If You Want a Taste of Freedom, Keep Going

Jul 05, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: When the Horns Blast, Run Toward Freedom

The Combahee River Raid began with a signal: Union gunboats sounding their horns. Enslaved people sprinted through darkness toward liberation, trusting Harriet Tubman’s leadership. Freedom often arrives as a disruptive invitation—a call to move despite fear, uncertainty, or exhaustion. Like those 750 souls, we are summoned to recognize God’s signals of liberation in our lives and communities. True freedom demands courage to abandon familiar bondage for unknown promise. What horns is God sounding around you? [48:38]

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19, ESV)

Reflection: Where is God inviting you to abandon comfort for liberation? Name one “signal” in your life requiring courageous response.

Day 2: Freedom’s Cost: Blood, Sweat, and Bonhoeffer’s Noose

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote poems in a Nazi cell, knowing his execution neared. His final words—“Freedom comes only through deeds”—echo Christ’s call to costly love. Liberation for others demands personal sacrifice: time, resources, safety. The 16 million WWII deaths and Harriet’s 19 rescue missions remind us—freedom is never free. Yet we often prefer prayers over action. What chains will you break through tangible deeds? [52:06]

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13, ESV)

Reflection: What “safe” prison have you tolerated that God asks you to confront? How can your hands enact your prayers today?

Day 3: 50 Million Still in Chains: Freedom’s Unfinished Hymn

Modern slavery entraps 50 million people—children in mines, women trafficked, men indebted. Like Jesus re-reading Isaiah’s prophecy, we must repeatedly confront systemic bondage. Gary Haugen’s lament—“God’s plan is the church? What a dumb plan!”—challenges our complacency. Freedom’s holy light still flickers in dark places. Will we fuel it or look away? [53:32]

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6, ESV)

Reflection: What injustice have you rationalized as “too big” to address? How will you honor one oppressed person’s dignity this week?

Day 4: From Pharaoh to iPhone: God’s Eternal Identity as Liberator

God introduced Himself as “I AM WHO BROUGHT YOU OUT” (Exodus 20:2), making liberation central to His character. Today’s Pharaohs exploit through tech minerals and apathy. Just as Harriet’s head wound fueled her resolve, our awareness of others’ suffering must ignite action. True independence begins with dependence on the God who still parts seas. [41:35]

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” (Exodus 20:2, ESV)

Reflection: What modern “Egypt” enslaves people you ignore? How does God’s liberating identity reshape your view of privilege?

Day 5: Dumb Plans and Holy Fools: Why Christ Bets on the Church

God’s plan to end slavery? The church. The same bickering, distracted, imperfect church. Yet Christ trusts us with Isaiah’s mandate anyway. Like Union soldiers following an epileptic former slave into swamps, we’re called to absurd obedience. Our adequacy comes not from numbers, but the Spirit’s power. What holy foolishness is God asking of you? [55:28]

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17, ESV)

Reflection: What “impossible” liberation mission have you avoided? How can you lean into the Spirit’s power rather than your own limits?

Sermon Summary

Luke’s Nazareth scene sets the tone for the whole gospel: Christ returns from the wilderness “in the power of the Spirit,” opens Isaiah’s scroll, and names his vocation as good news for the poor, liberty for captives, sight for the blind, the oppressed set free, and the year of the Lord’s favor. The text itself insists that liberation is not a side project but the Spirit’s agenda. In a world that keeps shifting and hardening, God remains steady, and the weekly gathering keeps the church reoriented to who is sovereign and what that sovereignty looks like in action: “freedom’s holy light” shining on the least and the bound.

The God of Israel identifies himself by Exodus rescue before he ever gives commandments: “I am the God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” Freedom is God’s self-introduction. Independence celebrations, then, are rightly braided with dependence on this Deliverer, who calls a people to steward freedom so that it is shared, not hoarded. The Declaration’s claim that all are created equal names a civic trust that dovetails with a gospel trust: to be about the business of procuring freedom.

That pursuit often requires champions. Harriet Tubman’s life becomes a parable of Spirit grit. Struck in the head as a girl and carrying a lifelong disability, she refused anonymity after her own escape. Nineteen journeys, three hundred souls guided out, and the Combahee River Raid sounding the gunboat horns as hundreds ran for the boats. Her line carries the cadence of Exodus and Jubilee: “If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.”

Freedom also comes at a cost. The beaches of Normandy, the staggering toll of World War II, and the Russians who bled for others’ liberty all testify that liberation is paid for in real lives. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s prison verse cuts through pious fog: “Freedom comes only through deeds, not through thoughts taking wing.” Prayer matures into action, and conviction takes flesh.

