Why we have Family Worship Sundays

For the past couple of years, MERCYhouse has regularly held “Family Worship Sundays” on the third Sunday of each month. This is a time when our grade level children are invited upstairs to join us for worship and the teaching of God’s Word. 

The vision we’ve shared for these Family Worship Sundays is threefold:

1. To remind our children that they are part of a larger Church Body

2. To remind ourselves that we have a responsibility to care for our children

3. To remind our MH:Kids Volunteers to sit under God’s Word and Worship Him

This is what we communicate from the front each time we have a Family Worship Sunday. And while it isn’t a direct prescription from the Bible to have a Family Worship Sunday, there are many Biblical reasons for why we want to continue to do this.

I’d like to take this opportunity to remind us of how Family Worship Sundays fit into our theological framework of loving our children.

The Challenge of Loving Children Well

Children can sometimes be a significant distraction; they lack self control, volume control, and emotional control. They don’t always pick up on social queues, they struggle with focusing and they have to use the bathroom way more often than (most) adults. They whine, complain and cry when they don’t have their needs met. 

The reason why we have a dedicated Kids Ministry is not so that we can avoid dealing with these realities– our MH:Kids program is tailored specifically for these realities. Our teachers are trained to teach and disciple our children according to our children’s cognitive and developmental level, as a way to better love them and reach them where they’re at. 

But we need to be careful that having them in a separate space which alleviates many of the distractions that accompany them… does not become the comfortable norm for our church. It should not be a relief when they’re out of the room, nor a frustration when they enter it. 

There’s a moment from Jesus’ ministry that not only guides a lot of our understanding of why we have Family Worship Sundays, but how we should interact with our children as a church:

Mark 10:13–16

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

We should let our children come to Him.

Notice the misstep of the disciples in the passage above: people are trying to bring children to Jesus but the disciples cut them off. The disciples scold them, and prevent the children from accessing Jesus. Whether it was because of their distracting nature (listed above), or thinking that the Son of Man would be annoyed by their presence… the disciples deny access to Jesus. May it never be so at MERCYhouse! Our Church should make accessing God easy, not be a hindrance to it. God warmly welcomes children into His presence, and we as His church should as well.

We should bless our children.

Jesus doesn’t welcome the children into his presence, he embraces them and blesses them. They’re not just permitted to merely be in the same space as the grownups– they get the best seat in the house on the lap of the King of Kings! Family Worship Service can sometimes get a little wild, especially during the kid’s lesson. But there’s a reason why we have that teaching time, and why we put it up at the front of our service: our kids don’t get our scraps, but we want them to have the best portion. May our church not simply tolerate our children, but bless and treasure them as God does. 

We can be blessed by our children.

The children in Mark 10 aren’t in the way of Jesus’ teaching but become the lesson itself. Their “child-like faith” which whole-heartedly receives Christ and all that He brings is the model for genuine conversion! Yes, the older shall serve the younger and we have a responsibility to care for these children, but the road of blessing is not one-way. A child’s fresh perspective, their inclination toward honesty, their youthful zeal, their pure prayers and general joy for life and goofiness can all be used by God to encourage us and teach us profound lessons. May we be humble enough to be blessed by our children!

We should disciple our children.

Our hope for Family Worship Sundays is not just to have them in the room to bless them and be blessed by them. Ultimately, we want our children to be edified by God’s Word alongside God’s people and respond in worship and praise together as one voice with all the saints. 

God makes it clear: we have a responsibility to raise our children in His ways (Deuteronomy 6:6). We’re to teach them God’s Word to make them wise for salvation (2 Timothy 3:15). Sundays are not just a blessing to kids and their families momentarily… God says that if we, “train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) This is a heavenly calling with long lasting, eternal ramifications.

On Sunday mornings, this responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of your elders. We are the ones who are tasked to preach the Word in ways that edify the believer and evangelize the non-believer. This is a challenge that we take on joyfully, and we make it our holy ambition to grow in our ability to teach God’s Word in ways that engage our children’s minds and hearts on that third Sunday of each month. Pray for us as we discern how to best adapt the content and format for the good of our children without sacrificing the Glory of God.

Practical Guidance for Families

All this being said, it is hard for some of our young ones to sit through a whole service! Discipleship is a process and sanctification takes time. We don’t expect our children to be perfectly behaved on Family Worship Sundays, but here is some guidance on how to lead them through a service and some healthy expectations we can place on them:

1. Children should sit with their parents, or parents of friends.
   We understand this will be hard for some and impossible for others but we want to train our children to eventually be able to sit and listen to God’s Word being taught for 30 minutes. This endurance will not only be helpful as young students and members of society, but Lord willing it will yield the spiritual fruit of Christ-like character and an eternal Hope in the Gospel.
   

2. Utilize the “Worship Bins” that we’ll provide.
   We’ve begun putting together activity bins for families with items that will bless our children and help them focus. These bins will be family-specific, so bear with us as we get to know your children better! Input and feedback is welcome here!
   

3. Challenge Older Kids to fill out Sermon Notes.
   In addition to coloring sheets and other activities, we encourage children who can write to try and fill out the “Sermon Notes” page to help foster active listening. These pages will be found inside your family’s Worship Bins.
   

4. Take time to have a family church recap after service.
   Discipleship continues in the home (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). We want to encourage families to take the time to “debrief” a Sunday worship service. What were the takeaway points? What was the central Bible verse? Was there a favorite song? This shouldn’t just be the kids answering— parents should take this opportunity to share what the Lord is teaching them as well!

What about our youth and teens?

Our Kid’s Ministry currently ends at fifth grade, after which we invite our middle schoolers to join us in service. We think that at this level, our youth will begin having the capacity to be blessed and edified alongside adults in our regular service. That being said, we would like our church to grow in how to intentionally love our youth and teens. MERCYhouse is prayerfully working on developing a Youth Fellowship and Teen Ministry to serve our growing kids. If you’d like to be a part of this, please contact Pastor Tommy (tommy@mercyhouse365.org)

What are we celebrating?

Our hope and prayer is that our church matures enough to be a place where children are welcomed, children are blessed, where we’re blessed by our children, and where we’re able to effectively make disciples of Christ out of them. 

But there’s one more thing: seeing our children walk in faith ought to be one of the most joyful experiences of our church, and something that we all celebrate with great zeal.

3 John 3–4

“For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

John is speaking metaphorically, but how much more true must it be literally! Lord, bless our children with faith in you! Bless our church with the joy of having children who walk in Truth. Continue to build this household of faith by your mercy, from the oldest to the youngest, for generations to come.

Amen.

MH (Big Kids) Sermon Notes:

Thank you for your service.

I (Pastor Tommy) want to take a moment to acknowledge the tremendous service of Jake Blackwood and Garrett Postema who have served as Elders of MERCYhouse until their term ended last week on February 29th, 2024.

