If you asked people today what it means to find true freedom, the answers always seem to point back to you. “Love yourself.” “Treat yourself.” “Take care of yourself.” “Believe in yourself.” But if we can be prisoners of our own struggles, like anxiety, and addiction, and despair, are we really the answer to setting ourselves free? To dig a little deeper behind our belief in self-fulfillment: is happiness what life is all about? While it’s natural for parents to want happiness for their children, God wants holiness for you and for me. Instead of fitting in, God calls us to stand out, we are wholly fulfilled in Him. Have you discovered the freedom of abiding in His love? Because holiness is “Christ in me”.
If you asked people today what it means to find true freedom, the answers always seem to point back to you. “Love yourself.” “Treat yourself.” “Take care of yourself.” “Believe in yourself.” But if we can be prisoners of our own struggles, like anxiety, and addiction, and despair, are we really the answer to setting ourselves free? To dig a little deeper behind our belief in self-fulfillment: is happiness what life is all about? While it’s natural for parents to want happiness for their children, God wants holiness for you and for me. Instead of fitting in, God calls us to stand out, we are wholly fulfilled in Him. Have you discovered the freedom of abiding in His love? Because holiness is “Christ in me”.
The days that we’re living in are called “the age of anxiety”, where people are crippled with worry and fear. While people boast on social media the best versions of themselves, inside we feel that we’re never enough. There’s always someone prettier, there’s always someone more successful, someone more confident, someone more powerful, everyone else seems to be competent on their own. No matter how hard we try, deep down we feel a void. We can be afraid to admit that we need help, that we’re not enough. When God calls you to stand strong, it’s about freedom, not pretending. He never created us for the purpose of making it on our own. Are we living for the goal of independence, or will we find freedom in trusting where He leads? Because true strength depends on the One who cares for you.
The days that we’re living in are called “the age of anxiety”, where people are crippled with worry and fear. While people boast on social media the best versions of themselves, inside we feel that we’re never enough. There’s always someone prettier, there’s always someone more successful, someone more confident, someone more powerful, everyone else seems to be competent on their own. No matter how hard we try, deep down we feel a void. We can be afraid to admit that we need help, that we’re not enough. When God calls you to stand strong, it’s about freedom, not pretending. He never created us for the purpose of making it on our own. Are we living for the goal of independence, or will we find freedom in trusting where He leads? Because true strength depends on the One who cares for you.
How many of us feel the need to describe ourselves as “busy”? That even though it may be true of your schedule, is it a defining characteristic of who you’re proud to be? “I’m the kind of person who’s busy!” We live in a world that celebrates efficiency, where productivity is value number one. But have we become products of performance, where we’re addicted to achievement? Does what we do tell us who we are? Too often we listen for freedom in the approval of our accomplishments, but the God of the universe claims He knit you together - His Word should tell you who you are. The road to freedom doesn’t begin with our doing, but “being still and knowing He is God.”
How many of us feel the need to describe ourselves as “busy”? That even though it may be true of your schedule, is it a defining characteristic of who you’re proud to be? “I’m the kind of person who’s busy!” We live in a world that celebrates efficiency, where productivity is value number one. But have we become products of performance, where we’re addicted to achievement? Does what we do tell us who we are? Too often we listen for freedom in the approval of our accomplishments, but the God of the universe claims He knit you together - His Word should tell you who you are. The road to freedom doesn’t begin with our doing, but “being still and knowing He is God.”
On Reformation Sunday, we remember that nothing must stand in the way of the Gospel. In John 6, Jesus declares, “Whoever comes to me will never go hungry,” reminding us that He alone is the Bread of Life—our source, our hope, our unity. In Romans 1, Paul proclaims that he is “set apart for the Gospel of God” and unashamed of its power to save. Unity isn’t just about getting along—its about moving forward together. We are bound together by the mission of Jesus to bring His good news of salvation to all people. As the Reformers boldly stood for truth, we too are called to rise with one voice, one heart, and one soul—united in the Gospel that brings life to the world.
On Reformation Sunday, we remember that nothing must stand in the way of the Gospel. In John 6, Jesus declares, “Whoever comes to me will never go hungry,” reminding us that He alone is the Bread of Life—our source, our hope, our unity. In Romans 1, Paul proclaims that he is “set apart for the Gospel of God” and unashamed of its power to save. Unity isn’t just about getting along—it's about moving forward together. We are bound together by the mission of Jesus to bring His good news of salvation to all people. As the Reformers boldly stood for truth, we too are called to rise with one voice, one heart, and one soul—united in the Gospel that brings life to the world.
The Church is the body of Christ on earth. As a body we have many members with different gifts/functions; and yet, called to work in harmony as one. In Romans 12, Paul urges believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices and to serve with the unique gifts God has given them, not for personal glory but for the good of the whole. In Mark 3, Jesus calls a diverse group of disciples to be with Him and to be sent out together. Unity of body means valuing every part, honoring each other’s role, and functioning as a team with one mission. When the body works in Unity, the world sees Jesus more clearly.
The Church is the body of Christ on earth. As a body we have many members with different gifts/functions; and yet, called to work in harmony as one. In Romans 12, Paul urges believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices and to serve with the unique gifts God has given them, not for personal glory but for the good of the whole. In Mark 3, Jesus calls a diverse group of disciples to be with Him and to be sent out together. Unity of body means valuing every part, honoring each other’s role, and functioning as a team with one mission. When the body works in Unity, the world sees Jesus more clearly.
Unity begins in the mind—how we think about God, ourselves, and one another. Philippians 2 calls us to “be like-minded, having the same love, being one in Spirit and of one mind”. But Paul also warns against the enemies of unity: selfish ambition, vain conceit, grumbling, and divisiveness. These behaviors hurt our unity by fracturing our community and distorting our witness of Jesus. Instead of this we are invited to adopt the mindset of Jesus—humble, obedient, and self-giving. In John 10, Jesus speaks of being the Good Shepherd who draws all people into one flock under one voice. True Unity of mind doesn’t mean uniformity—it means living with our Shepherd at the center, aligning our thoughts with His love and mission, and resisting the pride and division that could pull us apart.
Unity begins in the mind—how we think about God, ourselves, and one another. Philippians 2 calls us to “be like-minded, having the same love, being one in Spirit and of one mind”. But Paul also warns against the enemies of unity: selfish ambition, vain conceit, grumbling, and divisiveness. These behaviors hurt our unity by fracturing our community and distorting our witness of Jesus. Instead of this we are invited to adopt the mindset of Jesus—humble, obedient, and self-giving. In John 10, Jesus speaks of being the Good Shepherd who draws all people into one flock under one voice. True Unity of mind doesn’t mean uniformity—it means living with our Shepherd at the center, aligning our thoughts with His love and mission, and resisting the pride and division that could pull us apart.