Mercy Commons Podcast artwork

Mercy Commons Podcast

275 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago - ★★★★★ - 7 ratings

Welcome to the audio podcast of Mercy Commons Church. Located in Fullerton, California. We hope these messages give you hope, faith, and encouragement throughout your week. To learn more about Mercy Commons visit www.mercycommons.church.

Christianity Religion & Spirituality
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed

Episodes

Palm Sunday | The Better Entry

March 24, 2024 16:30 - 65.2 MB

Jesus' kingship is characterized by humility and compassion rather than conventional grandeur and authority. His humble entry into Jerusalem and His meaningful encounters with people such as Zacchaeus contrast His approach to kingship with the worldly expectations of a king. As believers, our life should embody Jesus' example of servitude, humility, and sacrificial love.

Hebrews | A Better Leader

March 17, 2024 16:30 - 63.2 MB

Hebrews 13:7-25 // There are three final invitations from the book of Hebrews to the church: to remember, respond to, and pray for leaders; to embrace their identity as outsiders in the world; and to focus primarily on Jesus as the ultimate example and leader. There are complexities of church leadership, including the potential for hurt, the importance of humility, and a Christ-centered approach to both leading and following.

Hebrews | A Better Kingdom

March 10, 2024 15:30 - 65.9 MB

Hebrews 12:18-29 // Jesus Christ surpasses all - from angels to the old covenant - and presents a new, unshakable kingdom that invites us into a living, joyous, and eternal relationship with God. Our charge as believers is to examine our worship and relationship with God. Our lives should be marked by gratitude, acceptable worship, and a deep awareness of the grace and mercy received through Jesus.

Hebrews | The Beauty of a Life Transformed by God

March 03, 2024 17:30 - 69.5 MB

Hebrews 12:28-13:3 // The beauty of a life transformed by God. We display our transformed lives by staying on good terms with each other, showing hospitality to strangers, and empathizing with those who suffer.

Hebrews | True Discipline

February 25, 2024 17:30 - 49.6 MB

Hebrews 12:3-17 // The author of Hebrews encourages followers of Jesus to not grow weary by showing that discipline is a result of God’s love. We have a responsibility to ourselves and others while remaining watchful against an unhallowed life.

Hebrews | A Better Race

February 18, 2024 17:30 - 58.9 MB

Hebrews 11:17-12:2 // How do we exercise and grow our faith? It is Christ's work in us that we respond to. It is His work within us that enables us to have faith and run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Hebrews | True Faith

February 11, 2024 17:30 - 67.6 MB

Hebrews 11:1-16 // Faith unites the soul with God and draws strength from Him. Thus faith is altogether a supernatural thing. That is why faith is so important for us. We are saved by faith. We endure by faith and enter into His rest by faith. It is by faith that the convicted and repentant sinner is saved. It is by faith that Christ dwells in our hearts and by faith that we live. By faith, we stand, walk, and resist the devil. By faith we are sanctified, have access to God, fight the good f...

Hebrews | A Better Judgement

February 04, 2024 17:30 - 71.2 MB

Hebrews 10:26-39 // We have been given a clear path of salvation – one way through Jesus Christ. This is an intentional and not accidental plan from God. However, many will refuse this exclusive path. What does refusal look like? What can happen when we allow doubt to take root in our hearts? Judgement day is coming. Choosing to be a part of God's family wraps us in the love, restoration, renewal, justice, and accountability that will take place on that day.

Hebrews | A Better Approach

January 28, 2024 17:30 - 64.6 MB

Hebrews 10:19-25 // We are called to be confident. Our confidence should be increased that not only are we welcomed sons and daughters but the finished work of Christ has made us competent ministers and ambassadors of the new covenant. We are called to be personally intentional. Our spiritual growth is not a passive path. We are called to be communally intentional. "Stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together."

Leading with Jesus

January 21, 2024 17:30 - 62.2 MB

Alan Frow (from our Advance Network and pastor at Southlands Brea) gives a message on the gift of shepherds given by Jesus Christ to the church - His flock. Church leaders have the call to lead with Jesus for the feeding and leading of His sheep.

Hebrews | The Finished Work of Jesus Christ

January 14, 2024 17:30 - 57.3 MB

Hebrews 10:1-18 // The finished work of Jesus is powerful, prophetic, and perfect.

