Merge.Church

This week, Pastor Jacob dove into Acts 2, exploring the Day of Pentecost and the profound implications it has for our church today. We examined how the gathering of believers creates a unique expression of God's presence and power. The sermon highlighted the universal nature of the gospel, emphasizing that it's for everyone, everywhere. We also saw how the Holy Spirit empowers us to be wit...

This sermon explored the concept of waiting on God's power, as illustrated in Acts 1. We delved into Jesus' instructions to the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit, emphasizing that the church's power comes not from our own efforts, but from God. This message reminds us that in our spiritual lives, waiting isn't passive, but an active process of preparing ourselves for God's...

Pastor Willie George delivered a thought-provoking sermon on the topic of resurrection, focusing on Jesus' encounter with death in the story of Lazarus. The sermon explored the concept of resurrection not just as a future event, but as a person - Jesus Christ Himself. It emphasized God's ultimate plan to defeat death completely, highlighting that there are eight eternal resurrections menti...

Pastor Jacob delivered a thought-provoking sermon on sacrifice and commitment in our relationship with God. Using the story of David's purchase of the threshing floor from Araunah (2 Samuel 24), we explored the importance of giving our best to God, not just in terms of material offerings, but in our whole-hearted devotion. The message emphasized that true worship and commitment to Christ requi...

In Part 5 of It's Me, Pastor Jacob explored the critical importance of maintaining our dependence on God, even as we grow in our faith. Using the story of King David's census in 2 Samuel 24, it was highlighted how easily we can slip into self-reliance, forgetting the source of our strength. This message challenges us to examine our own lives and ensure that our spiritual maturity is marked...

This week's sermon, "Get Your Confidence Back," explored the critical role of confidence in our spiritual lives and relationships. Pastor Jacob spoke about the story of Joshua to illustrate how God empowers us to face life's challenges with unwavering faith. Pastor Jacob emphasized that true confidence comes from resting in God's plan, reframing our failures as growth opportu...

Part 3 explored the importance of commitment in our pursuit of unity, both with God and in our relationships. Pastor Jacob emphasized that true unity requires personal commitment and that we must be willing to take responsibility for our part in building and maintaining healthy relationships. The message challenged us to look inward, recognizing that "we starts with me" in our journey to...

Part 2 of our "It's Not You, It's Me" series, explored the vital importance of holy relationships in our spiritual lives. Pastor Jacob emphasized that to live a life set aside for divine use, we must view our relationships as holy endeavors. The sermon challenged us to consider how the people around us shape our faith, character, and life direction, urging us to choose relationsh...

NEW SERMON SERIES, "It's Me | Real Relationships". Have you ever said or heard, "It's Not You, It's Me"? We explored the challenging topic of conflict in relationships. Pastor emphasized that conflict is a natural part of every real relationship, but how we handle it can make all the difference. The sermon delved into biblical principles for managing conflict, highl...

Concluding the "Be the Branch" series, Pastor Jacob explored John 15, Jesus' teachings on remaining connected to Him as the true vine. Pastor Jacob emphasized that we are chosen by Jesus, not for our qualifications, but for our potential. This choice empowers us to bear fruit even in the face of worldly hate and challenges. The sermon highlighted the importance of staying focused on...

Part 4 of our "Be the Branch" series delved deep into John 15. Pastor Jacob explored Jesus' teachings on remaining connected to Him as the true vine. The message emphasized that our primary role is to stay connected to Christ, trusting that fruit will naturally follow. We were reminded that God isn't concerned with appearances, but rather with the genuine fruit our lives produce when we abide in H...

The Sunday explored the concept of "abiding" in Christ, based on John 15:7. Pastor Jacob delved deep into what it truly means to abide in Christ and allow His words to abide in us. This isn't just about memorizing scripture, but about giving God's Word a home in our lives and letting it transform us from the inside out. The implications for our spiritual life are profound - as we...

Part 2 of our "Be the Branch" series, delved into John 15:1-2, exploring God's role as the gardener in our spiritual lives. Pastor Jacob emphasized God prunes us not to punish, but to help us bear more fruit. The message challenged us to trust God's vision for our lives, even to embrace the pruning process, even when it feels difficult. Welcome to our podcast of Merge. Church in...