Both Garrett and Jake completed their eldership training and were commissioned in October of 2020. While our world was reeling from the devastating global pandemic, these men stepped into their calling and helped our church navigate the practical challenges of governmental mandates and the emotional and spiritual weight of sickness and death which loomed heavy on us all. The challenges were unprecedented, the outlook uncertain, but the course was stayed. Jake and Garrett helped lead our church in worshiping God, growing in our love and knowledge of Him through His Word, and following Him faithfully as a community.

In their second year of service, our founding pastor announced his resignation. While our church was reeling from this surprising news, these men stepped into their calling to help our church navigate a myriad of church hurt, significant growing pains, and a transition to a new lead pastor. And once again, the challenges were unprecedented, the outlook uncertain, but the course was stayed. Garrett and Jake helped lead our church in worshiping God, growing in our love and knowledge of Him through His Word, and following Him faithfully as a community. 

These men have not served perfectly, but they served faithfully. Their time as elders was birthed in adversity but beautifully refined through hardships by the love, grace and mercy of God. 

I’ve had a chance to reflect on how God has used them in these past few years. I am ever grateful for the countless hours they gave in meetings (which always ran late), the times they took on the mantle of preaching God’s Word, the many personal sacrifices that they and their wives Jamie and Michelle made, and their invaluable friendship which carried me through the darkest of times. But what I am most thankful for and inspired by is their genuine love for the Lord and His Church. They love Jesus! They love MERCYhouse. This was made clear by their repeated willingness to fulfill this calling which God had put on their lives to serve as elders / shepherds / pastors of this flock.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Galatians 6:9–10

Your church thanks you, Jake and Garrett, for your faithful service to our King and His Church and for not growing weary in doing good. Thank you Jamie and Michelle, for your many sacrifices which made it possible for your husbands to serve and for your own great contributions to our household of faith. 

“To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:21)

If you’d like to reach out to Jake, Garrett, Jamie or Michelle with a word of encouragement, please feel free to contact them (jake@mercyhouse365.org and garrett@mercyhouse365.org).

Shrinking Patches on Old Garments

On Sunday, December 17, 2023 I (Pastor Tommy) preached a sermon on Matthew 9:14-17 which you can listen to here. This week, one of our pastors lovingly confronted me regarding some peculiarities in how I approached teaching the passage. In particular, the verse in question was verse 16:

Matthew 9:16

No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. (ESV)

In brief summary, this passage features a conversation between Jesus and the disciples of John who contend with Jesus and his disciples over their lack of fasting. Jesus responds with a correction to reveal that his ministry and the Gospel will not fit the religious expectations of that day.

In my sermon I argued that verse 16 above refers to the flexibility of Christ– that if he were not gracious enough to condescend and teach like He did with the disciples of John (and the Pharisees verses 10-13, and the scribes in verses 1-7) then He would have not been able to patch the rips and tears in people's misunderstandings about God and how to have a relationship with Him. Therefore, Jesus “shrunk” Himself to meet people where they were at, literally leaving Heaven and “shrinking” into the form of humanity to be with us in our sinfulness and deliver us the Good News. In the humble form of humanity, humans could look and see the face of Jesus when we would otherwise not be able to (Exodus 33:20).

I then argued that we, as His followers, ought to be willing to “shrink” and be flexible to meet people where they are at just like He did. To not maintain superiority even when we’re right or have a more firm grasp on truth or understand more fully our freedom in Christ… or else our lack of “shrinking” humility further tears our weaker brothers (Romans 14:13-23) or those who have no faith at all.

While the pastors agree that nothing I said was unbiblical, I failed to emphasize the main thrust of the passage as a whole in my interpretation of this verse. A more intuitive interpretation of verse 16 is simply pointing to the incompatibility between Jesus and His Gospel, and the “old” covenant under the law. The illustration then does not articulate what should be done (shrink the cloth first before patching), but that Jesus didn’t come to patch anything up at all– he came to bring something completely new: a new covenant, illustrated by new wine (verse 17).

We ought to hold this in tension with Matthew 5:17-20 and the fact that Christianity is not Judaism 2.0— it is the completed relationship of faith which God had originally intended for His people Israel, made possible by Christ. What I preached on Sunday was technically right. But as your shepherd who is responsible for your spiritual nourishment and who will have to give account to God for my preaching and teaching, I have no satisfaction in being “technically right.”

It is of utmost importance that MERCYhouse receives sound and accurate Biblical teaching– it’s what Elders are charged with ensuring (Titus 2:1)! This is because the Word of God is precious (Psalm 119:72), it is nourishing (Psalm 19:7) and it is a firm foundation for us to build our lives upon (Matthew 7:24-27). But God’s Word is most precious, most nourishing and the firmest foundation when we understand it as God intended.

I am thankful that MERCYhouse has elders who are not afraid to correct teaching, and who love our church enough to have hard conversations in order to sharpen iron with iron. Thank you all for your patience as I grow as a Bible teacher.

In Christ, the Word of God,

Pastor Tommy

Fall 2023 Pastor's Report

Closing Our Year with Celebration

It has been an incredible fall season at MERCYhouse which was made possible by many prayers, the selfless and faithful service of our church family and (most of all) God’s Grace and Mercy upon this house. Perhaps the biggest step that we have taken together as a church has been the discernment and installation of a permanent lead pastor 100 days ago, today.

I (Pastor Tommy) want to take this time to celebrate some victories, recognize areas of growth and identify some items on the horizon ahead of our Church summit on December 17, 2023. This list is not exhaustive! Forgive me if I missed anything, and let me know if I did.

MH:Kids Task Force

This group of dedicated members of our church have invested dozens of hours to rebuild our children's ministry from the ground up, overhauling our policies and procedures, implementing a new curriculum and developing a training program to equip new volunteers to minister to our next generation. Great strides are being made to create a safe, loving environment where our children can experience the Hope of the Gospel through the Word of God, by the loving the People of God. Thank you to Sarah Showalter, Laura Looman, Virginia Zenchenko, Angelique Cavagnet, Rachel Chaffin, David Landry, Kaitlyn Moore, Catherine Infante, Dana Kelly and Jamie Blackwood for their service on this Task Force!

MH SBC Abuse Reform Task Force

We have taken our decision to remain in the Southern Baptist Convention seriously by forming a Task Force of individuals who are passionate about critically monitoring the implementation of the SBC’s Abuse Reform for the fruit of genuine repentance. Beyond this, MERCYhouse is taking steps to understand how to better love and protect our community while also equipping ourselves to provide care for those who are victims of abuse in the Valley. Thank you to Vika Katko, Cory Telman, Julia Stubbs, Noreen Kelly, Kaitlyn Moore, Freke Ette and Matt May for their service on this Task Force!

