Values
UNITY—“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." John 17:20-26
This is a powerful and heavy passage—a prayer of Jesus for US! Our unity as future followers was on Jesus’ mind and heart as a dying wish before He endured the cross. From this prayer we learn that He not only desires oneness among us, but this oneness will be a signal to the world that He was sent from God. At Mosaic, we take this seriously in many ways as established in our Membership Covenant as well as by waiting for unanimous leading of the Holy Spirit at the PLT/Elder level before moving forward in any significant direction and decision.
SERVICE—If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves .Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Philippians 2:1-7
Jesus is our model. In all ways, we strive to become more and more like Him. Jesus taught us the greatest lesson in humility and showed us the extent of his love by laying his life done for us. At Mosaic, we serve one another—giving of ourselves for the good of others. We also purposefully serve those in our community in a myriad heart-felt, practical ways looking for every opportunity to discover who our neighbors really are—especially the least, last and the lost in our community and beyond.
SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION—Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2
Surrendering our lives to Christ in salvation changes us eternally. Surrendering to the Holy Spirit as a process of spiritual transformation changes us daily. At Mosaic, we are committed to ongoing spiritual transformation and recognize the many different dimensions of this process including prayer, solitude, meditation, fasting, poetry, art, music, writing, and more. The goal is to engage the Truth in any and every way with the purpose of spiritual renewal and increased Christ-likeness.
BIBLICAL COMMUNITY—They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47
The Christian faith is a communal faith—it always has been. Organizing in groups and sharing life together is a core element of how the church was established. It also reflects the perfect community displayed in the Trinity. Our Groups Ministry is the best reflection of this value. Our Home Groups and Care Groups create spaces for people to be authentic and genuine, to be known and loved, admonished and celebrated.
MISSIONAL LIVING—From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. Acts 17:26
God has intentionally placed us exactly where we are—each of us in our own families, neighborhoods, workplaces, gyms, coffee shops and classrooms. Knowing and understanding this truth brings a tremendous amount of purpose and meaning to our existence. As we seek and obey God’s leading in our current environments we begin to realize we exist right in the center of a pre-determined mission field where our purpose collides with the providence of God. As a result, we purposefully look for ways to express His love, serve those in need, and ultimately to share the greatest gift…the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
TRUTH AND GRACE—And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:14-17 (ESV)
The Bible is our source of truth and the great revealer of the Truth. The Bible is an infallible account of the story of God and the Truth He has revealed over centuries of time. It is our foundation for all that we are and for all that we strive to become. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is the greatest expression of both truth and grace and our model for extending both Truth and Grace to our community.
