Yearn: Living God's Mercy On Purpose

I. Opening: The Deep Human Yearning for Purpose

A. Naming the Ache

Most people don’t struggle with believing in God as much as they struggle with knowing why they matter

We ask:

“What does God want from me?”

“Am I doing enough?”

“Is my life making a difference?”

This series, yearn, reminds us:

God’s presence is not passive comfort

God’s presence is active transformation

B. Framing Call & Commitment Sunday

This Sunday is not about pressure or recruitment

It is about holy listening

Calling is not first about what we do but who God is

Officership is one way the church lives out God’s mission—but calling belongs to every believer

Transition: To live in God’s presence is to discover that God has already been speaking over our lives.

II. God’s Call Begins Before Our Awareness

Jeremiah 1:5

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…”

A. God’s Initiative in Calling

Jeremiah does not seek a call—God speaks it into existence

The language is intimate and intentional:

formed

knew

set apart

We just sung these words earlier in the service. The song opens with the words “I have a maker, He formed my heart, before even time began, My life was in his hands.”

Calling is rooted in God’s sovereignty, not human ambition. God is the author of creation, the author of our story. There is great confidence that comes from knowing where our calling is rooted. When we truly bEli eve in the power of god we can release ourselves from unnecessary pressure or fear of failure.

B. The Myth of Readiness

Jeremiah’s immediate response (v.6): “I do not know how to speak; I am too young”

Compare to our feelings. Jeremiah expresses inadequacy. What our inadequacies ? Not skilled enough? No time? To old? Too shy?

Here is the thing: God does not deny Jeremiah’s weakness. Jeremiah’s inadequacy could be true, could be very real. And frankly, so could yours.

God promises presence: “I am with you” (v.8)

God doesn’t expect Jeremiah to be anything but who he is. He wants Jeremiah, inadequacies and all. Why? Because God is stronger than our greatest weakness. God doesn’t expect us to come to the table with it all figured out. God doesn’t need us to be perfect. He just asks us to be willing, to be obedient. He will figure out the rest.

C. Spiritual Discipline Connection

And so how do we know what we are called to? Will there be signs? Will a giant arrow appear and tell us where to go? Maybe, but not likely. See I don’t get preoccupied with chasing signs. I think that this can actually lead us astray. Rather, I think the answers to this question is actually rooted in the spiritual disciplines. Practices like silence, prayer, and Scripture shape our capacity to hear

Calling is often clarified in stillness, not urgency

We do not discover our call by striving—but by abiding

If you are looking for a “sign”, or rather a clear direction of what God wants you to do, the answer is to go deeper, draw nearer to Him. Only then can we truly hear his voice and discern our steps.

D. Application

Some are waiting to feel “ready” before responding

God calls us as we are and forms us as we go

The question is not “Am I enough?” but “Will I trust the One who calls?”

III. Created With Intention for Lives of Mercy

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

“For we are God’s handiwork…”

A. Identity Before Action

“Handiwork” (ποίημα) = masterpiece, intentional creation

Our worth is not earned through service

Our service flows from our identity in Christ

We are already “worth it”, designed as a masterpiece by the Master Artist. We don’t need to chase perfection because in Jesus Christ we already have it.

B. Good Works as God’s Design

These works are:

Prepared in advance

Not random or accidental

God has already imagined how your life might bless others

We tie this letter from Paul into Jeremiah’s calling. God tells Jeremiah that he was made for a purpose, that before his first breath he was already chosen, appointed. Here, Paul reminds the believers in Ephesus that they were created to do good works, and that the work has already been prepared for us in advance.

The message to us, to the church of today is the same- we were made, raised up for divine purpose, for good works, which has all been laid out for us by God. But here is the thing- there is no way for us to respond corporately. We are all uniquely designed- so for the church to live out it’s purpose, each individual person must embrace their calling, their purpose and in doing that we are able to move towards the world in love through our collective obedience.

