| “The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together We all want to belong. It’s wired into our DNA. It’s why no one wants to be the last kid picked at recess, and why so many of us stay glued to our phones, refreshing feeds for connection. We long to belong, yet we live in a world that leaves us isolated even in the middle of a crowd. We long to belong because each of us bears the image of God, designed to reflect the Trinitarian love between Father, Son, and Spirit to the world. As His image-bearers, we fulfill our purpose only by participating in a community centered on the love of Christ ourselves. That’s the heart of the gospel: not just that we go to heaven when we die, but that heaven comes to earth through the lives we live together, in gospel community. Sin separates us from God and each other, but through Christ’s sacrificial love, our sins are forgiven and our relationship with God restored, freeing us to love others with the love we’ve first received. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). That is what the Church is meant to be: a diverse community who’ve received Christ’s love and reflect it to the world. That is discipleship: being conformed to the image of Christ so we can more accurately reflect Him to the people God has placed in our lives. To that end, Mosaic launched Be One of the 100 this past January, a call to equip 100 new community group leaders willing to help lead others in pursuing God’s heart and God’s mission together. We simply want to make space for more people to experience life the way God designed it — a place to belong. We’ve already seen 49 people go through our Community Leader Development Course and launch, or prepare to launch, a group while others have completed the course and are still praying through next steps. But what about you? Have you considered what part God might be calling you to play in helping others find a place to belong? Could He be nudging you to Be One of the 100? Maybe you don’t see yourself as the leader type, or you feel you don’t know the Bible well enough. You’re in good company: neither did Moses, David, Gideon, or Peter, and neither did most of our current leaders, until they started leading. You don’t need to be a scholar, just a love for Jesus and people, and a willingness to be faithful with what you do know. We’ll provide the content and help you figure out the rest. Or maybe you’re wondering if this is the right season. Hear this: discipleship community isn’t something to add to an already full schedule. It’s people to walk with you through the busyness already there, support for the responsibilities you carry, not an additional one. There may never be a better time for you to step into your calling to lead. You don’t need to be an expert to lead a group at Mosaic. You just need a love for Jesus, a love for others, and a willingness to make space for someone new. So why not give it a shot? Sign up for our upcoming Community Leader Development Course today. Even if you still say no after the course, you’ll at least better understand what you’re saying no to. But I have a feeling you’ll walk out with a new understanding of what God wants to do in and through your life, and a new belief in what you’re capable of as His image-bearer. Come join us on this amazing journey to help others find a place to belong. Brett Millican Elder | Pastor of Discipleship |
