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.

Welcome to our final week of our Freedom series!

I truly hope that, during this series, you are seeing that there is more to the church and our faith walk than simply following rules and regulations. It’s more than Sunday’s worship, tithes, and offerings. It’s more than a serve team and a life group.

Recap:
Week 1 - We spoke on what Freedom isn’t!
It isn’t a license to sin.
It isn’t cheap, but it is free
It isn’t responsibility-free.

Week 2 - We leaned into what freedom is!
It is Freedom from condemnation under law-demanded performance.
We talked about how
Worldly freedom can enslave us (it’s stuck in performance review mode) (do what you want - every choice has a consequence)
Freedom doesn’t look like we thought it would
True freedom is God’s grace at work

Week 3 - This was a message that is difficult to swallow, but is also the truth. We dealt with the tension between freedom and obedience.
True freedom in Christ isn’t about what we can and can’t do: freedom moves us towards joyful, intentional obedience because of God’s love for us.

We then saw that God isn’t looking to take away your freedom, but in obedience, our freedom takes on a different form.

Love is tricky.

Defined by today’s standards, love is something you look to receive. It is a gift to you. It is simply afforded as an affirmation of your choices (right/wrong/indifferent). (Prime example-5 love languages | Words of Affirmation, quality time, physical touch, acts of service, receiving gifts) By today’s standards, it is a noun.

Defined by God’s standards… love is a verb that is self-sacrificing by nature. It aims to empower/edify others. It looks to serve, rather than be served.

Also, by God’s standards… even the noun version of love refers to His essence and the ideal our actions should reflect. (i.e. 1 cor 13

So, depending on your definition of love, last week's sermon might have been challenging to swallow!

Love as a noun says, “sweet, God hasn’t confined us to the law… i’m gonna live how I want as long as I don’t see it as sin.”
-“How I want” almost immediately moves us into the arena of sin.

Love as a verb says, “sweet, God’s law isn’t my grading point. His grace through Jesus is… BUT, I’m gonna try and understand His law so that I don’t unintentionally sin, and so that I understand why he saved me, and so that I don’t get entrapped by this world once again.”

Love - The noun takes advantage, but the verb takes action.

Big Idea: Even in pain and suffering, we have hope in Christ, enabling us to honor God no matter our circumstances.

1. Godly Freedom Encourages Possibility!

The oceans are massive! When you look at old ships, it is incredible how small the vessels were that brought Columbus and even the Vikings across the vast ocean.

A ballast for a boat keeps it from capsizing even in harsh waves.
With a good ballast in place, you are no longer stuck in the bay of insecurities… You can now step into the ocean of freedom and possibilities in God!

2. Godly Freedom Takes You Farther!!

Regarding the yoke and heavy burden, R.T. France writes, “Scribal religion was meant to honor God, but its effect was to condemn the ordinary Jew to hard labour. The rest Jesus offers instead is not a release from all obligations; Matt 5:20 shows that his demands are greater. (Sermon on the Mount) But because of who he is (v. 29), his demands are such that to respond to them is rest”

3. Godly Freedom Brings Rest

We all desire rest, and we know what it means to come home.

When we are captivated by who he is, enfolded into the story of grace, we can rest secure.

Application Point: Practice small acts of placing yourself under God’s authority!

I promise you… It will be more freeing than you could have ever imagined.

Here are some ideas: maybe prioritize things like Bible reading, prayer, worship attendance, and giving, as a start.
-This isn’t you proving yourself to God…
-This is you saying, God… I want to make you a priority!