Podcast - Mosaic | Lynchburg, VA Church

We at Mosaic Church promote our vision statement with great passion and conviction - “to establish an authentic community of believers who Live by Faith, Are Known by Love, and are a Voice of Hope.” By God’s grace and through the leadership of our founder and pastor, Rick Ouimet, I think we do a fine job of realizing our vision.

Nothing I’ve witnessed in all my years as a Christian, however, throws a church off of its mission and vision quite like the rough-and-tumble world of politics and, in my humble opinion, it’s gotten worse over the years.

The 2020 election season is in full swing, and before we get too immersed in this worldly pursuit, we need to inoculate ourselves lest we become infected with the “politivirus” for which the only cure is to revive our faith in Jesus Christ, in whom all true power and authority rests.

I’m going to lean on the Scriptures to prepare us for the days, weeks and months to come so that, no matter what the outcome of this year’s election, our mission to make disciples, and our vision of living by faith, being known by love, and being a voice of hope, will remain as strong and uncompromised as ever. I hope to challenge you and fortify your faith this Sunday!

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

This scripture in James has created much angst among Christians over the years. How can we really find joy in the midst of all the junk, hardships, and painful circumstances in life?

I’ll try and answer that question for you in a very practical way this Sunday.

This week in my appointments with people and through emails, I received several positive comments about last week's service. Most said they never really knew what the Bible said about how a church is to be structured. Yes, they had heard bits and pieces over the years, but never really saw how it all fit together until last week.

Many said they now understand why Christianity is not a democracy, why we don’t vote in church, the importance of Elders & Deacons, and why the Pastor gift needs to be kept in perspective; not from a traditional view, but a Biblical view.

Looking forward to the best part as we install our new Elders & Deacons this Sunday. Please join us as we publicly affirm their calling.

“And when they had appointed Elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had put their trust.” Acts 14:23

A couple of weeks ago Ron and I presented two men to the church we asked to be Elders at Mosaic. We also asked if anyone saw any reason these men should not be considered, to please contact Ron or I in the next 30 days.

This Sunday we would like to give you an opportunity to get to know Jeff Nitz & John Stroud on a deeper level. Please join us and hear the heart of these faithful men.

Did you know studies show that 8 out of 10 headaches are caused by tension and stress. Fear, last week’s subject, is closely related to stress as fear feeds stress.

The funny thing about our fears is as follows:

60% never happen, 20% deal with the past, 10% is petty stuff, of the 10% remaining — 4-5% are justifiable, but half of those we can’t do anything about.

So, why are we so tense & stressed, and does God’s word have anything to say about this subject? Come Sunday and learn how to chill out!

When you were a child were you ever afraid of the dark, or thunder, or being left alone, or maybe even clowns? What about snakes! I hate snakes and I’m still not sure why God created them???

If we’re honest, we’ve all been afraid of things from time to time; its part of being human. The problem arises when, as Christians, fear still has a hold in certain areas of our lives.

The Bible has a lot to say about overcoming fear so I hope you’ll join us this Sunday and learn why fear is such a liar!

If last weeks response is any indicator, I think I struck a nerve in addressing Anxiety.

As we continue in Psalm 131, David says, “I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself…”

I’d like to show you this week how King David calmed & quieted his soul - it will work for us as well.

In our anxious world, I’ve met people that drink caffeine all day to stay awake, and take something at night to help them sleep. I don’t think that’s what God had in mind to cure anxiety. Fuel OCD, Yes! Quiet the nerves, No!

Over the past several years of pastoral counseling I’ve noticed an alarming increase in the amount of anxiety, fear, stress, and doubt in people. So much so, I feel the Lord wants me to address these issues before we get too far into the new year.

George Muller, the famous Christian Evangelist of the early 1800’s said this, “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of faith is the end of anxiety.” I have trouble disagreeing with Rev. Muller, even though I’d like to at times.

Join us this Sunday as we begin unpacking the root causes of anxiety, fear, stress, & doubt.

I hope and pray you each enjoyed a most blessed Christmas. Hard to believe it comes and goes so quickly and we then find ourselves on the doorstep of another year.

Any idea of what God has in store for you in 2020? Do you have any BHAG’s you just can’t wait to get started on? Or, maybe, you just can’t wait to put 2019 behind you, hoping your “luck” will change.

Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” I hope you’ll join us this Sunday as we pray in the new year and try discovering what the Lord’s purpose is for our lives in 2020.

In the summer of 2003 the Northeast United States experienced a widespread blackout that spanned multiple states. For what seemed like several days power grids were down and American families had to spend their nights without electric light and air conditioning. I remember where I was, do you? My son, Bobby, and I were on a father/son trip to the city of my birth, Detroit. The power went out while we were on the road, but we kept travelling and ended up having a very memorable time.

Sometimes it feels like the lights go out in our spiritual lives. Maybe you’ve experienced dark and difficult times that cause you to feel afraid and disoriented. This is not only the experience of unbelievers- we Christians go through those times as well. On Sunday morning we will study a passage in Isaiah that has become one of my life verses. It describes two possible ways we can respond to dark times.

I will be sharing about one of the darkest periods in my life and how God sustained me through it. I hope you’ll come and be encouraged by the truth of Scripture.