Poor in spirit. Mourning. Meekness. Hungering and thirsting for righteousness. These take some reflection to understand. But mercy? That seems straightforward. 

Mercy is a good thing. Surely everyone agrees on that.

Well, not everyone. 

Friedrich Nietzsche, one of Christianity’s fiercest critics, sneered at the very idea of mercy. Mercy is weakness, a chain around the neck of the strong, something that drags down those with the will to rise above.

But in a world without mercy, all we’re left with is meanness as was evident when Nietzsche's ideas were fleshed out in the Third Reich.

And sadly, in our cultural moment, meanness too often seems to carry the day.

Jesus spoke about mercy, and his words still ring out across the centuries: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

So what does a merciful heart really look like? How do we know if our hearts are shaped by mercy?

Join us this Sunday as we see why mercy isn't just optional--it's the way of the kingdom. 

We’ll meet on Sunday at 11 a.m. at Rivergate (5422 Cole Lane, College Station). Here’s the link to the Digital Worship Guide.

Grace and peace,

Pastor John