Mercy Hill

We've been walking through the book of Acts together for a while now, and this Sunday we land on the final chapter. The last scene. The closing verses of one of the most action-packed books in the entire Bible. And you know what's wild? It doesn't really end. Acts 28 doesn't close with a neat bow. No grand finale. No trumpet fanfare. Luke just... stops writing. Paul is in Rome, under house arrest,...

There's something about those moments in life when you find yourself across the table — or across the room — from someone powerful, someone skeptical, maybe even someone who holds your future in their hands... and you still have to decide whether you're going to speak the truth or play it safe. I think most of us have been there in some form. And if you're being honest, you probably know which cho...

In Acts 21, Paul and his team are wrapping up their third missionary journey. Paul has decided his next stop will be Jerusalem, despite repeated warnings that he will face persecution and imprisonment there. Still, he believes the Lord is leading him to go, so he continues on to Jerusalem. It is highly unlikely that any of us will be arrested for our faith in Christ. And I don’t think the Bible is...

This Sunday, we step into one of the most personal moments in Acts. In Acts 20:17–38, Paul gives a final, heartfelt charge to the Ephesian leaders—calling them to live faithfully, speak boldly, and guard what matters most. It’s a reminder that following Jesus shapes not just what we believe, but how we lead, live, and love. It’s also a passage that asks something of us: Are we building something t...

There’s something about this time of year that just feels like a fresh start. The weather’s warming up, the trees are filling back in, and flowers are starting to bloom everywhere you look. It’s like the world is waking up again. And if we’re honest, I think a lot of us are looking for that same kind of renewal in our own lives too. That’s part of why Easter matters so much. It’s not just a date o...

One of the most compelling storylines of this year’s Winter Olympics was U.S. hockey, with both the men’s and women’s teams bringing home gold. It reminded many of us of the iconic 1980 men’s team that unexpectedly won gold. That team was the youngest and most inexperienced the U.S. had ever sent to the Olympics. In the semifinal game, they faced the mighty Soviet team, who were not only heavily f...

Have you ever been in a situation where knowing a bit of background or context would have changed how you handled it? I know I have. From making the wrong joke in front of the wrong person to mishaps on international trips, I’ve definitely put my foot in my mouth and wished I had known one key piece of information. In Acts 17, we see Paul sharing the good news of Jesus in Thessalonica and later in...

There is an intense debate that rages in the Southeast U.S.: Should you put salt on watermelon? At first, it’s hard to imagine that salt would be good on watermelon. But some people swear by this unexpected combination. They say the salt intensifies the sweetness of the watermelon in a unique way. In Acts 16, Paul sets off on his second missionary journey, expecting to end up in Asia Minor. But Go...

This Sunday we’re in Acts 15:1–35 , a pivotal moment in the early church where a major conflict threatens to distort the gospel itself. As more Gentiles come to faith, a question rises to the surface: Is faith in Jesus enough, or is something more required? What follows is honest debate, tension, and a gathering of leaders to discern what’s true. It’s not a small disagreement—it’s about the very f...

This Sunday we’ll be in Acts 14:8–23 , a passage that moves fast and hits hard. In one moment, Paul is being worshiped like a god after a miraculous healing. In the next, the crowd turns—and he’s stoned and left for dead outside the city. It’s a jarring picture of how quickly people can shift—how easily we can elevate something one minute and reject it the next. But right in the middle of that ins...

This Sunday is our fourth and final week of Neighbors and Nations. We’ll be highlighting our partnership with the International Mission Board and how we work together to take the good news of Jesus to more people in more places. We’ll also continue our series through the book of Acts. In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas proclaim the good news of Jesus in Antioch of Pisidia. While some of the Jewish reli...

This Sunday is week three of our Neighbors and Nations campaign. You have already been incredibly generous. Thank you for considering how you can sacrificially give to the mission! We’re turning our attention to an often-overlooked story in Acts 13. The church in Antioch is flourishing. There’s momentum. Ministry is thriving. And then, the Spirit of God leads them to take the surprising step of se...