Midweek– Faithful and Encouraging

Sunday mornings are an (important) aspect of our church, but the bulk of following Jesus happens after we gather under God’s Word each week at our worship service. Our weekly Midweek Bible Study has provided a space for members and attenders to dig deeper into God’s Word, lift one another up in prayer, and share meaningful fellowship on a regular basis. Thank you to Jake Blackwood and Alden Foelsche for their faithful service each week!

Sunday School– Accessible and Edifying

Paul says in Romans 10:33, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” Our weekly Sunday School class is equipping attenders with a robust Systematic Theology to better understand the wisdom and knowledge of God. This depth of understanding is leading to greater worship and awe of our great God. Thank you to Alden for his faithful service in teaching this class each week!

Prayer– Consistent and Powerful

We have prayed for our prayer ministry for years and have had the joy of seeing it take off! Our Prayer Team has been diligent about praying for each and every prayer request that is sent to us, and meeting regularly for early morning prayer walks and evening prayer times. Our Prayer Team has also led several Prayer and Worship nights to engage more of our members with the Godly duty of interceding on behalf of our friends, family and community. We are growing in experiencing prayer as a privilege and not a chore. Thank you to Vika Katko, Emelia Kusi, David Landry, and the other members of our Prayer Team for faithfully serving in this way!

Elders– Old and New

We have been incredibly blessed by the service of our elders during this time of transition. Both Jake and Garrett will be entering into some much needed rest in 2024. Thank you both for serving relentlessly through the fiercest storm that MERCYhouse has ever experienced.

After much prayer and deliberation, the Elders are pleased to present Jimi Oke and Cory Telman before our membership as candidates for eldership. Both Jimi and Cory come to us highly endorsed by our membership for this role and are confirmed as being Biblically qualified and exemplify Christ’s shepherding heart in their relationship with their immediate family and church family. We will begin a formal process where we will strongly exhort you (the members of MERCYhouse) to confirm the calling on these men’s lives to serve our church in the role of Elder. We hope to install both Jimi and Cory as your elders, pending your approval, in the beginning of February.

You will notice that our voting agenda includes a motion to enstate both Jake and Garrett as elders for a term of two months (January - February). This is to provide an overlap of service to ensure that the installation of our next elders is a smooth transition.

Alden

Many of you know Alden (or at least have heard his laugh). Alden has faithfully served MERCYhouse for years, particularly in this current season by fundraising his salary 100%. Alden doesn’t cost MERCYhouse a nickel but has blessed our community incalculably through his preaching, his teaching and his discipleship of our members. As Alden’s internship is coming to a conclusion at the end of April, we want to bless Alden by making sure that his salary is paid regardless of the result of his fundraising. For fiscal year 2024, Alden has already fundraised over 80% of his salary and the remaining amount is ~$8,800. We are proposing that any unraised monies be covered by MERCYhouse. Thank you, Alden, for serving our church!

Victories Upon Victories

There’s a lot more that can be said! Like how our church has been able to meet the practical needs of our community in ways that it has not since well before COVID. Or how our Women’s Ministry Team has been able to engage meaningfully with so many women in ways we haven’t seen in years. Or how we’ve seen 11 new members added and witnessed seven baptisms this fall! Or how our Worship team, led by Jimi, Julia and Avi continue to empower dozens of musicians to use their gifts to bless all of us with the opportunity to enter into worship together each Sunday. Or how our Missions and Benevolence giving, overseen by our Deacon Keith Benoit has been able to support those in our immediate community who have dire needs and those across the globe who are preaching the Gospel to the nations. Or how our Building Team, led by our Deacon Luke Showalter has continued to maintain our build and wisely steward the space that God has given us to bless everyone who comes inside of it.

There’s a lot that can be said about how amazing our God is, how wonderfully he provides, and how incredible his purposes are. The most beautiful thing I’ve seen during my time as your Pastor over these last 100 days is God’s Church simply being what it was made to be: a Body of Believers, with different gifts and passions, united by one Spirit, worshiping our God together and carrying out the mission we’ve been given. What a privilege and a joy!

I invite you to join us at our December 17 Voting Summit to exercise your authority and fulfill your responsibility as a member of our covenant community in determining the future of our church, and to celebrate the many victories God has given us in this season!

If this is what God can do in 100 days, I have great hope and expectation for His Work in this Valley in the many years to come. The Words of Jesus echo in my mind from Matthew 16:18: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail.” Let’s press on, together, with great confidence in our Great King.

In the Powerful, House-Building Name of Jesus Christ,

Tommy Moore

Lead Pastor

An Answer to Prayer for Anna

Dear MERCYhouse,

It is with bittersweet joy for us to announce that Anna Plummer will be taking the full-time position of Program Coordinator at the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst. Congratulations Anna! This position is one that Anna has been working toward since 2015 and is an answer to many prayers. We’re excited for Anna and are in full support of her using her experience and gifts to glorify God right here in our community! She will be leaving her role as MERCYhouse’s Church Administrator at the end of May.

Anna has been such an encouragement to our staff and church body these past five months as she stepped into an incredibly challenging role during an incredibly difficult season of our church. She has been able to wrap her mind around the many responsibilities which our previous Church Administrator Lois held for over 20 years, and execute them with joy and excellence. In the words of JD, Anna has done a wonderful job making sure all the trains run on time. 

I (Tommy) am very thankful for her service and grateful for her friendship. While we are sad to see her leave this position, I want to encourage our church family that Anna’s time on staff at MERCYhouse has proved incredibly fruitful. Not only in helping to facilitate a space where worship of God and fellowship with one another can happen without distraction, but also in distilling and organizing the duties and responsibilities that are critical to those ends. In other words, she has been carefully constructing a manageable baton to hand off.

As MERCYhouse matures, we will continue striving toward being a body which utilizes all of its members in service to God and one another. We will be looking for someone to fill the role of Church Administrator (if you want to learn more, please click here) but are using this opportunity to involve more of our membership in some administrative and operational tasks. We hope that you’ll answer the call when it comes!

Please take some time to let Anna know if you’ve been blessed by her (you can reach her at anna@mercyhouse365.org)! Anna, we love you and are thankful for you. We look forward to hearing the testimony of your experience on staff, and how God has used this season in your life. We praise God that you’ll remain in this area and can’t wait to see how God will continue to use you as a member of our church family.

In Christ,

Tommy, Steve, Jake and Garrett

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to us at elders@mercyhouse365.org. Thank you!

A New Season for JD

Dear MERCYhouse,

We’re writing to let you know that our brother JD has accepted a position as Worship Director / Pastor in Hudson Massachusetts. This is a bittersweet moment for us to celebrate JD and all he has done over the past three years, and to send him, Ash and their baby off to an exciting new opportunity. JD and Ash’s last Sunday will be May 1, 2022.

