Mercy Commons Podcast

Luke 18:15-17 // How does the example of children help us receive and enter the Kingdom? By embracing our powerlessness, growing in trust and forgiveness, & develop vulnerability and resistance. “Christ’s own joy, comfort, happiness and glory are increased and enlarged by His showing grace and mercy, in pardoning, relieving and comforting His members here on earth.” ~ Thomas Goodwin

Luke 17:20-37 // George Eldon Ladd said, “The Kingdom of God is His kingship, His rule, His authority.” We can add that the Kingdom of God is the Father's reign inaugurated by His Son's obedience, administrated through the power of the Spirit, and furthered by the church’s obedience. Our text has an encouragement, a warning, and an admonition. Jesus encourages His disciples to persevere in their f...

Luke 17:7-10 // We are called to live a live of hidden holiness and faithfulness. Why is sacrificial faithfulness so important? Because it shapes our character, its provides a grid for decision making & relationships, and is the basis of our flourishing. Labor out of love, not obligation or for recognition.

Luke 17:1-6 // Jesus truly understands relationships. He understands that people hurt, offend, and misunderstand each other – often and with regularity. Jesus knows that a big part of the reason for that is that we face an enemy who lies to us, we face our frail human condition that has rebellious and undisciplined desires and we face the patterns and influences of the world, ideologies and values...

Luke 16:1-15 // Looking at the parable of the unjust steward. The world commended him for his shrewdness and cleverness, but God calls us to a higher standard. The Kingdom financial ethic is clear. Money is not evil, but it is uncertain. Being financial faithful is a strong indicator of spiritual faithfulness. Does the way I think about, handle, pursue, and plan financially reflect Kingdom values...

Luke 15:1-32 // Looking at the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. Types of lostness: unintentional wandering off (the sheep), unconscious lostness (the coin), active rebellion (younger son), ignorant self-righteousness (the older son). Questions to ask in our lostness: where is the Shepherd, where is the flock, where is my home? Questions to ask about other who are los...

John 11:12-44 // Reminders from this past season: God is present, loving, and powerful & we are both stronger and weaker than we think. Three invitations as we enter this next season: have deeper faith, enter into risky, costly obedience, and active participation in the church.

Ephesians 2 // Our personal sanctification and holiness, is connected to the beauty, power and attractiveness of the body of Christ. And the state of the world is connected to the health of the Church of Jesus Christ. The hostility in humanity will only find true peace through the cross. Remember that you were once without God and without hope in the world. Remember that you are now citizens of th...

Luke 2:3-20 // The shepherds inform our decision to fear. It speaks to our: Fear of the MUNDANE, Fear of REJECTION, Fear of the DARK/NESS. If Christ is in you, then every “mundane” action you perform as unto Him is an explosion of light, of the Good News, because the mundane and the impossibly glorious collide.

Luke 1:26-38 // Certainty, clarity, courage. Zechariah asking for certainty. Mary seeks clarity. God gives her courage.

Luke 1:5-25 // Advent is about making room mentally, spiritually, and even physically in the clutter of our lives to allow a greater sense of connection and occasion as we celebrate the incarnation of Jesus and also long for and anticipate His second coming.

Luke 14:1-24 // It’s party season. In today’s passage, Jesus compares His Kingdom to a party — and lays out some expectations about what that party should look like.

The story of Boaz and Ruth is an example of generosity – the kind of generosity that God has shown to us.

Luke 12:49-59 // Jesus’ life and message redefines what true peace is and what it costs.

Luke 11:1-12 + Luke 18:9-14 // Prayer is about surrender and intimacy first, before it is about direction and provision. When we know who our Father is and we know who we are – we prayer with impudence and humility.

Luke 8:1-3 + Luke 9:1-6 + Luke 10:1-12 // We are the Lord’s ambassadors sent to represent Him in this world. We are also neighbors looking for opportunities to show mercy in the name of Christ. But at the heart of it all is devotion to Christ. We must be worshippers who take time to listen to His word and to commune with Him. As God’s ambassadors: who are we, what do we do, and how do we do it?

Luke 8:4-15 + Luke 13:6-9 // The most important aspect of a parable is what it reveals about Jesus and His Kingdom, how it functions and therefore how we as His followers should function. Fruitfulness in Formation (fruit of the Spirit) and Fruitfulness in Mission. Am I becoming more like Jesus? Am I engaged in the Great Commission?

Luke 7:36-50 // Our self-righteousness hinders our ability to stand in awe of a Christ who redeems even the most wicked, depraved, and broken of us, because it blinds us from the reality that we are those things. Who do I reject because they don’t live up to my standards or expectations? What ways do I let my self-righteousness control how I interact with Christ and others? Look to Christ. He sees...

Luke 7:18-35 // Expectations are tricky and dangerous. Cynics expect nothing from anybody - or the polar opposite - naive persons have high expectations and believe everyone. No matter where we land along the spectrum there is always a gap between reality and our expectations. Jesus exposes and confronts our expectations.

Luke 6:1-11 // How do we rediscover the lost art of the Sabbath rhythm? How do we establish strategic rhythms of rest that allow us to heal and recover so that we avoid injury or burnout and continue to progress in our journey of becoming more like Jesus? A strategic prescription for deep and effective rest: Stop. Rest. Delight. Worship. When we spend time with God, the lies that satan has planted...

Luke 5:27-32 // Jesus intentionally and individually pursues us. Pursued people are generous, awkwardly inclusive, and joyful! Holiness is not the enemy, self-righteousness is. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Luke 4:16-44 // What was Jesus’ agenda here on earth? His motivation was always His identity before activity. It is His identity that gives His activity authority. Spend time with God. Knowing that we are children of God and spending time with the Father will align our motivations with God’s heart. There is so much in our lives that try to pull our attention and distort our view of Jesus. Our numb...

Luke 4:1-14 // How can we be prepared for temptation? How do we understand how we are tempted? Satan tempts us to give in to sensual desires. Our flesh also tempts us to pursue praise and significance. We resist temptation by admitting and confessing it, re-orientating our lives, and restraining/replacing things that are leading us into temptation.

Luke 1:1-4, Luke 3:10-22 // Jesus engages in strategic hospitality, over and over, using the common and beautiful tool of a table to pursue sinners. The fact that food was used as a literary device as well as the fact that Luke intentionally records these moments of eating shows us the earthy, gritty reality of how Jesus operated as well as showing us what the new kingdom is like. It is not about...

God reveals His majesty unexpectedly by establishing strength through babies. (Psalm 8:1-2) Firstly, through a blessed lineage of miraculous fertility. Secondly, through the unsuspecting war cries of babies. God also reveals His majesty unexpectedly by appointing humanity to rule creation. (Psalm 8:3-8) The entire canon of Scripture sees the emergence of life as a threat to the principalities and...