The Posture of Radical Love
Mercy Culture Church | Senior Pastor Heather Schott
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+ OUR VALUES
+ OUR UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS
+ OUR STANDARDS OF LEADERSHIP
Check out https://www.mercyculture.com/culture to learn more about our Culture
Cards
Luke 8:26-39
BSB
26 Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee.
27 When Jesus stepped ashore, He was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothing or lived in a house, but he stayed in the tombs.
28 When the man saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, shouting in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You not to torture me!”
29 For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and been driven by the demon into solitary places.
30 “What is your name?” Jesus asked. “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him.
31 And the demons kept begging Jesus not to order them to go into the Abyss.
32 There on the hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. So the demons begged Jesus to let them enter the pigs, and He gave them permission.
33 Then the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside.
35 So the people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man whom the demons had left, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
36 Meanwhile, those who had seen it reported how the demon-possessed man had been healed.
37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to depart from them, because great fear had taken hold of them. So He got into the boat and started back.
38 The man whom the demons had left begged to go with Jesus. But He sent him away, saying,
39 “Return home and describe how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and proclaimed all over the town how much Jesus had done for him.
27 When Jesus stepped ashore, He was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothing or lived in a house, but he stayed in the tombs.
28 When the man saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, shouting in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You not to torture me!”
29 For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and been driven by the demon into solitary places.
30 “What is your name?” Jesus asked. “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him.
31 And the demons kept begging Jesus not to order them to go into the Abyss.
32 There on the hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. So the demons begged Jesus to let them enter the pigs, and He gave them permission.
33 Then the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside.
35 So the people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man whom the demons had left, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
36 Meanwhile, those who had seen it reported how the demon-possessed man had been healed.
37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to depart from them, because great fear had taken hold of them. So He got into the boat and started back.
38 The man whom the demons had left begged to go with Jesus. But He sent him away, saying,
39 “Return home and describe how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and proclaimed all over the town how much Jesus had done for him.
BSB
The new biblical value for Mercy Culture is:
Gratitude!
Gratitude!
2025 is the Year of Radical Love!
Radical Love is when we love God for no reason and no reason can take our love from God away!
Radical Love is when we love God for no reason and no reason can take our love from God away!
Matthew 22:37-38
BSB
37 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
BSB
Christianity is a RADICAL type of love!
Our response to this radical love is gratitude!
Our response to this radical love is gratitude!
Gratitude
IT'S A LIFESTYLE
Gratitude pleases the Lord. No matter what we face - valleys or mountaintops - gratitude is the answer. Gratitude is the heart posture that seeks in all things to be thankful and glorify the Lord, because it brings you and keeps you in the presence and favor of the Lord. Because He first loved us, we will forever be grateful!
Hebrews 12:25-29, Romans 1:21-25,2 Timothy 3:1-9, Psalm 30:1-12, Psalm 5:11-12, Psalm 28:7, Luke17:11-19, Colossians 2:6-7, Psalm 100:1-5
IT'S A LIFESTYLE
Gratitude pleases the Lord. No matter what we face - valleys or mountaintops - gratitude is the answer. Gratitude is the heart posture that seeks in all things to be thankful and glorify the Lord, because it brings you and keeps you in the presence and favor of the Lord. Because He first loved us, we will forever be grateful!
Hebrews 12:25-29, Romans 1:21-25,2 Timothy 3:1-9, Psalm 30:1-12, Psalm 5:11-12, Psalm 28:7, Luke17:11-19, Colossians 2:6-7, Psalm 100:1-5
Hosea 3:1
BSB
1 Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and offer raisin cakes to idols. ”
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Hosea was sent as a prophet to warn God’s people of their idolatry and adultery.
The Israelites were unfaithful to God and turned their back on their first love.
Hosea learned how to radically love like God despite betrayal because God gave Him His heart by showing Him what it felt like to love a bride that is in love with other lovers!
The Israelites were unfaithful to God and turned their back on their first love.
Hosea learned how to radically love like God despite betrayal because God gave Him His heart by showing Him what it felt like to love a bride that is in love with other lovers!
God loved His bride before we loved Him!
Hosea 11:8-11
BSB
8 How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!
9 I will not execute the full fury of My anger; I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim. For I am God and not man— the Holy One among you— and I will not come in wrath.
10 They will walk after the LORD; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west.
11 They will come trembling like birds from Egypt and like doves from the land of Assyria. Then I will settle them in their homes, declares the LORD.
9 I will not execute the full fury of My anger; I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim. For I am God and not man— the Holy One among you— and I will not come in wrath.
