The Merciful | Blessed? | Pastor Dale Oquist

Sep 6, 2026 • Pastor Dale Oquist

What happens when we stop keeping score?

We naturally remember offenses, compare what we've given with what we've received, and wait for things to finally feel fair. But Jesus introduces a radically different way to live:

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

In this message from our Blessed? series, Pastor Dale Oquist explores a mercy that goes far beyond simply accepting an apology. Biblical mercy is filled with forgiveness, compassion, and love. It refuses to forget people, give up on them, or treat them according to what they deserve.

We don't repay Jesus for the mercy He has shown us. We experience His mercy more deeply as we begin giving it away.

Mercy is what happens when we stop keeping score.

In this message, you'll discover:

-Why keeping score can quietly destroy our relationships

-How mercy goes beyond forgiveness

-What people were really asking when they cried, "Jesus, have mercy on me"

-Why God's mercy never runs out

-How mercy can turn strangers into family

-Why giving mercy helps us understand how deeply God has forgiven us

-What our unwillingness to show mercy can reveal about our own hearts

-Why fairness can become a bottomless pit

-How mercy can transform marriages and our closest relationships