Mercy Commons Podcast

“Jesus is not one gate among many, nor is He a way we carve for ourselves—He alone is the gate, and only by passing through Him can we know true freedom and salvation.”

– Dietrich Bonhoeffer

When we were dead in our sins, we were enslaved by the desires of our flesh and followed the course of this world. However, in Christ, we have been made alive by His grace. Not only are we alive, but we are also God’s masterpiece, created for a purpose.

Paul moves from praise to prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to help the Ephesian church see the hope of God’s calling, the riches of His inheritance among the people of Jesus, and the incredible power God has for His church — a power that is on full display through Jesus’s resurrection and ascension as ruler of the world.

Mitch reminds us that our security in Jesus is grounded in the reality that we are adopted children of our Heavenly Father, who adopted us as a result of His good will, pleasure and grace.

Our primary identity is found in Christ, not in our past, our demographic, or our credentials.

How do we encounter God in evangelism? When we step out in faith to share the gospel, we experience His power, receive the words we need, and become vessels for His appeal to the world. In the process, He transforms us, deepening our maturity and dependence on Him. 

God’s presence is uniquely experienced in the fellowship of believers. Serving others allows us to experience God’s presence as we reflect His love and humility. Gathering with others in small groups and on a Sunday cements our focus and enables us to live lives of accountability and genuine community where we are known, loved, and challenged.

Biblical generosity is a weapon in our battle with anxiety and pride. Jesus’ teachings on wealth challenges the cultural lies that affluence will bring us joy, fulfilment and purpose and that it will prevent us from experiencing calamity, pain and suffering.

The use of spiritual gifts during (but not limited to) the Gathering are manifestations of His Spirit actively working through and among His people. When we exercise gifts such as prophecy, healing, or discernment, we experience firsthand the reality of God's presence moving in the here and now. That is why people will exclaim, “Surely God is in your midst."

Although ‘worship’ can be defined in way broader terms than just music and singing, there is no denying that these play an integral part in our devotion and discipleship to Jesus. Music and melody can mark our emotions, mould our feelings, and help us meditate on truth.