Our Blog

September 13, 2020 - Sunday Service Worship Guide

TOday's Announcements

Good morning Mercy Hill and happy Sunday to you!  If you're new with us, we just wanted to extend a special welcome to you.  Feel free to fill out a Connection Card to get more info or prayer.  We're glad to have you with us!

If you're tuning in for the Watch Party, you'll notice that the platform has tabs where you can find today's Worship Guide, read an online Bible, and even chat.  While we're meeting virtually like this, we'd encourage everyone to please consider taking a moment to put a comment in the chat box there.  Let us know who you are and maybe where you're tuning in from.  Say hi.  We miss you!  And as we get into the message, feel free to share other Scriptures that come to mind, prayer requests that you have, questions that you'd like answered, etc.  It would be great to interact even in this limited format.

Here are a few critical announcements to keep in mind:

• Worship Sunday: We know it's been some time since we've been able to worship thru song together but we are preparing a special online Sunday Service Watch Party for next Sunday, September 20th! On this Sunday, while we'll still be opening God's Word and reflecting a bit together on it, we'll also be incorporating extended times of singing. So prepare to turn up the volume and sing along! We look forward to worshiping with all of you from our homes!
• Mercy Hill Youth Online Hangout: All Mercy Hill Youth are invited for an online hangout after service today at 1:00pm! Come spend an hour catching up in fellowship, prayer, and sharing. We look forward to seeing you there! We will be meeting using Zoom's video conferencing platform - you can find the details for joining the meeting here.
• Sunday Service Afterparty: Remember to join us immediately following the Watch Party via Zoom for the Afterparty (which today will include a time for connection and prayer).  You can find a link to join in here.
• Mercy Hill Kids Online Worship: Beginning at 11:30am today!  Go here to read more and to find a link to sign in!

- - - - - - -

• Home Groups: Many of our Home Groups are moving to a hybrid (in-person + virtual) format.  Whatever your comfort level with meeting, you're welcome to come check one out.  Find one to join here.  You are not alone!
• COVID-19 SOS Form: If you or anyone you know needs help during this challenging time, we'd love to do what we can!

Today's Sermon

Title: “Render to Caesar”: The Christian and the State (Part 2)
Text: Luke 20:19-26
Preacher: Nick Weber
Manuscript: If you appreciate following along with written material, you can find today's manuscript here.

Reflection Questions

• Have you ever struggled with how, as a follow of Jesus, you should engage with politics out in the public square?  What are some areas of confusion for you?  What are some questions you still have?  How have you seen Christians doing this well?  How have you seen Christians doing it poorly?  What might your place be in it all?
• If God is the One who established governing authorities, if "the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will" (Daniel 4:32), if He has "appointed" them as His "servants" and "ministers" (Romans 13:2, 4, 6), why are they often so corrupt and cruel?  What are we to make of this?  How do you understand it?   Is it strange for you to consider Presidents Trump, Obama, Bush, etc. as having been appointed by God?  
• Before this sermon, just off the top, what would you have said is the point or goal of government?  Why do governing authorities exist?  What's their purpose or function in society?
• Read Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-17.  What stands out to you in these verses?  What seems challenging?  What seems encouraging?  What questions do you still have?
• Now read 1 Timothy 2:1-4.  Again, what stands out to you here?  Do you see the connection between the common grace of good government and the special grace of salvation in Jesus?  In the sermon, Nick said: "In many ways we could say that the purpose of government is to create a stable space wherein God’s plan of redemption can unfold and the gospel of His kingdom can advance."  Do you agree?  Have you been praying as Paul calls us to pray here?  Why or why not?  Take time to do so now.
• Christians are to relate to the government by way of Redemptive Representation.  We are to move towards the public square as salt and light, as ambassadors for another kingdom, as representatives of King Jesus.  In the sermon, Nick outlined four aspects involved in this Redemptive Representation: Influence, Submission, Resistance, and Charity.  Which of these comes most naturally to you?  Which do you most need to grow in?
• J.I. Packer says: “Christians are to urge governments to fulfill their proper role.  They are to pray for, obey, and yet watch over civil governments, reminding them that God ordained them to rule, protect, and keep order but not to tyrannize” (Concise Theology, 238).  Do you agree?  How is our current government doing at fulfilling its God-ordained function?  What are some ways you feel called to engage and influence for King Jesus?