C. Works of Mercy as Spiritual Discipline

Wesleyan Definition of works of mercy. “Works of mercy are the outward practices through which Christians participate in God’s grace by lovingly responding to the physical, emotional, and social needs of others. Grounded in Wesleyan theology, they flow from a heart being transformed by prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying grace, and they include acts such as feeding the hungry, visiting the sick and imprisoned, welcoming the marginalized, and seeking justice for the poor. In the Wesleyan tradition, works of mercy are not optional add-ons to faith but essential means of grace—concrete ways believers grow in holiness by loving their neighbors and embodying God’s redeeming love in the world.”

Mercy is not just ethical—it is spiritual

Serving the poor, the hungry, the marginalized:

Grounds us in reality

Keeps our faith embodied

For John Wesley, works of mercy stand alongside works of piety (prayer, Scripture, fasting) as essential spiritual disciplines; together they form the habits by which Christians grow in holiness of heart and life. Practiced faithfully, works of mercy are not merely expressions of compassion but disciplines that train believers in love of neighbor and draw them more fully into the life of God.

And at risk of diving into a Wesleyan theology lesson- here is an important distinctive about our understanding of grace, yes in the Wesleyan tradition- but a significant emphasis in our Salvation Army tradition. Grace isn’t just something we receive. It is something that we are active participants in. We participate personally as we respond to the grace we have been given- we wrestle with it, we respond to it, we allow it to shape us, we join God in the process of transforming our hearts as we pursue holiness and obedience. But we also participate in grace by bringing it to others. We demonstrate grace by giving grace to others- in the form of food, friendship, whatever else God might be calling us to do for our neighbours and friends.

And so this is why works of mercy is an important spiritual discipline for us. It is part of living in the presence of God, by showing up to participate and do our part in grace. And so as we consider calling, we are considering the way God has designed us to abide in his presence through this discipline, the purpose for which we were created.

D. Salvation Army Connection

Our movement was born from obedience to this verse:

Seeing need

Responding with mercy

Proclaiming salvation

Officership is a radical commitment to live this calling publicly and fully. Not all are called to make this, but God is still calling people to officership. We are all called to something. Something radical. Something public. Something outward facing.

IV. Equipped for Ministry Together

Ephesians 4:11–13

“To equip the saints for the work of ministry…”

Ephesians 4:11–13 NIV

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

A. Ministry Belongs to the Whole Church

Leaders are given for the people, not instead of the people. Chesney and I take this responsibility to lead very seriously. We don’t want to lead from behind- barking orders and making you do all the work. We also don’t want to lead from 100 miles down the road- where everything lives and dies with us. Our passion and our heart is to lead from alongside you. Moving forward together, in pursuit of God’s plan for this congregation.

And so as i mentioned, every believer is called to ministry and so we all need to enter the process of discerning on how God wants us to serve.

We recognizing some here might even be called to Officership. Officership equips, mobilizes, and shepherds the body. Your time here in Simcoe may be focused on shaping and preparing you for future ministry.

B. Calling Is Confirmed in Community

And so as we journey together through calling, both personally and corporately we do so as a community.

God often speaks through:

Encouragement

Recognition of gifts

Affirmation from trusted leaders

As a congregation we have a role to play in building eachother up. Helping each other discern, realize and live out our God given purpose. The world has enough critics- and this isn’t to say that tough conversations can’t happen. But in this text from Paul we see terms like “built up” and “unity”. I don’t think God calls any of us to be a perennial critic. And so to a church- not Simcoe but the larger Church- in this world that I personally find becoming more judgemental, more critical and maybe even more angry, I turn this text back as a mirror… do we see ourselves as a vehicle for building each other up? Are we an encouraging environment? Do we recognize gifts? Are we unified? And similiar to calling I think this starts with each of us wrestling with these questions on a personal level- am I participating in building up the church? Or am I stuck in a spirit of criticism?

