Tony Merida > Quotes

“Prayer is a very hard thing to do because it seems like we aren’t doing anything. But it’s also hard because it’s a humble act. We must humble ourselves before God’s mighty hand regularly and cast our cares on Him.”
― Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Philippians

“We must have God! Perhaps the greatest problem with the church today is the attempt to do the work of God apart from the presence and power of God. We can get so good at “doing church” that the ministry becomes mechanical and mundane. We must say, “Lord, we do not want to go another step without You!”
― Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Exodus

“The first step to becoming a student of the Bible is having a heart of humility—a heart that says, “Please, give me understanding.”
― Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians

“We must kill this idea, “My home is my refuge.” I often hear people say that. It’s idolatry. Jesus is our refuge. We need to open our homes to people.”
― Tony Merida, Ordinary: How to Turn the World Upside Down

“Injustice exists because men either abuse the weak or fail to defend the weak”
― Tony Merida, Ordinary: How to Turn the World Upside Down

“If you have experienced God’s sovereign grace, it should absolutely humble you and cause you to worship. When you display arrogance as a Christian, you have not worked God’s amazing grace down deep into your soul.”
― Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Exodus

“We need the Spirit’s help to grasp the greatness of God, the supremacy of Christ, and the rich benefits of the gospel.”
― Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians

“While Paul often refers to “Jesus Christ” or “Christ Jesus” or “Lord Jesus” or “the Messiah, Jesus,” in 4:21 we find the only mention of just the name “Jesus” in Ephesians. It seems deliberate. Paul is talking about the historical person, Jesus. He lived, died, and rose from the dead in human history. Find Him and you find truth. Find Him and you find life.”
― Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians

“It is not a mere intellectual appreciation of the love of Christ that Paul is after. Carson says, Paul is not asking that his readers might become more able to articulate the greatness of God’s love in Christ Jesus or to grasp with the intellect alone how significant God’s love is in the plan of redemption. He is asking God that they might have the power to grasp the dimensions of that love in their experience. (Spiritual Reformation, 191, emphasis added)”
― Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians

“When you have a headstrong agenda for some thing or cause, and if your desires are unmet, it can lead to conflict. So the battle is in the heart.”
― Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Conflict Resolution: A Guide For Turbulent Times

“To talk about the skills of conflict resolution but not focus on the heart will ultimately be a disappointing endeavor—especially in the long”
― Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Conflict Resolution: A Guide For Turbulent Times

“When you replace stewardship for ownership, you won't practice hospitality.”
― Tony Merida, Ordinary: How to Turn the World Upside Down

“In short, troubled people trouble people. Their internal unrest comes out on others, and creates unrest in their relationships. In the end, your relationships are usually in turmoil because you are in turmoil.”
― Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Conflict Resolution: A Guide For Turbulent Times

“You will not pursue Christ-centered conflict resolution if your heart is not captivated by Christ. If Christ doesn’t reign supreme in your life, then your peacemaking efforts will fall short.”
― Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Conflict Resolution: A Guide For Turbulent Times

“crushing,”
― Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Romans

“Knowledge asks the question, “What is right?” Discernment asks the question, “What is best?”
― Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Philippians

“If we really love people, we will tell them the gospel while we care for their physical needs.”
― Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Exodus

“What is interesting about the church in Ephesus is that even though it had an amazing history, the final mention in Revelation 2:1-7 about this great church is that they “abandoned the love [they] had at first.” Think about it: Priscilla and Aquila, Apollos, Paul, Timothy, and later John ministered to this church. What a heritage! Yet about 40 years after the first generation of believers, they had lost their love.”
― Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians

“You are only young once, but immaturity can last a lifetime”
― Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings

“We live out of the overflow of the heart.”
― Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings

“Hospitality doesn’t mean entertaining people. “Entertaining” is often about impressing others; hospitality is about serving others. Entertaining is often about the host; hospitality is about the guests. Entertaining is often shallow and superficial; hospitality is about depth and authenticity.”
― Tony Merida, Ordinary: How to Turn the World Upside Down

“The Christian life involves the constant encouragement of others. If your disposition is cynical and critical and there is no warmth and encouragement, you will not be a good leader—in your job, in your family, or in a church (small group or large). Sam Crabtree says, “We can sin in two ways: by idolatrous commendation (the praise of men), or by failing to commend the commendable.” He goes on to say, “Generally, it is easier to practice affirmation early in a relationship and it can get harder later” (Practicing Affirmation, 13). This is probably true in a marriage or in a church.”
― Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians

“Spiritual maturity isn’t merely something you do with your mind. It’s not about the books you read. It’s not about the conferences you attend or speak at. It’s about the life you live. It’s possible to listen to ten podcasts weekly, and to sing with the hottest bands, and be in four Beth Moore Bible studies, but miss the call to care for the least of these—and all the while live in a deceived state of thinking you’re mature.”
― Tony Merida, Ordinary: How to Turn the World Upside Down

“Some think the cross is overemphasized. They think evangelicals are too “atonement centered.” Stephen Finlan says, “It is a mistake to identify the atonement as the Central doctrine, although it is central in Pauline tradition, to First Peter, Hebrews, First John, and Revelation. But these books in their entirety compose only 39 percent of the NT” (Problems, 120). I do not agree with his assessment, but even so, if it is central in 39 percent of the New Testament, then you cannot pretend it is not important!”
― Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians

“Obedience without incentive is likely genuine.”
― Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings

“After saying that our works cannot save us, Paul notes the importance of works. He does not want us to think that works are unimportant. He states that works simply are not the root of our salvation. They are the fruit of salvation (cf. John 15:8; Titus 2:14). The Reformers used to say, “It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies can never be alone.” We are not saved by faith plus works but by a faith that does work. We have a living faith, a functioning faith!”
― Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians

“Some get the wrong idea about election. It should not cast doubt on whether or not all are welcome to come to Jesus. All may come. That is the invitation. Russell Moore says, God is not some metaphysical airport security screener, waving through the secretly pre-approved and sending the rest into a holding tank for questioning. God is not treating us like puppets made of meat, forcing us along by his capricious whim. Instead the doctrine of election tells us that all of us who have come to know Christ are here on purpose. (Adopted for Life, 34)”
― Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians

“Remember: There’s an empty tomb in the Middle East, and an occupied throne in heaven. Remember,”
― Tony Merida, Ordinary: How to Turn the World Upside Down

“When you replace stewardship for ownership you won’t practice hospitality.”
― Tony Merida, Ordinary: How to Turn the World Upside Down

“Ephesus was also home to the Roman emperor cult. The worship of the emperor was a prominent feature of life at all levels in Asia at this time. Caesar Augustus was spoken of as the “Savior.” His birth was hailed as “the beginning of good tidings to the world,” and the calendar was adjusted in light of his birth (Thielman, Ephesians, 21). So there was a “gospel conflict.” Coins, statues, temples, and other items proclaimed the gospel of Augustus, but the church was proclaiming the gospel of Jesus. Today you can see the statue of the Roman emperor Trajan among the ruins in Ephesus. He ruled after Paul’s lifetime, but you can catch the spirit of Roman rulers at his time. The statue shows Trajan’s foot on top of the world, giving the idea that he was a god. Now compare this picture with 1:21-22. Only One has all things under His feet: the Lord Jesus. When Christians said, “Jesus is Lord,” they were saying that Caesar is not.”
― Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians