Mercy Culture Waco | Lead Pastor Les Cody
2024 | The Year of Reformation
Locations & Times
Mercy Culture Waco
1020 E Waco Dr, Waco, TX 76704, USA
Sunday 7:00 AM
👋 First Time Guest Click Here!
Welcome to Mercy Culture Church!
We are so excited you're here! Please text NEW to 59090 so we can connect with you.
For every person who texts NEW, we donate $10 to The Justice Reform, an organization answering the cry for justice by bringing reformation from city to city.
Learn more: thejusticereform.com
We are so excited you're here! Please text NEW to 59090 so we can connect with you.
For every person who texts NEW, we donate $10 to The Justice Reform, an organization answering the cry for justice by bringing reformation from city to city.
Learn more: thejusticereform.com
❤️ MC Connect
If you would like to learn more about our culture, how you connect
with God, get plugged into community and begin your journey to encountering God daily, MC Connect is your next step!
Text CONNECT to 59090 or visit mercyculturewaco.com/mcconnect to get started!
with God, get plugged into community and begin your journey to encountering God daily, MC Connect is your next step!
Text CONNECT to 59090 or visit mercyculturewaco.com/mcconnect to get started!
🙌 Solemn Assembly
January 8-13 I 7-8PM
Solemn Assembly is a week of prayer & worship to start the year off right. Join us Monday, January 8 through Saturday, January 13 from 7-8PM. These nights are for the whole family, we encourage you to bring your kids with you to encounter God together.
Text WACO to 59090 or visit mercyculturewaco.com/events to stay up to date with all upcoming events.
Solemn Assembly is a week of prayer & worship to start the year off right. Join us Monday, January 8 through Saturday, January 13 from 7-8PM. These nights are for the whole family, we encourage you to bring your kids with you to encounter God together.
Text WACO to 59090 or visit mercyculturewaco.com/events to stay up to date with all upcoming events.
🚫 21 Day Fast
January 8-29
Every year, we start the year off with a season of fasting and prayer! Fasting is a spiritual discipline that calls us to demy the desires of our flesh and fill ourselves up with God, His Word, and His presence. This year, we are doing a 21 Day corporate fast.
To learn more about fasting, text FASTING to 59090
Every year, we start the year off with a season of fasting and prayer! Fasting is a spiritual discipline that calls us to demy the desires of our flesh and fill ourselves up with God, His Word, and His presence. This year, we are doing a 21 Day corporate fast.
To learn more about fasting, text FASTING to 59090
🍎 Food Bank
January 13 | 10AM-12PM
We have a value of generosity with no strings attached. On the second Saturday of each month we serve our city by handing out free food to the community and meeting prayer needs of all who come. We love you Waco!
Text WACO to 59090 or visit mercyculturewaco.com/events to stay up to date with all upcoming events.
We have a value of generosity with no strings attached. On the second Saturday of each month we serve our city by handing out free food to the community and meeting prayer needs of all who come. We love you Waco!
Text WACO to 59090 or visit mercyculturewaco.com/events to stay up to date with all upcoming events.
The Year of Reformation
This is the year He must increase and we must decrease!
The word of the Lord over this church in 2024 is REFORMATION!
The Year of Reformation
The Story... of Reformation
Hearing from God is a journey... Steward it!
Hearing from God is a journey... Steward it!
Define Reformation
Reforming - The act of improving the existing form of condition of institutions or practices; intended to make a striking change for the better in social, political or religious affairs.
Reforming - The act of improving the existing form of condition of institutions or practices; intended to make a striking change for the better in social, political or religious affairs.
Reform - To change a thing, a practice, or a doctrine in order to improve and correct it.
Reformation is to make wrong things right in God's sight (righteousness)!
- Paul is writing to Jewish people who are following Jesus.
- In Hebrews 9 he's addressing the Old Testament tabernacle for encountering God.
- The reformation he's speaking about Jesus making a "new covenant" a better way!
- In Hebrews 9 he's addressing the Old Testament tabernacle for encountering God.
- The reformation he's speaking about Jesus making a "new covenant" a better way!
REMINDER... Cindy Jacobs Word!
Reforming (Greek) = diorthósis (Dee-Oar- Ah-Thor-Sees) a making straight, to make straight a correction, a reform, amendment, improvement, correction, to correct evil.
