Have you had people - to whom you aren't related - become like family to you?
Free, Indeed
Finding the kind of freedom that the Bible talks about means finding a freely-given place in the household of God. This belonging is a gift and nobody can take it from you. At the same time, this freedom is offered to everyone you meet, which means that finding the kind of freedom that the Bible talks about means learning to see everyone around you as a free member of. God's family.
Now that you've answered the Icebreaker, here's another question - this one, about messes.
Hopefully that makes enough sense to get you started. As you continue into the Worship portion of the Spotlight, pray this prayer together:
Lord,
You are eager for the small compromises
that are required for collaboration
because you are eager for the great promise
of unity in love. For this,
you give us freedom to act and react,
and we are glad to see your kingdom come
in every moment of this gracious exercise.
Amen.
Lord,
You are eager for the small compromises
that are required for collaboration
because you are eager for the great promise
of unity in love. For this,
you give us freedom to act and react,
and we are glad to see your kingdom come
in every moment of this gracious exercise.
Amen.
Begin by reading this story:
John 8:2-11
2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
John 8:2-11
2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Discerning Trafficking
Hopefully you've appreciated the conversation about trafficking in this series. If you have more questions about it, please submit them.
Pray Together
Posted in On Letting Freedom Ring
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