10 They will walk after the LORD; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west.
11 They will come trembling like birds from Egypt and like doves from the land of Assyria. Then I will settle them in their homes, declares the LORD.
BSB
Radical Love will bring mass salvation!
2025 PROPHETIC WORDS
This is a year of Salvation.
Spiritual fruit will bring a harvest of salvation.
Your fruit of the Spirit and radical love in everyday life will lead people to salvation.
There will be more salvations that happen outside of this house than happen inside this house.
This is a year of Salvation.
Spiritual fruit will bring a harvest of salvation.
Your fruit of the Spirit and radical love in everyday life will lead people to salvation.
There will be more salvations that happen outside of this house than happen inside this house.
This means that as you radically love the Lord your God, the second part of the greatest commandment, is that you would love your neighbor, or those that don’t know Him!
Matthew 22:39
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39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
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Question: How do we love those that curse us? How do we love those that don’t believe in our God? How do we love those that betray us? Are evil? Are worldly?
1 John 4:7-8
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7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
BSB
Evidence of an intimate relationship with the Lord is loving others radically!
1 John 4:9-14
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9 This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.
10 And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.
13 By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.
10 And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.
13 By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.
BSB
God gives us warnings in Scripture for the times we are in so that we truly walk out faithfully what He is calling is to.
Matthew 24:12-13
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12 Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.
13 But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
13 But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
BSB
The ones that radically love (despite wickedness multiplying), their relationship with Jesus does not grow cold!
The ones that radically love do not grow cold and in the end will be saved!
The ones that love does not grow cold continue to testify to bring mass salvation!
The ones that radically love do not grow cold and in the end will be saved!
The ones that love does not grow cold continue to testify to bring mass salvation!
Warning: Your love cannot grow cold!
Practical Advice: Look at people as the Lord’s!
Luke 6:31-36
BSB
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.
34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.
35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.
34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.
35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
BSB
Mercy is seen through kindness and love to those that are wicked and ungrateful!
It’s wild that God uses the word ungrateful with the wicked! Why?
Romans 1:21
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21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.
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acharistos: ungrateful, thankless, ungracious, unpleasing.
Ungrateful ones are:
1.Those that have received blessing, favor, miracles, answered prayers, radical love from God, a Savior that died on a cross for them…
Yet they live a life of stealing glory from Him, a life lacking praise and thanksgiving to Him that He is jealous for!
2. Those that aren’t thankful for the unanswered prayers, the loss, the thorn in your side, because your full trust isn’t in Him that He is so deserving of and because you don’t love Him for no reason!
3. Ungrateful ones are those that see everything in a negative perspective, blinded by frustration and cannot see all the good He has done, and when they cannot see all the good He has done, they cannot walk in gratitude and therefore steal his glory!
1.Those that have received blessing, favor, miracles, answered prayers, radical love from God, a Savior that died on a cross for them…
Yet they live a life of stealing glory from Him, a life lacking praise and thanksgiving to Him that He is jealous for!
2. Those that aren’t thankful for the unanswered prayers, the loss, the thorn in your side, because your full trust isn’t in Him that He is so deserving of and because you don’t love Him for no reason!
3. Ungrateful ones are those that see everything in a negative perspective, blinded by frustration and cannot see all the good He has done, and when they cannot see all the good He has done, they cannot walk in gratitude and therefore steal his glory!
But the beautiful news is this:
He says in Hosea, "Show them mercy!"
He says in Hosea, "Show them mercy!"
His mercy is undeserved kindness, or an undeserved love… a radical love!
Luke 23:39-43
BSB
39 One of the criminals who hung there heaped abuse on Him. “Are You not the Christ?” he said. “Save Yourself and us!”
40 But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment?
41 We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”
43 And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
40 But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment?
41 We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”
43 And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
BSB
Jesus received what He didn’t deserve so we could receive what we don’t deserve!
The only response the Church should have to a God like this, is gratitude!
A heart of gratitude brings Him all the praise and glory!
The only response the Church should have to a God like this, is gratitude!
A heart of gratitude brings Him all the praise and glory!
Luke 8:1-3
BSB
1 Soon afterward, Jesus traveled from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him,
2 as well as some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
3 Joanna the wife of Herod’s household manager Chuza, Susanna, and many others. These women were ministering to them out of their own means.
2 as well as some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
3 Joanna the wife of Herod’s household manager Chuza, Susanna, and many others. These women were ministering to them out of their own means.
BSB
The heart posture and response to radical love is gratitude!
Questions: God has radically loved each one of us, have you radically loved Him back? Have you had a heart of gratitude overflowing with thanksgiving for no reason at all?
