Mosaic Lincoln

In week one of our series Kingdom Economics we take a candid look at what the bible has to say about money and the things money can buy. Jesus pleads with us to invest our best in eternal things. Paul points out that the love of stuff has actually caused many to wander away from the faith and some don't even realize they're lost. And James warns of the judgment that awaits those who spend their lives giving little and consuming much. Special thanks to Annie Leonard for her work (www.storyofstuff.org) and to Dave Johnson for his massive contribution to this message. To learn more about Mosaic, visit us at www.mosaiclincoln.org.

This Sunday Mosaic turns five years old! This week we pause to celebrate what God has done in our midst over the past five years, why we started Mosaic in the first place, what the Church ought to be all about and what we are striving for the next five years. Special thanks to Michael Frost, Donald Miller, Andy Stanley and Reggie McNeal for their contributions to this message. For more information, visit us at www.mosaiclincoln.com.

Are we so busy trying to find the one, that we aren’t being the one? In the original Hebrew, Song of Songs includes 3 different words for love. How can these words shape us into being THE ONE for someone instead of expecting them to be THE ONE for us. Special thanks to Rob Bell's Nooma "Flame," Andy Stanley's "New Rules for Love Sex and Dating" series, and Robert Waldinger's TED talk on "What makes a good life?"

Everyday we see unhealthy examples of sex. Sex that makes us broken. Sexuality that takes away our humanity. And we find it both in the world AND in the church. In week three we explore what the Song of Song's tells us about healthy sexuality, and how it was designed to connect us Body, Mind, and Soul. Special thanks to Craig Groeschel's message "God Honoring Sex" and Rob Bell's book "Sex God" for their contributions to this message.

In week two of our series on love, sex and relationships we explore whether it is possible to truly love someone else, if we can't even love ourselves. And how do we effectively love ourselves without falling in love with ourselves? Special thanks to Brene Brown for her message "The Power of Vulnerability" and to Richard Rohr for his work "True Self, False Self."

Everyday we are bombarded by marketing that specifically taps into our longing for love, sex and relationships. How do we process all of this information, and what does God have to say about our love lives? In week one of our series Climb The Palm Tree we ask the question, “are we more in love with the idea of falling in love, then we are with actually being in love?” How do we fall out of love with falling in shallow love, and learn to LOVE LIKE WINE. For more info please visit www.mosaiclincoln.com

It can be very tempting for religious people to read Jesus' words in the beatitudes as a list of things to do in order to become blessed. "Blessed are the poor in spirit? Then I must become poor in spirit. Blessed are those who mourn? Then I must mourn. Blessed are the meek? Then I must grow in meekness." And on it goes. If we read the beatitudes this way, however, we will have turned Jesus' blessings into something they were never intended to be and we will have missed the whole point of his message. Special thanks to Dallas Willard, Rob Bell, and R.W. Glenn for their contributions to this message. To learn more about Mosaic, visit us at mosaiclincoln.org.

Jesus said in Matthew 18:20, “Wherever two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Is it possible that what he really meant to say was “Wherever two or three are gathered, there will be problems"? It certainly seems to be true anyway. In a world saturated with conflict peacemaking is tough work. But for those who would follow after Jesus, peacemaking is part of the call. Special thanks to Matt Chandler, Todd Pickett, and Jim Van Yperen for their contributions to this message. To learn more about Mosaic, visit us at mosaiclincoln.org.

This week we explore together what some perceive to be Jesus' most intimidating beatitude yet: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." What exactly does he mean by this? Is he asking of us something we are incapable of being? Is there any authentic way that ordinary people can experience the reality of a pure heart? How are we to understand what Jesus is saying here? Special thanks to Dave Johnson, Brennan Manning, and Brian Zahnd for their contributions to this message. To learn more about Mosaic, visit us at mosaiclincoln.org.

