Celebrate Recovery BRCN

06/06/2026

06/06/2026

Severe Mercies

Think back on a time when you were shown mercy…

Maybe you owed someone money, but they decided to cancel your debt. Maybe you hurt someone you love, but they gave you another chance. Maybe you made a huge mistake, but you received forgiveness instead of punishment.

In the fifth of the beatitudes, a series of promises Jesus made about God’s Kingdom, Jesus said this:

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
Matthew 5:7 NIV

Because we are imperfect sinners who have all fallen short of God’s glorious standards, we all deserve death. We all deserve punishment. We all deserve to be eternally separated from God.

“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ NLT‬‬‬‬‬

Jesus is passionate about justice and righteousness while simultaneously fervent about grace and mercy.

That’s why He paid the ultimate price for us—so that we could truly live. That’s why He conquered the grave—to mercifully save our souls. That’s why He sent His Spirit—so that we could also show mercy.

To be clear, grace and mercy, while similar, aren't the same. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve (an unwarranted gift) while mercy is not getting what you do deserve (judgment and wrath).

And while it’s easier said than done, His people are called to be merciful. Even when someone has wronged you. Yes, even when they don’t deserve your kindness. Yes, even when you don’t feel like being merciful.

Jesus has shown us a great mercy. And now? We can offer it to others.

06/06/2026

Matthew 5:7 with Uncommen

06/06/2026

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

06/05/2026

Sunday, June 7th, @ 10:30am
Series: The Gospel of Romans
Sermon Title: "The Strongest Person in the Room"
Scripture: Romans 14

06/05/2026

DEDICATED TO THE LORD

The Levites in charge of the treasury were responsible for receiving, storing and protecting the people’s offerings and the plunder accumulated from war victories. Over time, the storehouse acquired large amounts of gold, silver and other valuables. When civil war broke out between Israel and Judah, the kingdom was divided. Eventually both Israel and Judah were overthrown by other nations, the storehouse was destroyed and objects of worship were hauled off by foreigners.

In what has been called Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught people the ultimate value of storing up treasures in heaven — such spiritual treasures cannot be stolen or ruined (Mt 6:19 – 21). All material things treasured by this world will one day meet destruction. But the love God’s people show in Christ’s name and the works they do to serve his kingdom will endure forever. Those who labor for the Lord will someday receive an eternal reward from him (Col 3:23 – 24).

Jesus, forgive me for getting distracted by worldly treasures. Help me to seek the treasures of your kingdom and to only invest in things of eternal significance. Amen.

06/05/2026

What Do You Crave?

Every day, multiple times a day, little alarms are triggered inside your brain. They make your stomach growl, your mouth water, or your mind become fixed on that which you crave.

God gave us physical needs that mirror our spiritual needs, too. Needs that must be met to stay healthy and alive. Needs that must be satisfied over and over again. In fact, food is often used in the Bible as a metaphor for our spiritual needs (it's called "our daily bread" in Matthew and the "pure milk" of the Word in 1 Peter, to name a couple.)

In the fourth beatitude, which are a series of promises Jesus made about God’s Kingdom, Jesus said this:

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Matthew 5:6 NIV

Do you long for righteousness and justice? Do you desire the ways of God? Do you yearn for His kingdom to come? Do you want to be someone who chases after that which can never truly satisfy, or someone who hungers and thirsts after God?

In this upside-down kingdom where Jesus is Lord, the poor can be rich, the weak can be strong, and the empty can be filled.

Jesus Christ not only holds the keys to “living water,” but He is the “Bread of Life.” So, when you feel Him prompting your heart—to fight for justice, to love the unloved, to stand up for what’s right (even when it’s not popular)—pay attention.

He stands ready to fill you with everything you need.

06/05/2026

Matthew 5:6 with Jillian JJ Simmons

06/05/2026

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.