We showed this classic video from The Hoff prior to my message at Project Church. It will change your life!!! Okay, maybe it won’t change your life but it does make for a good laugh.
After watching it, you can give the podcast on freedom a listen.
The quest for freedom burns within all of us. We long for liberty and seek freedom in many forms: religion, relationships, vocations, entertainment, possessions, and more. All of which leave us wanting.
Yet Jesus proclaims in John 8:36, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
The Christian life is to be a free life but what does it mean to live free? How does the gospel change everything? That’s what Project Church is exploring as we look at Paul’s letter of liberty- Galatians.
I’ve been looking forward to teaching this for quite some time. I pray our church and podcast listeners will be drenched in the gospel of grace over the next several months and our lives will reflect the freedom we have.
Project Church is not organized around religion.
We’re centered on Jesus.
There’s a big difference.
Religion ends with guilt.
Jesus begins with forgiveness.
Religion adds burdens.
Jesus carries burdens.
Religion enslaves.
Jesus frees.
Religion is about what I have to do.
Jesus is about what he has done.
Religion sees us vs. them.
Jesus sees us.
Religion leads to pride.
Jesus leads to humility.
Religion is salvation by morality.
Jesus is our salvation.
Religion brings religious institutions.
Jesus brings movements of love.
Religion separates itself from the world.
Jesus steps into the world.
Religion is about rules.
Jesus is about grace.
Religion tries to change people.
Jesus changes people.
Religion produces self-righteousness.
Jesus is our righteousness.
Religion points a finger.
Jesus took the blame.
Religion makes judgmental hypocrites.
Jesus changes judgmental hypocrites.
Religion lost.
Jesus won.
Religion’s no match for Jesus.
Picture yourself at a backyard BBQ party.
There’s conversation and laughter
Kids are running around playing.
Many of the adults have a beer or a Mike’s Hard Lemonade in hand.
According to Scripture, is this a sinful picture?
When it comes to Christians and alcohol there are various points of view.
a. Satan made it and I don’t want it.
b. Satan made it but I secretly enjoy it.
c. God made it but I don’t want it.
d. God made it, I say I don’t want it, but I secretly enjoy it.
e. God made it and I enjoy it.
I used to be an option c guy.
Then an option d guy.
Now I’m an option e guy.
Why?
I read my bible.
It changed my mind.
Like Deuteronomy 14:26.
Or Psalm 104:14-15
Or John 2: 1-11
And many more.
Then there’s Jesus.
I love Jesus.
He’s my Savior and my great example.
He drank.
See Matthew 11:19.
And it wasn’t mere grape juice.
Jesus also never sinned.
2+2=4
I can do what Jesus did.
It’s a problem to apply our morality to Jesus.
It actually works the other way around.
Jesus is better than religion.
But we do have a few guidelines.
Don’t get hammered.
Be of legal drinking age.
Don’t make it your god.
And in all things, love others.
Because living free isn’t just about what we can do.
It’s who we can love along the way.
So let’s go back to the original picture.
The BBQ.
There’s conversation and laughter
Kids are running around playing.
Many of the adults have a beer or a Mike’s Hard in hand.
According to Scripture, is this a sinful picture?
Assuming we’re loving God and people, no.
It’s actually a wonderful picture of community the way God intended it.
A little drop of Isaiah 25: 6-9
So whether you drink or not, it doesn’t matter much to me.
You have a conscious.
Follow it.
But it’s not the voice of a preacher, parent, or your old youth pastor.
It’s the Spirit of God inside of you.
I could say more but I’ll leave it at this:
You’re free to worship God and enjoy his creation.
And if you do drink a beer or sip some wine, remember 1 Corinthians 10:31:
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
Enjoy your beer knowing God is the great Brew Master.
Just do it in love.
I’m on a quest to live free.
I struggle with that.
It’s hard to believe freedom is real.
It’s even harder to live it out.
Freedom is love without condition.
Freedom is God’s great gift to us.
We just have a problem receiving it.
At least I do.
But I’m learning.
To walk in the paradox of grace and truth.
To walk with Jesus.
To live like a free man.
To love like a free man.
This is my great voyage.
Despite myself.
Despite other lovers of my soul.
Despite religion.
Jesus set me free from all that.
He set you free too.
Let’s figure out what that means.
Live Free.
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Galatians 5:13-14 (ESV)
Recently, I wrote a story that I told to our church.
It’s a simple love story that represents something more profound than my mere words can describe. A tale of pursuit between a Savior and his bride. The beautiful, dangerous, and central message of Jesus.
The gospel.
The gospel literally means, “the good news” yet the term has been stained by the dung of religious bigots, the lies of nutty televangelists, and the hypocrisy of everyday followers of Jesus like me.
You see, I don’t fully believe the gospel.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe in the life, crucifixion, resurrection, and reign of Jesus. That he died on the cross, in my place, for my sins. But I struggle to believe in the wonder of grace. The truth that sets us free. The hope that keeps us going. The love that knows no bounds.
I can’t wrap my head around the fact that Christ loves me so much that he gave up his life so I might have life.
But I’m learning.
I’m learning that I can never experience how amazing grace is unless I realize how spectacular my sins are. While I’m a great sinner, the good news is, Christ is a greater Savior.
In him, we have a God who loves us enough to enter our story to rescue and redeem us from the mess we’re living in. A God who says, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18).
Religion omits the “white as snow” part but not the gospel. And the gospel is so much better than religion.
I hope this story helps you uncover the magnificent scandal that is the gospel.
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