Walking in Faith: Embracing Freedom and Purpose in Christ
Summary
Today, we gathered to remember and celebrate the goodness and faithfulness of God, recognizing that every breath and every freedom we enjoy is a miracle and a gift. Even before we knew Him, God was working on our behalf, and He continues to direct our paths, even through unanswered prayers. We are blessed not only by God’s grace but also by the sacrifices of those who have gone before us, especially as we reflect on the freedoms we have as a nation and as followers of Christ. It’s vital that we never take these blessings for granted, teaching the next generation the price that was paid for both our national and spiritual freedoms.
Our journey with Jesus is not about religious ritual but about walking in close relationship with Him. When Jesus called His first disciples, He invited them to follow Him, to walk in His dust, to learn from Him, and to be transformed. This invitation is for us as well: to walk so closely with Christ that His mission becomes our mission. As we follow, He promises to show us how to live lives that matter for eternity, to become people who “fish for people”—sharing the hope, peace, and purpose we have found in Him with others.
The cross stands at the center of our faith, not as a mere symbol, but as the place where Jesus paid the ultimate price to redeem and restore us. He didn’t die as a martyr, but as an offering for our sins, so that we could be made right with God—not by our works, but by His grace. This is the “so that” of the gospel: not just to know the story, but to be transformed by it, to let go of our guilt and shame, and to pick up God’s purpose for our lives.
We are not saved to simply go through the motions of Christianity, but to live on mission, sent by Jesus just as He was sent by the Father. Our lives are meant to reflect the joy, peace, and hope that come from knowing Christ, and to make sure that those around us have the opportunity to know Him too. Communion is our spiritual memorial, reminding us never to get over what Jesus has done for us, and to live lives of gratitude, purpose, and mission.
Key Takeaways
- True freedom—both as a nation and as followers of Christ—comes at a great price. We must never forget the sacrifices made for our liberty, and we have a responsibility to teach the next generation to value and steward these freedoms with gratitude and humility. Spiritual freedom, purchased by Christ’s sacrifice, is the foundation for a life of purpose and hope. [33:55]
- Walking closely with Jesus is not about religious routine, but about relationship. When we follow Him intimately, He transforms us from the inside out, giving us new desires, new purpose, and the ability to impact others for eternity. The call to “follow me” is an invitation to a life that matters far beyond our own years. [39:49]
- The cross is not just a historical event or a religious symbol; it is the place where Jesus became the offering for our sins, making us right with God. Religion may teach us the facts, but only relationship with Christ brings us into the “so that”—the reality of being forgiven, restored, and made new by grace alone. [49:17]
- Our identity and security are found in Christ’s finished work. Every sin, every failure, every debt has been paid in full. God not only forgives but forgets, casting our sins away and crediting us with Christ’s righteousness. This truth frees us from condemnation and empowers us to live boldly for Him. [53:55]
- We are saved on purpose, for a purpose: to go everywhere and tell everyone what we know about Jesus. The peace, hope, and joy we have in Christ are not meant to be kept to ourselves. As we walk with Him, our lives become a testimony, and we are sent to share the good news so that others may also become children of God. [55:27]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[28:59] - Opening Prayer and Heart Preparation
[30:38] - Celebrating God’s Miracles and Our Freedoms
[33:55] - The Cost of Freedom: National and Spiritual
[39:49] - The Call to Follow Jesus Closely
[40:51] - Living a Life That Matters for Eternity
[41:44] - The Power of Community and Influence
[43:22] - Sent on Mission: As the Father Sent Jesus
[49:17] - The Cross: The “So That” of the Gospel
[50:56] - Letting Go of Shame, Embracing Purpose
[52:14] - Worshiping God for Who He Is
[52:50] - The Fullness of Forgiveness in Christ
[53:55] - Our New Identity and Mission
[55:27] - Living Sent: Sharing the Good News
[57:02] - The Authority and Sufficiency of Scripture
[57:56] - Jesus: The Once-for-All Sacrifice
[59:03] - Responding to the Gospel Invitation
[01:02:03] - Communion: Remembering the Cross
[01:03:36] - Communion: The Cup and the New Covenant
[01:04:00] - Closing Prayer and Celebration
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Living in the Freedom and Mission of Christ
---
### Bible Reading
- Matthew 4:18-20
*As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.*
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
*God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.*
- John 20:21
*Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”*
---
### Observation Questions
1. In Matthew 4:19, what does Jesus promise to do for those who follow Him? How did the first disciples respond to His invitation?
