God by Jesus

What does Jesus teach about mercy and kindness?

Jesus repeatedly described God as merciful and taught his followers to practice the same mercy. In the Sermon on the Mount he said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7). He told the story of the Good Samaritan to show that kindness crosses boundaries, and he listed concrete acts of mercy—feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, caring for the sick—in Matthew 25. The God by Jesus app turns those teachings into a daily practice rather than leaving them as ideas to read.

How does the app connect mercy to everyday life?

Every stage of the twenty-stage journey opens at a real biblical location with a passage and a question. After you answer (or dictate) and compare notes with Eliam, the stage offers one small act of kindness drawn from the story. Completing it grows your streak and plants a seed in the Kindness Garden. The garden has six plots that match the six acts of mercy in Matthew 25. Over time the garden fills as you carry the day’s teaching into the real world.

Why focus on mercy instead of other themes?

Many people first meet a God who seems more interested in judgment or original sin than in compassion. The app grew out of a search for the God Jesus actually portrayed—one who runs to meet the lost son, who tells the story of the Samaritan who stopped, and who treats mercy as central rather than optional. You are invited to read the passages, answer the questions yourself, and decide what you see.

What are the six acts of mercy in the Kindness Garden?

They come directly from Matthew 25:

1. Feeding the hungry
2. Giving drink to the thirsty
3. Welcoming the stranger
4. Clothing the naked
5. Caring for the sick
6. Visiting the prisoner

Each completed real-world act plants a seed in the corresponding plot. The garden is a simple visual reminder that the teaching is meant to be lived, not only studied.

Is this the same as traditional Christian teaching on atonement or sacrifice?

The app is not written to present any particular doctrine of atonement. It focuses on how Jesus spoke about God and how he treated people. Stories and passages are retold in the app’s own words, with chapter and verse provided so you can always return to the text you trust. Eliam is a companion for reflection, not a source of doctrine.

How private is the kindness practice?

Your answers, notes, streak, and garden progress stay on your device (and, if you choose, in your private iCloud account). There are no user accounts, no advertising, no analytics, and no servers of ours. What you write never leaves your device except for the optional iCloud sync that belongs to your Apple account.

A short note

The site and app uphold the values of respect, honesty, responsibility, and justice. The kindness challenges ask you to do something real. Take them on with the knowledge of a parent, guardian, or another adult you trust, and skip any challenge that does not feel safe or right.