How are we to serve?

This week Drew Hinds was interviewed and he spoke about how God has used significant relationships in his life to shape him. He also spoke about how God is allowing him to share his faith with others. The leadership team acknowledgd that Drew and Christin live lives that welcome others and through their love people come to know Christ!

Jason and Andy shared about service and what true service is.

"God brings me into the proper relationship with Himself so that I can understand His call, and then I serve Him on my own out of a motivation of absolute love."
- My Utmost For His Highest (Jan 17th)

Andy then read a passage of "Dangerous Surrender". Ultimately, when we serve others, we serve Christ. We can't serve Christ by giving him a drink on the cross when he was thirsty, or by putting clothes on his back, etc. But we do serve him when we serve those around us. We do when we enter into relationship and let ourselves be hurt by the things that are hurting others.

So, this week be challenged to ask God, "Because of my love for you, who are you calling me to serve?"

20/20 Vision

I'd like to share with you the vision statement and values for Mosaic.

It is our prayer that:
- People encounter Christ and are transformed
- People are equipped for outreach through teaching, encouragement, relationship
- People engage a lost world for Christ

In short: encounter. equip. engage.

encounter - a significant event where the outcome is a lasting transformation

• Examples: Peter preaching and the early church
  Acts 2:37 – They were cut to the heart and asked, "What should we do?"
  
  An encounter with Christ brings a realization that there is more to life than what you are currently experiencing. It brings with it a desire to change, and ultimately, a transformation as Christ molds us into his image.

equip - preparing one with sufficient qualiteis and gifts to accomplish a given task

• Example: early church
  Acts 2:42 – Devoted themselves to hearing the word, meeting together, prayer
  As soon as they received Christ, they knew they had much to learn. They devoted themselves. I picture a group of people intent on knowing and learning about Christ - singularly focused.
  
  I believe God honors this pursuit by not only opening their eyes to spiritual gifts he’s already given them, but also granting them abilities in other areas as well. I want to encourage you to not limit what God can do by the areas in your life that you believe God has gifted you. Sure, God can and will use those gifts, but he can also give you what you need in situations that you previously felt incapable of serving.

engage - Intentionally choosing to commit oneself to something

• Example: early church in response
  Acts 2:44 – All the believers were together – selling their possession and good, they gave to anyone as he had need. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of the people.

I want to also share the values we identified that aid in the pursuit of this vision.

• Authenticity – a sincere faith that is transparent and real. One that pursues holiness
• Prayer – represented by an intimate, daily walk with God. This is our spiritual foundation and where all action flows out of
• Community –a place to belong. One where you can grow through teaching, encouragement, and spurring
• Outreach – Sharing God with others so that they may come to a saving knowledge of him

I believe a faith journey begins with an encounter - a real, personal, shocking jolt to our conscience that we need Christ. Through this our “eyes” are opened. This leads us to obedience where we desire to align ourselves into right relationship with Christ. As we pursue this, we find that we are on a path that leads to holiness. It is this path that our love for Christ overflows into a love for others and ultimately service. If we try to jump the gun and pursue any of these other things first, we’re going to end up not finding the joy that Christ has for us. We will most likely make a mess. But if we continue to take steps on the path that Christ sets before us we will find true peace and joy.

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” - Eph. 1:17-19