Merge.Church

This message explores how God works gradually, then suddenly. Through the story of the Exodus, the domino effect of faith, and the courage of ordinary people. We’re reminded that small, unseen acts of obedience matter deeply to God. What feels insignificant today may be the first domino in a chain reaction that impacts generations. As we step into 2026, we’re challenged not to despise small beginn...

Be Found Faithful. As we step from 2025 into 2026, this message calls us to move beyond good intentions and into faithful action. We are reminded that God doesn’t ask for comparison or perfection—He asks for stewardship. When we stay close to Him, prioritize what He’s doing, and boldly use what He’s entrusted to us, He can work through our lives to grow heaven, shrink hell, and impact the world ar...

The sermon explored the historical and spiritual significance of celebrating Christmas on December 25th - chosen as the darkest, coldest day of the year to symbolize Christ as the light of the world breaking into our darkness. We examined Luke's account of the first Christmas and the angel's declaration to the shepherds: "good news of great joy for all people." In our current cli...

The Christmas story reminds us that Jesus came as light into a dark world. We can trust that Jesus shines brightest in our darkest moments. The darkness has not overcome Him, and it never will. Today, consider where darkness feels overwhelming in your life. Financial stress? Relational conflict? Uncertainty about the future? Jesus didn't just come to save you for eternity; He came to be light...

This message explores Romans 16:25-27, revealing how the birth of Jesus was God's perfect timing to unlock the mystery of salvation. Like an escape room where all the clues finally connect, Jesus fulfilled over 100 Old Testament prophecies, proving He is the Savior of the world who came for all people—not just a select few. Welcome to our podcast of Merge. Church in Van Buren, Arkansas, led by...

The sermon emphasized our temporary earthly existence and the need for an eternal perspective. Like Paul with his tents, we must recognize the fleeting nature of our bodies and achievements. The key question is: what are we doing with our "mist" while we wait? Welcome to our podcast of Merge. Church in Van Buren, Arkansas, led by Pastor Jacob Howell. We desire to help everyone, everywher...

This week we explored Acts 5:12-16, examining why the early church prayed so desperately for signs, wonders, and healing. We discovered that they weren't just open to God doing the miraculous—they were desperate for it because miracles helped lead people to Christ and fulfill the mission of being witnesses. Welcome to our podcast of Merge. Church in Van Buren, Arkansas, led by Pastor Jacob How...

The sermon explored Acts 4:32-5:11, examining the radical freedom that comes from authentic belief in Jesus Christ. Through the contrasting stories of Barnabas and Ananias and Sapphira, we discovered that genuine faith transforms our relationship with both people and possessions. When we truly believe in Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we experience freedom—not bondage to rules, but liberation to lo...

This sermon examines the early church's response to persecution in Acts 4, highlighting the concept of biblical boldness as a spirit-empowered conviction that enables fearless proclamation of the gospel. It emphasizes the importance of prioritizing prayer and unity before action, urging believers to seek God's will rather than trying to change their circumstances. It challenges believers t...

What anchors us in life? This message challenges us to reflect on our foundations. Drawing from Psalm 121, it emphasizes that, like ancient pilgrims, we seek help from the Lord on our journey. The lesson from Peter walking on water shows that focusing on Jesus allows us to overcome challenges, while looking at our circumstances leads to sinking. By remembering God's faithfulness and provisions, we...

This week we studied Acts 4:1-12, where Peter and John face opposition after healing a lame man and preaching about Jesus. Despite being arrested and questioned by the same religious leaders who crucified Jesus, Peter boldly proclaims that salvation is found in no other name but Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Welcome to our podcast of Merge. Church in Van Buren, Arkansas, led by Pastor Jacob Howell. We...

This week's sermon explored the first miracle performed after Jesus' resurrection, as recorded in Acts 3. We delved into the interconnection between the wonder of miracles and the power of God's Word. Pastor Jacob highlighted how miracles point us in four directions: upward to Jesus, downward to recognize suffering, forward to God's promise of restoration, and inward to our need fo...

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...