We provide opportunities for people to question truth, voice their objections to Christianity and the things it teaches and to debate what is truth.

For example: Our Church has a culture where people can object to the exclusivity of Christianity or question how a loving God can send people to Hell.

Another example: If you question that tithing is still a Biblical principle, you will not be condemned but someone will walk alongside you as you discover what the Bible actually teaches.

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I think it is safe to say that Mosaic is a Church where you are encouraged to find answers to your questions about God/the Bible and where you will be helped to find them, it is so awesome.

BUT, MOST PEOPLE DON’T CARE ABOUT THE TRUTH

Most people who are resistant to God/the Church because of their objections; will not take the time to discuss/debate those objections.

Most people who question the Biblical view of tithing, marriage, worship, traditions; will never actually research the answers.

and when most people are confronted with the truth that their viewpoint is not correct, they will ignore it. 

WHY?

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

The truth is most people don’t care b/c as someone said in our community group last week, “they do not want God or anyone else to tell them how to live their life, they want to live it the way they want.”

SOME REASONS WHY THIS MATTERS….

I. TO THE NON-BELIEVER

I respect you, but is very silly to not seek to understand why you are here.  ”A doubt is actually an alternate belief” – Tim Keller.  It is very silly to not require justification for your beliefs on purpose/eternity.  You believe something, I surely hope that it is not in ignorance that you believe what you believe.  SEEK TRUTH, be able to back up why you believe what you believe.

II. TO THE BELIEVER

You claim to believe the BIble is the word of God, but you don’t actually seek to revolve your life around what it teaches.  There is something wrong with this picture.  Either you don’t actually believe it and it has been convenient to label yourself a Christian or you need to change.  Let God be your authority. 

III. TO PASTORS

Apologetics are well and good (we will continue the approach we currently use) but what people need most is to hear the Gospel.  That God is Holy and that they sinned against Him, yet in His gracious  love; he sent His son as a substitution for the sin.  That He wants them to be reconciled to HIm.  That He he who knew no sin, became sin so that they might declared the righteousness of God in Him.  

They try to be involved in as many areas as possible, spreading themselves very thin.  They feel as if they are strengthening the Church, but often they are weakening it as they neglect the needs  of their Church for an opportunity to have more attention.

Giving their money to causes, neglecting the ministry of their Church.

Sometimes they are not even partners (members) of a Church.

Their loyalty often being to the Passion Conference (or some other popular gathering) which occurs once a year. 

An example worth following

There is a girl in our community named Lacy Gatlin.  Lacy is an extremely passionate and devoted follower of Christ who is also very talented/gifted.

Lacy is involved in several ways in the community and uses her gifts to strengthen other Churches.

But, she is completely faithful and loyal to Emmanuel Baptist Church (my second favorite church in Crestview).  She only helps in other Churches on Sundays that she is not being asked to be in her church.  She is plugged into community and has people who hold her accountable in her Church.  She is submissive to the leaders of her Church.

This past Sunday, she played guitar and drums at Mosaic, and after she was done breaking down, still attended her Church.

Not weakening the Church by spreading herself too thin, but using her gifts in other areas when her Church does not need them and with the blessing of her leaders.

So College-Age students

If you want to change the world the way God said to do it.  Commit to a Church; Serve, give and growth there.  Then think about other opportunities to serve.

Sponsor Classrooms at Antioch Elementary

Develop training for one on one discipleship

Develop a new logo

New website

Connection Table with easy steps to get connected to Mosaic

Amp up Children’s registration, parent connection

Improve atmosphere of worship room

and much, much more.

The goal of this series is for:

Broken marriages to take a big step towards restoration, good marriages to know what it takes to be great and Singles to know what it takes for a great marriage and to be better prepared.

This will be one of the most powerful series we do at mosaic and we have a lot of surprises in store!

I am especially thrilled that Christie will be teaching with me for the entire month!

So, three more weeks of #winning! (which is going great) and then THE VOW!

