Welcome to Waymaker Church! We are so excited to have you join us today! We exist to Encounter, Live for, and Advance the Kingdom of God!

Big Idea of the Series: This four-week series takes a look at what freedom in Christ entails. Does this exempt us of any spiritual responsibilities? Jesus says his “burden is light,” but does this mean that a Christian life will always be an easy one? This shows us that true freedom moves us toward obedience and debunks an unchristian understanding of freedom.

Have you ever thought… if I were to win the lottery, then…things would be easy and I would have the freedom to do what I want…

Lottery winners tend to spend all their money, no matter how much they win. Though a lottery winner may feel like they have unlimited freedom, they often become paranoid or struggle to balance the freedom they do have. People who are just ordinary people suddenly become extraordinary, but they tend lose all sense of reality. They see themselves as invincible and powerful. The Superman complex!

This open door to freedom makes bad things look good and creates bad habits that are often hard to overcome.

If we don’t truly understand what freedom is, it’s easy to mistake things that actually put us in bondage —as freedom.

Today we are going to look at what freedom really is according to scripture.

Freedom is a tricky thing because it’s easy to confuse freedom with the idea of living without rules when in fact freedom is the exact opposite when it comes to living for God. Freedom is defined as —the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. That definitely fits right in with the world today doesn’t it? Do what you want when you want with no regard to anyone else as long as it makes you happy! Right?

So this IS the worldly definition of freedom, but according to the Word to follow Christ really means to steward freedom you have been given correctly.

None of this is possible without Jesus. Jesus died on the cross for OUR sins. He gave his life so we can live outside the bondage of sin. So that we can live in freedom from sin. Our old self died on that cross with Jesus.

Be careful not to continue to focus so much on yourself that you make your walk with Christ all about you

Leading people to you will lead to destruction and disappointment.

Often the idea of freedom to choose whatever we want is what our Western culture tells us is the goal. But this isn’t gospel freedom; it’s another version of consumerism.

In His freedom, you might not get everything you “want.” Romans 5:1-4 tells us that it is by grace we stand justified but it also tells us that we will deal with tribulations and that those tribulations will produce perseverance, character and HOPE!

What we see here is this consumer thought process morphs into seeking out “things" to fill a void because we are “free” to do so. And when those “things” don’t give us the fulfillment we are looking for, we turn to the next big thing and it pushes us further and further away from the one thing that will fill that void. Jesus!

“The principle of righteousness by law-keeping belongs to a stage of spiritual immaturity. But now that the gospel has come, those who obey the law and believe in Jesus attain their spiritual maturity as full-grown sons and daughters of God.”

“The gospel is a message of liberty (FREEDOM) in place of the yoke of bondage carried by those who rely on the law to secure their acceptance by God”

-F.F. Bruce

The word tells us that “we are saved by grace through faith and not of our own works lest anyone could boast.” (Eph. 2:8) “It is a gift from God”

So, God’s law is a good thing that teaches us that without Jesus, our own righteousness cannot stand before God.

So if it’s not our good works that earn us the right to get to God, if it isn’t our 6 pairs of shoes that make us look god before him, if it isn’t the idea that no rules is freedom… then we should share with others that they don’t have to perform good works, dress a certain way, be rebellious first in order to come to him!

Just simply come, and the good works overflow from your relationship with him

Freedom is Jesus -- the love, grace, acceptance, and understanding! Those things are literally everything this world is looking for in all the wrong places.

Jesus is freedom! And we will talk more about that next week!

Application Point: This world needs spiritual mothers and fathers that are willing to run after, teach and train the next generation how to live in freedom.

We have to be careful because your feelings will lead you to places that God never intended for you to go.

Big Idea of the Message: What freedom isn’t: it isn’t license to do what we want or to pursue our own pleasure.

And, Why is that a big deal??

Application Point: This world needs spiritual mothers and fathers who are willing to run after, teach, and train the next generation. Will that be you?