Mercy Hill

Last week, we were captivated by the immense scope of who Jesus is and the powerful work He is doing in reconciling all of creation to God. Jesus, the creator of all things, is also the one who will restore all things. He is bringing peace and healing to the entire cosmos, making all things right once again.

However, in Colossians 1:21, Paul shifts the focus from this grand narrative to the personal work of Jesus in the lives of individuals with a simple, yet profound phrase: "and you." The reconciliation He brings is not just for the universe at large, but for each and every one of us, right here, right now.

As we look at Colossians 1:21-23 this Sunday, we’ll explore this beautiful and life-changing truth—Jesus' work isn’t just theoretical or distant. It's for you. 

Imagine walking into a museum and standing before a massive, intricate painting. At first glance, it’s breathtaking—the colors, the composition, the sheer beauty of it all. But as you step closer, you start noticing details that raise questions. Why did the artist use that shade? What does that symbol mean? What’s the bigger story behind this masterpiece?

That’s a little like reading Colossians 1:15-20. It’s one of the most awe-inspiring descriptions of Jesus in all of Scripture—His supremacy, His power, His role in creation and redemption. But it also has layers that can leave us wondering, What does this really mean?

Join us for this week's sermon through the book of Colossians.

We all love a good rivalry in sports, like Georgia vs. Florida or Ali vs. Frazier or Simone Biles vs. the world. It’s fun to watch top level athletes and teams square off against each other when the stakes are the highest.

But, personally experiencing a rivalry in everyday life is not nearly as fun. It can be hard to confidently decide who or what wins in the competition for our attention, our allegiance, and our affection. Work vs. family; God vs. country; right vs. wrong are hard tensions to navigate.

This Sunday morning, we are starting a new series, Unrivaled, a study of the book of Colossians. The Colossians were not strangers to rivalry. In fact, when Paul writes this letter to them, they are under some serious pressure to conform to particular social, cultural, and political exceptions. There is the pull to put all of their confidence in the power and promises of the Roman Empire. There is the pull to adopt a variety of mystical, cultural practices if they want to truly know God. While some of the specifics are different, the heart of this issues are similar to what we experience on a daily basis.

John Mark Comer identifies a truth that impacts us all, “For those of us who desire to follow Jesus, here is the reality we must turn and face: If we’re not being intentionally formed by Jesus himself, then it’s highly likely we are being unintentionally formed by someone or something else.” We are all being formed or shaped in our lives. We all participate in daily practices that shape us spiritually. Many of us are drifting along with wherever our culture is heading and mindlessly embracing the practices of materialism, hyperindividualism, and distraction. But we can intentionally follow Jesus by embracing spiritual practices that foster hope, love, faith, and contentment.

We all deal with doubts, it’s a normal part of our everyday lives. We doubt our choices - was that the right decision? We doubt our future - am I heading the right direction? We also doubt God. Will he really provide for me? Is he really trustworthy? Is he actually with me? Will he keep his promises? 

In Psalm 23, David says he gets assurance from both looking backward and looking forward. As he looks back at his life he clearly sees God has consistently been good and merciful to him. He looks forward with assurance that the Good Shepherd will lead him all the way home.

We wake up every morning to the pull of performance. “What do I have to do today?” Our phones, our schedules, and our own hearts scream for us to get busy and prove that we deserve what we’re received. Justin Earley says, “Legalism is the belief that the world hangs on what I do and that God and people love me based on how I perform.”

However, Psalm 23 gives us a very different picture of God. In verse five, the good shepherd becomes a lavish host, who welcomes his guests to his table and serves them with grace and kindness.

In Psalm 23, David is not sugarcoating life with cheesy sayings that don’t connect with reality. He is honest that our world can be a harsh place to live. We all have times where we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death.”

Where do we turn when we find ourselves face to face with trouble? Is experiencing hardship a sign that the Lord has abandoned us? Did we end up in this valley because we left our shepherd? Psalm 23 points us to the answers to these questions and more.

In his 2019 book, The Power of Human, Adam Waytz tells a story about an immigrant who moved to the United States and began learning English informally, through conversations. Of course he quickly learned to greet with “How are you?" The received the reply “busy,” so often that at first he believed “busy” meant “good.”

The story is more likely made up, but the point is powerful. We are not just a busy people living in a busy culture , but we want others to know that we’re busy, too!

David describes his life differently in Psalm 23:2-3. He says the LORD leads him to places of calm, peace, restoration, and rest, not frantic paced busyness. It sounds nice, but is that sort of life possible for us? 

Join us for a snowy day sermon through Psalm 1