Do you have a "happy place"? If so, where?
There is Freedom
The freedom for which Christ has set us free is not theoretical, private, or fragile. It is real freedom that shows up in the way we speak, serve, and stand among others. In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul insists that “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom,” and he immediately connects that freedom to confidence: not confidence in ourselves, but confidence that God is at work through us. Let's explore how freedom is not primarily something we enjoy internally, but something that authorizes us to be present, honest, and generous with others. In the Spirit, freedom becomes shared space, where we can minister, reflect Christ, and invite others in without coercion or performance.
Now that you've answered the Icebreaker, here's another question - this one, about feeling free.
Hopefully that makes enough sense to get you started. As you continue into the Worship portion of the Spotlight, pray this prayer together:
Spirit,
Where you are, there is freedom -
so we are glad to be where you are.
Teach us to know, to sense, and to seek
the freedom that is there with you.
It is a gift you give to us,
let us not resist receiving it.
Amen.
Spirit,
Where you are, there is freedom -
so we are glad to be where you are.
Teach us to know, to sense, and to seek
the freedom that is there with you.
It is a gift you give to us,
let us not resist receiving it.
Amen.
Read together Psalm 118.
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say:
“His love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say:
“His love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord say:
“His love endures forever.”
5 When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious place.
6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in humans.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
11 They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
12 They swarmed around me like bees,
but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.
15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
16The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of the righteous;
I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord
through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
23 the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 The Lord has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.
25 Lord, save us!
Lord, grant us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
From the house of the Lord we bless you.
27 The Lord is God,
and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say:
“His love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say:
“His love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord say:
“His love endures forever.”
5 When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious place.
6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in humans.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
11 They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
12 They swarmed around me like bees,
but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.
15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
16The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of the righteous;
I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord
through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
23 the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 The Lord has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.
25 Lord, save us!
Lord, grant us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
From the house of the Lord we bless you.
27 The Lord is God,
and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Finish the worship section with the song "Happily Hidden" by Pat Barrett and John Mark McMillan, a song that encourages us to find freedom where it is - as the Psalmist celebrated - instead of in ourselves or something else.
Watch this video until it reaches 21:30. This is from a BEST (Businesses Ending Slavery & Trafficking) lunch and learn.
Major events like the Super Bowl and the upcoming World Cup matches that will be in Seattle draw huge crowds, attention, and resources. Alongside the celebration, they also become opportunities for criminal networks to exploit vulnerability, like you heard about in the video. Research and awareness initiatives show that anti-trafficking efforts can be wise to intensify around such events, not because trafficking automatically spikes dramatically compared to other times, but because these gatherings bring together people from many places and demand coordinated vigilance from law enforcement, service providers, and the public alike.
Practice Vigilant Compassion
Use the following prompt to discuss simpler, everyday actions:
Major events like the Super Bowl and the upcoming World Cup matches that will be in Seattle draw huge crowds, attention, and resources. Alongside the celebration, they also become opportunities for criminal networks to exploit vulnerability, like you heard about in the video. Research and awareness initiatives show that anti-trafficking efforts can be wise to intensify around such events, not because trafficking automatically spikes dramatically compared to other times, but because these gatherings bring together people from many places and demand coordinated vigilance from law enforcement, service providers, and the public alike.
- Share one thing you’ve learned or hadn’t considered about human trafficking and how events or larger social structures affect vulnerable people.
- Discuss: What is one practical way your group or community could be more aware of this issue in everyday life (not just during big events?)
Practice Vigilant Compassion
Use the following prompt to discuss simpler, everyday actions:
- Seeing vulnerability: Who are the people in your community whose voices are least heard?
- Knowing signs: What are some common indications that someone may be at risk or being exploited?
- Responding with care: How can you safely connect someone who may be in need to resources (such as hotlines, local nonprofits, or trained professionals) rather than intervening alone?