Making of a right arrangement, right ordering, restoration, amendment, bringing right again.
diorthósis (Dee-Oar- Ah-Thor-Sees) Dia (dee-ah') = thoroughly, on account of, because of Orthos (or-thos') straight, upright, direct.
To make the crooked ways straight!
Understanding Reformation
- Reformation is... the blueprints of Heaven.
- Reformation is... building life God's design/way.
- Reformation is... when the heart of the Father and the mind of Christ are established in the earth.
- Reformation is... when the revival in the Church begins to transform the culture outside the Church.
- Reformation is... fueled by holiness!
- Reformation is... the blueprints of Heaven.
- Reformation is... building life God's design/way.
- Reformation is... when the heart of the Father and the mind of Christ are established in the earth.
- Reformation is... when the revival in the Church begins to transform the culture outside the Church.
- Reformation is... fueled by holiness!
Holiness is the fuel of reformation!
- Reformation begins with YOU! Your life, your mind, your heart, your sin, your finances, your family, your community - then it goes into culture!
- Reformation begins with YOU! Your life, your mind, your heart, your sin, your finances, your family, your community - then it goes into culture!
Reformation and Church History
The Cross - 0 A.D.
The Cross - 0 A.D.
- Pentecost (Birth of the Church) - 33 A.D.
- The Church is Underground & Persecuted.
- Christianity becomes the state of religion of Rome - 380
- The Great Schism (split of Catholic and Orthodox Church) - 1054
- Luther's 95 theses and beginning of the "Protestant Reformation" - 1517.
- Church of England splits off from Catholicism as the state religion - 1529
- The "Puritan Reformation" sought to reform the church of England, this eventually led to many people moving to America for religious freedom - 1530s.
- Denominations Based on Theology Began to Emerge... From Protestantism cam Lutherans, Anglicans and Reformed Theology.
- From Anglicans came, Episcopalism & Charismatics.
- From Calvinists came Presbyterian & Reformed Theology.
- The Great Awakening - 1720 - 1745
- Azusa Revival that began the Pentecostal denomination - 1906 - 1915.
- Charismatic Movement 1960s - Now.
- The Church is Underground & Persecuted.
- Christianity becomes the state of religion of Rome - 380
- The Great Schism (split of Catholic and Orthodox Church) - 1054
- Luther's 95 theses and beginning of the "Protestant Reformation" - 1517.
- Church of England splits off from Catholicism as the state religion - 1529
- The "Puritan Reformation" sought to reform the church of England, this eventually led to many people moving to America for religious freedom - 1530s.
- Denominations Based on Theology Began to Emerge... From Protestantism cam Lutherans, Anglicans and Reformed Theology.
- From Anglicans came, Episcopalism & Charismatics.
- From Calvinists came Presbyterian & Reformed Theology.
- The Great Awakening - 1720 - 1745
- Azusa Revival that began the Pentecostal denomination - 1906 - 1915.
- Charismatic Movement 1960s - Now.
History remembers the reformers and the future belongs to the reformers!
5 Characteristics of Reformers
1. Reformers are consecrated
2. Reformers are people of action!
- Prayer is Action
- Fasting is Action
- Serving is Action
- Giving is Action
- Fasting is Action
- Serving is Action
- Giving is Action
3. Reformers desire to please the Lord!
reform = yatab (yaw-tab') = to be good, well, glad, or pleasing.
4. Reformers use their influence. = Voice, Platform, Resources!
Dunamis strengthened and fortified your faith Reformation lives out your faith!
Reformers use their influence to stand up against injustice!
Practical Advice | Use whatever influence you have!
5. Reformers are fearless!
If you don't use your influence you will lose it!
A Reformer's fearlessness gives them a greater authority with greater audiences.
Question | What happens if I'm resisted?
Reformers are ALL IN, no matter the cost!
Practical Advice | Ask the Lord to teach you about reformation!