Call to Response

1.  Sing:

• Sovereign Over Us (Shane & Shane)
• While We Sing (Leeland)

2.  Pray:

If you need prayer in any way, please either: (1) request it during the Watch Party via the "Request Prayer" button; (2) fill out a Connection Card; or (3) post your request to our Mercy Hill Community Facebook Group.  We’d love to be lifting you up and caring for you in this time!

3.  Give:

If you’d like to give an offering this morning, please check out our Give page to find the best option for you!

Mercy Hill Kids

While difficult, this pandemic does create a wonderful chance for parents to step towards their God-given call as chief disciplers of their kids.  We know this may feel overwhelming and that is why we want to help!  Parents of Mercy Hill children should have already received an email from the Director of Mercy Hill Kids, Christina Lugo, regarding ways you can utilize the Gospel Project curriculum at home.  This information has also been included on our blog here.  Beyond this, each Sunday, we are also looking to host an online worship gathering for our kids.  You can check here for more details.  We'd love to have you join us!

If you have any questions or need help in any way, don't hesitate to reach out to Christina at    

Have a Wonderful Week!

Living by Faith

The men’s ministry met Saturday, August 29th at Almaden Lake Park - they enjoyed a short hike around the lake and Paul Walton shared the following with the group. We hope you are blessed by it!

“But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” 1 John 2:5-6

Keeping God’s word and following His law can be mistaken as being legalistic. The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day followed the law, but they didn’t truly love God, leaving a negative perception of what the law ought to be.

“For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.” Romans 7:5

Reading what Paul says about the law, we might believe that the law is actually something to avoid because it leads man to death. To put it visually, let's say a ladder represents the law. A ladder can be propped up, elevating an individual as he climbs up. This is how the Jewish leaders used the law, climbing up each step of the ladder by following all the rules to ultimately glorify themselves, rather than God Himself.

Though the leaders had tainted the Law of God, it is truly good when it is put in the right perspective. Going back to the illustration of the ladder, imagine it this time, instead of being propped up, being laid down—forming some sort of track for us to follow. Instead of climbing the ladder to elevate oneself, it can be followed along the path that is created.

“Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” Galatians 3:11

Faith is the engine that we attach our lives to and it moves us along the tracks of the law. It is how we “keep God’s law” not by human willpower, but by the supernatural power of God’s spirit, as we live by faith in the Son of God.

When I first became a Christian, I tried (very unsuccessfully) to follow God’s law. With my own human willpower, I could follow the law and be successful for a short while, but eventually, I would sin horribly and be left thinking I could never be a true follower of Christ. The sin that was in me would always win in the end.

At the time, I didn’t realize that I was trying to live by the works of the law. I wasn’t living by faith, but by human willpower: I was a Pharisee in practicing my religion. Though I knew Christ as my Savior and my Lord, He wasn’t my highest Treasure. I was serving Him out of duty, not out of true love for Him, and my servitude was more of a business transaction than a relationship.

I mistakenly believed that if I followed His word and didn’t sin too badly, that He would have to bless me. Honestly, I didn’t view Christ as my Treasure, but as Boss to please. I became quite miserable in thinking that just being saved was enough. Why should I even try and follow God’s word if I was a failure and it wasn’t any “fun”?

By God’s grace, I found teachings of reformed theology and John Piper's ministry, which opened my eyes to understand living by faith, and showed me how to Treasure Christ as my Savior and Lord. This led me to Mercy Hill Church and our previous pastor, Steve Fuller, where I continued to learn what it means to live by faith, which is what saved me from almost walking away from Christianity based on works of self-righteousness.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” Galatians 2:20-21

September 6, 2020 - Sunday Service Worship Guide

TOday's Announcements

Good morning Mercy Hill and happy Sunday to you!  If you're new with us, we just wanted to extend a special welcome to you.  Feel free to fill out a Connection Card to get more info or prayer.  We're glad to have you with us!