Part 1, NEW SERIES! We explored "being the branch" connected to Jesus, the true vine. Pastor Jacob delved into John 15:5, emphasizing our need to stay connected to Jesus as the source of our spiritual life and fruitfulness. He highlighted the importance of prioritizing connection with Christ over production and how this connection transforms our relationships, work, and overall mission i...

This week's sermon, part 6 of our "Living Out the Verbs" series, explored the concept of wisdom being better than weapons of war, particularly in the battle of our thoughts. Pastor Jacob delved into the story of Gideon, illustrating how God calls us to step into our purpose despite feelings of inadequacy. The sermon emphasized the importance of aligning our thoughts with God's word and recognizing...

Part 5 explored the concept of wisdom as the master key that unlocks the door to abundant life. Pastor Jacob emphasized that wisdom is more valuable than any material possession and is essential for making godly decisions. This message highlighted how wisdom helps us see the connection between our choices and their outcomes, not just for ourselves but for those around us. Welcome to our podcast of...

This week's sermon, part 4 of our "Living Out the 'Verbs" series, focused on the importance of wisdom in our speech. Pastor Jacob emphasized that we can't become who we're meant to be without heavenly wisdom, particularly in how we use our words. The sermon explored Proverbs 18:21, highlighting that our tongue has the power of life and death. We were reminded that our wor...

Part 3 focused on the critical role of wisdom in our spiritual journey. Pastor Jacob emphasized that we can't reach our God-given destiny without God's wisdom. The sermon explored the difference between earthly knowledge and heavenly wisdom, highlighting that true wisdom is stable, consistent, and essential for experiencing God's favor in our lives. Welcome to our podcast of Merge. Chu...

This week's sermon, continuing our "Living Out the Verbs" series, delved into the book of Proverbs and James, exploring the concept of heavenly wisdom. Pastor Jacob emphasized that true wisdom isn't just about catchy phrases or outward appearances, but a transformative power that comes from following Jesus Christ closely. The message highlighted the distinction between earthly an...

Pastor Jacob kicked off a new series called "Living Out the Verbs," focusing on the book of Proverbs. The sermon explored the concept of "fearing the Lord" as the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. We learned that this fear isn't about being afraid, but rather standing in awe of God's sovereignty. This understanding helps us grow through trials, transitions, and hard mo...

This week's sermon explored the crucial difference between being a fan of Jesus and a true follower. We delved into Matthew 19:16-22, examining the rich young man's encounter with Jesus. The message challenged us to move beyond casual admiration of Jesus to committed discipleship, emphasizing the need to deny ourselves, carry our cross daily, and actively follow Christ's teachings in o...

Part 4 in the "Dimensions" series explored the length of God's love, focusing on His protective nature. Pastor Jacob emphasizes that trust is foundational to love and deep relationships. This message delves into how God's immeasurable ability to protect us stems from His perfect love, which drives out fear and stands as a refuge in our lives. We are reminded that God's protec...

This week, Pastor Jacob explored the concept of the "width" or generosity of God's love, as part of our ongoing "Dimensions" series. We delved into how understanding and experiencing this generous love can transform our relationships with God and others. This message challenged us to move beyond a transactional "scales" mentality and embrace the abundant, giving n...

Part 2 explores the depth of God's love, focusing on how God's love corrects and transforms us. It emphasizes that God's correction comes from a place of love, not anger, and is aimed at helping us grow and fulfill our potential. Pastor Jacob highlights the importance of being rooted in love rather than offense, being established in God's eternal love rather than triggered by tempo...

The Dimensions of God's Love: Understanding His Faithful Character Welcome to our podcast of Merge. Church in Van Buren, Arkansas, led by Pastor Jacob Howell. We desire to help everyone, everywhere discover new life in Christ by creating a warm and welcoming family home where you can feel the love and forgiveness that Jesus offers to all. Wherever you are today, we pray that you would be encou...