JD has been an incredibly faithful and steadfast pillar for our church community, providing consistent, excellent and theologically sound worship week in and week out. We have been blessed by his leadership which has helped our family keep our hearts and eyes on Christ through the most challenging seasons of our church’s history. We are also thankful for his investment in our youth as he began developing a safe space for teens to engage in fellowship with one another and God. JD has served selflessly and admirably, and we are thankful for the sacrifices he and Ash have made for the building of God’s Kingdom here in Amherst. Praise God!

We at MERCYhouse are blessed with many gifted musicians who have helped lead our church in making a “joyful noise” and to “come into His presence with singing” (Psalm 100). We hope to gather our musicians who have been involved with worship in the past, and who would like to be involved in the future, to have a conversation to consider how to continue worshipping our Father through music and song.

The date and time of our Worship Ministry meeting is Tuesday, April 26 at 7:00pm at MERCYhouse.

We also would like to gather those who have a heart for our youth to have a conversation about the future of that ministry as well. Our last MH:Youth meeting for the spring semester will be May 1st which will coincide with a send-off party for JD. We will be in contact with parents, and a meeting with those interested will take place this summer.

In both these areas, we ask all of our family members to pray. We are not afraid or anxious, but we trust in Christ to continue leading our family. Our prayer is not immediately for a new worship leader, but for worship to continue in Spirit and in Truth at MERCYhouse. Our prayer is not immediately for a new youth leader, but for our youth to be loved and discipled as valuable members of our church family. 

Please join us in sending off JD and Ash well! We know that they will be an incredible blessing to Grace Church in Hudson, MA. We pray that God would care for them and their family, allow them to be fruitful in ministry, and that their faith in God would grow tremendously in this next season of life. We love you guys!

In Christ,

Tommy, Jake, Garrett, and Steve 

(Please feel free to reach out to us at elders@mercyhouse365.org)

Job Posting: Church Administrator

Hi MERCYhouse!

We want to thank you for participating in conversations, both at our previous summit meeting and in person, regarding the needs of the church. It’s been incredibly helpful for us as leaders to gather feedback from so many different perspectives.

These conversations are by no means over, and we will continue encouraging your feedback as we move forward as a church family. Your participation in our Summit Meetings is valuable because it is helping us make informed decisions on how to best meet the needs of our church and community. 

As many of you know, Lois Grandmaison will be moving on from MERCYhouse at the end of this year. She has been such a tremendous blessing to our family for over 20 years! What she has brought to our community simply cannot be replaced-- her spiritual gifts and consistent outpouring of loving service has blessed our church in unfathomable ways. We are incredibly, incredibly thankful for her faithfulness to Jesus and to our church family for so many seasons.

While there is no way to replace Lois, her position as Church Administrator is responsible for many practical needs that are critical to the ongoing operation of MERCYhouse. We have worked closely with her, and have taken your feedback regarding church needs, and have put together a job description for a position that we believe is necessary to fill in the coming months.

The job posting for a Church Administrator is linked below. We hope that you will pray for this process as we transition these responsibilities to a new person. We also hope that you will pass this onto anyone you feel would be a good candidate for this position.

We appreciate you all and are thankful for your prayers and support during this time!

Steve, Jake, and Garrett

elders@mercyhouse365.org

A New Season

Hello MERCYhouse,

I wanted to take some time to say thank you. I’m incredibly appreciative, humbled and honored to have this opportunity to serve as the Director of Teaching and Ministry at MERCYhouse. My wife Kaitlyn and I are both aware of the gravity of this moment, and could not be more excited to have this opportunity to invest our resources, time and energy to serve our church family. The vote passed on the evening of our seventh wedding anniversary-- a fitting occasion to mark this next chapter of our lives which will undoubtedly call upon the strength of nerve and heart of not just myself but of our marriage which God has spent these past years forging in the crucible of ministry. 

The Pain and Hurt

It has become increasingly evident that there are many members and attenders of our church who have experienced pain and hurt in recent years at MERCYhouse. While specific instances of hurt and offense are varied, it is apparent that this hurt has resulted in significant distrust-- both in those serving as leaders and those who are lay members. 

This reality deeply grieves me and it’s clear that we cannot move forward as a church with any semblance of health without these hurts and grievances addressed. It is my heart’s desire that this next season of church life will prioritize healing and reconciliation while remaining steadfast to the mission of MERCYhouse. 

Trust will have to be rebuilt. Our church as an organization must mature. I see my role in these coming years having a focus to facilitate and motivate these things to happen, with a sobering understanding that this will not be achieved overnight, nor will it be easy. 

The Church’s Role

What is your role in these next two years, MERCYhouse? My request is for you to take up two responsibilities.

One: continue to pray. There is no single person in this church (or outside of it, for that matter) who knows exactly how to navigate this season of healing and transition. We continue to rely on the wisdom and guidance of our wise God to lead us in the right direction. Pray with us and for us, for our only hope is in the One who hears and responds.

Two: be the church. Continue engaging as committed, active members of this local body of Christ in this next season despite the difficulty and challenges that lay ahead. Consider that the church does not exist just to serve you-- that we, as a community, look to one another to fulfill his or her calling as covenant community members to the benefit of the collective body (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). The areas of healing and growth which we hope, pray and long for in this next season depends on the willingness of our church members to be church members.

The Transition

And so we arrive at the first step of our transition to finding a new Lead Pastor for our church. My hope is to see our church reach a level of health and trust to be able to work together during this search process and exemplify unity in accomplishing this difficult task. I urge you to continue having patience and grace with one another as the process and details are laid out-- this is something that we’ve never done before! Assume good will in one another, hope and pray for the best outcome, and lovingly correct with grace and gentleness if it should come to that.

To be completely transparent: at this time, I do not see myself as the long term solution for MERCYhouse. While Kaitlyn and I feel incredibly called to this transitional season, God will have to further clarify His calling on our lives if and when the time comes to extend our time here. This is not to say that we have ruled it out, for who are we to stand in the way of God’s will? But we believe that it is critical for the church to spend these next two years focusing on repairing relationships and furthering the mission, and not on the vetting of me as the lead pastor. My focus then, for my time serving in the interim, is not to position myself for the long term role of lead pastor; it’s to help our church grow toward a healthy place where we can make decisions together as one body for the future of our church.  

Final Thoughts

Church will never be finished until Jesus returns. We will never be “done working on” or growing as a church family until Christ returns to complete His work in us. Additionally, there are no “problem people” or challenging individuals that must be “dealt with”-- as a leader and shepherd in the church, our job is to tend to and take care of the flock. We lay our lives down, like Christ, in service to the spiritual wellbeing of the members of this church. “Messiness” is the entirety of our ministry, and to be in a messy church is to be in The Church.