Our 10th Birthday

January 07, 2024 17:30 - 67.4 MB

God has been so faithful. We thank Him for 10 years and look forward to many more reveling, proclaiming, demonstrating, and participating in acts of mercy for the joy of Fullerton and the renewal of the world.

Why Church?

December 31, 2023 17:30 - 67.2 MB

COVID showed us what was technologically possible in video conferencing and remote work, and a cultural shift followed. How do I decide now when to show up in person versus checking in online? Why should we care about church now? Right before His death, Jesus offers a prayer on behalf of his disciples—soon to be the first Church—that offers clues to why church still matters.

Advent 2023 | The Better Gift

December 24, 2023 17:30 - 32.9 MB

At Christmas time there is a tension between what we want and what we truly need. We desire a gift that fulfills our deepest needs.

Advent 2023 | A Better, Stronger Hope

December 17, 2023 17:30 - 53.8 MB

God also bound Himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that He would never change His mind. So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.

Advent 2023 | A Better, Persistent Joy

December 10, 2023 17:30 - 61.4 MB

Persistent joy expects difficulty & persistent joy is purposeful. We don’t ignore or suppress difficulties, we acknowledge them with faith and hope. Persistent joy has a singular Source. Let’s fix our eyes on the Source of our joy – Jesus Christ.

Advent 2023 | A Better, Deeper Peace

December 04, 2023 05:12 - 55.3 MB

Advent is about preparing mentally, spiritually, and even physically to create a greater sense of connection and occasion as we celebrate the incarnation of Jesus and also long for and anticipate His second coming.

Hebrews | Jesus, The Better Sacrifice

November 26, 2023 17:30 - 45.7 MB

Hebrews 9:15-28 // Though we tend to try and save ourselves, Hebrews 9 states that through Christ’s blood, we are offered freedom from sin’s power over us and freedom from needing to prove our salvation from eternal judgment.

Hebrews | Jesus, The Better Tabernacle

November 19, 2023 17:30 - 64.1 MB

Hebrews 9:1-14 // We have access to God through Jesus who has opened the way to the Most Holy Place. Jesus is our eternal, perfect High Priest and He is the perfect sacrifice that cleanses our consciences. Our responsibility is to use our access to God and not to take it casually. The main purpose of this access is to worship our God and Savior.

Hebrews | Jesus, The Better Covenant (Part 2)

November 12, 2023 17:30 - 76.3 MB

Hebrews 8:7-13 // The covenant brought by Jesus Christ is new and isn't new. "For if that first covenant had been faultless there would have been no occasion to look for a second. (Hebrews 8:7) The new covenant focus is the internal sphere. Why is our heart targeted? Because it is deceitful, hard, and wounded. Jesus promised us a new heart and covenant. His law on our new heart gives us eternal hope.

Hebrews | Jesus, The Better Covenant (Part 1)

November 05, 2023 17:30 - 66.2 MB

Hebrews 8:1-7 // We have tasted the mercy and grace of God. This is only a foreshadowing of the glory that will be revealed when we see our Lord and Savior face to face. While here on earth, our call is to proclaim the gospel respectfully, but boldly to everyone in our lives. As we do, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus the author and perfector of our faith.

Hebrews | Jesus, The Better Priest

October 29, 2023 16:30 - 58.8 MB

Hebrews 6:19-7:28 // Jesus is the better Priest because He is eternal, perfect, and gives us access to the Father.

Hebrews | Jesus, The Only Steadfast Anchor

October 22, 2023 16:30 - 53.9 MB

Hebrews 6:13-20 // How do we keep from drifting? How do we hold on? What do we hold on to? Is there someone or something holding on to us? Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ because nothing can un-anchor Him from us, or us from Him. 

Hebrews | Warning

October 15, 2023 16:30 - 55.7 MB

Hebrews 5:11-6:1-12 // How do we become mature in our faith? Is it possible to lose our salvation? The issue is not whether someone who has fallen away can be restored. The issue is that if someone is rooted and grounded in the love of Christ, it is impossible for them to fall away. And when there is a God that holds us in the grip of His grace, we cannot fall from His grace because nothing can pry His fingers open. There is a God who holds us fast, and because He holds us fast, we can never...

