Last month, we introduced Mosaic Church's theme for 2025, “Love Your Neighbor,” as our central organizing principle for the new year. When the elders and Jamie sat down to examine our mission, vision, values, and distinctives to plan for the year ahead, we wrote down a lot of ideas, reviewed the inputs from our deacons and leadership team, and basically took a day to think seriously about who we are as a church and where we want to be. Then, in one powerful moment, John got up and wrote the words “love your neighbor” on the easel pad, and everything just came together. It was a revelation from the Holy Spirit, as far as I'm concerned, and it reveals the simplicity of what Jesus means when He asks us to follow His commandments.

He said, “All the Law and the Prophets hang on” two commandments (Matthew 22:40). “Jesus declared, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'” (Matthew 22:37-39). Paul goes so far as to say, “The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: 'Love your neighbor as yourself' (Galatians 5:14). Jesus' brother James, the leader of the church in Jerusalem, tells us, “If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well” (James 2:8).

Each of our teachers is going to give you their perspective on “the royal law” and how it speaks to us individually and collectively. I'm excited to kick off this new year with you and share the heart of Jesus as we learn what it means to love your neighbor. It is a simple and powerful phrase, but it asks much of us, and we'll learn together how we can be fully obedient to this command.

Blessings,

Ron