If you are hurt… please know that we (as leaders) want to hear from you. We want to acknowledge your pain, and to whatever degree is possible, take ownership as leaders in the church for ways that you’ve been hurt or wronged. While we understand that complete reconciliation is going to be between the offended and offender, we hope that in whatever part possible, we (as leaders) can contribute to the healing process for you.

Ultimately, I have great hope that God will show his incredible jealousy for His Bride, the Church which will result in fruitful sanctification and healing in this next season. Our greatest hope is that Christ is both the cornerstone and the builder of our church. May His grace and mercy continue to hold this household together. 

I may not know each of you but I look forward to meeting you, hearing from you, and doing life with you.

1 John 3:16

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

In the Gentleness and Humility of Christ,

Tommy Moore
Director of Teaching and Ministry
tommy@mercyhouse365.org

COMA: Observation

This is the second installment in a four-part series diving deeper into a bible-reading tool with the acronym “COMA” standing for Context, Observation, Meaning, and Application. Our live Zoom study has now concluded, but you can view the study materials and syllabus we used here.

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COMA: Observation

BY Lois Grandmaison

When you look up observation in the Oxford Dictionary it has a two part meaning. One that is an internal experience and the other that is an outward expression. Let’s take a quick look at the two definitions below:  

ob·ser·va·tion  /ˌäbzərˈvāSH(ə)n/

• the action or process of observing something or someone carefully in order to gain information or understanding.  

Synonyms: To consider, study, survey, view, watch, examine and monitor. 

• a remark, statement, or comment based on something one has seen, heard, or noticed. 

Synonyms: a statement, remark, pronouncement, declare. 

Looking through the lens of faith as a Christian this definition shows how God does an internal work in someone by giving them understanding of Christ and His Word through His Holy Spirit. This knowledge then leads to an outward expression of faith in how one speaks or lives because of the belief understood by observing the Word of God.  

The Presence of God:  An overarching theme of what observation leads to in understanding the things of God is not just knowledge and wisdom of what we see in the passage. The bible is the Living Word of God, because of that we also get God’s presence as we read and study His Word. Here are some verses from scripture that show how through His Word we get to encounter, dwell and be in the presence of the One True Living God:    

Hebrews 4:12-13

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Romans 10:17 

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

Colossians 3:16 

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Psalm 119:18 

“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

After we soak in the gift of observing God’s word and the council we get in His presence, there are some basic tools or questions we can ask of ourselves as we go deeper in scripture. Here are three key words to help you as you explore the Word: 

The Punch:

What jumps out at you or grabs your attention first? What are key details of the text? What is the definition of certain words to add to the punch? Is anything surprising in the passage? 

The Pattern:

Do you see a repetition of words? Is there a list of things or flow and what is the connection of their order? Are there connecting words or ideas like (therefore, for, but or because). You can do lots of circling, underlining, squiggles, triangles, notes, arrows in the text to help bring up to the top the main themes and repetition. 

The Purpose: 

Are there important people mentioned in the passage? Who and to what end? What is the main point or theme? Is something compared or contrasted to drive home the point? 

A Prayer For Us All: 

Father, just as we have received Christ Jesus, may we walk in Christ, rooted and built up in Him and established in the gospel faith, abounding in thanksgiving and observing your work in us by the power of the Holy Spirit and Christ’s cross. I pray we would dwell purposefully, look intently and observe deeply your ways, O Lord. May we then be people who proclaim, may we then be people who declare verbally the sweet internal observation of the gospel hope to our families, in our friendships, to our communities and to the world. I pray we would experience, by your Word and Holy Spirit, the treasures and wisdom and knowledge revealed in Christ that results in your steadfast presence and hope for our souls. In Jesus Name, Amen. 

COMA: Context

This is the first installment in a four-part series diving deeper into a bible-reading tool with the acronym “COMA” standing for Context, Observation, Meaning, and Application. Our live Zoom study has now concluded, but you can view the study materials and syllabus we used here.

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COMA: Context

By Austin Kopack

As Christians, the whole Bible, Old Testament and New, is our highest authority in all things related to our salvation in Christ. It is God-breathed in unified inspiration but written by many men in the midst of their own varied times and places. The Biblical canon is not a single book but a collection of ancient documents dating back 2000-3500 years. Our world is very different today than it was back then; it was even very different in the 1st century than it was in Moses’ day. As one saying goes, the Bible is written for us, but it was not written to us. So, as we study scripture, our first concern is to pay attention to the context of the passage we are reading so that we can best understand the intentions and ideas of the original author when they were written. 

Context is crucial because it is one of the major factors that keep us from simply reading ourselves into the text and making it mean whatever we want it to mean. 

“Even the person who claims to read old documents in a ’neutral’ way cannot think away his own present; he is wrong if he thinks he can. In that case he is simply not aware of his own hidden interests. Whether consciously or unconsciously, people look at heroical documents in the light of present day questions, suppositions and hypotheses. The critical problem is whether one simply looks to history to confirm one’s own already established views or whether one allows them to be put to the test by history.” (Edward Schillebeeckx, Ministry, 100)

Most of us have experienced someone taking things out of context. It is a common feature of our politicized news coverage and a frequent feature of our soundbite fueled social media debates. But it should not be hard to see why this is problematic. Here are a couple bizarre examples from the Bible:

• Hosea 1:2 -"Go marry a prostitute and have children with her.”

• Amos 4:4 -"Go to Bethel and sin” 

• Psalm 38:7 –“Lo, I have a painful disease in my loins”

• Malachi 2:3 "rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces”

• Exodus 1:16 "When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.”

And, of course, as Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.” 

Without context, these verses sound crazy, but we do this kind of thing in subtle ways all the time by assuming that the original authors are asking the same questions that we are asking and assuming that they have the same concerns that we do. This is not necessarily the case and it is studying the context which help us discern the kinds of questions and concerns the text was written to address.

Context Categories

I want to give you three basic categories for thinking about context as you read any passage of scripture (and really interpret anything in general). These categories are “historical,” “literary,” and “salvation.” By asking a few of these questions up front, it will help you situate the text and better inform the subsequent steps of the study process. 

1. Historical context

   1. To whom is this written? What was their situation? 

   2. Who is it written by? What might the author be concerned about?

2. Literary Context 

   1. What genre is this text (history, poetry, epistle)?  

   2. How does this conform to the genre? How does it differ?

   3. Where does this passage fit in the rest of the book? What comes before? What comes after? 

3. Salvation Context

   1. Where does this fit in the whole canon of scripture and the unfolding narrative of salvation? (e.g. before or after Israel’s exile? before or after Jesus?)

   2. Is this passage referenced elsewhere in scripture or does it reference other parts of scripture? 

   3. With what other theological themes or doctrines does this passage relate?

Some of these questions you will be able to answer simply from reading the text through in its entirety. Some of these will require a wider knowledge of scripture and access to commentaries. If you are able, begin your study of a particular passage of scripture by reading the book or letter in its entirety (and reading it through again when you are done with your study). 

