Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Dear Mosaic, 

According to recent statistics 75-88% of Christian teenagers are walking away from Christianity after they graduate from high school.

WHY?  What's not to like about Jesus?

You guys had some great answers.

   Peer pressure in college

   Independence from parent's rules

   No one to tell them what they have to do or not do.

   May be they weren't really Christians

   Too many temptations and not enough good influences when they are living on their own

All of these are really great answers and very likely for a lot of the teenagers that graduate high school.

Did you know that there are more youth ministries, youth leaders, youth resources and youth groups today than ever in the history of mankind?  We know more about today's culture and how to market Christianity than ever before.  The problem is that more teenagers than ever before continue to leave the church each year.

When Alaina and I heard those kinds of statements, it made us want to do things differently.  How do we stop this from happening? Because we don't want to lose you guys or any teenager to the empty lies of the world.  Rather we want all of you and your friends and families to be 100% in love with Jesus in whom we find real, true life.

Remember we read in Deuteronomy 6:4-9.  Here it is just to refresh your memory:

⁴ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^[a] 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Some of the things we saw here were:

God chose a family.

We are commanded to love God (and others).

The teachings of Scripture are to be impressed on the children.

Those teachings are to be lived out everywhere, all the time.

!IMPORTANT! Since it looks like the family is a huge part of passing on a passion for the Word of God from one generation to the next, we decided that may be YOUR parents should come have a look at this too.  Don't get us wrong, we think your parents are probably doing a GREAT job raising you, that's why we want them to involved for the next few weeks.

So, if your parents can come next Sunday, we are going to get to know them some and we are going to dive into the Word of God together.  This may not be the normal thing to do, but we are going to try it for a few weeks.  If your parents can't come or don't want to or only one of them can come, no worries, but make sure they know that we REALLY like them and would love to have them here.  We want YOU here even if your parents can't come.  Come and study the word with us, worship with us and pray with us, we want you here.

NOTE: We are going to ask that younger siblings NOT come this time.  A lot of you are excited that you can now come to Mosaic and we want to keep that special for you.  They will join us soon enough.

Let us know if you have any questions.

Love you guys,

Loren and Alaina plus Zane

Mission & Your Life

2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Today's guest post is from Matt.  He spoke a couple of weeks ago at youth group.  Matt and his family live in Ecuador and work with study abroad students and have many other hidden talents.  

I. Strategy for mission.

1. Live by God’s power. Vs. 7.

^“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;”

2.Take up your cross: Gladly exchange comfort, safety, and even our own lives for Christ vs. 8-9 

“ ⁸ we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;”

- Philippians 1:20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. ²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 

- Philippians 3:7-9- But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  ⁸ More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,  ⁹ and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,

1. Remember the purpose of life; witness. Live to put Christ on display- visible representation of the invisible God. Vs.10-12. 

“¹⁰ always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  ¹¹ For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

2 Corinthians 5:20^- “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. We are his ambassadors.”

Zechariah 8:21-9:1 –“²¹ 'The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, "Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts; I will also go."  ²² 'So many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD.'  ²³ "Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'In those days ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."'"  

Philippians 2:14-15–“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,”

1. Speak the truth- Do not seek popularity vs. 13. 

“¹³ But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe, therefore we also speak,”  

Matthew 10:26ff- "Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. ²⁷ "What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. ²⁸ "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. ³² "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. ³³ "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. 

E.Stand strong.  Do not surrender in cowardice. vs. 16 and 1.

”¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 

2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, Our outer man is decaying- we’re getting the crap beat out of us!

 2 Corinthians 11:24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. ²⁶ I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; ²⁷ I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. ²⁸ Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

1. Live for the unseen and eternal- Do not look at earthly success (vs. 14-18)

“¹⁴ knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.  ¹⁷ For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Matthew 6:19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; ²¹ for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

An aging Christian once objected to John G. Paton’s plan to go as a missionary to the South Sea Islands with the words, “you’ll be eaten by Cannibals! Paton responded:

“Mr. Dickson, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honoring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by Cannibals or worms; and in the Great Day my resurrection body will arise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer.” - John G Paton, c.1889

We will miss you

One of the hardest things about international community is having to say goodbye.  One of our Mosaic attenders left last night and at the school we had a goodbye lunch for her.  We will miss you Merriel!  

Hat made for Zane

Merriel holding Zane

We will miss you!!

Queen for the lunch

Jake signing the Ecuador bag

not sure what is going on here...

Say "gotee"

hugs for Merriel

Parent Letter for Mosaic Mission

Dear Parent,

We would like to invite your youth for a weekend retreat!   They will have the opportunity to connect with other third culture kids.  The focus will be on the Word, Worship, and Prayer.  Plus some fun games, river time, and crazy adventures.  

When: May 25-27 2012

Who:   Mosaic Youth Ministry will host a weekend of fun, encouragement, and challenge for Shell students 5th grade and up.  

Where:  Monte Vista al Invisible, Rio Negro, Ecuador (30min. from Shell)

Why:  Our hope is that they will be encouraged through new friendships, time in the Word of God, Prayer, and Worship. 

Note to Shell Students:  The cost is $5 per student.  Transportation will be provided.

Note to Quito Students:  The cost is $10 per student. Transportation will be provided.  If you have consistently been a part of Mosaic this semester you are welcome to join us.  Please attend our final planning meeting this coming Sunday, May 20th at the Holland house at 6pm.  Be ready to be used and changed by God.

Please RSVP by May 20th so we know how many to plan for.  

