Mercy Commons Podcast

We shouldn't be surprised when we face difficulty and doubt. Jesus told us to expect storms. To overcome doubt, we are called to take a step of faith and keep our eyes on the Lord.

Peter is a historical figure that the churched and unchurched can connect with. We don’t even really know when he settled his faith in Jesus. Peter was one of the slowest to grasp the gospel of the kingdom because of his inconsistency and humanity but once he did, laid out a powerful vision for what a church, built by Jesus, empowered by the Spirit, and living for the glory of God should look like.

Access to God through the resurrection gives us peace and purpose.

On Good Friday, not only did Jesus take our place on the cross and bear our sins on Himself, but now we have access to His place – the most holy place with direct access to an intimate relationship with Almighty God who is now our Father. This truth is symbolized by the veil that tore the moment Jesus died.

Jesus' kingship is characterized by humility and compassion rather than conventional grandeur and authority. His humble entry into Jerusalem and His meaningful encounters with people such as Zacchaeus contrast His approach to kingship with the worldly expectations of a king. As believers, our life should embody Jesus' example of servitude, humility, and sacrificial love.

Hebrews 13:7-25 // There are three final invitations from the book of Hebrews to the church: to remember, respond to, and pray for leaders; to embrace their identity as outsiders in the world; and to focus primarily on Jesus as the ultimate example and leader. There are complexities of church leadership, including the potential for hurt, the importance of humility, and a Christ-centered approach to both leading and following.

Hebrews 12:18-29 // Jesus Christ surpasses all - from angels to the old covenant - and presents a new, unshakable kingdom that invites us into a living, joyous, and eternal relationship with God. Our charge as believers is to examine our worship and relationship with God. Our lives should be marked by gratitude, acceptable worship, and a deep awareness of the grace and mercy received through Jesus.

Hebrews 12:28-13:3 // The beauty of a life transformed by God. We display our transformed lives by staying on good terms with each other, showing hospitality to strangers, and empathizing with those who suffer.

Hebrews 12:3-17 // The author of Hebrews encourages followers of Jesus to not grow weary by showing that discipline is a result of God’s love. We have a responsibility to ourselves and others while remaining watchful against an unhallowed life.

Hebrews 11:17-12:2 // How do we exercise and grow our faith? It is Christ's work in us that we respond to. It is His work within us that enables us to have faith and run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Hebrews 11:1-16 // Faith unites the soul with God and draws strength from Him. Thus faith is altogether a supernatural thing. That is why faith is so important for us. We are saved by faith. We endure by faith and enter into His rest by faith. It is by faith that the convicted and repentant sinner is saved. It is by faith that Christ dwells in our hearts and by faith that we live. By faith, we stand, walk, and resist the devil. By faith we are sanctified, have access to God, fight the good fight, and overcome the world. By faith, we are justified and have access to grace. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

Hebrews 10:26-39 // We have been given a clear path of salvation – one way through Jesus Christ. This is an intentional and not accidental plan from God. However, many will refuse this exclusive path. What does refusal look like? What can happen when we allow doubt to take root in our hearts? Judgement day is coming. Choosing to be a part of God's family wraps us in the love, restoration, renewal, justice, and accountability that will take place on that day.

Hebrews 10:19-25 // We are called to be confident. Our confidence should be increased that not only are we welcomed sons and daughters but the finished work of Christ has made us competent ministers and ambassadors of the new covenant. We are called to be personally intentional. Our spiritual growth is not a passive path. We are called to be communally intentional. "Stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together."

Alan Frow (from our Advance Network and pastor at Southlands Brea) gives a message on the gift of shepherds given by Jesus Christ to the church - His flock. Church leaders have the call to lead with Jesus for the feeding and leading of His sheep.

Hebrews 10:1-18 // The finished work of Jesus is powerful, prophetic, and perfect.

God has been so faithful. We thank Him for 10 years and look forward to many more reveling, proclaiming, demonstrating, and participating in acts of mercy for the joy of Fullerton and the renewal of the world.

COVID showed us what was technologically possible in video conferencing and remote work, and a cultural shift followed. How do I decide now when to show up in person versus checking in online? Why should we care about church now? Right before His death, Jesus offers a prayer on behalf of his disciples—soon to be the first Church—that offers clues to why church still matters.

At Christmas time there is a tension between what we want and what we truly need. We desire a gift that fulfills our deepest needs.

God also bound Himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that He would never change His mind. So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.

Persistent joy expects difficulty & persistent joy is purposeful. We don’t ignore or suppress difficulties, we acknowledge them with faith and hope. Persistent joy has a singular Source. Let’s fix our eyes on the Source of our joy – Jesus Christ.