Encounters that Transform Sermon Title: Don't End the Party Speaker: John Huh Synopsis: As the first miracle recorded in the Gospels, Jesus turns water into wine at a wedding party. An unfortunate, shameful mishap allows everyone to experience the abundant grace of Jesus and encounter His transformative love. Scripture: John 2:1-11
Jesus Changes Water Into Wine
2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Woman,[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[b]
7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Sermon Series: Easter Sunday
Sermon Title: Who Will Roll Away Your Stone?
Speaker: Won Jae Hudson Yu
Synopsis: God rolls away the Stone.
Scripture: Mark 15:43 - 16:7
43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.
Jesus Has Risen
16 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
Sermon Series: Lent
Sermon Title: Jesus the King
Speaker: Lisa Yu
Synopsis: One short week makes a huge difference. When Jesus didn't meet the expectations of the people they turned on him showing they didn't see him as King. We will explore how Jesus as King should affect our lives if we whole heartedly commit our lives to Him.
Scripture: Luke 19: 28 - 40
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”[a]
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Sermon Title: Sleeping Jesus
Speaker: John Huh
Synopsis: There are times when we wonder if Jesus really cares about us. When we face the storms of life and have to get to the other side, how do we trust in God and not lose faith? In today's passage, God has a word for the wind and the waves, and it brings hope in midst of chaos.
Scripture: Mark 4:35-41
Jesus Calms the Storm
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Sermon Series: Coronavirus Special
Sermon Title: We Lift Up Our Eyes
Speaker: Won Jae Hudson Yu
Synopsis: How are we to face our current situation? Where does our help come from? The Psalmist shares timeless truths to strenghten God's people.
Scripture: Psalm 121
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Sermon Series: Created for Love - Revealing the Father's Heart
Sermon Title: Abiding in Love
Speaker: Tina Min
Synopsis: Despite hindrances and past disappointments, abiding in the Father's love is about daily walking in the Truth of God's love for us. That's what it means to "walk in the light" as He is in the light.
Scripture: 1 John 1:5-7 + 1 John 4:16
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
*** We'll miss you Grace Ki!
Sermon Series: Created for Love - Revealing the Father's Love
Sermon Title: Hindrances to Love
Speaker: John Huh
Synopsis:
God wants to pour out His love to us, but many of us have a difficult time receiving such love due to our own brokenness. Let us examine certain hindrances to receiving God's love - specifically our father and mother issues.
Scripture: Genesis 27:1-30
Sermon Series: Created for Love - Revealing the Father's Love
Sermon Title: Encountering Love
Speaker: Won Jae Hudon Yu
Synopsis:
We are created for Love. God desires that we grow in love and intimacy.
Scripture: Psalm 63:1-7
1 You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6 On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
7 Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
God pursues us generously in the person of Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost, and our response to his work of salvation is that of genuine repentance, toward a generous life of the Kingdom.
Luke 19.1-10
Sermon by Paul Jang
God is the refiner of our lives. Through our trials and struggles, God continues to refine us until we are in alignment with who He is. Once we know who He is, we know who we are.
2 Peter 3:9
Patience is the ability to bear up under provocation without complaint. It is often overlooked because patience is silent in nature. We take a close look into the nature of God's patience. Luke 15:11-24
Our God is a God who draws near to us. His presence with us is what separates Him from other gods. | Deuteronomy 4:1-7 ESV
God will provide. This is a simple fact that the Scripture repeatedly reveals to us. However, this character of God is not easy for us to learn and hold on to. Let us remind each other how faithful God is to us, our ultimate provider. | Genesis 22:1-18
God's kingdom design is one of full healing and restoration: physically, spiritually and emotionally. We are each assigned to bring more of His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. | Exodus 15:22-27
As we begin to study the character of God, we are reminded that HE is a God who Fights for Us! | Exodus 14:10-18
In 2020, we will be diving deeper into the Word of God as we focus on God's faithfulness in our lives. Our stories are transformed when we encounter and embrace God's steadfast love. | Lamentations 3:22-24
Wrapping up the year, focusing on the 2019 theme -Faith Forward & Corporate prayer service. | 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
It's the most wonderful time of the year because we are reminded that God is with us (Emmanuel) and with His presence, we can conquer fear with joy! | Matthew 1:18-25
We are all searching for something in Christmas. What are you looking for and what does God provide? Through today’s passage, we examine how God responds to our Christmas expectations. | Matthew 11:2-11
Advent is a special season as we wait for the Lord. He breaks through in Humility. | Luke 2:1-12
What does a mature faith person looks like? We will try to answer this question by looking at John the Baptist. | Luke 7:24-28
* If you would like to listen to the Colombia team presentation, please email admin@newmercy.cc.
A "faith forward" lifestyle will lead to seasons of pruning. God prunes us so we'll bear the fruit of love which can only emerge from the secret place of intimacy with Him. | John 15:1-9
To live in this world and to follow Jesus is risky business. We are constantly trying to find safety in our lives. In today's passage, we find out how faith in God leads us to live a life in security, as He whispers His promises to us. | 1 Kings 19:1-13a
We are the church of God! We are shaped by our most close connections. | 1 Peter 2:4-10
If you are trying to have a dinner party, I don’t know if you want to invite Jesus. According to Jesus, the call to become a community of faith may look radically different than what we think. | Luke 14:1, 7-14
- If you would like to hear the testimony from today's service, please email admin@newmercy.cc for the link.
God uses workplace relationships to make us more like Christ. He uses three different components in workplace relationships to make us more like Jesus.