Tid-bit about who we are:  mosaicquito.blogspot.com   Mosaic is a youth ministry of English Fellowship Church in Quito.  It is a group of international students that meet once a week to engage in Worship, the Word and Prayer.  This group is made up of several students from many different countries, cultures and languages.  Their ages range from 6th grade to Seniors in high school.  

If there are any questions or concerns please feel free to ask us anything. 

In Christ,

Loren and Alaina Holland

Director of Student Ministry

English Fellowship Church

efcstudentministry@gmail.com

08-274-2854

Sharing Our Faith

It has been almost a month since any action has been seen around here.

Last night we heard from Ricardo Diaz.  Ricky, as we know him, is a Chaplain at Alliance Academy and was recently married to Ashley Ruffner.  Woohoo!

We looked at John 3:16:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

(John 3:16 ESV)

This is the Good News!  Good news is meant to be shared.  Its really hard to keep good news to yourself when you know that others are going to benefit greatly from hearing what you have to say.  But the question is...

Are you willing to give everything for the sake of the Gospel?

It has changed your eternity and your present.  God dwelling in you, you have a purpose, a reason to live.  But the everyday choice to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus can be really hard.  I want friends, you want friends, but sometimes our faith can really make friends nervous.  When your reputation as a Gospel-Centered Person begins to make its way into everyday life, it can make those friendships you have different.  You are no longer living for yourself, like everyone else.  Rather, you are giving your time, energy, money, thoughts, actions, words, motives over to God to allow Him to be the boss.

Paul writes to Philemon in vs. 4-7

I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

(Philemon 1:4-7 ESV)

Philemon is really good at sharing his faith in the Gospel.  Really what this means is that he desires to grow in his faith and not slide back into a selfish lifestyle.  Paul prays that the sharing of his faith would become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in him for the sake of Christ.  The Gospel has changed him.  Philemon is a new man, but without sharing his faith with others who are committed to a Gospel-Centered life, he is going to miss out on experiencing all of the good things that the Gospel brings into his life.

May we be effective in sharing our faith with one another.  Find others that are Gospel-Centered and share with them how your walk with Jesus is going.  How are you doing at centering you life around Christ and his ways rather than your ways.

Finally, look at a regular analog clock.  Let each number represent a major theme in your life right now.  1 could be Family, 2 could be School, 3 could be Future Plans and so on.  Now imagine the hands on the clock pivot by the movement of the Holy Spirit.  If the clock can represent your life, may the decision making, the attitudes and thoughts that surround the themes in your life come only from Christ.  If you have believed in Jesus, you have died to yourself and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  He is your life.

What would the major themes in your life really look like if Christ were the one in charge?

The Mission We're On

    For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
    For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

(1 Corinthians 9:16-23 ESV)

Remember from the RightNow video when they define what a missionary is?

"A missionary is not defined by where you go, but by the mission you are on"

Having grown up as a missionary kid in Ecuador I've seen a lot of short-term missionaries come and go.  Some do skits, others do projects, most give stuff to people.  I suppose the theme is always related to "Jesus loves you", but sometimes the message has a really hard time coming across.  When you read Paul's heart for the Gospel, the Mission he was on was a driving force that moved him into many different places and circumstances.  He was in love with the Word of God, with Jesus.

When Paul was converted, he had to turn his back on all that was once his life.  He couldn't go back home or back to work, his life had to radically change.  He followed Jesus anywhere.  This makes me wonder, how much do I love Jesus.  Have I turned my back on all the comforts and securities I want so badly to hide behind for the sake of Jesus being known to the world around me?

Paul said that he did it all for the sake of the gospel, that he would share in its blessings with all those to whom he preached.  Let's do this!

..............

What should the purpose of a mission trip be?
Who should be on a mission trip?
How do we become all things to all people that we might save some?
What must we DO to share the message of Christ effectively?

Trade: to give and receive

Check out the link to the videos we watched this last Sunday.

http://www.rightnow.org/are-you-a-trader/community

What did each of these people give?

What did they receive?

Each of us are by nature traders.  We give our time, energy and attention to something everyday every day.  God has given us lives to live.  In a way, our lives are like money.  We spend them every moment we are alive.  What are you spending your life on?  What is it that you are hoping to get?
Most of us, if we're honest, want to receive attention, popularity, money, friends, stuff, really anything that will make us happy.

Jesus says:

“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
(Luke 12:15 ESV)

Life is not found in stuff.  Happiness doesn't come from the things that we naturally crave.

Rather, by trusting in him we choose to believe that our reward is Christ himself.  Though we may never see a return on our investment in other people's lives, we know that He is our great reward.  Instead of spending the time that we have been given on this earth for our own selfish desires, we need to open our eyes to the needs around us and give to meet those needs.  When we give our time, energy and attention to those in need around us we show the world that the life that Christ calls us to is far more valuable than the a life lived for ourselves.

Take a look at the questions and instructions from RightNow.org.  This week asked the Lord to open your eyes to see the needs around you and to show you how you might meet those needs for the sakes of the Kingdom of God.

Why

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:14-17

Questions

1. What are the immediate and unique needs in your community?
2. In what ways do your passions and skills intersect a need in your community?
3. What are the things that you see that make your fists clinch? What are the injustices around you?
4. Who are the people, organizations, churches that are doing something to make Jesus known in your community?
5. What can you do? Who can do it with you?

What Now

1. Write down the unique needs that are present in your community.
2. Identify some key people and/or ministries to pray and brainstorm with.
3. Consider launching a ministry of neighboring. The Bible tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Sadly, most of us don’t even know our       neighbors very well. Get out. Meet your neighbors. Understand their needs. Grill some burgers for them…