Lead/Teach “THE VOW: 30 days to an incredible marriage” with Christie.  (February)

Preach at “Pause” with Tripp Battle (March)

Easter (April)

Finish my Masters of Divinity (May)

Go on our first trip to India to begin a missions partnership (June-October)

Turn 30 years old (August)

Hopefully, pay off our van (by October)

Hopefully, run my 1,000th mile of the year (by December)

Christmas with Mosaic and family (December)

-Growing in my relationship with God, being Christie’s husband, being a part of Cameron, Nathan and Lilly’s growth and Pastoring an incredible Church!

There is some truth to that: Each person is held accountable by God for their life and He is the only judge of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8)

But our relationship with God is anything but personal and most of the Bible (which guides) us was written to a group and not to an individual, so when need to be careful when applying Scripture to our lives.

Examples:

Jeremiah 29:11  “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

I have often heard people quote this about their specific destiny, not considering that their “destiny” fits in with the Church as a whole.  This verse is written to Israel who were God’s people, which is now the Church (Christians).  If you are quoting this, you are quoting that God has a plan for the Church.  In fact many people’s role in advancing the Church has involved dying.

1 Corinthians

Ok, I could have actually said all of the letters Paul wrote to the Churches; Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians  and then the other books written to a group like 1 and 2 Peter, Hebrews, and James.    Be careful applying the teaching of these books to you personal life alone, remember that they are written to people who are connected to the big picture.

Matthew 7:9-13 Pray then like this: ”Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.  Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

When Jesus teaches us how to pray (if anything is personal, its prayer), He is actually teaching people to pray with the group in mind (maybe corporate prayer).  Our Father, our daily bread, our debtors, lead us not into temptation.

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I hope that when you read the Bible, you are always thinking of personal application and then thinking of others.  Even in the passage where Jesus tells us to remove the plank from our eye before removing the speck from our bothers, we are still to remove the speck from our brothers; Jesus just wants us to be able to remove specks without our sin getting in the way. (Matthew 7:5)

Any thoughts/questions?

When your team wins (or even scores), you celebrate.

When your kids make good grades, you celebrate.

When you get  a promotion, you celebrate.

When you make a big purchase, you celebrate.

So, when people profess faith in Christ.  When they are baptized to symbolize that they realize their is no hope in their way of living and have trusted in Christ for new life……this is a reason to CELEBRATE.

THIS IS THE REASON TO CELEBRATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christians should be more excited about this than pretty much anything! So, are you?

YOU ARE INVITED TO PARY WITH US ON SUNDAY NIGHT as we celebrate GOD’S Working in the lives of these people!

That 1 person is worth it!

That 1 person has to be what drives you to press on when others are criticizing you.

That 1 person makes dealing with people who go back and forth about God and your Church worth your time and energy.

That 1 person makes all the set up, all the structure, all the preparation a success.

That 1 person has a name and you will get to know it.

That 1 person will become a  part of your band, one of the Church’s biggest givers, a part of your leadership team.

So, whatever is going on in your life; whatever you are getting discouraged about in your church, when you are feeling a little frustrated about there not being enough volunteers and all the serving you have to do;

Remember that 1!

WHY are you a Christian?

God does not want us to go through the motions.  He wants us to love Him, like really love Him.  He wants us to get to know Him and not just do things for Him.

The WHY matters to God.  a lot.

Church people It is easy to see the people who attend a “fancy” church, get all dressed up and think they are better than others as people who go through the motions.  (and honestly, a lot of them are)

“Free” Christians But, there are a lot of people who consider themself to be a Christian but want to be free from Church (in actuality God). They loosely affiliate themselves with a church, attend off an on, serve every one in a while and put a few dollars in the offering plate.  The go through motions because this justifies their life lived for themselves.

There is no difference.  They are both just going through the motions.

God wants people who are in love with Him.  He wants people who are spending time WITH Him.  People who are starting to do/give/go because of who He is to them.

so WHY? I pray that you will examine much of your life and ask WHY!

2. Matisyahu was in Crestview Starbucks today.  Weird.

3. Spent time talking with Michael McDuffie about how Mosaic is going to get involved in international missions.  Awesome.

4. Met with a friend who is resigning as Pastor this Sunday and getting out of vocation ministry for at least a short time.  Sobering.

5. Working on my sermon for Sunday.  Exciting!