Sermon Tone Analysis

“Freedom For”

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Good morning church, today we are continuing our sermon series titled Follow Me.

We’ve been looking at what it means to Follow Jesus.

This is the 4th lesson and so far we have said Following Jesus requires:

Courage

Surrender

Changed Perspective

Today we’re talking about freedom.

If you grew up in America, then you almost certainly have heard the universal belief among Americans that:

“You can do whatever you want—as long as you don’t hurt anybody”.

Anybody ever heard that before?

One of the most sacred words of American ideals is the word freedom.

As Americans we love our freedom.

In America, our freedoms include the rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

You have heard the songs lyrics: “the land of the free” and “let freedom ring.”

Freedom is our highest good.

AMERICANS LOVE THEIR FREEDOM

As Americans we love our freedom.

And rightfully so, literally, millions of Americans have sacrificed their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today.

They have shed blood, sweat, and tears for our freedom.

We love our freedom so much that we have national holidays to celebrate our freedom, we’ve made statues and monuments to remind us of our freedom, our national anthem is about our freedom, our right to freedom is etched into our constitution, we have freedom of speech, freedom of expression, the freedom of the press, the freedom to practice religion, freedom to bear arms, and many other freedoms.

As Americans we love our freedom!

And car commercials are notorious for promoting this idea of freedom.

With the open road in front of you, you can go anywhere you want from behind the wheel, you just take control of your own destiny and do whatever you want.

Cars are empowering.

Ownership means that you have the means to be independently mobile and free, that you own not just the road and your vehicle but choice as well.

Freedom means breaking the limits.

No rules, no boundaries, no restrictions.

They’ll say “Buy this car and you’ll be free”, “Unleash yourself”.

No one tells you what to do.

You decide for yourself to be free.

DODGE COMMERCIAL

In fact, there is a car commercial put out by Dodge that depicts a scene from the American Revolution.

The commercial shows the British army taking position, waiting for the Americans.

And as they are waiting, guns drawn, the soldiers start to have the look of concern on their faces.

And you’re starting to wonder why, what do they see to make them look so concerned?

And suddenly, three Dodge Challengers come out of nowhere, blazing full steam towards the British soldiers.

And lo and behold, wouldn’t you know who was driving one of the Challengers.

George Washington himself, George Washington was behind the wheel of one of the cars and all the British soldiers start to run away.

Who knew that our history books got it wrong all this time.

They weren't using horseback, they were using horse power.

Haha who knew?

And then the commercial ends with George Washington next to the car and this quote, "Here's a couple of things America got right, cars and freedom.”

As Americans we love our freedom!

We bristle at rules, laws, and boundaries because they seem to be the opposite of freedom.

No one comes between an American and their freedom.

ELECTION CYCLE

This past election cycle is great example of how much we love our freedom.

When our freedoms are infringed upon, people will grumble and argue with one another.

With our neighbors.

With state and local governments.

Americans will line up behind a political party and leverage the Bible to validate our political talking points.

We’ll take each other to court, we’ll argue with our brothers and sisters and treat our neighbors with suspicion.

On social media we’ll demonize and criticize people, for threatening our freedom.

We allow ourselves to be divided over masks and vaccines.

Indiscriminate demonization and dehumanization.

No Matter what side you're on, as long as you don't come between me and my freedom.

Americans love freedom.

TRUE FREEDOM

Now, unfortunately for Americans, the premium we place on personal freedom does not appear in scripture.

In fact, the opposite is true.

When we become followers of Jesus the Bible teaches us to give up our freedom and rights.

When you become a new creature in Christ and follow Jesus we’re called to give up our freedom.

In this passage we’re about to read today, in order to encourage the Christians in Corinth, Paul described his entire ministry as one of forfeiting his rights and his freedom for the sake of the Gospel.

Paul described his entire ministry as one of forfeiting his rights and his freedom for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Paul says, if you want to follow Jesus, overcome the desire for personal freedom.

It is the only way, it’s the only way to serve Christ and to spread the gospel.

The implication is clear: in America freedom equals my rights, my choice, what’s best for me.

Paul says actually, freedom is the opposite.

Now don't misunderstand me.

I am an American and I love our freedom, our freedom is a good thing, our freedom is a very good thing.

And if you've ever been to another country that doesn't have the freedoms that we have, then you know how blessed we are.

Our freedom in America is a tremendous blessing.

But what I'm here to tell you today, is that personal freedom is not biblical freedom.

POINT:

Because If anybody knew anything about freedom it was Paul.

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

Philippians 3:4–6.

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in Jerusalem.

I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors

Acts 22:3

Paul was not just a free Jew, but he was born from one of the best tribes, from one of the best traditions, taught by one of the best rabbi’s.

He was also born free as a Roman citizen.

He was born in one of the provinces of Cilicia and he was free born in every way; in a world that knew a lot of slavery, in the Roman world he was free in every way.

And yet, with all the political, religious, and social freedoms that Paul enjoyed, we learn that when he was on the road to Damascus in Acts 9, he was still in chains.

He was a slave to religion, he was a slave to the law, he was a slave to sin, he was a slave to condemnation, he was a slave to wrath, and he was slave to ultimate death.

He did not know that he was a slave.

He didn't realize it.

He's on the road to Damascus and he has all this freedom but yet he's a slave a doesn't even know it.

And God confronts him and says, “Hey Saul look, if you want freedom, then you need to get off at the next exit.”

And so he encounters Jesus, and his encounter with Jesus is so powerful that it blinds him.

It knocks him to the ground.

So, he goes to Damascus, he meets a man named Ananias, he's on a street called straight, and he puts his faith in Jesus, he repents of his sins, confesses Him as Lord, he's immersed in water.

Acts 22:16 Ananias says what are you waiting for?

Arise, be immersed and wash away your sins.

Come get off the road, get off the highway to hell and get on the freeway to salvation!

16 And now what are you waiting for?

Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’

Acts 22:16.