- People
- Problems
- Platform
Daniel 1
Jesus and Peter are examples of friendship that we should try and emulate today. 3 characteristics of a faithful friend: 1. Encourage each other to have kingdom perspective 2. Speak life into each other to build them up 3. Not to be afraid to speak truth in love especially when it comes to preventing following God's will. | Matthew 16: 13-23
As one of the ten commandments, God demands us to honor our parents. What does it mean to "honor" our parents and why is it so important for God? Let us examine how we are to live out this commandment. | Ephesians 6:1-3
In this passage, Paul "boasts" in his weakness and speaks about living with a "thorn" on his side. Paul insists that his weaknesses are the very means by which God works in and through us. Let us examine what it means for us to live with "strength in weakness." | 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Conflicts are all around us. Taking a look at how we should face conflicts. | 2 Corinthians 10:1-7
Generosity is a reflection of Grace. God calls us to be a generous people. | 2 Corinthians 8:1-9
God calls us to wholeheartedly embrace His Word over our lives--that is to see ourselves as God sees us. Our personal experiences shape us for better or for worse. God wants us to experience the joy of being set free by living as the child he has created us to be. | 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Paul teaches us that there is a difference between Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow - regret that involves God versus regret that only focuses on ourselves. We should find security and peace in the fact that our past sins can be redeemed by our God, when we repent. | 2 Corinthians 7:2-13a
When life is unfair, God is good! Even when we face injustices of this world, God is faithful and good to us. | Exodus 1:8-14, 22; 2:1-10
We are called to bring reconciliation to all sphere of the world. Between God and People; Between people and people and Between People and Their Work. This can only be accomplished when we understand what has gone wrong, work to see people with love (as God does) not judge them, and lastly remain in fellowship with christ so that we can be more effective ministers of reconciliation. | 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Never giving up is the mindset that I've experienced a setback, but I'm trusting that God is going to use that a setup for a comeback. Apostle Paul shows how we endure all afflictions and sufferings because God is a God of the cross, God is a God of the resurrection, and God is a God of eternity. Therefore, we never give up in this life because all momentary afflictions are preparing us to the weight of eternal glory to come. | 2 Corinthians 4:1, 7-18
God provides eternal perspectives that sustains us in life. In today's passage, Paul teaches us about the source of our confidence. | 2 Corinthians 3:1-12
Scripture is essential because 1. Jesus is the Word who became flesh 2. The Word washes us from the taint of the world 3. Is the root that helps us grow. | 2 Timothy 3:14-17
Prayer is one of the spiritual disciplines that grows our faith. Prayer is more than communication, it's communion. Faith isn't developed in passivity, but in seeking God through prayer so that our faith (trust) would deepen through intimacy. | Exodus 3:1-12
What is our purpose in life? We need to consider and find out what is our mission in life. Many of us live for the moment and lack a kingdom purpose in our lives. Let us learn about God's purpose for our lives by looking into Paul's words in Philippians. | Philippians 4:10-13
God is always working around us and He wants us to join in on what He is doing. | Exodus 2:11-3:4
God's revelation always outweighs our expectations. We expect our savior to march into our lives to rescue us from the authorities whom we dislike. However, this is not the priority of the Savior; instead, Jesus' priority is in saving us from our sins and brokenness. | Luke 19:28-40
The Old is us trying to sew our own fig leaves and trying to cover ourselves with works. Through the cross, the new is being able to put on Christ and having victory over flesh. | Genesis 3:6-7; 21 and Romans 13:8-14
A hindrance to faith forward is being stuck and not knowing what to do. We need the power of God and we need to cooperate with him in developing our faith. | 2 Kings 4:1-7
Our God reminds us of His love through the ten commandments. We need to face our idols that breaks the heart of God. | Deuteronomy 5:1-10
There are numerous obstacles that hinder our faith in the Lord. Today, we examine how the lies that have been spoken over us and self deception need to be overcome. Let us take seriously how God defines us in His perspective. | Galatians 4:1-7
Many Christians fail to grow in their faith because they approach faith passively. The fact that faith is a gift does not mean cultivating it after it is received does not require effort. Biblically, for a Christian to grow in his/her faith, they must persevere in the practice of it. | Hebrews 12:1-3
In the journey to strengthen our faith, there are numerous obstacles that hinder us. Although we don't take complaining as a serious matter, it can be a contagious disease that hinders our faith. In today's passage, we learn about how God thinks of complaining hearts. | Numbers 11:1-24
When we live by faith, we live are living on the edge of life where the unknown meets the potential of God. It is there that the power of faith and the power of God are revealed. | Acts 1:3-4, 12-14; 2:1-13
We are on a journey to discover Faith. God teaches us many different dimensions of Faith from this passage. | Matthew 14:22-33
Over and over again, when we face challenges that are too much for us, we choose to live by sight, not by faith. Living by faith especially seems difficult when we are called to the unknown. However, when we move with God, His faithfulness helps us to take some bold steps. | Joshua 3:7-17
Christmas can actually be a scary story for some people; however, the incarnation ultimately reminds us that we are not stuck in our situations but we are planted with a purpose. Ultimately, incarnation is a story of hope. | Luke 1:26-38
In trying circumstances, when our faith is shaken, remember that God is trustworthy because of Immanuel (God is with us). When the kingdom looks shaky, remember the unshakeable promises of the unchangeable king. The ultimate proof that God is trustworthy is that he sent his Son. God is with us. | Isaiah 7:1-17; Matthew 1:18-25
In Jesus we find the DNA of truth, and it's not what you expect. Jesus, in fact, explodes our understanding of reality so much so that it upends all of our categories. The truth Jesus embodies paints for us a God and a reality that boggles the mind yet -- somehow -- profoundly satisfies the deepest longings of our hearts. Christmas is a revolution of such cosmic proportions and its consequences so far reaching that nothing remains untouched, not even our ordinary, human relationships. | John 1:1-5, 14
One of the challenges people face in virtually all of their relationships is the inability or unwillingness to empathize with the other person. However, putting effort into knowing the other person's story and longings will go a long way to improving your capacity for empathy and your relationships overall. Jesus teaches us to do this when he commands us to love the other person like ourselves -- we must put effort into thinking what we would want were we in their shoes, in their story. | Matthew 22:34-40