Don’t worry if this seems challenging or overwhelming at first. Take it slow, give it time, and don’t be ashamed to ask lots of questions. The Bible is a revelation of God’s interaction with humanity; its depths are profound and complex because God is infinite and continues speaking to us today in our own contexts. Studying the Bible is a lifelong journey. Don’t expect to exhaust it before you die. 

Some online resources and tools to aid in your study of context: 

Biblegateway

Many of you will be familiar with Biblegateway. It has hundreds of versions in different languages, including many study bibles that include relevant background information. Check out the Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible. 

Blue Letter Bible

This is an excellent resource that offers interlinear with the Greek and Hebrew text. It shows where specific words appear elsewhere in scripture and offers links to many free commentaries online. 

Step Bible

The Step Bible is another great resource that provides a variety of customizable layers for studying scripture.

Wikipedia (With Discretion)

While it may sound too simple, there are Wikipedia pages on the recipient cities of Paul’s epistles that give some general historical background such as this one. This is true for many places mentioned in scripture. As with everything on the internet, some discernment is required and these kind of public sources will tends towards more liberal consensus in terms of historical dating and authorship. 

Rejoice

Not Evangelizing is a fruit of Not Rejoicing.

By Tommy Moore

This past week I (Tommy Moore) preached a sermon from Luke 10:1-24 which looked at the mission of discipleship multiplication in some of the earliest followers of Jesus (watch the whole service or listen to the sermon podcast).

The passage chronicles one of the first “mission trips” that ever occurred as Jesus sends out 72 people who have made the decision to follow Him on a mission to reach other people with the Gospel. This Scripture is a fantastic guidebook for what it looks like practically to evangelize (share the Gospel with) people.

As a very brief four-point recap of the sermon, here are the key aspects I think we see in this passage regarding reaching people with the Gospel:

1. We reach others with the Gospel by praying and going. 

Luke 10:2–3

2. We reach others with the Gospel with meekness and reliance on God

Luke 10:3–4

3. We reach others with the Gospel by... preaching the Gospel.

Luke 10:9

4. As we reach others with the Gospel… we must rejoice.

Luke 10:17–20

It’s all fairly straightforward. We see in the passage that as the disciples follow this guide during their reaching of people with the Gospel, they have an incredible experience that fuels their faith and encourages them onward in their following of Jesus.

As we read this today, it’s a natural point of application to consider our own efforts at evangelism. But what if that self reflection is mostly disappointing and discouraging? What if what comes to mind are our failed attempts at evangelism or our realization that sharing our faith and the Gospel really isn’t a priority?

Rejoicing is Critical

The point from this sermon that impacted me the most was the fourth one: As we reach others with the Gospel… we must rejoice. We see this in verses 17-20 when the disciples return all jazzed up from being on mission for Jesus. They’ve experienced true reliance on God, experienced his protection and provision, saw God do some miraculous things through them— they had a lot of reasons to ride a “spiritual high.” But Jesus quickly redirects them to the source of ultimate joy:

Luke 10:20 [20] Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (ESV)

In other words, “Don’t ride the joy of the fruit you’re seeing, but rather meditate on and make a home in the joy of your very own salvation.” Why? I mentioned in my sermon that the joy of our salvation is the greatest joy of our lives… there’s nothing else that really can compare to such a monumental experience, and nothing with further reaching implications. But how often do we take time to reflect on our own testimony of salvation? How often do we marvel at how God has opened our eyes and softened our hearts to see and respond to the Gospel message? How often do we just sit in contentedness with our eternal destiny sealed in Heaven as a result of the miraculous work of divine salvation in our lives? If you’re like me… the answer is, “not very often.”

But that’s Jesus’ exhortation in this context of the debriefing of their mission of reaching people with the Gospel. Why? Because rejoicing is critical, and in a world where circumstantial happiness can switch into catastrophic regret in the blink of an eye, there is nothing more firm to rejoice in than the never-changing, once-and-for-all rescuing of our souls by Jesus.

But I don’t feel the joy…

While we read Jesus’ exhortation to rejoice (the active verb form of joy, “to find great joy in”), it’s perfectly fair to respond with the realization that we don’t feel that joy. That’s one of the tricky things about Joy… it’s something we actively do but it also can’t be manufactured. It seems like a cruel paradox.

There are plenty of resources written on the pursuit of biblical joy, but the one place where it comes vividly to mind for me is in Paul’s letter to the Galatians:

Galatians 5:22–23 [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (ESV, emphasized)

Joy here is used in a different context— not as something you do, but something that is produced inside of you. Joy is a supernatural fruit that sprouts from God through His Holy Spirit that dwells inside of us as His followers.

How do these two concepts of Joy co-exist? How does one “do” joy while it’s something that’s produced inside of us? We do this by understanding that true Joy is a product of the Holy Spirit inside of us (passive), and rejoicing is our conscious and intentional decision to meditate on and ponder the source of our ultimate Joy (active). It is like receiving a gift (passive), and pursuing the gift (active).

The other truth we can extrapolate here is that Joy can be prayed for. Just as we pray for love to show compassion to our neighbors, patience to bear with our children, faithfulness to continue following Jesus on a daily basis, self-control to resist temptation… we can pray that the Joy of God would be blossomed inside of us.

Joy doesn’t terminate on us

There are obvious blessings when we’re able to experience and meditate on the Joy that God gives us. But it doesn’t end there! And I think that’s why it’s a critical step for the 72 as they return from their sharing of the Gospel. The joy that they experience in their own salvation motivates and compels them to share the joy they’ve experienced when being made alive in Christ with others who are dead in their sin.

It’s like delighting in a delicious bite of food and feeling compelled to exclaim, “you’ve got to try this!” Or watching an incredible film and texting your friends to say, “you’ve got to see this!” When we experience the joy of God, personally epitomized in the salvation of our souls, we are compelled to reach out to those around us to say, “you’ve got to hear this good news!”

Questions? Contact us at info@mercyhouse365.org.

Make sure you check out our live stream Sunday mornings at 10:00am here!

Discipleship Groups: The Ingredients

MERCYhouse is a gospel-centered family on mission to make disciples who make disciples. We hope that’s clear when you come to worship with us on Sunday. We hope that’s clear as you attend any of our (many) events this fall. And we hope that’s especially clear as you hear about our group offering this semester: Discipleship Groups (DGs).

What are Discipleship Groups?

Discipleship Groups are groups of 3-4 people who meet weekly during the semester to learn and engage with Gospel Belief and Spiritual Practice. It’s a place where people are learning how to be disciples (followers) of Jesus, while also learning how to make disciples of others.

We take Jesus’ command to make disciples in Matthew 28:18-20 seriously and want to create opportunities for this to happen here at MERCYhouse. This is why we have Discipleship Groups! Not to check a box off or feel good about ourselves, but to be obedient to Christ and experience faithful living in fellowship with Him and others.