2. According to 2 Corinthians 5:21, what did God do through Jesus for us?
3. In the sermon, what are some of the freedoms and blessings the pastor says we should never take for granted? ([33:55])
4. What does Jesus say about His mission and ours in John 20:21? How does He connect His sending with our purpose?
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to “walk in close proximity” with Jesus, as described in both Matthew 4 and the sermon? How is this different from just following religious routines? ([39:49])
2. The pastor says the cross is not just a symbol, but the place where Jesus paid the price for our sins. How does this understanding change the way someone might view their own guilt or shame? ([49:17])
3. Why is it important, according to the sermon, to teach the next generation about the cost of both national and spiritual freedom? ([33:55])
4. The sermon mentions that our identity and security are found in Christ’s finished work. How does this truth affect the way a believer lives day to day? ([53:55])
---
### Application Questions
1. The pastor said, “We are blessed not only by God’s grace but also by the sacrifices of those who have gone before us.” How can you practically show gratitude for both your spiritual and national freedoms this week? ([33:55])
2. Jesus’ invitation to “follow me” was a call to relationship, not just routine. What is one area of your life where you tend to go through the motions spiritually? What would it look like to walk more closely with Jesus in that area? ([39:49])
3. The sermon emphasized that the cross means we are forgiven and made new by grace, not by our own works. Is there any guilt or shame you are still carrying that you need to let go of? What would it look like to truly accept Christ’s forgiveness? ([49:17])
4. The pastor said, “God not only forgives but forgets, casting our sins away and crediting us with Christ’s righteousness.” How does this truth challenge the way you see yourself or others in the church? ([53:55])
5. Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” Who is one person in your life who needs to hear about the hope, peace, or purpose you have found in Christ? What is one step you can take this week to share with them? ([55:27])
6. Communion is described as a “spiritual memorial” to help us never get over what Jesus has done. How can you keep the wonder and gratitude for the cross fresh in your daily life? ([01:02:03])
7. The pastor challenged the church to “live on mission.” What is one way you can intentionally live out your faith in your workplace, school, or neighborhood this month? ([55:27])
---
Close in prayer, thanking God for His faithfulness, the freedom found in Christ, and asking for courage to live on mission this week.
Devotional
Day 1: Walking in Close Proximity with Jesus Transforms Our Lives
When you walk closely with Jesus, it’s not about religious rituals but about a living, vibrant relationship that changes you from the inside out. Jesus invites you to follow Him, to walk side by side, to mimic His ways, and to let His example shape your life. As you do, He promises to show you how to live a life that matters—not just for today, but for eternity. This journey with Jesus is about becoming the person God designed you to be, impacting your family, friends, and even future generations. When you walk in His footsteps, you discover purpose, peace, and a mission that goes beyond yourself. [39:49]
Matthew 4:18-19 (ESV)
“While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’”
Reflection: What is one step you can take today to intentionally walk closer with Jesus, allowing His presence to shape your actions and attitudes?
Day 2: Jesus Sends Us on Mission with His Peace and Purpose
Jesus not only gives us peace when we walk with Him, but He also sends us out with a purpose. Just as the Father sent Jesus into the world with a message of hope and redemption, so Jesus sends us to share that same message. When you live in close relationship with Him, you experience a peace that surpasses understanding and a calling to make a difference in the lives of others. Your story, your struggles, and your victories become part of God’s plan to reach others with His love. [43:22]
John 20:21 (ESV)
“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’”
Reflection: Who is one person in your life that needs to hear the hope and peace of Jesus, and how can you reach out to them this week?
Day 3: The Cross Makes Us Right with God by Grace Alone
The cross is not just a symbol; it is the place where Jesus paid the ultimate price to redeem and restore us. He became the offering for our sins, not because of anything we could do, but purely by His grace and mercy. We are made right with God not through religion, good works, or rituals, but only through faith in Jesus Christ. This gift is undeserved, and it brings us into the Father’s family, free from guilt and shame, with a brand new start. [49:17]
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Reflection: Is there any area where you are still trying to earn God’s approval? How can you rest today in the finished work of Jesus on the cross?