Living with humility is tough but necessary. Jesus teaches us that our relationships need to grow out of humility. | Luke 14:1, 7-14
Many come to the church for the show, but we need to stay committed to the community in order to grow. Let us mature together by investing in this community, while we build our foundation on Jesus Christ. | I Corinthians 3:10-13
The power of our words as tiny little seeds sown into the hearts of those around us in our community. They don't show much fruit (whether good or bad) at first, but in time they will grow into weeds that destroy OR a large tree that brings fruit and life to those around us. I'll end with a picture of the "community" in heaven and the words that are spoken there (ref. Rev 7- "praise and glory, wisdom, strength, honor be to our God", etc) and encourage/challenge us that our words should look close to that if we want heaven to come more into our lives, into our church, into our communities. | Matthew 13:24-32
In order for true community to take place, people have to be vulnerable. First we need to see a true biblical definition of what this means, but also see why it is so important. Many times people see it as a weakness and they equate it to shame, but when we see it as a strength, it gives us courage to engage others in a deeper, more genuine way. | 2 Corinthians 12:5-10
The New Testament writers teach repeatedly that the community of God is a community of love. As sweet as that sounds, the reality is that in a sinful world, sinners in any community are terribly difficult to love. The only way love can exist in the church is through intentional, painstaking perseverance by hearts constantly reminding themselves of the grace shown to them and a community that collectively is powered through the Holy Spirit and prayer. And, as many a church has learned the hard way, the only way a church can exist is if that intentional, painstaking love is cultivated and maintained. | 1 Peter 4:7-11
God is inviting us into a new season where things will shift in our lives and our church. But in order to send us out for the harvest, Jesus must first heal our perspectives and restore our voices. | Matthew 9:27-38
God blesses us with so many gifts, and yet we withhold what seems precious to us from God. What if God asks us to sacrifice the very thing we are in love with? | Genesis 22:1-18
Many times it is easy to get distracted or discouraged by life's circumstances, but when we have eyes of faith we are challenged to see in light of eternity. Only then are we able to put everything into proper perspective. | 2 Corinthians 4: 7-18
There is a contrast between our understanding and God’s understanding of abundance. How would kingdom perspective of abundance change our thoughts and actions? | Matthew 13:31-33
Kingdom value: Lordship - God is in control. He knows what he's doing. | 2 Chronicles 20:1-30
The kingdom of God has already been inaugurated through the establishment of the church. Satan has been trying to beat back the church. The routes of attack leveraged are sophisticated. Christians in all ages are called to discern how they are called to keep the witness of the church true to Jesus's vision. However, one of the chief dangers is that we shape the church to conform to our desires as opposed to conforming our lives to what Jesus wants the church to be. To build to church requires us to take up the cross, to follow his vision of church and to submit. | Matthew 16:13-24
Life is full of disappointments; and unfortunately, we sometimes become disappointments of others. How do we continue to trust in God and have hope in such circumstances? Let us find out through Leah's story. | Genesis 29:30-35
Our relationship with God should produce a life of worship that is extravagant and meaningful. We are called to be worshippers and is to be a priority in our lives. In an ideal world, worship should be our first priority but that is not always the case. Even though we fall short, our God will always meet us where we are because he loves us and He wants to have a relationship with us. | Genesis 4:1-15; John 12:1-7
The power to relate well, to be humble, and to forgive in our relationships is rooted in our destiny as children of God. | Genesis 37:2-13, 26-28
What goes around, comes around. Sometimes, this is true and we do find satisfaction in those who get what they deserve. Thank God, He doesn’t treat us this way. | Genesis 29:15-28
Sometimes we feel like we are just a sideshow. God uses the story of Hagar to show us that He sees us and we are important to Him. | Genesis 21:14-21
From the beginning, sin disrupted all of humanity's relationships (e.g., with God, people, creation). Sin begins with our distrust of God. By forfeiting the goodness and grace available to us through God, we settle for counterfeits that bring dysfunction and profound limitations. But within this distorted world, God injects a redemptive grace that will impinge on our currently reality and culminate in an eschataological renewal of all things. | Genesis 3:1-24
In today's passage, we see a conflicting response between Jesus and His disciples when the people brought their children to receive prayer. Jesus graciously invites the children to Him and welcomes them with open arms. The way Jesus thought of children and treated them teaches us about the kingdom of God. | Matthew 19:13-15
In Jesus's conversation with the woman at the well, Jesus shows us that when relating with us, he sees, understands, engages, and empowers us at profound levels. He relates with people to restore them to a place where they would realize the fullness of what they were meant to be as children of God. | John 4:4-30; 39-41
Jesus transforms lives through building relationships. Even in a short encounter, Jesus dramatically changes lives. In today's story, Jesus offers His amazing compassion to one of the most hated men in his community, Zacchaeus. Through this relationship, Jesus challenges us to stop withholding love, even from those who hurt us. | Luke 19:1-10
The resurrection reveals uncomfortable realities for anybody who sits down and thinks about its implications. First, it shows us a God that explodes our expectations. Because God is real and not something our hearts manufactured, he will not always be what we want. Second, because the resurrection is historical fact, it refuses to go away. The reality of God will always impinge on our reality and at times make us uncomfortable (for our own good). Lastly, Saul's encounter shows us a God who is in union with us at such a profound level that it results in our receiving what he is and his receiving what we are. | Acts 26:9-18
Honor is a kingdom principle that values relationships and people. Honor is treating another person with worth, whether they've earned it or not, because whatever we do to honor a person, we do unto Jesus himself. | John 13:1-5, 12-15 (ESV)
Testimonial sermon from our Intern Pastor, Bobae Lee. What we think is the biggest Jesus encounter is not the only source of gas to run this journey on. We have to work on taking up our mats, walking towards what lies before us, knowing that God is not done with us yet. | John 5:1-17
An important aspect of marriage is cultivating your friendship. This in turn is a reflection of our friendship with God. | Eph 5:25-33; John 15:12-15
Dating can be understood as an intentional, quality time spent between two people with a certain purpose. For singles, dating can help them discern their potential future in marriage. For married, dating can help them rediscover intimacy in their relationship. Therefore, it is necessary that we examine the purpose and the goal of dating in God's perspective. | Mark 12:28-34
