Suncook United Methodist Church
July 3, 2011
4th Sunday after Pentecost
Colossians 2:11-13 Gods word Translation
John 8:31-36 Common English Bible
Freedom!
Happy 4th of July. . . a day early. . . this week we celebrate the freedom that we have here in the United States. There are many countries in the world where the people have no freedom. They live under a dictatorship and are oppressed by others. This freedom we have didn’t come without a cost. Many men and women have laid down their lives so that we can have this freedom that we are able to enjoy. This week. . . we remember those who have fought for our freedom. Freedom comes with a price. . .
I am reminded of another way we are free. . . through the willingness of one person to die instead of us getting the death that we deserve. This person died so that we could have freedom. . . a freedom that does not come by human hands but by the grace of God. That freedom comes through the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. In Him, we are freed from the penalty of sin which is death and are offered a new life in Him.
The Scripture from Colossians this morning tells us that we are put in the tomb with Christ through baptism and are brought back to life again with Christ through faith in the power of God who brought Jesus back to life. It is through Christ that we receive this wonderful, new life. . . an abundant life. But there are times when we might slip back to “our old ways”. . . start reliving that life of sin and death. We may take our freedom for granted or think that because we have been baptized we don’t have to worry anymore. Some even believe that they are of “noble character” and because of that they don’t have to worry about needing to be set free. But they are wrong. The only way to true freedom is through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.
Listen to what John 8 verses 31-36 has to say about our need for salvation and by which way it comes. . . (And I’m reading from the Common English Bible this morning. . . )
God’s word tells us about how we are set free. It is not by our works or by heritage. It is by our baptism and faith in Christ. . . it is by the blood that was shed on Cavalries hill that we are set free. We become permanent members of God’s household. We are adopted and receive the name of sons and daughters of the Most High God. . . we are redeemed and esteemed as children of God.
How freeing is that? No longer does sin have a hold on us. . . no longer do we need to feel the sting of death caused by sin. . . we are baptized into the Royal Family. But let us not take our freedom too lightly. . . it came at a cost. . . You see not only do we receive our independence from sin but at the same time. . . we become dependent on Jesus. . . we depend on that grace we receive. . . we depend on the love. . . .we depend on His guidance in our lives. . . I don’t know about you but this kind of dependency works for me. . . through our discipleship and trust in Christ we continue to live in that new life in Christ. AMEN?!
Like the freedom we enjoy because of the men and women of our military, we receive an even more important freedom from the love of God through Christ. As we remember this week those who have fought for our earthly freedom, let us not forget about the one who has fought and conquered for us. . . one who offers us an eternal freedom. . . Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ. We may have to continue our fight for freedom here on earth but we no longer have to fight for our freedom over sin and death. The price has been paid by the One who sets us free indeed. . . our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Praise God. . . Alleluia. . . AMEN!
July 4, 2011
A Call to Worship for Independence Day
The Rev. Nathan Decker
John
8:31-36 (Common English Bible)
Colossians
2:11-13 (GOD’s WORD Translation)
Worship
Theme: “God Gives Freedom”
and
sermon: “FREEDOM!!”
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Suncook
United Methodist Church
Suncook,
NH
July
3, 2011
Third
Sunday of Pentecost
&
July 4, 1776
Independence Day
September 11, 2011
the day the World Trade Center towers fell
&
2 Kings 5:1-14
Psalm 30
Luke 10:16-20
Galatians 6:7-10
Psalm 36:5-10 (United Methodist Hymnal #771)
Worship Theme: “The high cost of freedom”
and sermon, “The Cost of Freedom”
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 4, 2010
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