07-04-10 

"Freedom”

  Listen to sermon

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)  The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.  

Sermon Text: Romans 6:14-18 (MSG) Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God. So, since we're out from under the old tyranny, does that mean we can live any old way we want? Since we're free in the freedom of God, can we do anything that comes to mind? Hardly. You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom. Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it's your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you've let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you've started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom! 

Roots of the Freedom We Celebrate…

As Citizens of this World

   -to worship as desired

   -to self govern

   -to not be owned by another

   -to live without fear of terror 

As Citizens of Heaven

   -to worship as God inspires

   -yielded to God’s leadership

   -given to the ownership of our Creator

   -to live in God’s peace  

For Your Reflection:

How will you celebrate both citizenships today? 

How is your life a reflection of the freedom given you by God’s gracious hand? 

In what ways are you helping/encouraging others to experience freedom, as both a citizen of this earth AND a citizen of heaven?

Study Guide