Hebrews | Jesus' Better Throne

October 08, 2023 16:30 - 63.9 MB

Hebrews 4:14-5:10 // Thrones are not designed to be welcoming places. They are either telling people to be impressed or to be afraid. The throne of Jesus is unique because He is unique. Jesus is unique because of what He has already accomplished – Jesus has already defeated satan, sin, and death. Jesus is unique because of what He is currently doing. He is interceding for us at the right hand of God. Therefore we should approach the throne of grace not in a fearful or arrogant posture, but b...

Hebrews | Jesus, The Better Word

October 01, 2023 16:30 - 67.2 MB

Hebrews 4:12-13 // The Word of God is living and active. It pierces, separates, and exposes. By the Word of God, all things were created. By the Word of God, we receive the law and prophecy. The Word of God is Jesus Himself.

Hebrews | Jesus, Our Better Rest

September 24, 2023 16:30 - 73.4 MB

Hebrews 3:14-4:11 // How do we enter His rest? By faith, through diligence, and with sober obedience.

Hebrews | Jesus, The Better Moses

September 17, 2023 16:30 - 51.8 MB

Hebrews 3:1-14 // Consider Jesus, the One who brought us into the household of God. The better Moses, the better High Priest, the better Apostle, and the better Deliverer.

Hebrews | Jesus, The Better Human

September 10, 2023 16:30 - 65.9 MB

Hebrews 2:5-18 // Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, is also our Brother – He was tempted, remained firm, and currently helps us in our temptation. Jesus is intimately engaged with every aspect of trial, suffering, and temptation, and we have the promise of His presence in temptation.

Hebrews | Jesus, The Greatest Messenger

September 03, 2023 16:30 - 54.2 MB

Hebrews 1:4-2:4 // Jesus is the Greatest Messenger who offers the greatest message and deserves our greatest attention.

Hebrews | Better

August 27, 2023 16:30 - 55.5 MB

Hebrews 1:1-3 // Who is Jesus? The writer of Hebrews is trying to help us understand that when we see Jesus face to face when we encounter Him, the exact imprint and perfect representation of God, we have to step back and just stand in awe. Jesus, God's Son, is the exact imprint, the exact representation of Him. The experience of God that you're going to experience is at the top of this mountain. There is nothing greater than that. When you encounter Jesus, you step back, stand in awe, and f...

Proverbs | Wisdom and Words

August 20, 2023 16:30 - 62.6 MB

Words are powerful. By the word of God, all life is sustained and we are sustained. Words fill us, they bring life and death, and they can heal or harm. How do we speak in a way that glorifies God and edifies others? We must ask God for wisdom. Only He has the ability to guard our mouths and redeem our words and the words said to us.

Proverbs | Vocational Wisdom

August 13, 2023 16:30 - 67.8 MB

If you're a Christ follower, you are known, accepted, loved, and forgiven. Our value is not based on output but on the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross. We want to reflect the Kingdom where diligence is pursued, regardless of whether it's rewarded. We want to reflect the kingdom where relationships are valued, regardless of whether that person can do something for me in the context of work, because relationships are important because they have to do with the God image in every sin...

Proverbs | Is This Sexually Wise?

August 06, 2023 16:30 - 63.7 MB

We are all sexually disoriented, so how do we reorientate ourselves? Don't fear your desires, don't follow your desires, but fulfill your desires in God's way.

Proverbs | Principles for Financial Wisdom

July 30, 2023 16:30 - 81.9 MB

How we view and handle money is a powerful means of testifying to the truth of the gospel. It should set us apart in a unique way from those around us who do not believe.

Proverbs | Wise Decisions

July 23, 2023 16:30 - 74.4 MB

Proverbs 3:1-8 // As we lean on God and trust in Him to make our path straight, we grow in our ability to make wise decisions.

Proverbs | Wise Friendships

July 16, 2023 16:30 - 52.2 MB

Proverbs 12:26 // A wise friendship is a space where you are known, loved, and challenged to remind you who you are and how to live.