For a large portion -- if not all -- of our lives, we will be single. It is a mistake to see this season as merely a prelude to marriage. Bibilcally, both singles and married couples are fully and authentically human, and each is called to inhabit their situation as such. Each situation has unique advantages, disadvantes, and opportunities that God calls us to steward. The gospel empowers us to live in singleness (in all its messiness and fulness) to his glory and to our joy. It is a season of profound intimacy with God, ourselves, and others. | 1 Corinthians 7:7-9; 25-35
The reconciliation that Jesus brings to our relationship with him and others is paradoxical in nature. Those who strive for the reconciliation that Jesus desires for us (a deep reconciliation that centers on God), they will find their inner selves and personal relationships initially and profoundly destabilized; often conflict ensues. However, as we let the gospel teach us the nature of true reconciliation, we will eventually find ourselves working toward a reconciliation with God and with others that is far more real, far more freeing, and far more healing than any reconciliation we could have mustered on our own. | Matthew 10:34-39
Be careful what you pray for! When we ask Jesus to restore our relationships, He invites us to uncomfortable places and ask challenging questions that reveal our brokenness. But in the end, Jesus redeems and ecnourages us through His unending love. | John 21:1-19
The most significant fallout from sin is this: broken relationships. Jesus places us on a journey of restoration where reconciliation in all human relationships is the centerpiece. | Genesis 3:6-13
"A Call to Restoration" was this year's theme for New Mercy Community Church. Let us examine what restoration look like in God's perspective and how it is being reflected in our lives. | Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV)
Christmas is a Promise that He will always Save and He will always be with us. | Matthew 1:18-25
Faithful waiting is not passive. Faith waiting is active participation in witnessing and testifying the birth of our Savior. | John 1:6-9,19-28
Being a part of God's plan has consequences. These consequences are simultaneously profoundly burdensome and radically liberating. In fact, they open up life in a way as to make it far richer and fuller. | Matthew 1:18-25
We will be looking at the crucial role of surrendering to God in the life of Mary, Jesus' mother. For it was only in her surrender that the promise of the Messiah was fulfilled. | Luke 1: 26 - 38
Gratitude is a disposition that must be deliberately practiced and cultivated over time. And just like the other spiritual disciplines (e.g., prayer), gratitude forged is a bastion of nourishment to our faith and life. Giving thanks is no mere platitude; it is one of the fundamental markers and pillars of faith that is alive and well. | Philippians 4:4-9
Thanksgiving and remembering are inherently related. One cannot give thanks without remembering. We must remember who God is and remember well because this is how we magnify Him. | Psalm 69:30-33, Deuteronomy 8:10-20 (NRSV)
Underneath everything God does -- even the seemingly flashy things -- he is after love and obedience. When we see these in increasing measure in our lives, we will see more of the life of God flowing in and through us. | Exodus 3:1-15
Our 7th year Anniversary Service. We examine the church and it's call once again.| Mark 2:1-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14
Loneliness is an inevitable part of life, and sometimes, the fear of being alone is overwhelming. In this week's message, we will examine how a Christ-centered community is called to help deal with such pains of loneliness. | Genesis 2:15-22
Real stories of life are all around us. God takes these stories and rewrites them. | Ruth 1:1-18
Many Christians have a idealistic picture of the church. They believe a healthy and true church is one that is free from conflict. However, what the Bible tells us is that community in church will be messy. Why? Because relationships between rehabilitating sinners will always be messy. Messiness, as Tim Keller says, is to be expected in any and all human relationships. What makes the church the church is how we journey together and persevere together through this expected messiness. | Acts 15:36-41
Faith without works is meaningless. In today's passage, Jesus uses the metaphor of two buildings in order to remind us that the gospel of grace demands discipleship and everyday practices of our daily lives. | Matthew 7:21-29
In today's passage, Jesus commands us to not judge others. This message should bother us all because we are guilty of judging others on a daily basis. What does Jesus mean by this command and why is not judging considered a spiritual discipline? | Matthew 7:1-6
What does it really mean to Seek First His Kingdom and His Righteousness? | Matthew 6:19-34
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus describes the type of people that will make up his kingdom. They are people who do not merely have behavior changed for various religious motivations. Rather, they will be people whose actions spring a transformed heart. | Matthew 5:17-26, 48
God has a vision for human flourishing, and it is revealed in the opening to the Sermon on the Mount in what is traditionally known as the Beatitudes. This vision, however, is radically counterintuititve: it reverses much of what the world thinks entails human flourishing and happiness. But by participating and living into these values that Jesus lists, we will find a deep flourishing in our lives that will restore us: through living out this vision, we will become the people God intends us to be. | Matthew 5:1-16
The Church needs people of integrity - consistent, authentic, whole, and true. People of integrity live according to the standard of Heaven and its value, and are always willing to do what is right, no matter what the cost. Integrity isn't a popular value in the world, but it's an significant value foundational in the Kingdom. | 1 Samuel 24:1-22
Focusing mainly on Judas the betrayer. we will examine whether or not we allow Jesus to see the depths of who we truly are. Many of us can go through the motions and put on a good mask on Sundays. Is Jesus just someone we hear and talk about or is He really our Lord and Savior? | Matt. 7: 21-23; John 12: 1-8
In our moments of need, God does hear our cries and responds. At the same time, God asks us to open our eyes and place our sight upon Him. | Luke 18:35-43
Soonkyu (SK) Shin is one of the founding members and the Chairman of the Board of YANA Ministry, a mission organization committed to serving abandoned and impoverished children. He is also is a highly skilled analyst with 22 years of experience, an author, and public speaker. | Matthew 25:40
Our God is gracious and loving. He asks us to bring our family burdens to Him through corporate worship; and as we do, God encourages and builds up our family. | Genesis 13:1-18
In Christ, we are one body, and we are called to worship as one body. We all have a responsiblity for the corporate worship. Together, we are to build the worship that God desires, one where he is the center and where we each spur one another on toward deeper worship. | John 4:23-24; Colossians 3:15-16
