Mercy Church

Dusty Offspring Text: Genesis 13:1-18 Mr. Joshua Campbell Deep within each of us lies a longing for a perfect homeland.  If we're impatient, we'll be tempted to snatch at it, to try to make things happen apart from God's purposes.  … June 16, 2024 Read More »

Wisdom in the Wilderness Text: 1 Samuel 25:1-44 Rev. John Downs In this fallen world, there is often tension between folly and wisdom, as on display in today's narrative of David, Nabal and Abigail.  Merely exercising wisdom is not a … June 2, 2024 Read More »

Restraint, Reason, and Reward Text: 1 Samuel 24:1-22 Rev. John Downs Today's text becomes more intense, and illustrates for us that “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Tim 1:7. Our … May 26, 2024 Read More »

Delivered From Destruction Text: 1 Samuel 23 Rev. John Downs We have an “ostrich problem” in the sense that we often stick our heads in the sand to ignore a problem, or else try to solve something ourselves that only … May 19, 2024 Read More »

Fruitful Faith Text: John 15:1-17 Rev. Paul Karlberg Farewells often carry with them mixed emotions.  There is often the excitement of what comes next, along with the sadness of leaving friends behind.  Today's text contains part of Jesus' extended farewell … May 12, 2024 Read More »

Reasons for Rejoicing Text: 1 Peter 1:1-9 Rev. John Downs As elect exiles who have been chosen by God and had our hearts regenerated, we can humbly understand that we contributed nothing to our new birth while rejoicing that our … May 5, 2024 Read More »

Evil and Triumph Text: 1 Samuel 22:6-23 Rev. John Downs What a stark contrast in today's text between the perverse, irrational evil demonstrated by Saul, and the triumph of Yahweh in preserving a remnant of the priesthood through Abiathar.  God's … April 28, 2024 Read More »

Sustenance and Sanctuary Text: 1 Samuel 21:1-22:5 Rev. John Downs Today we find Yahweh's anointed King David in desperate need of food and refuge from his enemies.  Just as he found sustenance through God's provision of the showbread, and sanctuary … April 21, 2024 Read More »

Covenant Stakes and Security Text: 1 Samuel 20 Rev. John Downs In life, our attention is naturally drawn to situations in which the stakes are high and there's no guarantee of security.  In reality, our spiritual life is much more … April 14, 2024 Read More »

Reception and Refuge Text: 1 Samuel 18-19 Rev. John Downs The life of faith involves elements of both pleasure and pain that are held in tension, as explicitly illustrated in today's text.  The love and adoration of Jonathan, Michal and … April 7, 2024 Read More »

Covenant Challenge and Champion Text: 1 Samuel 17 Rev. John Downs The encounter between David and Goliath is one of theological and cosmic significance, addressing the issue of whose god will rule. Rather than focus on the physical attributes of … March 31, 2024 – Easter Read More »

Wisdom and Work Text: 1 Samuel 16 Rev. John Downs At some point in our lives, all of us have had an unexpected disruption that tempted us to anxiety and to ask ourselves, “What do I do now?”  Today's text … March 24, 2024 Read More »

A Kingly Devotion Text: 1 Samuel 15 Rev. John Downs All of us have had high hopes that were never realized, and that is very disappointing.  We see in today's narrative that a presumptuous King Saul is in conflict with … March 17, 2024 Read More »

The Audacity of Faith and Ignorance Text: 1 Samuel 14 Rev. John Downs Context often determines the meaning of words.  The narrative in today's passage displays two types of audacity.  Jonathan manifests a positive audacious confidence in God's faithfulness, in … March 10, 2024 Read More »

Hope For The Helpless Text: 1 Samuel 13 Rev. John Downs Our text today shows the beginning of the end of the reign of King Saul and leaves us with a cliffhanger concerning the welfare of Israel, facing enemies “like … March 3, 2024 Read More »

Covenant Confrontation Text: 1 Samuel 12 Rev. John Downs Today's text chronicles a ceremony of covenant renewal of God with his people.  It comes at an inflection point in the history of Israel as they transition from the era of … February 25, 2024 Read More »

Salvation Out Of Shame Text: 1 Samuel 11 Rev. John Downs In the history of Israel, place carried a sense of significance, whether Gibeah, Jabesh-gilead or Gilgal.  So, too, in the life of faith in Christ, we are reminded of … February 18, 2024 Read More »