The work is not finished. An estimated fifty million image-bearers live in bondage today, from sexual exploitation to brick kilns to mines feeding modern devices. Gary Haugen’s International Justice Mission shows one way to confront systems, and his hard-edged humor lands: God’s plan to face this is the church. “What a dumb plan.” Yet it is Christ’s plan, and the Spirit’s power makes it enough. The church receives Jesus’s own mission, executing the freedoms of his kingdom in word and deed, spiritual rescue and social release, until every knee bows. If all are not free, then, in truth, none are free.

Key Takeaways

1. Christ’s mission liberates the oppressed. Christ names freedom as the Spirit’s work, not an add-on. His Nazareth manifesto locates salvation where poverty, captivity, blindness, and oppression choke life. Jubilee grace is concrete, time-bound, and neighbor-facing, so the church inherits a vocation as tangible as Jesus’s reading. [38:46]
2. God names himself the liberator. Before law comes deliverance, which means holiness is freedom-shaped from the start. Exodus identity guards the church from settling for private virtue without public rescue. Independence rightly deepens dependence on the God who breaks yokes and builds peoplehood. [41:12]
3. Freedom needs courageous champions. Harriet Tubman’s “keep going” was learned on bruised ground, then multiplied through risk, strategy, and return trips. Leadership in liberation is not comfort-forward, it is cross-shaped stamina for another’s tomorrow. Champions do not hoard freedom; they spend it to buy others back. [48:38]
4. Freedom costs deeds, not wishes. Numbers at Normandy and a gallows in Flossenbürg insist that liberty is paid in bodies, choices, and losses. Bonhoeffer’s line exposes the gap between intention and obedience, pushing conviction into motion. Prayer becomes faithful risk when love refuses to stay theoretical. [51:47]
5. The unfinished work is the church’s call. Modern bondage hides in supply chains, brothels, kilns, and pits, but the Spirit is not confused about the assignment. God’s “plan” remains the church, unimpressive yet chosen, repentant yet resolute. Grace supplies power for a long obedience that frees neighbors near and far. [55:28]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[34:20] - Independence Day reflections
[37:20] - God’s stability in a changing world
[37:41] - Luke 4 meets Isaiah 61
[38:46] - The Spirit-anointed mission read aloud
[41:12] - God names himself liberator
[42:17] - Declaration and vocation to liberty
[42:52] - Three lenses for freedom
[43:05] - Harriet Tubman’s charge to keep going
[46:36] - Combahee River Raid deliverance
[48:59] - The cost of freedom
[51:47] - Bonhoeffer and deeds of freedom
[52:55] - The unfinished work of liberation
[55:28] - God’s plan is the church
[56:13] - Charge to execute Christ’s freedom

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Luke 4:14-21 (ESV)
14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Exodus 20:2 (ESV)
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”

Observation Questions

In Luke 4:18-19, what specific groups does Jesus say he is sent to liberate, and how does this connect to the “power of the Spirit” mentioned in verse 14?
How does Exodus 20:2 frame God’s identity before listing the Ten Commandments? What does this imply about the relationship between freedom and holiness?
The sermon highlights Harriet Tubman’s role as a “champion” of freedom. What specific actions did she take to embody Jesus’ mission of liberation? [48:38]
According to the sermon, what modern examples of slavery exist today, and how does this relate to the idea that “if all are not free, none are free”? [53:32]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus chose Isaiah 61:1-2 as his “mission statement” in Luke 4? What does prioritizing the poor, captive, and oppressed reveal about God’s kingdom?
The sermon argues that “freedom is God’s self-introduction” (Exodus 20:2). How might this shape the church’s understanding of justice as central to worship, not just an optional ministry?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “Freedom comes only through deeds, not through thoughts taking wing.” How does this contrast with common assumptions about faith and action? [51:47]
The sermon calls the church “God’s plan” to confront modern slavery, even calling it a “dumb plan.” Why might this language challenge complacency in addressing systemic injustice? [55:28]

Application Questions

Jesus’ mission includes “setting the oppressed free.” What specific injustices in your community or world feel overwhelming? How could you partner with others to address one of them?
Harriet Tubman risked her freedom to liberate others. What fears or comforts might hold you back from advocating for someone else’s dignity or freedom? [48:38]
The sermon mentions modern slavery in supply chains (e.g., mines for smartphones). How could you adjust your consumer habits or raise awareness about these issues?
Bonhoeffer’s poem urges action: “Trusting in God… freedom will welcome your spirit with joy.” What is one practical “deed” you could do this week to advance freedom for others? [52:06]
The church is called to “execute Christ’s freedom” spiritually and socially. How does your small group or church currently balance these? What’s one step to strengthen this balance?
Reflect on Exodus 20:2: God introduces himself as a liberator before giving commands. How might prioritizing liberation over rules change how you share your faith with others?

