Mercy Commons Podcast

2 Samuel 6:6-12 // We can learn from the life of David that failure can build resilience, but sin builds hardness. When David was faced with the crippling consequences of his sin, he chose to repent and turn to God. Our failures can help build resiliency because we learn more about ourselves, we grow from our mistakes, and learn to ask for help from God and our community of fellow believers.

John 15:1-20 // Resilience is not the sweet fruit from trauma’s tree. It is abiding in Jesus, connection to others, and purpose (fruitfulness). Adversity is inevitable as a follower of Jesus Christ. Life with Jesus is not about what we do, but about how we respond to what Christ's Spirit is doing in us. Being held by God, abiding in Jesus, and being connected to His body (the Church), gives us eternal joy and a resilience that glorifies God.

Luke 24:1–12 // The Resurrection of Jesus Christ was the hinge point in history! We are not saved because we follow His teaching, we are saved because He rose from the dead — He is alive! He doesn’t just live — Christ lives in me! What does that mean for our lives? To be a Christian is someone whose life is transformed, who is able to give and receive comfort, and who has an eternal hope and a current purpose!

Matthew 20:29-21:11 // Jesus came to earth in unexpected ways. He came in humility - not pompous. He didn't come to conquer Rome (worldly enemies) – He came to conquer the curse and bondage of sin and death. When the King comes into our lives, we are tempted to tell Him what we need. But, He actually tells us what we need – we need Him.

Galatians 5:24-6:5 // How can we love others the way that God has called us? This scandalous love can only come by keeping in step with God's Spirit. When we abide in the love of God and walk in the Spirit, it becomes natural for us to love and to also automatically obey the calling of God. We will not do this perfectly, but over time we will see growth and progress. Keeping in step with the Spirit allows us to look out for our brothers and sisters in Christ in a way that is not conceited, provoking, or envious. "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Galatians 5:16-26 // We are in a daily battle between warring desires – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the Spirit. How does God want us to live? We can not just muster up the strength not to give into the flesh. God has called us to walk by the Spirit. In doing so, we will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Faith the size of a mustard seed is part of what we bring to this battle and is one of the main actions we take in walking with the Spirit. We are to believe God will give us everything we need for life and godliness. We are to believe that the light is stronger than the darkness. We are to believe the blow we have dealt the flesh is mortal. Victory is in reach for every Christ follower. You are no longer a slave and it take faith to believe this.

Galatians 5:1-12 // What you see in this letter is Paul, over and over hitting the same thing from multiple angles. He's desperate for the Galatian believers to get what's at stake – the scandalous freedom that we have in Christ and what it means for living a life worth living and throwing off the weights, of sin, the law, and what you yourself and what other people will try to put on you to prove you are a righteous person.

Galatians 4:21-31 // Don't rely on the law for your standing with God. We are under a new covenant paid for by the blood of Jesus. Our faith is not in our works, but in the promise of God to adopt all who trust in Him.

Galatians 4:8-20 // Speaking truth to our brothers and sisters in Christ is not optional. Galatians is a letter by Paul addressing the members of this church who are being led astray by a false gospel. This can and does still happens to this day. As humans, we want affirmation not truth. It is not always easy to hear the truth or to speak the truth. Yet, it is our responsibility to stand up for the truth and God calls us to speak the truth in love.

Galatians 3:24-4:7 // Before Christ came we were under guardianship of the law. Now in Christ, all who believe are sons of God, through faith. We are one in Christ, but not the same. With guardianship and separation over – adoption gives us a new family and Father. The purpose of absolution is adoption. God has grafted us into His family.