Divine Clarity Text: 1 Samuel 10:17-27 Rev. John Downs The remaining vestiges of sin cloud our vision and judgment, like swimming in murky water.  But our God brings his people clarity and vision.  Like the people of Israel, we are … February 11, 2024 Read More »

Directing and Equipping Text: 1 Samuel 9:1-10:16 Rev. John Downs We often fail to look at the big picture of life, instead being gripped by the vortex of the immediate.  That can lead to disillusionment, despair or bitterness.  Today's text … February 4, 2024 Read More »

Rejection Redeemed Text: 1 Samuel 8 Rev. John Downs Just as Israel rejected God's kingship over them, so we too are prone to reject his rule and his wisdom in our lives.  We prefer to have things our way, in … January 28, 2024 Read More »

Revival Through Repentance Text: 1 Samuel 7:2-17 Rev. John Downs How does revival take place when there are no signs of life?  After the return of the ark from the Philistines, Israel languished in syncretistic idol worship for twenty years, … January 21, 2024 Read More »

The Heavy Hand of a Holy God Text: 1 Samuel 5:1-7:2 Rev. John Downs In the story of the capture of the ark of the covenant by the Philistines, we come to understand that the whole earth belongs to God … January 14, 2024 Read More »

Glory Presumed and Departed Text: 1 Samuel 4:1b-22 Rev. John Downs Today's passage treats the end of the era of Eli and his wicked sons, accompanied by the capture of the ark of the covenant by the Philistines in a … January 7, 2024 Read More »

Light Into Darkness Text: 1 Samuel 3:1-4:1a Rev. John Downs At first glance, you might not think that today's text relates to Christmas or our present time but, on closer examination, it truly does.  During the time of the Judges … December 24, 2023 Read More »

Of Sons, Rebuke, and Grace Text: 1 Samuel 2:11-36 Rev. John Downs The contrast between the waning priesthood of Eli and the waxing priesthood of Samuel shows us that it's possible to be familiar with the word of God but … December 17, 2023 Read More »

Story and Song Text: 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11 Rev. John Downs As the story of God's people unfolds in the book of Samuel we see that he preserves them through a great deal of conflict in the time of the judges … December 10, 2023 Read More »

The Parable of the Great Banquet Text: Luke 14:12-24 Rev. Peter Green Food and feasting often contribute to the formation of lasting memories.  Jesus' parable today highlights a great banquet, foreshadowing the great marriage supper of the Lamb that all … December 3, 2023 Read More »

Content With Christ Text: 1 Timothy 6:2b-21 Rev. John Downs From false teaching flows discontentment affecting both the individual and the community.  The remedy is to find our contentment only in Christ and in the context of community.  We do … November 26, 2023 Read More »

Household Honor Text: 1 Timothy 5:1-6:2a Rev. John Downs We in the church are not just a random group of people who cross paths once a week on Sunday.  Rather we have been knit together in Christ into a family … November 19, 2023 Read More »

A Promised Departure and a Practical Devotion Text: 1 Timothy 4:1-16 Rev. John Downs Given the reality of deceitful spirits, not all spirituality is necessarily good.  In his goodness to his people, God graciously exposes this to us so that … November 12, 2023 Read More »

The Mystery of Godliness Text: 1 Timothy 3:1-16 Rev. John Downs How are we to relate to an unseen God in a culture dominated by the visual?  Most comprehensively, in the incarnation, God reveals himself to us in Christ.  Beyond … November 5, 2023 Read More »

Holy Fruit and Holy Order Text: 1 Timothy 2:8-15 Rev. John Downs Even when it may grate against current cultural sensibilities, we do well to submit to the clear teaching of Scripture regarding the distinct and yet beautifully complementary roles … October 29, 2023 Read More »

Prayer and Salvation Text: 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Rev. John Downs The ideas of scarcity and supply and demand may be useful in economic arenas to deal with things that are valuable, but not so in the Kingdom of God.  The … October 22, 2023 Read More »

Doctrine and Doxology Text: 1 Timothy 1:1-20 Rev. John Downs In contrast to false doctrine, true doctrine comes to us from God himself and can be recognized by the good fruit it produces.  While good doctrine is important for us … October 15, 2023 Read More »

The Way of Victory Text: Mark 15:42-16:8 Rev. John Downs Our Lord has entered in the darkness of this world and speaks to us, “Courage, dear heart.”  He provides us the courage needed to stand firm in our convictions even … October 8, 2023 Read More »