The Antonine Plague of the second century was devastating. Historians estimate that nearly 10% of the population of the Roman Empire lost their lives. While most people fled affected areas, Christians stayed behind to serve the sick and dying. Their sacrificial care, offered to both believers and nonbelievers alike, made a deep impression on the surrounding communities. We find a similar story in...

Our 2026 Neighbors & Nations Campaign is starting this week! Every year, we set aside several weeks to focus on God’s mission in our world and how each of us can engage in that mission. During this campaign, we’ll see how the church in Acts continued to participate with God in His work. We’ll also hear from our local, national, and international partners about how God is at work, from our comm...

In Acts 9, Saul sets out for Damascus fully intent on threatening, bullying, and even arresting Jews who have become followers of Jesus. He carries letters from the high priest confirming that he has the authority to do so. More importantly, he believes this mission is his responsibility before God. That’s the part we often forget. Saul doesn’t just think he’s doing the right thing, he believes he...

In Acts 8, God calls Philip to leave what appears to be a booming ministry among the Samaritans and head toward a remote desert road. We aren’t told what Philip initially thought, but I know what my reaction would have been: “What? Why?” Yet despite the strangeness of the request, Philip obeys. Now imagine the scene. Philip is standing alone beside this empty desert road when, in the distance, he...

This Sunday we’re in Acts 8:4–25 , where the gospel begins to move in a surprising direction— to the Samaritans . What starts as persecution and scattering turns into something God uses for good. As believers are pushed out, they carry the message of Jesus with them, and suddenly, people who were once seen as outsiders are experiencing the joy and power of the gospel. Through Philip’s ministry, we...

As Christmas gets closer, the anticipation starts to build—lights go up, plans come together, and there’s a quiet excitement about the gifts we’ll soon unwrap. Advent invites us to pause in the middle of all that and remember something deeper: God’s greatest gifts don’t always arrive the way we expect. This Sunday, we’re looking at Luke 1:57–80 and the birth of John the Baptist. It’s a story that...

This week in our Advent series, we step into a quiet but powerful moment in Luke 1:39–56 —when Mary visits Elizabeth. It’s a simple scene on the surface: two women, a shared embrace, and a conversation. But underneath it is something much bigger— the joy of God’s promises coming to life. Mary has just received unbelievable news—that she will carry the Son of God. Before anything is visible, before...

The story in Luke 1:26–38 is a familiar one. God sends the angel Gabriel to Mary, a young virgin betrothed to be married, to deliver astonishing news: she will conceive and bear a child unlike any other who has ever been born. Seeing an angel would be overwhelming enough, but hearing that she would become pregnant without intercourse—and before marriage—must have been even more unsettling. I can o...

Have you ever found yourself caught in the grind of religion or the ruts of life? Have you somehow lost that sense of wonder and awe that we serve a God who is able? Well, you may discover you share quite a bit in common with the people in this story from scripture.

Have you ever been in a high-pressure situation—maybe facing a tight deadline at work or having to make an unexpected, high-stakes decision? It’s often in those moments that we discover who we truly are. Last week, we met Stephen, a leader in the Jerusalem church. He was chosen to help care for widows and preserve unity within the church. In Acts 6:8–7:60, Luke tells us more of Stephen’s story. Li...

Conflict happens. It is a part of all human relationships. Thriving marriages, booming businesses, and close friendships all experience conflict. Churches aren’t any different. In Acts 6:1–7, we see the first recorded church conflict. And no—it wasn’t about the color of the carpet or whether deviled eggs are appropriate for a church fellowship meal. So what happened? The church had been...

Over the past few weeks in our study of the book of Acts, we’ve seen how the early church practiced radical generosity. This week brought two pressing areas of need to the forefront—one global and one local. This is a great opportunity for our church to follow the example set in Acts and respond with generosity. Global Need: Hurricane Melissa has caused devastating damage across the Caribbean, par...

In the book of Acts we see the early church explode onto the scene. There were powerful sermons, miracles, and life transformations taking place daily. But what marked the early church wasn’t just their preaching or miracles — it was their radical generosity. As we continue through Acts, we’ll look at how the gospel didn’t just change what believers gave, but who they were. Join us as Pastor Mike...