Heroes
Adam
February 8, 2015 • Genesis 1—3
I'm so excited to announce that this Sunday, we're launching a brand new sermon series, called "Heroes." We live in a culture intrigued (obsessed?) with superheroes. Hollywood has released at least 40 mega-budget movies in the last decade, most of which have been huge money-makers. What's the deal? We love superpowers and the supernatural. We love seeing good prevail in the battle against evil. We love having a reason for hope in the face of adversity. We love immortality and sacrificial love. We love adventure and risk. We love seeing the powerful hero save the powerless victim and make all things right with the world. As C.S. Lewis said, the classic myths point people to the ultimate, truth Myth. Superhero stories, wrote J.R.R. Tolkien, are the best way-- and sometimes the only way-- of conveying truths that would otherwise remain inexpressible. Myths may be misguided, Tolkien said, but they steer however shakily toward the true harbor. The superhero stories of our day reveal perennial human longings for safety, significant, power, joy, unconditional love--longings only ultimately satisfied by the Ultimate Superhero, Jesus Christ. The story of Christ is at the very heart of history and at the very root of reality. Be sure to join us tomorrow as we start a new sermon series looking at some of the greatest heroes of the Old Testament and showing how every single one of them needs the Ultimate Superhero.
Noah
February 22, 2015 • Genesis 6—9
Be sure to join us tomorrow as we continue a new sermon series looking at some of the greatest heroes of the Old Testament and showing how every single one of them needs the Ultimate Superhero. Tomorrow we'll be studying the epic story of Noah and see how Noah points to the greater-Noah, Jesus Christ.
Moses
March 15, 2015
A couple years ago, when we had just started the church, a first time visitor approached me after the worship service (back when we used to meet in the basement of the YMCA on Huntington Ave). That day I preached a sermon on God's law as given to Moses (the Mosaic law), which showed us our desperate need for Christ. The gentleman approached me with a quizzical expression and asked me: "Is this church actually a synagogue?" "No, we're a church," I responded, "why would you think we're a synagogue?" "Because you're called Mosaic... after Moses, right?" Since I'm preaching on the life of Moses, tomorrow, I think it makes sense to clarify that we're not called Mosaic after Moses (though Moses is integral to Scripture and the Gospel). We're called Mosaic after a literal "mosaic." We love the imagery conveyed through a mosaic and how it beautifully describes our human condition: we're all broken, fragmented, fractured people. However, when we come to Jesus, and accept His work on the cross in our place, God takes our brokenness and makes it beautiful by uniting us with Him and one another. He then raises up his church, shines his glory through us, and we image Him and the glory of his Gospel to the city of Boston and beyond.
Elijah
March 22, 2015 • 1 Kings 17—19
As we continue our "Heroes" sermon series tomorrow, we'll be looking at the life and exploits of the epic mega-prophet Elijah. Everything Elijah did, he did big. He stands up to tyrants, stops rain for three years, ravens bring him food, resurrects people (NBD), and wins a showdown against the prophets of the idol Baal by calling fire from heaven. If that's not enough, he was an insane athlete! He ran seventeen miles faster than horses and chariots (#beastmode). His whole life, he was driven by one mission: to help indecisive people commit to the one True God. Tomorrow, we'll be focusing our attention on Elijah's showdown with the the false-god Baal. As Elijah gathers thousands of people together, he tells them in 1 Kings 18:21: "'How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.' And the people did not answer him a word." Ours is the most commitment-challenged culture in the existence of the world. Perhaps we don't worship Baal, but we do worship the "god of open options." We sacrifice the substance of commitment at the alter of superficial choice. Elijah's words are as relevant as ever. Be sure to join us tomorrow as we learn from the life of the great hero of the faith, Elijah, and see how his life foreshadows the Ultimate Superhero, Jesus Christ. Take 20 minutes today to read through 1 Kings 17-19 in preparation for our time together in God's Word.