Getting free of what keeps us stuck is not an easy journey, at least most of the time. Neither is following Jesus, when we understand that following Jesus means actually cooperating with God to become like Jesus. It takes perseverance, our 6th step to freedom.
Repent, Steps to Freedom # 5
Part of the journey of finding freedom is making amends with those we have wronged. This is a key aspect of the biblical practice and command of repentance. Jesus’ interaction with Zacchaeus and Zacchaeus’ response are a great example of what repentance looks like and how God responds to repentance.
Confess, Steps of Freedom #4
After surrender, commit and examine comes the step of confession. Confession means to admit what is really happening in our lives, good, bad and ugly. This requires being vulnerable and open with God, ourselves, and at least one other person, so that there is someone (or a group of someones) know everything about your life.
Examine, Steps to Freedom #3
Work your way through this message in dealing with guilt, accepting responsibility, asking God for forgiveness, admitting your faults to another person, accepting God’s forgiveness, and forgiving yourself.
Commit, Steps to Freedom #2
After we surrender ourselves to the idea that there is a God, and we are not God, we need to take the step of committing ourselves to living a surrendered life. What does commitment look like, and what kind of commitment is needed. We look at the example of Elisha and the words of Jesus about what commitment to surrendering to Jesus looks like.
Surrender, Steps to Freedom #1
We all have things in our life where we feel stuck. Attitudes, behaviours or character qualities that keep us from living the life we know we want and is good, but we just keep on doing. The biblical principles to finding freedom reflected in the famous 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous work because they align with God’s design and plan for our freedom. The first step is the hardest. Surrendering our way, our life to Jesus’ way and life. To do this we need to admit that there is a God, and it is not us.
Trained, Not Just Taught
In our culture it is possible to be a Christian without being a disciple. Disciples are those who seek to discipline themselves to be like Jesus. This requires right information, reflected upon, then put into practice. Only then will we see the Holy Spirit working to transform us to be like Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we are called to train ourselves, not just listen to his teaching.
Looking Like Jesus
God’s goal for those who follow Jesus is to shape them into Jesus’ image. What does a life in Jesus’ image look like? Jesus answered this in the midst of his words to his disciples following the Last Supper. Jesus is the vine, disciples are the branches … but what is the fruit God expects disciples to produce and is working in our lives so we produce more of? In this sermon, we reflect on Jesus’ analogy of life lived with Him and his commandment to love found in John 15:1-17.
Be Transformed
What is the purpose of being a Christian? What is God’s design for those who follow Jesus. Different answers are given, but the New Testaments authors were consistent in their answer. God’s ultimate goal for Christians is to make them like His Son. So, if we are not allowing the Spirit to transform us into the character of Jesus, we should struggle to say we are actually following Jesus.
David and the Census
Where should our value, identity, and security in life come from? Who or what should we rely upon? As human beings we will depend upon, put our faith in, what we see our strength to be. David’s decision to take a census and his response afterwards speaks to us about living a life of faith in God.