Through corporate worship, we publicly and privately acknowledge what is most important in our lives. How much is God worth to us and what kind of attitude do we come to worship? | Psalm 95
| LINK TO VIDEO CLIP : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMR4meHT2YQ
Joining in corporate worship is mandated for the believer. The Bible gives us numerous important reasons all of which serve to glorify God and build up the church and its believers. | Psalm 95:1-7a; Hebrews 10:23-25; Colossians 3:15-16
Restoration is God's way. God treasures that which he restores, but often we want the treasure without the restoration. John 21 shows us one of Jesus' most treasured restoration projects. What would restoration look like in our lives if we began to look at it with the hope and anticipation of treasure? | John 21:1-14
When we face and experience Jesus Christ's resurrection, we will be fearful and yet joyful. In response, Jesus comforts us with His words: "Do not be afraid." Our life and security are in His merciful hands. | Matthew 28:1-10
Peter is a mirror for us all. We learn about ourselves through his story. Through him, we also learn the power that is made available to us for change. | Mark 14:53-54, 66-72
Restoration is returning to who we were designed to be. We are designed to be lovers. | Mark 10:17-27
When we see what God is seeing, we can do what God is doing. And His heart is to bring restoration cities, regions, and nations THROUGH us. If we're going to partner with God in restoration, then we're going to need the power of vision to restore the broken places that God is calling us to. What would it LOOK like to see God's restoration THROUGH you? | Nehemiah 1:1-11
It is often assumed that spiritual disciplines and soul care grow the Christian in order that they may live a faithful life. However, the Christian life is not linear in this way. Growth is not achieved and then the Christian life lived. Rather, growth happens as we strive to live and obey. Just as much as growth happens through spiritual disciplines and soul care, growth happens in Christian living. We do not grow and then obey. No, as we obey -- because we obey -- we grow. | Romans 12:1-2
Painful experiences from our past often dictate how we think and act today. In this message, we will look at how God enters our most unwanted memories to bring restoration of our souls. | John 21:1-19
We all have our deep wells, in which we hide our hurtful past. Knowing this, Jesus invites us to be freed from our past hurts and offers us to be restored through His living water. | John 4:5-26
There is always a synergy in prayer. Prayers are powerful tools that God uses to bring restoration and realignment to our lives. We are all called to prayer as we grow in intimacy with God. | Genesis: 26:17-25
Most of us keep the Sabbath, all the while scheming for the next thing or event that we personally are invested in. We worship God, but merely as something to cross off on our list of things to do, as we look forward to the next item. Therefore, our glorification of multitasking has engulfed the need to slow down and pay attention to the things that matter to God. What does it mean to keep the Sabbath and keep it holy? We won’t really know unless we give undivided attention to our Lord.
Many Christians do not understand the importance of God's word for their lives. Part of the reason is because we fail to grasp the nature of God's word. Biblically, God's words are not merely symbolic representations in the world; the words of God have an independent, concrete reality that is alive and dynamic. This is one of the most profound and mysterious truths about God. The scope and the depth and the unanticipated ways in which God is word is remarkably robust and awe inspiring in the Bible. And it is through these rich, living words that we grow. This is why scripture is central to the believer if they want to be sustained, to have power, and to grow in their lives.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus is described as coming to this world as the light. And this light allows us to see each other as family, even in midst of life's struggles. | John 1:1-14
There are two aspects of Christmas that Christians often miss. First is that while the event itself is remarkable, it is also utterly mundane in its details to outsiders. What this means is that often God may be doing incredible and powerful work, but to us, it will appear ordinary. This reminds the Christian that we cannot gauge the worthwhileness of what we do by how it feels -- we gauge it by what God deems worthwhile. And in the Bible, ordinary things like love and relationships are considered the supreme expressions of his will. The second aspect of Christmas that Christians miss is that Christmas is that it's confrontational. Like Herod, we are all the kings of our lives. God has come to dethrone us. And, like Herod, we often do not want to go down without a fight. A real understanding of Christmas will cut into our hearts and require submission to the True King. | Matthew 2:1-13
As restored people, we are able to go into the presence of God. Jesus made it possible. | Hebrews 9:1-15
The incarnation (God in the flesh) is not just some breathtaking miracle. God was very deliberate in coming to us in this way. In fact, his reasons for the incarnation set the the tone for the rest of his kingdom. The incarnation embodies the principles of God's kingdom, what the people of this kingdom are to expect, and how they're supposed to live. When we study the incarnation, God reveals to us truths that will transform our lives. | Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38
We are called to love God and love others. Our life's calling is to be missional. Jesus lived out the greatest commandment by leaving his throne to ultimately be clothed in our sin, and die - so that we can be clothed in his blamelessness. We are called to do the same on this side of eternity. | Matthew 22:36-40; John 14:12
Abraham's journey of worship is marked by building altars in different places and in different seasons. In the same way, we're called to worship, build altars, and love God wherever we are. Different seasons allow us to offer new and different songs/offerings because each season is an invitation to know God more. | Genesis 12:1-8; 22:1-12
The church is the culmination of God's redemptive plan in history; however, it sure doesn't look like it. How do we make sense of this? | 1 Corinthians 5:1-2a; 6:4-8; 15:33-34; 2 Corinthians 2:1-4; 7:8-10
All worldviews try to explain the existence of suffering. But Christianity is the only one that ultimately takes our suffering seriously while providing a real hope unparalleled in the history of the world. | Mark 15:22-27; 29-32; 37
Even to longtime Christians, God can oftentimes appear reticent, even silent. Sometimes, God does things that feel extraordinary, but most of the time -- from our experience -- he seems to be elusive. The cross clearly shows us it's not because he doesn't care or because he doesn't want to be intimate with us. Rather, the character of God shows there are reasons and wisdom for his subtle -- even puzzling -- ways. | Psalm 13
We all want to do life well. What does the Bible teach us about living life that is effective? | Proverbs 1:1-7
Proverbs 1:1-7
In this three part sermon series we will address some topics dealing with Christian Living. We will learn from scripture; how we can live an 'effective' Christian life, How can we know the will of God and wisdom for living with others.
