Mosaic Silver Spring

Ephesians 2:1-10 -- Paul continues his letter pivoting from God’s authority over all things to the reality of sin and death. The world was not only slightly off-course, but dead in their sin. Despite this, God freely extends grace. In his death and resurrection, Christ achieved victory and invites us in to be part of his workmanship.

Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Paul models prayer for the church, highlighting the reality of Christ’s power and authority over all things. In light of God’s power over all of creation, Paul prays that we respond in faith, knowing the inheritance we have secured in Christ.

Ephesians 1:1-14 -- Paul opens up the letter to the church in Ephesus by highlighting God’s sovereignty. In the midst of persecution and the various difficulties of life, we have the assurance of God’s plan of salvation and his presence in our daily lives.

Proverbs 25:28; 29:25 -- Throughout the proverbs, the teacher warns about the reality of internal and external forces that lead us astray. Despite these forces, God enters in to provide strength and guidance to follow him faithfully.

Proverbs 6:16-19; 10:19-21; 18:20-21 -- Words have impact. The author of Proverbs challenges the readers to watch what one says. This is more than behavior management — the greatest concern of our words is that it reveals our heart. As Christians, we have hope and power to change our words because of the God who can make hearts of stone into hearts of flesh.

Proverbs 3:21-32; 11:10-11 -- Proverbs speaks often about how we treat our neighbors, and giving up our comforts to care for them well. While we may be quick to qualify, determining who is “deserving,” God gave up his life for those undeserving. By faith, we have the ability and freedom to give of ourselves.

Proverbs 1:1-7 -- In the introduction to Proverbs, we see the purpose of wisdom literature -- to teach us and to grow in righteousness, justice, and fairness. As Christians, this pursuit is rooted in what Scripture calls the fear of the Lord: reverence and dependence upon the Lord in all that we do.

John 15:1-17 -- Jesus declares himself to be the True Vine. In doing so, he calls us to abide in him — to trust in Him and love him above all else. In doing so, he challenges our sinful desires, as well as our disordered loves.

John 14:1-14 -- When faced with hard truths, the disciples doubted and asked Jesus clarifying questions. Jesus reorients them to the greater mission of God, and how Jesus guides us all towards the eternal future he secures.

John 10:1-18 -- Jesus offers three similar illustrations to help us understand what it means that he is the Good Shepherd. In this we see that Jesus watches over us, promising abundant life. We can trust that Jesus is trustworthy in the fact that as the Good Shepherd, he laid down his life on the cross to secure our eternal future.

John 8:12-20 -- Jesus declares himself to be the light of the world. This language echoes images throughout history including the Pillar of Fire that led the Israelites by night. By faith in this light of the world, we not only have the ability to see the truth, but to know God personally.

John 6:35-48 -- After feeding the 5,000, The crowd asks Jesus for more food. Jesus uses this moment to teach them of a deeper, spiritual need that they carry. As Jesus declares that he is the Bread of Life, he shows that faith in Him not only offers forgiveness, but the fullness of eternal life.

Ex. 20:1-2, 17; Philippians 4:10-20 -- The Apostle Paul encourage the Philippine church for giving graciously to him and his ministry. Yet he also uses this as a teaching moment to highlight that circumstances do not dictate contentment. Instead, trusting in the resurrected Jesus gives us strength in all circumstances of life.

Ex. 20:1-2, 16; James 3:1-12 -- James highlights the reality that words carry power. This means that, regardless of circumstances, our words have the ability to tear down and destroy if misused. Through the word made flesh, we have forgiveness and power to control our words to speak truth and blessing to those around us.

Ex. 20:1-2, 15; Luke 19:1-10 -- Zaccheus was a rich tax collector, and was seen as a traitor and a thief. Despite his reputation, Jesus approaches Bacchus and extends grace. Here we see that grace not only calls us to stop our bad behaviors, but to pursue what is good.

Ex. 20:1-2, 14; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- As the Apostle Paul warns against sexual immorality, he addresses common objections raise within the Corinthian church. The good news of Christ’s resurrection helps us turn away from sin, but also find freedom from the crushing weight of the law.

Ex. 20:1-2, 13; Matthew 5:21-26 -- Jesus unpacks the deeper heart issue of the 6th commandment. While it is easy to refrain from murder, the corrosive effects of anger is less visible yet equally destructive. In the midst of our sinful anger, we have hope in Jesus, who secured God’s grace for us as he took on God’s just wrath on our behalf.

Ex. 20:1-2, 12; Mark 7:1-13 -- The religious leaders sought to criticize Jesus through his disciples because they did not follow the traditions of the elders. Jesus calls out their hypocrisy — though they honored their ancestors with their lips, they did not honor God within their hearts. True honor of our parents, and ultimately our heavenly father, can be accomplished by faith in the Son of God...

Ex. 20:1-2; Hebrews 3:7-4:13 -- Throughout Israel’s history, unbelief had led God’s people away from the true rest in the midst of the unknowns. Yet even in the midst of their doubt, God has continued to be faithful to them, ultimately sending his Son Jesus to secure eternal rest for all who turn to him in faith.

Ex. 20:1-2; Malachi 1:1-14 -- The people of God, under Persian Rule, began to question God’s love and turned away from him and his commandments. Though they performed the “right actions,” their heart was far from God and so they took the Lord’s name in vain. In Jesus, we have the hope of forgiveness and the strength to bear the name of the Lord in faith and faithfulness.

Ex. 20:1-2; 32:1-35 -- While Moses was on Mt. Sinai, the people of God were restless and turned to Aaron to make them a statue out of gold. Moses pleaded on their behalf and God relented from judgment. We have a greater priest in Jesus, who not only pleads on our behalf, but leads us in the midst of our fears and anxieties over the uncertainties of life.

Ex. 20:1-2; 1 Kings 18:17-40 -- Elijah, a prophet of God, confronts the prophets of Baal on mt. Carmel and calls Israel to turn back to the LORD. Although we may not worship statues in the 21st century, God call us to return to him through the work of Christ, the word of God made flesh.

Ex. 20:1-2; Matt. 22:34-40 -- God gives Israel the law to show them what it looks like to be a part of His covenant community. These rules frame up what it means to love God well. As the religious leaders debated about what the most important law is, Jesus sums it up by loving God and loving our neighbor. We obey God through our love for him and for one another.

Mark 2:23-28 -- Jesus reorients the religious leaders to recognize that Sabbath is not about following rules, but for humanity to find rest and nourishment in him. As we live in a culture that overemphasizes work, the Lord of rest calls us to slow down and remember His work accomplished on our behalf.

Philippians 4:1-13 -- Paul concludes his letter to the Philippians with a call to trust the Lord in the midst of various circumstances: in conflict, in persecution, and in the inward anxiety that they may face. Through all of these things, the God of peace is with them and with us today, that we may grow in gratitude regardless of our circumstances.