Mercy is strength because God is Rich in Mercy. As we consider what Mercy is, means, calls us to do and be, we need a comprehensive understanding so we can be inspired to embody mercy and be a place inviting others to experience Mercy. In the Bible, the concept of "Mercy" is not getting the just consequence we have earned as a result of our sin. It can also be as simple as extending or experiencing "kindness" think Steadfast Love. Mercy is a mega theme in scripture across generations and genres. Epistles, Gospels, Prophets and Psalms there is a constant theme of God meeting our sin with His mercy and then calling us to respond to sin in the world with Mercy. When we come to God in Christ, we do not have to fear judgment because judgement has been so roundly defeated that Mercy stands over it and declares I HAVE WON! Mercies victory is ours. We embody and embrace Mercy as conduits who receive from God and live and give mercy to others. Matt Nickel - “My prayer for our church is that we would be rich in mercy and devoted to fellowship” What does” Fellowship” mean? Fellowship

What is Mercy? What does it mean? I think we have a concept of mercy that is pretty weak. When we hear the word, we don’t think of strength, victory, order, but softness, capitulation, and even cowardice. Mercy is: compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. So even a worldly definition Mercy implies that you have been empowered and that you are forgiving. As we consider what Mercy is, means, calls us to do and be, we need a comprehensive understanding so we can be inspired to embody mercy and be a place inviting others to experience Mercy. In the Bible, the concept of "Mercy" is not getting the just consequence we have earned as a result of our sin. It can also be as simple as extending or experiencing "kindness" think Steadfast Love. Let’s look at this theme across scripture:

Yet as this season has drug on the list of things we’re concerned about has grown in number and intensity. The news daily begins to look more and more like societal break down. Anger has supplanted empathy. I think we’d all be happier if our biggest concerns were murder hornets rather than the mayhem we see. We want comfort but we are instead confronted with world events or personal circumstance which are too overwhelming to process and which we are powerless to change. There is so much that has changed (positively and negatively) and there is so much that has remained the same again both positive and negative. How do we find hope and courage in broken world when God is not seen, heard, or felt? I want to bring us back to some key ideas we held on to when this season began. We need faith in what is true. 1: God is Good, Mighty, Loving, Wise, and is in control. He is not surprised by any of this, and He is not overwhelmed. He is active in world events and is engaged in your individual story. 2: We (you) are known and loved by God in Christ Jesus. He knows your circumstances, and has not forgotten His promises, so we have a hope that is imperishable, and one that cannot be taken away. 3: This is a challenging chapter, and while we do not know how long it is, we know it’s not the last chapter. The Story ends very well with Jesus return and reign making all things new with no sin, sickness, darkness, disease, or death. Our forever future is better than our present pain. With those in mind we also need to be equipped and encouraged to endure this current season. As we process how we should respond to those around us and engage let make sure we’re seeking the wisdom and direction of Jesus to ensure we’re asking the right questions with the right motives to be transformed.

How does what we believe impact what we do? If we know something to be true and it’s insignificant in our lives, doesn’t change us in any perceivable way what does it really matter? Is that a big transformational truth? No. For a truth to be a big truth it is only as significant as its ability to transform and impact those who come to know it in tangible and meaningful ways. A truth is not just big but is truly transcendent when it not only transforms those who know it, but it cannot be contained by those who know it and it must break out and spread out beyond a few to many who are transformed and impacted by it. This type of truth is powerful because it changes who we are at our core, it changes how we think and act, and it changes us for the purposes of having an impact on others. When we have been given hope that sets free, that humbles, and we look at the example of Jesus we see that we are given hope to live new and shine light.

What do we think we deserve? How do we think we’re entitled? Where does this sense of entitlement come from? What is to be our motivation and ambition? Is ambition always bad? When we are self-focused things like ambition and self-interests become preeminent in our lives. We begin to think more and more about ourselves and our circumstances and it never leads to greater contentment or joy. This only serves to reinforce the bars of our cell. In the Gospel we are set free from the prison of sin and ourselves. We’re freed from ourselves, for others, to be unified as citizens/family, etc. But what gets in the way of this? Because we don’t easily default to this. We do! We don’t know how to be humble. What example can we have to see how deep these concepts go? When we are freed from the prison of self, we have unity with others, we have a Hope that Humbles. Hope creates Humility for the purpose of stronger unity, greater glory and forever joy. Why don’t we do this? What hinders this unity? What keeps us from experience both greater peace and the fulfillment of pure ambition? We are to be a united community of saved sinners, who are broken and are (at different places) being Changed by Jesus’ Grace. WE believe a lie that we are the best at taking care of ourselves and that if we aren’t looking out for our interest and significance no one else, even God, will. That we will not gain by caring for others but in fact will wholly lose if we walk in humility. We need to have the orientation of our lives changed for our sake because humility leads to Glory.

Paul has told them about how his suffering has been purposeful in sharing the Gospel and how his focus has been on others, but now he’s turned his attention back to the Philippians. I know you are concerned about the challenges I’ve been facing, but I am fine. I am here to serve you. How I want to serve you is to remind you about who you are and how who are impacts what you do. This verse opens with one Greek word that has been translated into a phrase. The word is politeuo and it’s a rich word that has been translated into “Only let your manner of life be worthy” or literally it means “Only behave as citizens worthy” It’s a word/phrase they would have been familiar with and understood it’s meaning because of their unique context and understanding of the concept of citizenship. In the US we have birthright citizenship. So if your born here, you’re a citizen. Some of us value it, some of us don’t. But for the people in Philippi there was a sense that what they had was something they had earned. There was pride.

What is driving you in this season? Who do you think about most? What or who do you talk about most? Who do you worry about most? What do you hope for in the future? What goals do you have or are you look forward to? Who is the focus of those goals? What do you fear the most? Most of us at our core live for ourselves. We think about ourselves, we talk about ourselves. We think about others in relation to how they interact with us or how they make us feel. This focus on self grows in times of great difficulty, we cannot see others or beyond our difficult circumstance. It grows as we face criticism, opposition, or hostility from other people, particularly people we think should be FOR us. Walls start to close in and we find ourselves in a prison cell of self when we start to consider the finiteness of our lives. Now everything seem to be on pause and we’re are in a state that we think life will begin, have meaning, and purpose later. It’s like Hope is on pause when we need it now. How do we break free from this? If we’re not going to focus on us who will? Where does our focus need to change or shift to in order for us to have peace and wholeness when facing challenges externally and especially internally. We need a hope that frees us for life now!

We are given the church as a functioning and flourishing family. When Paul (and Timothy) write to all the “Saints, in Christ” he’s referring to all the Christians (people who love and follow Jesus) in the city. Saints In Christ

Mary has moved from wallowing in grief to beholding the Glory of Jesus. This is the moment that will define her life, she never wants this moment to end. When we’ve been met by Jesus, and believe in Him, our first inclination is to want to say where we are with Jesus. But we aren’t saved to say with Jesus but be sent by Him. We don’t stay at the tomb. Our life with Jesus is not one where we’re stuck just outside of the tomb clinging to Jesus, holding on for dear life hoping He never leaves, or worried that we’ll be without Him. No! Later we’re told by Jesus “behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.” in the Holy Spirit empowered to live a new life. We don’t have to tremble in fear of losing Jesus if we don’t hold on tight enough. We walk in boldness with purpose, comforted knowing we’re held by Jesus. We don’t stay stuck at the turning point we move on and move outward. Mary is the first evangelist… Go tell ….. Don’t think Jesus is yours to keep to yourself. But to go and tell “I have seen the Lord” and “In Christ” we are God’s children.