Sermon Clips

68s

#BeTheChurchPlan

“``What a dumb plan. The church is a dumb plan because we are ineffectual, we are we lack commitment, we lack resolve, and yet this is what Christ has chosen to bring about the coming of his new kingdom for the freeing of those oppressed, for the comfort of those who are in sorrow, for the preaching of the good news. We are that plan. It may be a dumb one, but it is the only one that we have been given. And so my call to you today, my challenge to you today, my friends, is to remember the call that we have received to be the executors of Christ's freedom. Freedom spiritually from sin, but also a God who is about the business of restoring his whole creation that all may be free because if all are not free, then none of us are free.”

57s

#GodsLongGame

“It may be a dumb one, but it is the only one that we have been given. And so my call to you today, my challenge to you today, my friends, is to remember the call that we have received to be the executors of Christ's freedom. Freedom spiritually from sin, but also a God who is about the business of restoring his whole creation that all may be free because if all are not free, then none of us are free. And so we rise to this occasion with the understanding that God has a plan and a purpose for us, yes, on this two hundred and fiftieth anniversary, but well beyond that as well till every knee bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.”

51s

#CarryTheMission

“And so my call to you today, my challenge to you today, my friends, is to remember the call that we have received to be the executors of Christ's freedom. Freedom spiritually from sin, but also a God who is about the business of restoring his whole creation that all may be free because if all are not free, then none of us are free. And so we rise to this occasion with the understanding that God has a plan and a purpose for us, yes, on this two hundred and fiftieth anniversary, but well beyond that as well till every knee bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.”

54s

#ChurchIsGodsPlan

“god has a plan for that, to address that. And do you know what the plan is? The church. He followed it by these words. What a dumb plan. What a dumb plan. The church is a dumb plan because we are ineffectual, we are we lack commitment, we lack resolve, and yet this is what Christ has chosen to bring about the coming of his new kingdom for the freeing of those oppressed, for the comfort of those who are in sorrow, for the preaching of the good news. We are that plan. It may be a dumb one, but it is the only one that we have been given.”

45s

#ImperfectButChosen

“He followed it by these words. What a dumb plan. What a dumb plan. The church is a dumb plan because we are ineffectual, we are we lack commitment, we lack resolve, and yet this is what Christ has chosen to bring about the coming of his new kingdom for the freeing of those oppressed, for the comfort of those who are in sorrow, for the preaching of the good news. We are that plan. It may be a dumb one, but it is the only one that we have been given.”

78s

#EndModernSlavery

“But around the world, this may surprise you. It is estimated that there are 50,000,000 people still caught in slavery. It may not be called that. It may be called indentured work. It may be called abject poverty, but 50,000,000 people caught in slavery today, one fourth of them are children. Many years ago, a great Christian leader by the name of Gary Haugen formed an organization to address that called the International Justice Mission, ijm.org. Gary Haugen, I think, comes out of, in fact, a Presbyterian background. And IJM has done more work than almost any other organization around the world to address the systemic causes of modern day slavery, things like sex trafficking of women and children in South America, of those in Southeast Asia who are enslaved in brick making factories that they cannot get out of because of their poverty.”

58s

#FreedomWorkContinues

“And the last thing I would observe to you is an important one for the work of the church, and that is that the pursuit of securing freedom is not finished. The pursuit of pursuing freedom is not finished. It's not finished here at home where anyone is enslaved to poverty, where anybody is enslaved to the lack of the ability to choose their path of life. But around the world, this may surprise you. It is estimated that there are 50,000,000 people still caught in slavery. It may not be called that. It may be called indentured work. It may be called abject poverty, but 50,000,000 people caught in slavery today, one fourth of them are children.”

75s

#SupplyChainJustice

“Many years ago, a great Christian leader by the name of Gary Haugen formed an organization to address that called the International Justice Mission, ijm.org. Gary Haugen, I think, comes out of, in fact, a Presbyterian background. And IJM has done more work than almost any other organization around the world to address the systemic causes of modern day slavery, things like sex trafficking of women and children in South America, of those in Southeast Asia who are enslaved in brick making factories that they cannot get out of because of their poverty. It addresses young men and women, often children, set into the the dark and dank and dangerous mines in Africa, now many of them mining the rare earth minerals that we count on for our Apple watches watches and our phones, 50,000,000 of them.”

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How does God identify himself as liberator?

What costs accompany the pursuit of genuine freedom?

How should Christians respond to modern slavery?

If You Want a Taste of Freedom, Keep Going

Devotional

Day 1: When the Horns Blast, Run Toward Freedom

Day 2: Freedom’s Cost: Blood, Sweat, and Bonhoeffer’s Noose

Day 3: 50 Million Still in Chains: Freedom’s Unfinished Hymn

Day 4: From Pharaoh to iPhone: God’s Eternal Identity as Liberator

Day 5: Dumb Plans and Holy Fools: Why Christ Bets on the Church

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

If You Want a Taste of Freedom, Keep Going

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