JUNE THEME – SET Free To LIVE Free – Embracing Liberty Through Christ
SUNDAY’S SERMON SUMMARY
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Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
FREEDOM BEGINS WITH TRUTH
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32
On the surface, truth can sound abstract—something we nod at but don’t always internalize. Yet Jesus declares that knowing truth is not merely intellectual assent; it is the pathway out of slavery into genuine freedom. When truth penetrates our hearts, it unlocks every hidden chain. The lies we’ve believed about ourselves, God, and our past keep us stumbling in darkness—unable to live as God intended. But when the truth shines in, it banishes confusion, guilt, and shame. Today, let us press into that promise: as we let God’s Word reveal reality, we begin to walk unshackled.
Nicodemus, a respected Pharisee well-versed in the Law and religious tradition, approached Jesus at night because he feared admitting his spiritual need. Though knowledgeable, he had never experienced the new birth Jesus described—his understanding of righteousness was limited to human standards. In John 3:3–5, Jesus told him he must be “born again” of water and Spirit to enter God’s kingdom, cutting through Nicodemus’s pride. When Jesus explained in John 3:14–16 that God’s love and forgiveness are freely given through belief in the Son, Nicodemus faced a choice: cling to his credentials or step into the light of a new reality. Though not recorded immediately, his later defense of Jesus (John 7:50–52) and honoring Him at the tomb (John 19:39) show that truth indeed set him free.
Imagine you’re stumbling through a dark room cluttered with furniture and boxes. Each step feels risky because you can’t see what’s around you. Every shadow might hide a chair leg or a low-hanging beam that could trip you. Then someone clicks on a bright lamp: suddenly, every obstacle comes into view. The chair leg that was once a source of fear now simply sits in the corner, harmless. With the light, you navigate freely without hesitation.
In the same way, the lies we carry—“I’m unlovable,” “I’ll never change,” “God could never forgive me”—create a dim, confusing environment in our souls. We fumble, afraid of unexpected pitfalls. But when the Holy Spirit brings truth into that darkness, each lie is exposed, each obstacle recognized and removed. Truth is the lamp, and as it shines, we step forward in confidence, no longer enslaved by fear or deception.
Quiet your heart and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal one lie that has held you captive—write it down to bring it into the light—then speak it aloud to God in a moment of solitude, confessing its power over you. Next, choose a Scripture that directly counters that lie (for example, Romans 8:38–39 for feeling “unlovable” or Philippians 1:6 for believing you’ll “always fail”), write that verse on a card, and declare it aloud over your life. Commit this counter-truth to memory and, whenever the lie resurfaces, recite the verse so God’s truth becomes your default response. Finally, at day’s end, journal any times the lie reemerged and note how speaking truth impacted you, celebrating each small victory as you step further into freedom.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, You are the Lamp that reveals every hidden corner of my heart. I confess that I have believed lies—lies about myself, about Your goodness, about my past and my future. Today, I lay those falsehoods at Your feet. Shine Your light into the dark places where I’ve been stumbling. Expose every lie I’ve embraced—“I am unlovable,” “God can’t forgive this,” “I’m stuck in my failure.” Replace each one with Your liberating truth: “I am loved beyond measure,” “There is now no condemnation in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1), “You will complete what You began in me” (Philippians 1:6). Give me the courage to speak these truths aloud, to hide them in my heart, and to walk forward in confidence. Let Your truth not leave me, but bind my heart in freedom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Today, share one truth you have claimed with a trusted friend or spouse—perhaps over coffee, a text message, or a quick phone call. For example: “I confessed to God that I believed I was unlovable, but I claimed Romans 8:1: ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.’” Then, ask your friend to share a truth they need right now, and pray together for one another. By verbalizing what God is doing in your life, you strengthen your own faith and encourage another to live in freedom.
TUESDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Sadie Almand & Unborn Baby
Paula Ferus – Cataract Surgery 6/3
Ann Stanley – Transferred to Piedmont Atlanta
Doug Stephens
Mary Williams – Rehab
Jill Haines
Angela Bryan’s Sister
Danny Jarrard
Darlene Wiggins
Doris Loyd
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Eric Magnusson’s Mother
Eric Ward
Friend of Linda Hodge
Gayle Sparks
George & Linda Alexander
James Burnette
James Garner
Jessica Headrick
Jodi Bateman
John McClain’s Mother
June Cronan’s Sister
June Davis
Kailey Bateman
Kathryn Raines
Kim McClain’s Mother
Kim’s Sisters – Ann & Brenda
Lee Cronan
Lillianna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Lonzo Christian
Lori Blount’s Mother
Mary Williams
Mary Williamson – Dana Jackson’s Mom
Marynell Ford
Mike, Gwen, Michael Rice Family – Friends of Blount’s – Car Accident
Mrs. Franklin
Nora Allison
Pastor Driskell
Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA
Roy Loyd
Scarlett – Marynell’s Granddaughter
Scott Lanier
Steve Michaels
Theresa Bain’s Granddaughter
Tom Witcher