- The greatest reformer was JESUS! (The Gospels)
- Noah (Genesis 6-9)
- Moses (book of Exodus)
- The 12 judges of Israel | book of Judges
- David (book of 1 & 2 Samuel, Kings & Chronicles)
- Elijah (book of 1 Kings)
- Esther (book of Esther)
- Peter (book of Romans & Acts)
- Paul (book of acts 1 & 2 Corinthians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Philippians, Galatians, Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, 1&2 Timothy, Titus & Hebrews) - Mary of Magdala (the gospels) - and John the Baptist (the gospels)
- Noah (Genesis 6-9)
- Moses (book of Exodus)
- The 12 judges of Israel | book of Judges
- David (book of 1 & 2 Samuel, Kings & Chronicles)
- Elijah (book of 1 Kings)
- Esther (book of Esther)
- Peter (book of Romans & Acts)
- Paul (book of acts 1 & 2 Corinthians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Philippians, Galatians, Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, 1&2 Timothy, Titus & Hebrews) - Mary of Magdala (the gospels) - and John the Baptist (the gospels)
Pastoral Caution | Only a small portion of our church have been reforming, what would happen if the entire church began to pick up the mantle?
Reformation and the Bible
John the Baptist
- The first reference to John is in...
...after the genealogy and the birth story of Jesus.
- John was the son of Zechariah & Elizabeth (relative of Jesus)
- The angel Gabriel foretold his birth
- John was to be set apart "consecrated"
- John was filled with the Holy Spirit in the womb!
***THIS SHATTERS WOKE ABORTION THEOLOGY***
John was a wild one!
- John was a man of wilderness
- His message was REPENTANCE
WARNING | Anyone who disregards repentance
- John baptized people for repentance of sins.
- John's baptism demands the people either repent or face the coming judgment.
- A reformation of heart and life!
- John prepared the way of the Lord!
- John's baptism demands the people either repent or face the coming judgment.
- A reformation of heart and life!
- John prepared the way of the Lord!
- John was frequently associated with the prophet Elijah
- Elijah's ministry ended at the Jordan River (2 Kings 2:6) and John's began at the Jordan River.
- He was humble
The heart's cry of a reformer is... "Jesus must increase, I must decrease!"
- John was called "The Baptizer"
- John baptized Jesus! *Revelation moment
- John baptized Jesus! *Revelation moment
Question | Why would Jesus have John baptize Him?
The baptism of Jesus revealed the Trinity!
- John was the first to announce Jesus as Lord!
- He was beheaded by Herod because of a Jezebel spirit!
WARNING | The spirit of Jezebel resists reformers and reformation!
- He was bold and confrontational
- This is the story of Jesus and John the Baptist
- John is in prison and sends his disciples to Jesus!
- Jesus is reflecting on His encounters with John.
- John is in prison and sends his disciples to Jesus!
- Jesus is reflecting on His encounters with John.
John's encounters with Jesus reflect the encounters reformers will have with Jesus.
1. The Womb | A Place of Intimacy
2. The Water | A Place of Glory
3 Encounters Reformers Will Have With Jesus
3. The Prison | A Place of Tyranny (Persecution)
Reformers do not escape persecution!
Reformers encounter God!
*Revelation of Reformers*
Least in the kingdom = "heaven"
The least in heaven is greater than the greatest on earth!
The least in heaven is greater than the greatest on earth!
Reformers are Heaven minded.
They are building the blue prints of Heaven!
They are building the blue prints of Heaven!
The greatest desire for a reformer is for people to encounter more Jesus!
Prayer of Reformation
"Lord, I ask for You to reform any crooked ways within me. I seek Heaven's blueprint and ask for Your heart and Your mind in all things. I pray, less of me, more of You! I want what You want. Show me what pleases You. Let Your will be done! If I perish, I perish, but I will make straight the way of the Lord.
Lord, You are holy, make me holy! I pray for revival and reformation in my family, city, state, America and the nations! Amen."
"Lord, I ask for You to reform any crooked ways within me. I seek Heaven's blueprint and ask for Your heart and Your mind in all things. I pray, less of me, more of You! I want what You want. Show me what pleases You. Let Your will be done! If I perish, I perish, but I will make straight the way of the Lord.
Lord, You are holy, make me holy! I pray for revival and reformation in my family, city, state, America and the nations! Amen."
MC Connect
Want to get connected? Text "Connect" to 59090, or click the link below!
https://mercyculturewaco.com/connectMC Groups
Find a group that's right for you!
https://mercyculture.churchcenter.com/groups/mc-waco?enrollment=open_signup%2Crequest_to_join&filter=enrollment- Text NEW to 59090 if you are a first time visitor.
-Text JESUS to 59090 if you received salvation today.
-Text WACO to 59090 for all upcoming events.
-Text JESUS to 59090 if you received salvation today.
-Text WACO to 59090 for all upcoming events.
Thank you for joining us in His Presence today!