“Called to Be Loved by God: Calling of the Samaritan Woman”
John 4:3-30, 39-42
Synopsis: We’ll begin the retreat by talking about the love of God. Before we can hear God’s call for our lives, we need to renew our understanding of the Gospel of grace, how we’re called to be forgiven and loved by God.
“Responding to His Call: Calling of the Three Disciples” Luke 9:57-62 Synopsis: We’ll talk about three ways Christians respond to God’s calling, and explore some ways we also can respond to God’s call in our lives.
“Called to Surrender And Follow Christ: Calling of Simon Peter” Luke 5:1-11 Synopsis: We’ll talk about the nature of God’s calling, how God’s call turns our lives upside down, redefines our purpose, and moves us to surrender and follow the Lord.
“Called to Commune with God: Transfiguration of Christ” Matthew 17:1-13 Synopsis: Before we hear God’s call in our lives to serve, we also need first to heed His call to commune with Him, to learn to rest in His presence and be transformed by His glory.
Pastor Kee and Pastor Hudson will be having a public conversation about what they'd like to see in our church community. They will also take some time at the end of the conversation to address some of the hopes congregants may have for the church.
Paul lays out God's plan for the church in Ephesians 4: God gives the church leaders to equip its members; when that is done -- when members are equiped and serving one another -- growth happens and the body functions with healthy unity and is able to resist from drifting into error and a path that leads away from the will of God.
This is why Paul's letters are filled with ""one another"" exhortations. Only when the members of the body are collectively ministering to one another (as opposed to the pastors simply ministering to its members), only then is the church the community that God wants it to be.
In this sermon, we will be looking at the foundational community plan that God has for the church. In addition to this, we will explore some of the ""one another"" passages to see exactly what it looks like to live as a Christian community.
In his concern for what was going on in the Corinthian church, Paul teaches them about LOVE – the the most excellent way that God commanded us to live. Sermon is based on 1 Corinthians 12:31b – 13:13
We worship a compassionate God. In Jesus' interaction with the widow, we are reminded how compassionate our God is. We must desire to have our hearts break and take action for the things that break God's heart.
God gives us the Sabbath to remember to him and to remember ourselves. Rest is essential for our humanity.
The crippled man and his friends had an outrageous faith. They knew that Jesus was the solution. Jesus saw their faith but addressed the spiritual issue before the physical. Our relationship with God will always be the first priority. Are we and our friends doing everything possible to put ourselves in the position to get right with God? Some of the points we will be exploring will be Jesus' ability to see our true need, what faith looks like when it is put in action, and the recognizing the link between spiritual and physical healing. Sermon is based on Mark 2:1-12.
"Acts is ultimately not a biography about Paul. It's not about any one person. It's a story about God and the advacement of his gospel. However, in being caught up in God's story, our stories have far greater meaning and distinctiveness. The book of Acts is actually one that is not finished. The ending is deliberately open ended to show that the story goes on through us until the return of Christ. Will we be faithful to that call?
This final sermon will take some of the larger themes in the book of Acts and explore them for our story and context. These themes include: (1) Christians are called to be counter cultural and turn the fundamental values of the world upside down; (2) God can be taken at his word, and so despite circumstances, we can still be faithful and confident in God's purposes; (3) We are called to specific people, some of whom only we can help."
Our brokenness and weakness don't disqualify us, but rather qualify us for God's kingdom, because God chooses broken vessels so that His power may be displayed through them. He's the ultimate redeemer who is willing to display our whole lives so that His whole grace will be revealed. Sermon is based on Acts 22:1-21.
Idol worship is predominantly prevalent in today's modernized society and culture. Unaware of its power yet unfulfilling affects it has over people's lives, God calls His children to break free from the idols by turning to the cross and finding security and their ultimate identity as God's beloved children. Sermon is based on Acts 19:21-41.
In chapter 16, we see God guiding Paul and his companions through a number of different ways and in a number of different scenarios. Sometimes God's will seems in line with human and cultural intution; however, we see in many instances what God wills runs counter to the will of human beings. But in the final analysis, when we view God's often perplexing lead and counter-cultural will in light of the gospel and the character of God, we see that he operates according to a very consistent divine logic. We would do well to trust his lead even when it doesn't always seem to make sense to us according to our assessment. We must learn to have faith in and to see the logic of God in all our circumstances especially with regard to the decisions we make.
As 21st century Americans, we are conditioned by promises of instant gratification. We often live under the assumption that if there is something we want, we should go get it now. Unfortunately, we live with such false promises and demands in our relationships. What does Jesus teach us about purpose and patience in our relationships? Through this short parable, Jesus points us to a more patient way in our relationships.
Pastor Richard Lee, a representative from International Justice Mission shares on their mission to protect the poor from violence in the developing world. The message is based from Mark 6:37-42.
There are good fights and there are bad fights, even among the church leaders. In today's passage, we see two prominent church leaders in disagreement and they decide to go separate ways. Sometimes our personalities and decisions come into conflict; but God still covers us in His grace and uses us.