Faithfulness in a Fractured World Text: Ezra 3:1-13 Rev. John Downs God is faithful to his covenant promises even to his people in exile or, in more contemporary terms, to us who live in a fractured world.  We are not … October 1, 2023 Read More »

The Way of Death Text: Mark 15:16-41 Rev. John Downs It's embedded deep within sinful human nature to want to run away from pain and embarrassment.  In today's account of the crucifixion of Jesus, the focus is less on the … September 24, 2023 Read More »

The Way of Deliverance Text: Mark 15:1-15 Rev. John Downs None of us needs to be persuaded that fear and evil lie within each human heart from birth.  What we need instead is convincing that sin and its consequences have … September 17, 2023 Read More »

The Way of Witness Text: Mark 14:53-72 Rev. John Downs We as humans tend to love the idea of justice being done.  Unfortunately, just as with Peter in today's text, our tongues and hearts reveal our sin and would condemn … September 10, 2023 Read More »

The Way of Betrayal Text: Mark 14:43-52 Rev. John Downs In Dante's Inferno, the most despicable sin of all time, occupying the deepest circle of hell, is Judas' betrayal of Jesus.  Today's text helps us feel the weight of human … September 3, 2023 Read More »

The Way of Weakness Text: Mark 14:26-42 Rev. John Downs We have a tendency to overestimate our abilities, and this extends to our spiritual lives as well.  In our weakness, we will often stumble and fall in this life of … August 27, 2023 Read More »

The Way of Union Text: Mark 14:12-26 Rev. John Downs In science, an emulsifier is a substance that can bring together two normally incompatible substances.  In our life of faith, the cross of Christ functions as an “emulsifier” for us … August 20, 2023 Read More »

The Way of Devotion Text: Mark 14:1-11 Rev. John Downs We humans have a tremendous capacity for devotion.  Sadly, in our depravity, that devotion may lead through sin to death.  The religious insiders of Jesus' day, including the Pharisees and … August 13, 2023 Read More » The post August 13, 2023 first appeared on Mercy Church.

The Way of Seeing Text: Mark 13:1-23 Rev. John Downs Life in a fallen world entails a lot of uncertainty and suffering.  In the face of this truth, today's challenging text encourages us not to submit to fear or anxiety.  … July 30, 2023 Read More » The post July 30, 2023 first appeared on Mercy Church.

The Way of Love Text: Mark 12:28-44 Rev. John Downs While we were still in rebellion against God in our sin, he set his hesed covenant love upon us.  As we are consumed by his love, we are transformed in … July 23, 2023 Read More » The post July 23, 2023 first appeared on Mercy Church.

The Way of Belonging Text: Mark 12:13-27 Rev. John Downs Identity issues date back to the beginning of time.  Although we may find identity in relationships, vocation or other spheres of life, these are all subordinate to our primary identity … July 16, 2023 Read More » The post July 16, 2023 first appeared on Mercy Church.

The Way of Confidence Text: Mark 11:27-12:12 Rev. John Downs All the way back in the Garden, the original sin was questioning and rejecting the authority of God.  Ever since then, the kingdom of God has been continually challenged by … July 9, 2023 Read More » The post July 9, 2023 first appeared on Mercy Church.

The Way of Fruitfulness Text: Mark 11:11-25 Rev. John Downs Today's text connects the enacted parable of the fig tree with the religious life of the temple.  In the Christian life, it's possible to display external signs of life like … July 2, 2023 Read More » The post July 2, 2023 first appeared on Mercy Church.

Christ's Story & Ours Text: Philippians 3:1-11Mr. Joshua Campbell At one time or another many of us have asked ourselves, “Does Jesus love me?” Along with the Apostle Paul, we learn today that the kind of people who are acceptable … June 25, 2023 Read More » The post June 25, 2023 first appeared on Mercy Church.

A Beautiful Life Text: Ephesians 4-6Dr. Peter Green You cannot earn what you already possess. Our belonging to the community of the church is based simply on the fact that we have a relationship with God out of his abundant … June 18, 2023 Read More » The post June 18, 2023 first appeared on Mercy Church.

The Way of Humble Entry Text: Mark 10:46-11:11Rev. John Downs Today's text treats both the humble entry of a blind man dependently pleading for healing to the Son of David, Messiah, as well as Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. He comes … June 11, 2023 Read More » The post June 11, 2023 first appeared on Mercy Church.