Mosaic Lincoln

Bono of U2 recently lamented: "In Christian art I find a lot of dishonesty...This is why I am suspicious of Christians - because of their lack of realism." While we may be tempted to present ourselves as being better than we really are, the Psalms show us a different way - one that both acknowledges and confronts the inevitable spiritual winters of the soul. Special thanks to Tim Keller for his substantial contribution to this message. To learn more about Mosaic, visit us at www.mosaiclincoln.org.

This week we begin a two-month journey together in the book of Psalms. John Calvin said that in the Psalms “the Holy Spirit has drawn all the griefs, sorrows, fears, doubts, hopes, cares, perplexities, in short, all the distracting emotions with which the minds of men are wont to be agitated...all lurking places are discovered, and the heart is brought into the light.” Calvin called the Psalms "an anatomy of the soul." This week we begin our journey by taking an in-depth look at what the soul is, how it works and why understanding the soul is so incredibly important. Special thanks to John Ortberg and Dallas Willard for their substantial contribution to this message. For a more in-depth study of the soul, we highly recommend John Ortberg's book "Soul Keeping." To learn more about Mosaic, visit us at www.mosaiclincoln.org.

About 100 years ago Einstein theorized that time was not constant, and could run at different rates. Time is not a label on the universe but experienced individually. What implications does this have on our faith? How can we redeem the time that we have and see every moment as sacred?

Math is everywhere. In the money we spend, the produce we buy, and in the galaxy we live. Math can be intimidating, but if there is one thing math can teach us about life is that in order to succeed you need to fail. We learn better through failure, so why do we fear it so much? How can math teach our faith to embrace failure and problems rather than avoid them?

Niels Bohr said, “If Quantum Mechanics hasn’t profoundly shocked you, you haven’t understood it yet.” Quantum Mechanics is the study of the strange universe at the atomic an sub atomic level. Electrons that are in two places at once, cats that are both dead and alive at the same time, particles that affect each other instantly even if they are billions of light years apart. Quantum Mechanics is an embrace of the mystery of the universe. That things aren’t always what they seem. What can the mystery of science teach us about embracing the mystery of faith?

It's easy for us to look back and say, "What fools," how did you not believe the earth was round or that the earth revolved around the sun. But it's not so easy to look at the present and say, "where am I foolish?"Historically the church and the scientific community have not gotten along, and for centuries the church has not handled the advancement of science very well. This week we explore how the church persecuted scientists of the past, what the different theologies on creation are, and how we can move towards forming a partnership with science rather than opposition. Special thanks to Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Fox's TV show Cosmos, and Tim Keller for their contributions to this message.

In week three of our Kingdom Economics series we look at what may be one of the strangest parables Jesus ever told. Though Jesus' words may initially strike us as odd, a deeper look reveals a gold mine of truth for how disciples are to manage the resources God has entrusted to them. Special thanks to Tim Keller, Greg Boyd and Dave Ramsey for their contributions to this message. To learn more about Mosaic, visit us at www.mosaiclincoln.org.

In Week 2 of our series Kingdom Economics we continue leaning in to what the Bible teaches us about money. When our wants become greater than our income, debt can take control of our lives. And when debt is in control, generosity disappears. Jesus reminds us to avoid owing anyone anything except our obligation to love each other generously.

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.