Mercy Commons Podcast

Jesus used parables to reveal and conceal truth. The stories remained hidden from the proud and self-righteous but were revealed to faithful disciples with childlike faith. In this parable, Jesus highlights the incompatibility of old religious rituals with new faith in Christ. We should not get stuck in religious exercises but keep Jesus central in our lives. The Holy Spirit renews our hearts and...

Personal suffering in God's kingdom tests and refines our faith. Suffering can result from others' choices or one's own, both good and bad. What is important is maintaining a proper perspective, enduring trials with faith, and drawing closer to God. Our ultimate example of suffering is Jesus who endured hardship with grace and purpose.

As Christians, we need to be sober-minded, aware, and resistant to the devil's deceptions. We can learn from Peter's story of denial and restoration. We need to maintain a worldview open to spiritual realities and be critical of modern secular culture's rejection of absolute truth and embrace of neo-paganism. We know the truth. Jesus is the Truth.

The dual roles of elders and fathers in the church overlap significantly. There is an inseparable nature of earthly fatherhood and spiritual fathering, they share similar responsibilities and qualities. In this passage, Peter reflects on the traits of a good shepherd and the deep connection between knowing God and being a father. As spiritual mentors, we are called to lead by example, embodying in...

Peter's letters focus on how we are called to live as exiles in the world, distinct yet engaged. We are called to live as obedient children, distinct from the culture around us, while still engaging with it to spread the light of Christ. We embrace our identity as chosen and holy, living out our faith through actions and words, and seeking God's grace daily.

Despite initially embracing Gentile inclusion, Peter withdrew from them under pressure, creating a two-tier church. Paul confronted Peter, emphasizing that righteousness comes through faith in Jesus alone, not by adhering to Jewish customs. This incident highlights the ongoing challenge of maintaining gospel truth and authenticity, as we often fall into hypocrisy when trying to please others. We m...

As the gospel advances and continues to spread, we see the need for bridges to be built to carry the good news. The farther the distance the bridge must span, the more complicated and sturdier the bridge.

Pentecost transformed Peter. The infilling of the Holy Spirit gave power and clarity to the person & work of Jesus. Jesus declares the truth that requires a response. What is our response?

If Jesus had not been raised, Peter would have never known forgiveness … and neither would, neither could, we.

Raman Kapur is a pastor in India and is part of the Advance Network of churches along with Mercy Commons. Raman also ministers to and disciples other church pastors all around India & Nepal. Raman reminds us of the power of the gospel and what it is meant to achieve in the church around the world.

Jesus’s transfiguration was an act of confirmation and continuity. God is affirming Jesus’s identity as the Son of God. He is not another prophet, but the Messiah who must follow the way of the cross. It is also a moment of continuity. This is what God had planned from the beginning. The law and the prophets were fulfilled in Jesus (Moses received the law on a mountaintop, Elijah defeated the prop...

Confessing Jesus as the Messiah will materially shape who we become, how we live, and what our reward will be.

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

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

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 t...

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 sta...

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,...

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...