Day 4: God’s Forgiveness Is Complete—No Condemnation Remains
When you trust in Christ, every sin—past, present, and future—is forgiven and forgotten by God. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Your debt is paid in full, and you are now a beloved child of God. This truth sets you free from shame and empowers you to live with joy and confidence, knowing that nothing can separate you from God’s love. [52:50]
Romans 8:1 (ESV)
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Reflection: What guilt or shame do you need to let go of today, trusting that God has already forgiven and forgotten it?
Day 5: We Are Saved for Mission—To Share the Good News Everywhere
God didn’t save you just to go through the motions of Christianity; He saved you for a mission. Jesus calls every believer to go into the world and share the good news, making disciples and teaching others about Him. This is not just for pastors or missionaries, but for every follower of Jesus. Your life, your story, and your faith are meant to be shared so that others can experience the same hope and transformation you have found in Christ. [55:27]
Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Reflection: What is one practical way you can share your faith or serve others this week as part of God’s mission for your life?
Quotes
He didn't do all of that because he didn't have anything better to do. He did all of that so that we, me, you could be what, granted? Made right with God. Now don't miss this. We are made right with God through Christ. Not through religion. Not through good works. Not through baptism. Not through keeping the Ten Commandments. Not through anything other than through Christ. [00:49:20] (36 seconds)
The cross is God doing for us what we couldn't do for ourselves so that we can have what we don't deserve. And what is that? A way to be made right, to be brought back into the Father's family through the finished work of Jesus. [00:50:30] (22 seconds)
It's such an incredible thought that in Christ, everything you've ever done wrong. And for some of you, it's more than others. We've all been there, right? Everything we've ever done wrong has been made right because of Jesus. That God has not only forgiven us, he's forgotten it. Study your Bible. He casts it as far as the east is from the west. He buries it in the depths of the sea. When you stand before God, you're not going to be standing in judgment for your sin. Because God says it's been washed. Though your sins be as scarlet, Isaiah says, they are now white. [00:53:44] (42 seconds)
It's an incredible picture that Jesus took to blame for everything we did wrong. And we get credit for everything he did right. It's not fair. that in Christ, somebody say in Christ, we have become sons and daughters of the Father. [00:54:26] (27 seconds)
The cross is about me letting go of what you came here to release me from. My sin. My guilt. My shame. All those voices in my head. I let them go. Go so I can pick up your plan and your purpose for my life. See, Jesus said in John chapter 10, he said, the thief comes and kills, steal, and destroy. But I've come that you might have life and have it more abundantly. So God, I let go of the junk so that I can pick up what you have for me. [00:51:12] (42 seconds)
We don't just worship him because we're blessed. We worship him because he's sovereign Lord God Almighty. That in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. That at the moment that we bowed our heads and we confessed our sins. Think about it. All of our sin crimes, all of our debt was transferred to Jesus' account. And what Jesus Christ did on a cross the day you accepted his gift. Know this. It was all paid in full. You owe nothing. Nothing. [00:52:58] (35 seconds)
God didn't save you just to go through the Christian motions of life. He saved you for mission. As a father sent him, he sends us. He saved us to do something on purpose with our life. And that is to go everywhere telling everybody what we know. Why? Because Jesus is like, I'm sending you. And. I cannot be your best kept secret. [00:55:55] (29 seconds)
See, Jesus Christ was crucified. He was buried. And three days later, he rose again from the dead. He really did come. He really did die. He really is living. But the Bible says that I have a responsibility to respond by faith. To respond by faith to what Jesus Christ has done. [00:58:33] (25 seconds)
If you're here today and you're not in a relationship with the Lord, he's not mad at you. He didn't come to the world to condemn you. He came to this world to save you. But you need to invite him in if you never have and begin this relationship. [00:59:41] (18 seconds)
The Bible is the final authority for faith and practice. You also have to learn to rightly divide the word of truth. Why would the Bible say rightly divide the word of truth? Because you can wrongly divide the word of truth. [00:57:19] (20 seconds)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from May 25, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?