If you're tuning in for the Watch Party, you'll notice that the platform has tabs where you can find today's Worship Guide, read an online Bible, and even chat.  While we're meeting virtually like this, we'd encourage everyone to please consider taking a moment to put a comment in the chat box there.  Let us know who you are and maybe where you're tuning in from.  Say hi.  We miss you!  And as we get into the message, feel free to share other Scriptures that come to mind, prayer requests that you have, questions that you'd like answered, etc.  It would be great to interact even in this limited format.

Here are a few critical announcements to keep in mind:

• All Church Prayer Meeting: Today's All Church Prayer meeting will be hosted in-person at the Wilson's residence and will take place in their yard for a safe, socially-distanced meeting (RSVP required below). If you need the location details you can request that when you RSVP and a member of our team will get back to you. For any planning to attend, we ask that you please respect the county's guidelines by committing to self-screen before arrival and socially distance and wear a mask while present. We know this is hard, but we thank you in advance for your understanding! For more on this, you can check out our reopening document here. To RSVP, please fill out the form here. (Note: we may have to cap attendance, so be sure to register as soon as you can to save your seat!)
• Mercy Hill Youth Online Hangout: All Mercy Hill Youth are invited for an online hangout after service next Sunday, September 13th! Come spend an hour catching up in fellowship, prayer, and sharing. We look forward to seeing you there! We will be meeting using Zoom's video conferencing platform - you can find the details for joining the meeting here.
• Sunday Service Afterparty: Remember to join us immediately following the Watch Party via Zoom for the Afterparty (which today will include a time for connection and prayer).  You can find a link to join in here.
• Mercy Hill Kids Online Worship: Beginning at 11:30am today!  Go here to read more and to find a link to sign in!

- - - - - - -

• Home Groups: Many of our Home Groups are moving to a hybrid (in-person + virtual) format.  Whatever your comfort level with meeting, you're welcome to come check one out.  Find one to join here.  You are not alone!
• COVID-19 SOS Form: If you or anyone you know needs help during this challenging time, we'd love to do what we can!

Today's Sermon

Title: “Render to Caesar”: The Christian and the State (Part 1)
Text: Luke 20:19-26
Preacher: Nick Weber
Manuscript: If you appreciate following along with written material, you can find today's manuscript here.

Reflection Questions

• How are you responding to all the political turmoil these days?  Note both your external reactions (what you are saying, doing, etc.) and those things that are going on in your heart (what you are feeling, thinking, wanting, fearing, etc.).  Explain.
• Have you ever tried to hide from God?  Are there ways in which you are hiding from Him even now?  Why?  What do you hope to gain?  What are you afraid to lose?
• Which of the four options Nick gives in this sermon best characterize the way you've been relating to the government and political sphere lately (Antagonism, Compromise, Withdrawal, Redemptive Representation)?  
• Read Jesus' response in verse 25 again.  How do you interpret this?  How might this apply to your own engagement with politics, elections, etc.?
• How does Jesus show us a better way in all of this?  What do you think Nick meant by "Redemptive Representation"?  What would it look like to redemptively represent Jesus out in the public square today?

Call to Response

1.  Sing:

• I Surrender (Hillsong Worship)
• While We Sing (Leeland)

2.  Pray:

If you need prayer in any way, please either: (1) request it during the Watch Party via the "Request Prayer" button; (2) fill out a Connection Card; or (3) post your request to our Mercy Hill Community Facebook Group.  We’d love to be lifting you up and caring for you in this time!

3.  Give:

If you’d like to give an offering this morning, please check out our Give page to find the best option for you!

Mercy Hill Kids

While difficult, this pandemic does create a wonderful chance for parents to step towards their God-given call as chief disciplers of their kids.  We know this may feel overwhelming and that is why we want to help!  Parents of Mercy Hill children should have already received an email from the Director of Mercy Hill Kids, Christina Lugo, regarding ways you can utilize the Gospel Project curriculum at home.  This information has also been included on our blog here.  Beyond this, each Sunday, we are also looking to host an online worship gathering for our kids.  You can check here for more details.  We'd love to have you join us!

If you have any questions or need help in any way, don't hesitate to reach out to Christina at    

Have a Wonderful Week!