The Long Haul Part 5: Freedom
1. A lot of times when we hear the word freedom, we immediately think about being set free from something or getting
away from something negative in our life.
a) What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear or say the word freedom?
b) How would you define freedom? What does freedom look like to you?
c) How did Jesus define freedom?
2. Real freedom in JESUS, is not necessarily about being set free “from something” it’s about being set free “to be
someone”. Someone who wakes up every morning and lives their life knowing the truth about WHO God says they
are. When you become a person who sees yourself the way God sees you THEN you will experience the spiritual
and emotional freedom you have always desired. Freedom from anything that asks you to be more or do more than
who God says you are. In a world that constantly tells us we need to be more or do more, how do we:
a) Discover how God sees us?
b) Find rest and joy with our identity, who we are in Christ?
3. The more I believe the truth about who I am in God, the less I am negativity effected by pain, the past, problems, or
other people because I walk confidentially in my new identity in Christ.
a) Was this the kind of freedom Jesus was describing in Matthew 11:28-30?
b) What does Matthew 11:-29 “rest for your souls” look like to you?
c) How does this kind of being “well rested” affect the way you live life?
4. We live in a world where every single day you are being measured by what you can bring to the table. So it is totally
counter-cultural for us to believe in a God that says our value is already set. There is nothing I can do to cause God
to love me more or less. There is nothing we can or can’t do to change that. So it takes intentional, daily effort to
remind yourself of the TRUTH to be set free from everything else.
a) What keeps you from living securely in the truth of God’s value for you?
b) What will you do differently this week to remind yourself every day of your value in Christ?
c) What other takeaways did you get from today’s message?
Galatians 3:26-29 (NLT) For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united
with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free,
male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of
Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.
Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke
upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is
easy and my burden is light.
John 8:32 (NLT) And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.