Mosaic - Erwin McManus
Ruins
Welcome to the audio podcast of Erwin Raphael McManus, the Lead Pastor and founder of MOSAIC, a community of faith in Los Angeles California. Known for their innovation, creativity, and artistry, MOSAIC has been named one of the most influential and innovative churches in America. Erwin Raphael McManus communicates on culture, creativity, change, and leadership and is widely known as a thought-provoking communicator, poet, and wordsmith. For more information and to stay up to date with Pastor Erwin and MOSAIC please visit http://www.mosaic.org or download the Mosaic app.
Show Notes
Welcome to Mosaic NYC! 🌍✨ Whether you're joining us from Los Angeles, London, Mexico City, Ecuador, or anywhere in the world, we’re so glad you’re here. There’s something extraordinary about people coming together across cultures and cities, united by the pursuit of something greater—by the pursuit of Jesus.
In this message, we’re continuing our series, HUMANS: What It Means to Be Us. It’s a conversation that might seem unexpected in church—you might expect to hear only about God, but the truth is, in the grand story of creation, you are His masterpiece. When God created the universe, His “aha” moment wasn’t the stars or the mountains—it was you. That means who you are, what you long for, and the struggles you face deeply matter to Him.
But being human isn’t just about our beauty and potential; it’s also about the ruins—the broken parts of us that we struggle to make sense of. We all carry wounds, regrets, and disappointments. Some of us feel like our lives have fallen into disrepair, like a city or a building left in ruins. Maybe you’ve asked yourself, How did I get here? How did I become this version of me? Or perhaps you've spent years chasing after something—success, love, validation—only to realize that even when you have it, something still feels missing.We talk about our mental health more than ever, yet our language is growing only in describing what’s wrong rather than what makes us whole. Depression, anxiety, stress—these words have become a part of our daily vocabulary, but what about words that describe healing, restoration, and hope? What if the very things that make us feel broken are actually signs that we were made for something more?
Pastor Erwin Raphael McManus takes us on a powerful journey of understanding our own fragility, our pursuit of things that often leave us empty, and our deep longing for love. He reminds us that:
🔹 We are fragile. No matter how strong we appear, we are easily wounded, often by the people closest to us. Why do negative emotions stick to us so much more than positive ones? Why does bitterness, anger, or fear stay with us longer than hope or joy? What if our brokenness is pointing us back to God?
🔹 We chase things that don’t satisfy. Whether it’s success, wealth, or even love, we often reach for things, believing they will complete us—only to find ourselves still longing. What happens when we spend a decade pursuing something, only to look back and wonder if it was all for nothing?
🔹 We are intoxicated by love. We all long to be fully seen, fully known, and fully loved. But what if the human version of love—no matter how beautiful—is just a shadow of a greater love we were created for? A love that will never abandon, reject, or disappoint us. A love that Jesus demonstrated on the cross.
This message challenges us to look at our lives through a different lens. What if the pain, the longing, the sense that something is missing isn’t a flaw in us, but rather a signpost pointing us back to our Creator? What if Jesus is the one who steps into our ruins and restores us to the life we were always meant to live?
If you’ve ever felt broken, lost, or like your life is in ruins, this message is for you. There is hope. There is healing. There is a new beginning waiting for you.
🙏 If this message spoke to you, let us know in the comments. We'd love to hear your story.
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#Mosaic #Jesus #Faith #Hope #Healing #MentalHealth #Purpose #WhatItMeansToBeUs #Humans
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