Over the course of 10 weeks you will meet at a time that’s best for you and your Discipleship Group members and be led by our trained Discipleship Group Leaders through 6 chapters of Greg Ogden’s Discipleship Essentials. It’s a fantastic resource that helps establish people in Christian belief and practice, while also sparking great conversations on both.

That’s the content. But what’s the culture? There are four ingredients that we believe are crucial for Discipleship Groups to succeed in helping mature you in your faith and equipping you to make disciples.

View fullsize

Ingredient 1: Size

Our Discipleship Groups are intentionally 3-4 people in size. While this is not a strict rule, we believe groups this size can be fruitful for several reasons. One: it gives everyone a chance to interact with the content in a meaningful way. People learn at different speeds and a smaller group accommodates this reality within a reasonable amount of time. Smaller groups allow more people to talk more often. Two: it allows transparency to occur more naturally. In Ogden’s words: “Self-disclosure is integral to transformation, and openness becomes increasingly difficult in direct proportion to the size of the group.” Three: it helps with accountability. It’s easier to hide in a larger group, making it possible to be present but not participate. This is not what produces spiritual maturity or growth of faith!

Ingredient 2: Truth

Discipleship Groups are anchored to the unchanging truth of God’s Word (the Bible). The Word of God is solid footing in a culture filled with sandy, unstable philosophies and worldviews. Our Discipleship Groups engage directly with scripture, seeing first hand how they inform both how we think and how we live. This pursuit and anchoring to truth is not done in a vacuum— it’s done in the context of honest and transparent relationships.

Ingredient 3: Transparency

The pursuit of truth without acknowledgement of where we stand in comparison to that truth is a sterile, academic exercise. It’s like being taught how to swim through a lecture— you may receive some valuable knowledge but one would never call themselves a swimmer unless they honestly assess themselves in the water. This requires humility and vulnerability, but it is mutual. Your Discipleship Group Leader will be modeling this transparency.

Ingredient 4: Mutual Accountability

It’s one thing to know how things ought to be, and it’s another to be honest about how we might fall short of that. But if we stop there, we end up merely justifying our spiritual mediocrity week after week. Included in the culture of Discipleship Groups is a hopeful expectation that the Holy Spirit is producing true transformation in us as we follow Christ. Discipleship Groups are encouraged to hold one another accountable— not just in participation of the group but also to the deep convictions and commitments the group members are making as the Spirit leads them.

In Ogden’s words, “when the Truth of God’s Word is at the heart of self-revealing, intimate relationships rooted in mutual accountability, you have the ingredients for Spirit-motivated transformation.” This is our hope and prayer as we invite you to participate in Discipleship Groups at MERCYhouse!

Sign up to Lead a group

DG Leadership

Tommy Moore is a Staff Associate of Spiritual Formation at MERCYhouse. If you have any questions, you can reach him directly: tommy@mercyhouse365.org.

Jesus University: The Final Exam

The Last Part

Hey there MERCYhouse! We’ve been looking at Luke 9 & 10 in a standalone sermon series this winter titled, “Jesus University.” It’s been a close look at the process of discipleship as Jesus calls His first followers, from the revealing of his divine identity to His invitation to join His mission. What were they called to? How did it play out in their lives? What does this mean for us today, as we’re called to follow Jesus?

If you’ve missed any of the sermons, check out our podcast here.

Snowdays and Sundays

In the (almost) 20 years that MERCYhouse has been in existence, we’ve only canceled service twice due to weather. But while most of us were cozy and warm at home, a set of sermon notes lay cold, sad and lonely on a printer tray. Even though we didn’t have service, I want to take the time to articulate the major points from the last sermon to wrap up our standalone series.

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two

[1] After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. [2] And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. [3] Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.

Luke 10:1-3

The Seventy-Two who Leaned In

What we see in chapter 10 is Jesus mobilizing a whole new batch of disciples. Up until this point, the original twelve disciples have been the most visible. And I think this is intentional-- Jesus will continue investing in and pouring into these twelve, equipping them to be disciples, make disciples, and multiply disciples. But for the first time, we see a group of people appear on the scene who are not the 12 Apostles, and who aren’t in the crowds of thousands. 72 people.

What’s interesting to me is that the first mention of these 72 are of them being sent out. We don’t really see their spiritual and emotional progression like we do with the 12. They seem to just appear onto the scene. But the reality is that these are people most likely from the crowd who took a step in closer. Thos who didn’t settle with the rumors they were hearing about Jesus, or what their own knowledge or study of ancient scriptures would have concluded about Jesus. But they navigated through the crowds of thousands and listened to and engaged with Jesus for themselves.

And what we know about these 72 is that they get it. They have the same epic realization that the Apostles had that Jesus isn’t just some kind teacher with a few tricks up his sleeve-- he was the anointed one from God, the Messiah, the Christ. We know this because Jesus is having them go and preach the Gospel, embodying and representing the Kingdom of God in verse 9.

This should encourage us! It shows us that the 12 Apostles, though they have a very unique and specific role, weren’t the only ones being called by Jesus. It should give us hope that it’s okay to engage with God from a distance in the crowd at first, but as we approach Him and get closer to Him, he meets us and reveals himself to us, and brings us into His Kingdom, and invites us into His Mission.

I wonder who attending our services is in that metaphorical pack of 72? Who are those that might not be as visible up front or known by name or have the spotlight on them often. But those who have worked their way through the crowd that is our culture, through the noise and rumors about Jesus, who have personally met Jesus and who are being invited in to help build God’s Kingdom. I wonder who’s on that journey right now as you’re reading this, drawing near and answering the call from Jesus. If that’s you, be encouraged. Continue leaning in, like the 72. This is just the beginning.

Two by Two

It says that Jesus sends them out in pairs of twos. And while we’re not sure if the apostles at the beginning of Luke 9 were sent out in pairs or by themselves, Luke makes a point of it here. Well, why? We’ve been seeing this theme of urgency in preaching the Gospel. So if there’s a hurry or a rush to get the word out to as many people as possible, wouldn’t it make sense logistically to send them out as individuals and reach twice as many people in the same time?

Ministry is not always about efficiency. And I say this with a smirk because I love efficiency. I have literally sprained my fingers carrying a dozen bags of groceries in one trip from the car. I love stir-frying food because there’s one pan to clean. Single stream recycling is awesome. My favorite kind of PJs are onesies. If something says two-in-one, it’s great. If it’s three-in-one it’s amazing.

But the reality is that when it comes to the ministry of preaching the Gospel and walking with people toward faith in Jesus Christ-- it’s not about finding the fastest most efficient method… even if you’re tempted like me, to want to find one.

