Newsletter: Take Heart: I am (with you)
Dear Mosaic Family,
One of the most common adjectives used to describe God's love toward His people is: steadfast. Psalm 118:29 says "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!"
God's love for His people is steadfast, because God is immutable (that is, He doesn't change.) Therefore, when God meets Moses at the burning bush, when Moses asks for God's name, God responds: "I am who I am." God loves us with a steadfast love, and commands us to love and serve Him with a reciprocal steadfastness.
How does God grow steadfastness in us? Through trials. James 1:2-3 says, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
In our text for Sunday, Mark 6:45-56, Jesus orchestrates another teachable moment when he sends his exhausted disciples into another storm, while He watches over them from a mountain.
The texts says, "immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side." The text then tells us "they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them." They had just returned from missionary work, so exhausted Jesus tells them to go on a retreat. On the way to a "desolate place" they get ambushed by 5000 spiritually and physically hungry men. They spend another full day ministering to people. Then Jesus forces them to go on a boat trip, into a storm, where the only way of making progress was rowing (or walking). They end up rowing up to 9 hours through the night, until Jesus comes walking on water to save them.
The story ends with a comment about their utter astonishment, and the following puzzling phrase, "they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened."
Why mention their hardened hearts? Because the text reveals the posture of heart with which the disciples were serving Jesus. Trials do not automatically produce steadfastness. Trials can produce hardness of heart if not accepted with joy. How can we consider trials a joy? With the power of God, the Great I am, who is always with us, and particularly close in the trials of life.
Looking forward to worshiping with you!
Pastor Jan
This Week's Announcements
Members Meeting
This Saturday, December 16 at 5pm
If you are a covenant member of Mosaic or have been notified that you are being voted into membership, join us for our last quarterly meeting of 2023.
Mini Mo Christmas Performance
This Sunday, December 17, 9:15am service
Join us for our kid's Christmas performance as they lead us in singing "Unto Us (Isaiah 9:2, 6-7)" during the 9:15 am service.
Holiday Service Changes
Sundays, December 24 and 31 at 10am
Due to the upcoming holidays, we will hold only one service at 10 am on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. These services will be family friendly and no childcare will be formally offered. Please join us for fellowship and worship together as one church body.
Serve with us
At Mosaic Boston, we serve because Jesus served. The Gospel makes us a family marked by Christlike humility and service to God, to his church, and to the people around us. We can all play an eternally significant role in Jesus’ mission. Service Teams are a key aspect of our Sunday operations and meet Sundays before, during, or after Worship Services. We have a huge need across many of our teams, you can find more information and get involved here.
Songs for Sunday
If you would like to know what we'll be singing on Sunday, you can find the playlist here.