Mosaic - Erwin McManus

There’s a divide between being a visual learner and an auditable learner. To truly follow Jesus, we need to be good both. The Bible is not trying to heighten our visual reading skills-it’s trying to heighten our auditory skills. We must learn to hear God's voice clearly so we can identify it. Throughout the Scriptures, there’s an overwhelming theme of the power of God’s voice. We simply cannot navigate the life that God has called us to unless we learn to listen to it well.

When God speaks He creates, and when He creates He brings life. If we want to experience the life that God has for us, we must hear God’s voice. In Hebrews 12:25 it says, “See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks.” Scripture gives us a compass to know what things God would and would not speak. But when we only trust our compass rather than God's compass, we hit the same obstacles repeatedly.

God is trying to shake us free from things that are holding us down. But the things that God has given us will be unshakable. If we want God’s voice to shape our lives, we need to realize God is always speaking and His voice creates life. We must look forward because God's voice always calls us forward to a life of freedom initiated by Him.

“Everything in the Scriptures begins with the voice of God and ends with the voice of God.”

-Erwin McManus

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"Hearing God's Voice" message given by Erwin McManus at Mosaic Hollywood.

For more information, visit mosaic.org. © MOSAIC / Erwin McManus. #20201004

We as humans don't have a perception of time, we have a perception of change. If change is not a given, we often feel as though we’ve wasted our time. Jeremiah chapter 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Pastor Erwin McManus reminds us that there is a difference between stepping into tomorrow and stepping into our future. God reminds us that with His love we not only receive hope but also a future. The future is where hope exists and everything in our present is committed to our future. We need to stand in this moment knowing we have a future. God has a plan for our future, not just for tomorrow.

A futureless tomorrow is filled with fear and doubt. When filled with faith, hope, and love we can step into the future. If we’re filled with fear, we don't have the material to step into our future. In the moments we’re filled with fear, we must see the markers that call us into our future. There will be moments in the future where we need to remember how good God is.

“A connection to God is a connection to the future. – Erwin McManus “

The future is ours.

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"Finding God In Your Future" message given by Erwin McManus at Mosaic Hollywood.

For more information, visit mosaic.org. © MOSAIC / Erwin McManus. #20200920

There are two different experiences within humanity: those who are ‘highborn’ and those who are ‘service class.’ One is born into privilege and one is not. The Scripture makes it clear that all of us have an inheritance that has been passed onto us. But most of us aren’t living as if we have received this legacy. This legacy invites everyone into promises that may only seem accessible to the ‘highborn.’

In Galatians 4:1-5 Paul address the reality that we can be the recipients of all the generosity God has given us. He tells us we’re all heirs. And as we mature we begin to step into our inheritance. We’re not all highborn, but when we enter a relationship with Jesus we’ve been invited into a full inheritance.

We must move toward maturity so we can handle the full inheritance God promises us. A relationship with God will transform us and that is an undeniable promise. But, we must step into this relationship ourselves. We are heirs, but we can choose to live like slaves; the choice is ours.  We must allow God to give us full freedom so that we are able to receive our full inheritance.

“God is not limited in His generosity.” -Erwin McManus

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"Highborn" message given by Erwin McManus at Mosaic Hollywood.

For more information, visit mosaic.org. © MOSAIC / Erwin McManus. #20200830

In any season of life, it is easy to get lost in what we do not have. More than ever, we get to take hold of what God has given us for the sake of those around us. God is always at work and beauty surrounds us. Do we see it? As a tribe, we believe that we are never limited in our ability to bring hope, love, and faith. Instead of becoming paralyzed by what we have lost, we are choosing to be mobilized by what we've gained. 

To create momentum as a community, we can use the vehicle of joy. I any situation, there is beauty and wonder to behold. People need to experience the presence of Jesus in us and we can express it through the joy we have in any circumstance. We need to walk so profoundly in the presence of God that wherever we are Jesus is present and undeniable.

Out of Zechariah 8, Pastor Erwin McManus reminds us that nothing can stop us from doing good in the world. We can live lives so profoundly impacted by God that we cannot help but create a rumor of God’s goodness everywhere we go. What if those around us asked to journey with us simply because God’s work in our lives was undeniable? This is the life God has called us to.

"We need to become the rumor of God." -Erwin McManus

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"The Rumor Of God" message given by Erwin McManus at Mosaic Hollywood.

For more information, visit mosaic.org. © MOSAIC / Erwin McManus. #20200809

Pastor Erwin hosted a powerful conversation on how we can be a part of the solution to racial inequality with Chris Simmons and Gerald Davis. Chris and Gerald are pastors at Cornerstone Baptist Church, the Church Pastor Erwin founded previous to Mosaic. Chris Simmons started the conversation by emphasizing the importance of building strong foundations as a Church. When foundations are built well, the building goes up easily.

They discussed the practical ways Cornerstone Baptist Church has met the needs of their community over the years. Pastor Erwin shared that he saw how systemic racism caused those who needed the most help to have to work the hardest and pay the most for high-quality food, education, and housing.

Pastor Erwin explained that he would pray that God would give him the ability to speak at the Cornerstone Church and give high-quality teaching. He felt this was his role in contributing quality to an environment that was at times given the lowest quality of many things. Pastor Erwin explained that moving forward, people in power have to chose to diversify their leadership.

“People don’t really care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

-Chris Simmons

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"Crossing the Racial Divide" message recorded on July 22, 2020 during Team Night on MOSAIC:ONLINE.