Your gratitude should not come from receiving what you want first, gratitude is an expression of your radical love for God, a love that is for NO REASON!
Have you showed gratitude to God for the things you deemed as difficult?
Luke 8:33-39
BSB
33 Then the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside.
35 So the people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man whom the demons had left, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
36 Meanwhile, those who had seen it reported how the demon-possessed man had been healed.
37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to depart from them, because great fear had taken hold of them. So He got into the boat and started back.
38 The man whom the demons had left begged to go with Jesus. But He sent him away, saying,
39 “Return home and describe how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and proclaimed all over the town how much Jesus had done for him.
34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside.
35 So the people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man whom the demons had left, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
36 Meanwhile, those who had seen it reported how the demon-possessed man had been healed.
37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to depart from them, because great fear had taken hold of them. So He got into the boat and started back.
38 The man whom the demons had left begged to go with Jesus. But He sent him away, saying,
39 “Return home and describe how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and proclaimed all over the town how much Jesus had done for him.
BSB
The ones with great fear begged for Jesus' presence to go!
The one with great gratitude begged to stay in the presence of Jesus!
Those that do not know Jesus, will be spreaders of fear!
Those that know Jesus, will spread the radical love of Jesus!
The one with great gratitude begged to stay in the presence of Jesus!
Those that do not know Jesus, will be spreaders of fear!
Those that know Jesus, will spread the radical love of Jesus!
1 John 4:18-19
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18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.
19 We love because He first loved us.
19 We love because He first loved us.
BSB
Value says: We will forever be grateful because He first loved us!
Prophetic Warning: Fear is coming in a different form than before! Now it’s a fear that will steal your gratitude for the Lord which steals the glory from the Lord!
Your testimony is a vehicle for gratitude!
Your testimony is a vehicle for gratitude!
The more you testify, the freer you become!
Revelation 12:10-12
BSB
10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down— he who accuses them day and night before our God.
11 They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death.
12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea; with great fury the devil has come down to you, knowing he has only a short time.”
11 They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death.
12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea; with great fury the devil has come down to you, knowing he has only a short time.”
BSB
Get you out of the way! It's not about you! It's about Him and a hurting world out there hungry for a savior!
Your testimony brings glory and gratitude to God because your testimony is what He has done for you!
Many of you have been fleeing at the sound of a demon's voice instead of speaking to that demon to flee!
This year it's time to stop it! Its time to rise up in the authority of the radical love Jesus displayed on the cross and bring glory to your God through testifying, preaching the gospel and radically loving God and others!
This year it's time to stop it! Its time to rise up in the authority of the radical love Jesus displayed on the cross and bring glory to your God through testifying, preaching the gospel and radically loving God and others!
Your testimony is a vehicle for gratitude!
1 John 4:7-8
BSB
7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
BSB
1 John 4:13-14
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13 By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.
BSB
Everywhere you go, everyone, to the ends of the earth, tell them about Me!
Acts of the Apostles 1:8
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8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
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Radical love will bring mass salvation!
Hosea = Salvation
We are in a window of mercy for mass salvation and deliverance!
Luke 8:35
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35 So the people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man whom the demons had left, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
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Luke 8:38-39
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38 The man whom the demons had left begged to go with Jesus. But He sent him away, saying,
39 “Return home and describe how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and proclaimed all over the town how much Jesus had done for him.
39 “Return home and describe how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and proclaimed all over the town how much Jesus had done for him.
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Luke 17:11
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11 While Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee.
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Luke 7:44-47
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44 And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
45 You did not greet Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived.
46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume.
47 Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
45 You did not greet Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived.
46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume.
47 Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
BSB
This is the posture of gratitude!
The woman and man Jesus delivers couldn't care less about anyone else around them. They just wanted to be in the presence of the one they loved and show Him gratitude!
The woman and man Jesus delivers couldn't care less about anyone else around them. They just wanted to be in the presence of the one they loved and show Him gratitude!
Gratitude brings you and keeps you in the presence and the favor of the Lord!
Grateful ones desire to stay in his presence!
Gratitude is the way we come into His presence, into His courts.
Psalm 100:3-5
BSB
3 Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name.
5 For the LORD is good, and His loving devotion endures forever; His faithfulness continues to all generations.
4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name.
5 For the LORD is good, and His loving devotion endures forever; His faithfulness continues to all generations.
BSB
Gratitude is a lifestyle!
Gratitude brings you and keeps you in the presence and the favor of the Lord!
Gratitude brings you and keeps you in the presence and the favor of the Lord!