Pray Together
Close with Prayer
Heavenly Father, we are not altogether convinced that darkness is a thing of the past. Many people in this world of ours feel their world is one of darkness and gloom. Pressures crowd in upon us and get us down.
The causes are varied: bereavement, illness, money, worries about family, trouble at work or not having work, drugs, drink, boredom, doubt, weariness, futility.
Then there are the world issues: war, poverty, climate change, disease, unfair trade and so on. It does not help when we feel that as Christians we should be doing so much better than we are. Gracious and loving God, we rejoice that you are with us in our troubles, you know us and you love us – always
Even though we have made a mess of things personally and collectively you remain faithful. We rejoice that your Son came not to a perfect world, but to a broken world, our world. To bring light to the darkness, our darkness.
We pray for our dark and dreary world, a world in need – in need not just of a technical fix, but in need of love and grace, forgiveness and new life, hope, peace and fellowship, in need of renewal, in need of YOU.
We pray that you would come alongside us and all those for whom we pray, that you would show us Jesus, the light of the world, the one who came (and who comes) to rid us of sin, to give us life and health and peace, peace that passes all understanding – not a temporary respite from trouble but the strength to overcome it and ultimately to receive life eternal
You don’t wave a magic wand for everything to sorted instantly – you require us to exercise our faith and to respond to your call to preach the gospel and to seek to live it out, to look to you for the strength that we need to share your love and grace. Help us to share the good news in word and action – the same good news that the fishermen were called to proclaim that there is a Saviour, a merciful king who loves us and whom we can love and adore.
We have been set free. Enable us to use our freedom to share in bringing in the kingdom. In the light of this we have something to celebrate, something to shout about – for even in our trouble and pain, even in our loss, we know that Jesus is with us.
Hear us as in a moment of silence we pray for those in darkness (of whatever kind) – let us pray that they may see and know the light of Christ:
Silence
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Hear our prayers, Lord, spoken and unspoken and answer them for Jesus’ sake.
Amen.
Heavenly Father, we are not altogether convinced that darkness is a thing of the past. Many people in this world of ours feel their world is one of darkness and gloom. Pressures crowd in upon us and get us down.
The causes are varied: bereavement, illness, money, worries about family, trouble at work or not having work, drugs, drink, boredom, doubt, weariness, futility.
Then there are the world issues: war, poverty, climate change, disease, unfair trade and so on. It does not help when we feel that as Christians we should be doing so much better than we are. Gracious and loving God, we rejoice that you are with us in our troubles, you know us and you love us – always
Even though we have made a mess of things personally and collectively you remain faithful. We rejoice that your Son came not to a perfect world, but to a broken world, our world. To bring light to the darkness, our darkness.
We pray for our dark and dreary world, a world in need – in need not just of a technical fix, but in need of love and grace, forgiveness and new life, hope, peace and fellowship, in need of renewal, in need of YOU.
We pray that you would come alongside us and all those for whom we pray, that you would show us Jesus, the light of the world, the one who came (and who comes) to rid us of sin, to give us life and health and peace, peace that passes all understanding – not a temporary respite from trouble but the strength to overcome it and ultimately to receive life eternal
You don’t wave a magic wand for everything to sorted instantly – you require us to exercise our faith and to respond to your call to preach the gospel and to seek to live it out, to look to you for the strength that we need to share your love and grace. Help us to share the good news in word and action – the same good news that the fishermen were called to proclaim that there is a Saviour, a merciful king who loves us and whom we can love and adore.
We have been set free. Enable us to use our freedom to share in bringing in the kingdom. In the light of this we have something to celebrate, something to shout about – for even in our trouble and pain, even in our loss, we know that Jesus is with us.
Hear us as in a moment of silence we pray for those in darkness (of whatever kind) – let us pray that they may see and know the light of Christ:
Silence
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Hear our prayers, Lord, spoken and unspoken and answer them for Jesus’ sake.
Amen.
Finish this Spotlight with the song "Finally Free" by Rend Collective.
Posted in On Letting Freedom Ring
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