We can learn what a vibrant church looks like through the lessons from the early church in Antioch. Sermon is based on Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-3.
The final piece of the Acts 1:8 prophecy is put into motion as Cornelius the Centurion becomes the first Gentile to be converted. Peter's cultural and traditional worldview becomes shattered through a vision in which God shows him that the gospel is for all people; thus allowing him to convert Cornelius. Likewise, for us to be obedient to God and be His witnesses to the ends of the earth, we must let the gospel transform our worldview. Sermon is based on Acts 10:1-48.
In this ninth chapter of Acts, Luke tells the story of Saul's conversion; then, this story is told two more times later in the book (chapters 22 and 26). The conversion of Saul becomes a critical moment in Christian history, in which God transforms a wicked man to share and magnify the grace of God. Through Saul's new birth, we see how one's conversion becomes the beginning of God's extraordinary work with us sinners. Sermon is based on Acts 9:1-19.
Only one chapter before today's passage, Stephen gets ordained as one of the original deacons and faithfully serves those in need. However, soon thereafter, he gives a convicting sermon that gets him killed. Even when Stephen faces false accusations and a horrific death sentence, he is bold and confident in God's promise and love. What are we to learn from this first martyr? The Gospel can get you killed, and we are called to give our lives for this message. But before we can give our lives for Jesus, we must first live our lives for Him. Sermon is based on Acts 7:51-8:3.
The Bible teaches from cover to cover that God is holy and he is not one with whom we should trifle. He is the final arbiter and judge of sin, and all sin, in his eyes, is serious. However, God is also just, good, merciful, and loving. Therefore, however God chooses to deal with sin in any person's life, we can be sure that he has been both faithful and good in his action. It is important that Christians convey all of who God is. This is the real God, and it is the only God, as people will discover, that makes any sense if we are to have a world of both justice and mercy. Ordinary Christians can share all of who this extraoridnary God is, and in doing so, they will be conveying the true and living God as opposed to a fabrication of our ultimately finite and often sinful preferences. Sermon is based from Acts 4:32-5:11.
The Pentecost is a cosmic watershed event in salvation history that ranks up there with creation and the resurrection. God, on that day, did something new: he started the building of his new kingdom by pouring out the Holy Spirit (the very same Spirit that empowered Jesus) onto all believers. As Christians, we have access to the Spirit, and this Spirit is what enables us to do the works of God, from the mundane but foundational to the extraordinary. Sermon is based on Acts 1:1-14; 2:1-21
Easter is about restoration. Jesus wants to restore us today! Sermon is based on John 21:1-19.
Many people, of past and present, consider the Christian story and message as sheer foolishness. To believe and depend on a god who accepts suffering and dies on a cross seems irrational and ridiculous. However, as Jesus faces suffering and death, He reminds us that we are to be fools for Christ - that if our identity is found in God, our foolishness for Christ is actually wisdom. Sermon is based on 1 Corinthians 1:18-31.
We have all grown up getting our identity by labeling ourselves and labeling others. Sometimes that label is bad and sometimes that label is good. Where do we get our labels? We are being lied to if we label ourselves by the things we have done or the things we do. When we believe in Jesus, and trust in the work of the cross, God labels us his children and heirs to the kingdom. We now have the right to call God our Father and we will explore all the rights and priveleges that come with this label. Sermon is based on Romans 8:9-17.
Every person's sense of self is affected profoundly by the things they value. In fact, contrary to the conviction of modern individualism, no one can generate an identity in isolation. Our identity is always based on something else. For the Christian, it is Jesus Christ. But simply saying Jesus is the foundation of our identiy is not enough because our understanding of Christ can be wrong. And if our understanding of Christ is wrong, it will affect our understaning of who we are in relation to him. For us to develop a sense of self that is based on truth, we have to see Christ as he truly is, and from there we can begin to form a identity as children of God that is grounded in reality. In this text, Christ teaches that we must define ourselves in light of the cross. Sermon is based off of Matthew 16:13-26.
In our lives, where we are overwhelmed with life's circumstances, God comes to us in the most unimaginable and mysterious of ways. In the instance of Jacob's life, and in his plight of suffering where he thought he could bear no more, God comes and wrestles with him! It goes to show that the God we worship is one with such deep and complex character. Sermon is based off of Genesis 32:22-32
Jesus reminds us that ultimately the issue with earthly treasure is that our heart follows it. Whereever we place our significance that is where our heart is. Making God's Kingdom our treasure is the key to freedom from greed and earthly security.
Many of our inabilities to say “Here I am” in obedience to God comes from deceptions - lies that we believe to be truth. These deceptions are rooted in lies, and unless these lies are uprooted, we cannot walk in breakthrough. Some of the common deceptions Christians believe are rooted in shame, fear, and false identity. HOwever, the truth is that God is a GOOD FATHER, who loves completely, forgives unendlessly ,and calls us to walk in unfathomable destinies that He has ordained for us as his children.
A recap of the 2016 Cambodia Missions team by our sister Jeannie Ryu, a testimony shared by our brother John Shin and a final word by Pastor Hudson in regards to missions.
In the Christian life, our sense of strength and our sense of weakness can become barriers to surrendering more to God -- it all depends on how we process those things. When we look at our strength and our weakness from the perspective of the gospel, we see that we are simultaneously not nearly as strong as we think and at the same time stronger than we could ever dare imagine. Christians need to learn to manage their experiences of stregnth and weakness so they produce an empowering humilty as opposed to a pride that can lead us astray, cripple us, and deflating us. Sermon is based off of 2 Corinthians 12:1-10.
We see many Christians struggling with discouragements. It is a barrier that hinders us from stepping into God's Call. How can we deal with the disappointments of life that leads to discouragements? Sermon is based off of 2 Samuel 12:13-26.