Inside each and every one of us is an innate sense of justice. Nobody had to teach you this. It is in each one of us from birth. It is the thing inside of you that causes you to be upset when you or someone you love is wronged. And it is what makes you long for that wrong to be made right. In Jesus' sixth beatitude, however, he introduces an idea that almost always offends our innate sense of justice: mercy. Special thanks to Matt Chandler, Greg Boyd, and Brian Zahnd for their contributions to this message. To learn more about Mosaic, visit us at mosaiclincoln.org.

The story of The Magi is a strange, often misunderstood story. But it has a lot to teach us about how God can speak to us in the midst of seasons of waiting.

Jesus' kingdom message has always elicited very different responses from different kinds of people. To the poor and the oppressed, his message is like cold water to a parched soul. To the rich and the powerful, however, his message can be more than a little unsettling. Are we willing to hear Jesus' words for what they are? Are we willing to ask what the implications may be for us - some of the most wealthy, advantaged and opportunity-laden people on the planet? Special thanks to Dave Johnson, Glen Stassen, and Brian Zahnd for their contributions to this message. To learn more about Mosaic, visit us at mosaiclincoln.org.

In his third beatitude Jesus presents us with what is perhaps his most paradoxical idea yet: "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." Once again we are confronted with the fact that Jesus' vision of the kingdom of God looks very different from what we know to be true about how the world works and who gets ahead. How are we to understand what Jesus is saying here and why is it so incredibly important for us here and now? You might be surprised by the answer. Special thanks to Rob Bell, Brian Zahnd, Eugene Peterson and Dallas Willard for their contributions to this message. To learn more about Mosaic, visit us at mosaiclincoln.org.

In his second beatitude the paradox of Jesus' kingdom teaching is on full display. Blessed are those who mourn? Happy are the sad? Blessed are the depressed? Do any of us actually believe this? Just as importantly, do any of us even want to? Though we may be inclined to gloss over suffering and avoid it at all costs, Jesus models for those who would come after him a different way. Special thanks to Dave Johnson, Brian Zahnd, Eugene Peterson, and R.W. Glenn, for their contributions to this message. For more about Mosaic, visit us at mosaiclincoln.org.

The Beatitudes have been debated for centuries. Are these to be understood as conditions for entering the kingdom or as characteristics of those that have already entered? The answer is yes. Jesus begins The Beatitudes with a puzzling statement even to today's audience who know the whole gospel story. How strange this teaching must have seemed to those on the mountainside. It challenges the reader to consider the upside down truth that exists in the new kingdom.

In The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus paints a vivid yet counterintuitive picture of what it looks like to be a part of the kingdom of God. It wasn't what anyone expected. God is doing what? He is inviting who? He is blessing them? I become a part of this how? Two thousand years later his message is every bit as shocking, freeing, beautiful and challenging to us as it was to its first hearers. Special thanks to Scot McKnight, Christopher Moore, R.W. Glenn, Rob Bell and Frederick Dale Bruner for their contributions to this message. For more about Mosaic, visit us at mosaiclincoln.org.

Everything you do is a creative act. Every word you say, and every word you don't say. Every inaction and every action. Every piece of food you eat and everything your mind consumes. What future are your actions creating in you and the world around you? What future does God want to create in you?

There may not be a more overused and misunderstood word in the Christian vernacular than “relevance”. Over the years it seems the word has become associated in many people’s minds with trying to be cool. However, being cool, hip, or trendy is a rather sad goal for Jesus' church to chase after. So let us suggest a new word that gets right to the heart of what we mean: incarnation. After all, Jesus didn’t just come to die for us. He also came to show us how to live. Special thanks to Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch for their contributions to this message. For more about Mosaic, visit us at mosaiclincoln.org.

How can the church grow more in tune with the Spirit of God so we move when God says “Move” and stay when God says “Stay”? In week three of our CORE series we explore the relationship between structure and spirit throughout the scriptures. How can we allow God to prune our lives and our church in order to be a conduit of life?

How can God be crazy enough to love us unconditionally? How can we become a community defined by Grace and Love? "God loves you as you are... Not as you should be." - Brennan Manning Special thanks to Robert Capon and Brennan Manning for their contributions to this message.