Discernment is a shared practice

C. Discipline of Obedience

And so as we consider the role we play in calling as a community, we then turn our focus back to the spiritual disciplines. We need to view obedience as a spiritual discipline.

We need to show up to the work that God has laid out for us and be prepare to meet him there. We need to be willing participants.

But if we lean into this text, we also need to recognize that how we show up matters.

We show up from a place of loving obedience, not compulsion.

We show up unified in purpose to build the Kingdom, striving to attain the full measure of Christ

We show up as participant in grace, being equipped by God ourselves but also engaging in the important work of equipping others.

We show up in maturity, as encouragers, unifiers and builders of the people God has placed around us.

D. Call & Commitment Emphasis

And so today on Call and Commitment Sunday, we are all called to respond.

Some are called to deepen their current service- to reflect on how they have been engaging in the works of mercy, engaging in their calling. This is an opportunity to refine our thinking, re-energize our spirits and move forward together in unity.

Some are being invited into leadership or to possibly take on new opportunities in ministry- the church needs this. Yes, the global church, but also ours. If we are to be a transforming influence in Simcoe and Norfolk County is will require us to be ready to respond to new opportunities.

Some are hearing the distinct call to officership- This is a big one, and you may be tempted to say “oh, yeah, that one isn’t me.” Some will dismiss on age alone- but one of my sessionmates and dear friends was 55 years old when she entered CFOT. Some will dismiss on skill- but you don’t need to have it all figured out- God equips the called. There may be other reasons why you are dismissing it. All I ask this morning- be sure. Wrestle with it, bring it before God, trust that if he says “Yes, you.” That he is big enough to figure out the details.

Transition: Living in God’s presence always moves us toward the world God loves

VI. Invitation: Listening, Responding, Committing

And do this morning we enter a time of reflection and response.

A. Guided Reflection (Silence or Prayer)

Where have I sensed God stirring my heart?

What fear or resistance am I holding?

How might God be calling me to live mercy more fully?

B. Call to Response

Invitation to:

Recommit lives to God’s service

Seek discernment for deeper calling

Publicly or privately respond to God’s prompting

C. Prayer of Availability

“Here I am, Lord”

Trusting God with both clarity and uncertainty

As we enter this time of reflection—and into this moment of listening and response—I want us to hear this song not as background music, but as a theological statement.

Just where He needs me is not a song about finally getting it all together. It’s not a song about arriving, achieving, or being impressive. It’s a song about trusting placement.

After everything we’ve talked about—calling before readiness, identity before action, mercy as discipline, obedience as participation in grace—this song gives us language for the posture God is inviting us into.

When we sing “Just where He needs me,” we are confessing:

God is not waiting for a better version of me

God is not surprised by my limits

God is not asking me to invent my purpose

God has already been at work—preparing the way, preparing the works, preparing me

This song echoes Jeremiah: Before you knew how to speak, I knew you.

It echoes Paul: Before you did the work, I prepared it.

And it echoes the heart of the Wesleyan and Salvation Army tradition: that grace doesn’t just save us—it places us, sends us, and keeps forming us as we go.

So when we sing this song, it becomes a prayer of availability:

“God, I don’t need to be everywhere. I don’t need to do everything. I don’t need to compare my calling to anyone else’s. I just need to be faithful—right where You have put me.”

For some, “just where He needs me” means staying and deepening—serving with renewed obedience and joy. For some, it means stepping forward—into leadership, into new ministry, into risk. For some, it may mean saying a trembling yes to officership, trusting that God equips those He calls.

And for all of us, it means this:

To live in God’s presence is to discover that our lives are not accidental, our obedience is not wasted, and our mercy is not small.

So as we sing, don’t rush past the words. Let them settle into your bones. Let them become your offering.

Because to yearn for God’s presence is to discover that God has already been yearning for your yes— right where you are, just where He needs you.