No, it’s not about reaching as many people as possible; it’s about effectively and authentically communicating the Gospel. Going two by two speaks to both the challenge of what they’re about to do, but also the power of encouragement and accountability in the fellowship of a brother or sister.

We’re getting a glimpse here that will be further revealed of the role of community and church as Jesus builds his Kingdom. The fellowship and encouragement and accountability that we can provide for our brothers and sister is not just a byproduct-- it’s a prescription. It’s a necessary ingredient in this case. It’s not optional for the 72. It wasn’t, “Hey, if you’re not feeling confident or if you’re not that outgoing, why don’t you find a buddy?” No, Jesus pairs up everyone, regardless of how socially proficient or awkward they are.

Gospel Sharing as a Community

Last week we talked about the cost of discipleship-- that following Jesus requires a denial of ourselves and preparation to die. Jesus says plainly that if anyone wants to come after Him, that person has to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him. The challenge and cost of discipleship is real. And we shouldn’t be discouraged if we experience the cost and the challenge of following Jesus.

Here, it’s understood that bringing the Gospel to our neighbors, our friends, our family, our coworkers-- it’s hard. It’s not easy by any means, and if you feel the struggle, the temptation to be ashamed of Jesus, know that you’re not alone and that you don’t have to do it alone.

By going in twos, the disciples could encourage one another. They could remind each other the mission their on. They can speak truth to one another when doubts or lies creep in. They can hold each other accountable to the message of the Gospel, to be obedient to what Jesus had commissioned them to do. They could pray for one another, for boldness and wisdom, for joy and supernatural empowerment.

If you’re crushed by the challenge of sharing the Gospel with someone, not able to initiate that conversation or get to that place where you can talk about Jesus… I would say to at least let someone know that you’re making the effort. Say, “Hey, my coworker is on my heart and mind and I want to share the Gospel with them. But I just haven’t had the chance. I haven’t mustered up the boldness.” And if you’re on the receiving end of that and your friend shares this with you, don’t just do the well-intentioned “Yeah, I’ll pray for you,” and forget about it. Pray with them, on the spot! Write it down in your journal to continue praying about it. Set a reminder in your phone to check up on them. It’s this camaraderie and fellowship that Jesus prescribes for the effective preaching of the Gospel… so let’s use it!

The job of Christ belongs to Jesus

[Jesus] sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.

Luke 10:1

It may not look like it, but this is really encouraging. On one level, Jesus is not sending his disciples to figure things out on their own. Their mission is to preach the Gospel as heralds bringing a message from the one who is to come. They are not sent as kings required to conquer by their own strength.

This is helpful in telling us what the role of Gospel preaching is, but also what the role of Jesus is. Remember what we looked at a couple of weeks ago… it wasn’t Peter who was discovered to be the Messiah. It wasn’t John who was the anointed King and rescuer of man. The job of the Christ belongs to Jesus, and that’s not a responsibility that he ever hands over to men and women. Not for the 72, and not for us now.

In our mission to share the Good news of Christ with others, it’s never our role to do the work of salvation in people. It’s our job to point to the savior, Jesus Christ, and that’s it.

I think that’s such an important point to hold onto and remember as we think about reaching people with the Gospel. It’s so easy to slip into a place where we think that our primary objective is to convert people to Christ. Or even in a discipleship relationship, to do the work of maturing those we’re discipling. To change their lives and rip them out of their brokenness and sinful habits. Brothers and sisters, that’s not our job! Our job is to speak the truth of the Gospel, to be a herald for Jesus Christ, to point to Jesus as the savior and solution, and to carry our hurt and wounded brothers and sisters to Christ the healer. If we want to have a healthy view of mission that doesn’t stifle us with anxiety and overbearing burden… then we need to know what our job is, and what Jesus’ is. It’s Christ who does the heavy lifting.

What a mercy it is when the preacher knows that his Master is coming after him, when he can hear the sound of his Master’s feet behind him! What courage it gives him! He knows that, though it is very little that he can do, he is the thin end of the wedge preparing the way for One who can do everything.

-Charles Spurgeon

This was clear for the 72. It was communicated that they were going before him, and preparing a way for Him. And that He was the star of the show. He’d carry the ultimate burden, not the 72.

And they needed to hear this. Not just to feel the burden lifted and give them a sense of freedom that we ourselves can also have today as we go. But because this was just the beginning. What they were being sent out to do, though it may have felt like a “workshop week” or weekend outreach event… it’s a task that we ourselves have inherited 2000 years later, that we’ll continue to pass on as long as Jesus hasn’t come back yet. Look at verse two:

And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

Luke 10:2

God is constantly preparing the hearts of people and calling them to Himself

We often look at the world around us and see tough soil. Especially here in New England. How often do we use that mentality-- that people here are just so tough to talk to about God. But I think some of that mentality is one that we can hide behind, that maybe creates anxiety or defeats us before we even make an effort to bring the Gospel to our neighbors. But maybe that’s because we’re thinking that we need to do the growing and the maturing and the budding. But we see here that God is the God of the harvest. Because as tough as we think the soil might be, it’s God who does the growing. And the reality is that there is a plentiful harvest.

God is preparing the hearts of people and calling them to Himself. Constantly, often without us seeing it or knowing about it. Consider that God began calling us before time began (Ephesian 1:5) to know Him and be His disciple. You may recall a time when someone communicated the Gospel to you and you received it and began following Jesus. But it wasn’t like you tapped on Jesus’ shoulder and he was like, “oh hey! I’m Jesus, who are you?” No, he knew you before you were born. As you were being knit in your mother’s womb. And he chose you, to redeem you and rescue you. And like a nagging voice and feeling I had as a teenager that I was missing something, that there was something more-- that was the gentle, subtle call of God on my life. Until that day where my faith burst through the soil at the sound of a smashing plate (ask me about this!), and I was ready to be cultivated and grown into mature faith.

There are people around you, where you work, where you go to school, where you buy your coffee or pick up your burrito, where you work out, where you get your oil changed, where you eat dinner, where you buy your groceries, where you walk in the park, where you take your kids to day care, where you shop for clothes-- where you live. There are people whom God has been calling to Himself, and who are waiting to hear the Gospel communicated, and are ready to break through the “tough soil” and enter into faith in Jesus and discipleship of Jesus.

This Valley is full of them. The harvest is plentiful. And the laborers, those obediently committed to following Jesus and His commands to preach the Gospel and point to the savior… are few. We are few. So we pray. As Jesus tells those of us who are laboring, not those on the sideline, but as those among the 72 who are on mission… he calls us to pray for more. MERCYhouse, that’s the prayer of 2019 from us as the Staff and the other leaders in the community here. That more of you who have been hanging out in the crowds would step into the ring of disciples going out and laboring in the fields with the plentiful harvest at hand.

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Got questions? Want to chat? The author of this blog post can be reached by email: tommy@mercyhouse365.com or use our contact form to get in touch with us!