For more information, visit mosaic.org. © MOSAIC / Erwin McManus. #20200722

How do we sustain hope when everything seems uncertain? Gratitude. Why aren’t we cashing in on this attribute when gratitude is what frees our hearts. Peace comes as a ruler. Peace will rule our lives once we allow it to. Paul consistently reminds us how important it is to thank God in all we do. To be connected to God in a powerful way requires thanksgiving. In Colossians 3:15-17 Paul breaks it down for new believers, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” It’s important to remember that saying thank you sets our minds on a different ‘us.’ The Scriptures are there to tell us what we need to know, and more importantly: how we should live. Remember, if we don’t carry peace we cannot bring peace.

“Take the storm as an adventure, and have the time of your life. Free hearts, full minds.”

– David Arcos

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"Playlist for Gratitude" message recorded by David Arcos at Mosaic Hollywood.

For more information, visit mosaic.org. © MOSAIC / Erwin McManus. #20200712

More than ever, we need wisdom to navigate this moment in history. As we look around at the landscape, we realize there is an urgent need for us to create a new world around us. It is time to be a part of building a world that is founded on wisdom. Based on Chapter 1 in the book of James, Pastor David Arcos unwraps how God views wisdom and how it relates to us. Wisdom is a gift God wants to give us freely. But, when we ask God for wisdom, we are able to receive it only when we truly desire it at any cost. We need to be willing to admit that we may be wrong and in need of correction in our perspective.

Wisdom always helps us communally. Wisdom is not just for us individually. God calls us to be smart and tactical for the sake of helping others. Wisdom is leaning into what God is thinking. At times, it may even flip out world upside down. As the Church, we have been called by God to create a new world. This world is meant to be diverse and multifaceted, and if there ever was a time we needed wisdom to create that new world, it is now.

"Wisdom is when the imagination chooses love"

–David Arcos

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"New World" message recorded by David Arcos at Mosaic Hollywood.

For more information, visit mosaic.org. © MOSAIC / Erwin McManus. #20200705

It’s easy to look at God and wonder if he’s holding out on us. With so much going on we can feel overlooked. It’s important to remember that the power of faithfulness is in the day-to-day moments.

The story of David is a great reminder, that we are all chosen by God, maybe just not right now in the way we want. You have been chosen by God to do a powerful thing, but you must be faithful with what you’ve been given now so that you can be trusted later.

Out of 1 Samuel 17:17-19 Pastor Joe Smith tells us about the story of David. David was teaching us how faithfulness is an important aspect of who we become.  He reminds us it’s not who you are when you get what you want, it’s who you are when you could be doing other things but you choose to do the hard things. God wants to teach us to serve but our heart posture must be right. We can elevate our roles by taking responsibility, not so we can think more highly of ourselves, but so we can serve others.

God used David’s faithfulness to bring him to greatness. The thing that positions us most powerfully, is our commitment to faithfulness. David is a great example of living a life where nothing is beneath you.

“The path towards your greatest future will always be paved by your service.”

–Joe Smith

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"The Chosen Ones" message recorded by Joe Smith at Mosaic Hollywood.

For more information, visit mosaic.org. © MOSAIC / Erwin McManus. #20200628

Based on Acts 16, Pastor Joe Smith encourages us to live in the freedom that Jesus invited us into. And as God moves in our lives, we realize He is moving on behalf of everyone around us as well. As we worship with our lives, we realize we are building a story of hope for everyone around us.

Though this moment in history is difficult, Pastor Joe believes that we were made for this moment. As we chose to embrace the challenge of this moment, we realize there is an endless amount of purpose here. As people watch us respond, we can become a vantage point through which they can see who God is around us and in us. Though God has done everything to invite us into a life of freedom, it is our choice to step into it. God sets our freedom into motion, but it is our responsibility to embrace it. There is no area of our lives that God cannot set us free from. We are not stuck in our past. God has invited us into a beautiful future. 

“Everything that God does is for your freedom.”  —Joe Smith

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"Freedom Ain't Free" message recorded by Joe Smith at Mosaic Hollywood.

For more information, visit mosaic.org. © MOSAIC / Erwin McManus. #20200621

Kelly Rowland joined our Lead Pastor Erwin McManus for a conversation that offered such incredible insight. Pastor Erwin asked Kelly about her journey with her career and family, and how race and faith have impacted her story. Kelly empowered us to live a generous life and expect to see how God moves through our generosity.

When they covered Kelly’s career, she emphasized the importance of truly loving your work. Our dreams are meant to bring us enjoyment, even when the journey seems difficult along the way. There is a grit that is required to step into the dreams God has given us, and hard work can take us places that talent never could.

Pastor Erwin asked Kelly to share her passion for giving. She told a story of a time when she felt stuck. Her best friend encouraged her to give and be generous, and to see how God would provide. Kelly made bold decisions after that conversation and decided to be more and more generous. She saw how God showed up for her again and again when she surrendered through generosity.

Kelly then shared a moment of feeling fear when she found out she was going to be having a son. But, she was reminded that God would give her what she needed to raise a black man in today’s society. She also encouraged single women to look for a husband who is kind, a good communicator, and clear on his faith.

“It’s not about your desire for the outcome, it’s about your love for the process.”

–Erwin McManus

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"A Conversation With Kelly Rowland" message recorded on June 17, 2020 during Team Night on MOSAIC:ONLINE.

For more information, visit mosaic.org. © MOSAIC / Erwin McManus. #20200617