Proverbs | Knowledge vs. Wisdom

July 09, 2023 16:30 - 59.4 MB

Proverbs 8:1-14, Proverbs 9:13-18 // Wisdom is knowledge correctly applied, through intimate relationship with the Spirit, for a flourishing life lived for the glory of God.

Proverbs | The Beginning of Wisdom

July 03, 2023 01:22 - 46.8 MB

Proverbs 1:1-9 // Our pursuit of wisdom isn’t the pursuit of a concept. It is truly the pursuit of a Person – of a relationship with Jesus, the One who is wise.

Reimagining Purpose

June 25, 2023 16:30 - 73.1 MB

Matthew 4:18-23, Matthew 5:13-16 // The greatest thing that will help us to be resilient disciples of Jesus is to understand that we are here for a purpose. We are the salt of the earth, we are the light of the world, and we are called to be fishers of men. God, where in my life am I able to include people in what I already do so that I can be salt and light to them? And then maybe I will also be able to be a fisherman.

Father's Day is Complicated

June 19, 2023 04:45 - 64.3 MB

Ephesians 1:3-7, Galatians 4:4-7 // We are adopted by God, our Heavenly Father because of what the Son has done. And it is the Spirit inside us that enables us to cry, "Abba Father." None of this we can do on our own, but there are some things that we can do that will kind of activate that deposit. One of the ways that we can respond is to forgive. Maybe we need to forgive our earthly fathers. One of the gifts that God has given you, as someone that is walking with Jesus, is the ability to o...

Reimagining Joy

June 11, 2023 16:30 - 56.2 MB

Philippians 4:1-9 // We choose joy through pursuit, prayer, and praise. Prayer is us choosing to enter the garrison where Jesus is present and where I know that the peace of God comes by going to God. There are always things happening in our lives that will try to steal our joy. Joy is an emotion that is comfortable being in the presence of other emotions. And just because we are fearful or just because there's a sense of anxiety doesn't mean joy cannot be present. Happiness can't be present...

Reimagining Community

June 04, 2023 16:30 - 60.3 MB

Ephesians 4:1-6 // Community builds resilience through shared experiences, shared resources, and shared convictions.

Reimagining Self Care

May 28, 2023 16:30 - 73.4 MB

Mark 6:30–38 // The goal of both self-care and self-denial is that others would taste and see that the Lord is good and they can only taste and see that the Lord is good if we are living in a way that shows people the Lord is good. Only Jesus has the capacity, ability, and desire to care for you the way you deserve to be cared for because only Jesus died and rose again for you.

Growing into the Fullness of Christ

May 21, 2023 16:30 - 64.6 MB

Ephesians 4:1-16 // Christians come together, not because they form a natural collocation, but because they have been saved by Jesus Christ and owe Him a common allegiance. In the light of this common allegiance, in light of the fact that they have all been loved by Jesus Himself, they commit themselves to doing what He says—and He commands them to love one another. In this light, they are a band of natural enemies who love one another for Jesus’ sake. ~ DA Carson

The Hope of Heaven

May 14, 2023 16:30 - 48.3 MB

Revelation 21:2-4 // Heaven. Our true home. Why is a view of heaven important for our lives on earth? What is absent from heaven? What will we experience in heaven?

Reimagining Emotional Regulation

May 07, 2023 16:30 - 69.4 MB

Hebrews 4:15 // True resilience is a beautiful and it's a wonderful characteristic. It's something that God himself will shape in us as we continue to turn to Him little by little as best we can. Learn to abide in Christ, to connect to Him. Jesus is the source of our resilience. He is our strength. He is the one who gives us a different reality to stand on. When we do that, we find that the resilience that God shapes in us doesn't leave part of our humanity behind. It's not cruel to our emot...

Reimagining Suffering

April 30, 2023 16:30 - 72.2 MB

1 Peter 4:12-13, James 1:2-5 // Only a re-imagining of suffering can lead to rejoicing, and only an understanding that something precious is being shaped in me can give me a sense of Spirit-empowered resilience. I can have a sense of joy in the context of suffering because there is a deeper intimacy that I experience with Jesus when I've gone through a time of suffering.

Reimagining Failure

April 23, 2023 16:30 - 55 MB

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.

Reimagining Abiding

April 16, 2023 16:30 - 62 MB

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.

Books

Fear and Trembling
1 Episode