Let’s admit it. We all have an area in our lives that we need to surrender to God. In this sermon series, we will examine particular barriers that get in the way of obeying God right now in our lives. What would it look like for us to humbly come before the Lord and say, “Here I am?” Unfortunately, our selfishness and pride often become barriers to a deeper relationship with Jesus. God wants us to surrender these barriers to Him so that we can experience the abundance of His love in our lives. Sermon is based off of John 6:1-14.
Our theme for 2016 is Here I Am: Living Out God’s Call. “Here I Am” is an evocative and picturesque phrase. When considered in the context of faith, it brings to the believer’s imagination a sense of surrender, willingness, and readiness. Ultimately, “Here I Am” captures and embodies obedience, one of the hallmarks of the children of God.
In Christ, obedience is the greatest and most liberating thing to which he can call us–the believers in history that were the most free, the most effective, the most powerfully used by God all lived lives marked with obedience. It is this idea of obedience that we believe God wants to be the centerpiece of New Mercy in 2016. Here I am, Lord, ready to obey.
Last Sunday of 2015! Praise the Lord for a great year. May the Gospel be what helps us to finish well this year. Sermon is based off of Philippians 1:12-21; 27-30.
When people heard about the birth of the newborn king, there were different reactions. By observing their various reactions, we can learn about what it means to truly pursue after Jesus, as God desires. How do you want to pursue Christmas?
We are reminded that the first Christmas came through difficult situations. God's Hope never dissapoints us.
Modern Christians often lack patience with regard to the promises of God. When we see delay in the greater thigns of God coming to fruition in our lives, often we compromise and seek out counterfeits that are more easily accessible to us in the now. Faith in God requires a real, perseverning patience -- and this patience does not disappoint because God is faithful. Two prime exampels of this are Simeon and Anna. They both waited faithfully and patiently for the salvation of Israel and the world, and when God's plan unfolded, they were ovewhelmed with joy as their eyes saw what their faith had been waiting and longing for. Faith (and waiting) in the God of Jesus Christ does not disappoint.
We all desire for greater things in our relationships as children. When God created us "His sons and daughters" and calls us by name, this should have significant implications in our relationships with our parents. Ephesians 6:1-4 & Luke 14:25-27
Thanksgiving is about remembering God's grace over our lives! Sermon is based from Luke 17:11-19.
The gospel compels men, husbands, and fathers to be those things in a radically counter-cultural way. Men are first and foremost called to love and to serve.
Sermon is based on: Ephesians 5:21; 25-30; 6:4
The Bible’s understanding of what it means to be a husband and father places us on a redemptive trajectory that takes us further than we had previously imagined. Ephesians 5:21 - 6:9
Greater things in relationships as a wife and mother; our calling and purpose within that role
1 Peter 2:13-3:2 & Ephesians 5:33 (NASB)
Pastor Chris Kwon opens up our newest sermon series as we take a look at the greater things of relationships, especially in relation to singles.
Ephesians 3:14-19, 1 Corinthians 7:32-36
Pastor Hudson Yu shares his reflections and things he learned from his recent 3 month sabbatical. Psalm 139:1 - 24
Members of New Mercy share their stories and their view of work in light of the Christian faith in this week's service. Pastor John Huh moderates the panel discussion which includes Elder Annie June, Deacons David Ha and Hera Yang, and Pastor Daniel Lee.
God's character is of the type that loves to use grace to overturn human conventions in order to accomplish his purposes. Cutting against the grain of the patriarchal culture of the time, God uses Deborah to lead an entire nation. This patten of grace is actually what is ultimately normative in God's Kingdom. Grace overturns human conventions, but the gospel of Christ makes grace the convention of the Kingdom. Do not ever let human conventions dictate for you what God can or cannot do through you. God is God, and he will do what he wills by his grace. Judges 4:1-22
Brothers Bobby Chang and Daniel Kim share their testimonies from their mission trips, in addition to Charles Choy and Jennifer Lee recapping both Thailand and Ivory Coast missions. Matthew 13:1-9, 13:18-23
The great things of God are not what we expect them to be. God opens our eyes to true greatness in the Bible. And in order to accomplish those great things for God, there are certain things we need. The Moses account shows us what those are. Exodus 3:1-15, 3:18, 4:1-17
Many of us ask God for greater things in our lives but have difficulties attempting greater things for the Lord. Let us learn from few of the biblical characters who have been moved by the Spirit to attempt to do great things for the Lord. This week, we look into a critical moment in David's life when he take a leap of faith and overcomes his fears and anxieties. When we trust in the Lord and know who God is, our attempts to do greater things can be blessed. 1 Samuel 17:31-49
The Christian life after the promise of God -- the gospel and the Holy Spirit -- enters into our lives never looks like what we expect. There are incredible graces and realizations, but, at the same time, there are profound struggles God makes us wrestle through in order to change us. God does not make us his own to leave us alone; he makes us his own to love us and to transform us. Genesis 28:10-22, Genesis 32:22-32
We don't like getting messy and dirty. But sometimes we need to dig through the dirt of our lives in order to get to the living water that cleans, sustains us and let us ultimately enjoy and float on the rivers of God's grace. John 4:4-26
[This is a two-part series. I will do the second half of the series on 8/23.] The Christian life after the promise of God -- the gospel and the Holy Spirit -- enters into our lives never looks like what we expect. There are incredible graces and realizations, but, at the same time, there are profound struggles God makes us wrestle through in order to change us. God does not make us his own to leave us alone; he makes us his own to love us and to transform us.
There are many moments in our life when a major decision needs to made. Do we go left or right? Do we go up or down? In such decisive moments in our life, it is imperative that we strive to listen to God and make a wise choice. In today's passage, we see two men approach a fork in the road. How Lot and Abram make decisions may teach us about what is at God's heart. Genesis 13:1-18