Independence Day has always been a special holiday for me to observe and celebrate. When I was a little guy, I remember saving up my allowance in anticipation of the day when my mom would take us to the local fireworks stand. I would spend it all and then go home and lay my arsenal out to plan the big day. And at daybreak, the blasting would begin. What freedom I felt as a little guy. 

Independence Day has kept that sense of wonder and awe in my adulthood. But as I prepare to celebrate the freedoms we have in our nation, I was reminded of a verse from the Bible, John 8:36, when Jesus said, “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” As grateful as I am to live in America, with the freedoms we experience, I am even more grateful for the freedoms we have because Jesus made it possible for us to be free through the price He paid by going to the cross on our behalf.

Have you ever felt excitement in your soul over the fact that you have been set free from the greatest bondage and imprisonment a human being can experience? Jesus offers us freedom from our sin, shame, guilt, and brokenness. If we stop and reflect on that, I believe we will feel incredible awe and wonder, just like I did as a little guy when I was dreaming about those fireworks that represented a different kind of freedom. 

So, this weekend, will you please ask yourself, am I as excited about the freedom I know because of Jesus as I am about the freedom I know because of the Declaration of Independence? Let God move you to awe over His great love, and then I believe that will help you keep your awe and wonder at our American Independence in proper perspective. Chew on that.

This summer at Twin Cities we’re talking about how to stand firm and have hope in times of despair and hopelessness. Our Dare to Hope series will take us on a verse-by-verse journey through the New Testament book of 1 Peter. He wrote to people who were exiles and outcasts because of their faith in Jesus. His purpose was to embolden them to stand strong in the face of adversity and opposition and to live as people of enduring hope. Grab your Bible, join us for this series, and learn how to be a hope-filled counter-cultural. 

Rather than blending in and accepting the values of the culture around us, God calls us to live differently by trusting and obeying Him. He calls us to stand against the flow of culture. When we do, we may experience ridicule, marginalization, and possibly even suffering and persecution. At the same time, we have the promise that even though things may be difficult, we can also experience joy, purpose, and hope. 

Make sure to bring your Bible with you this Sunday as we walk verse-by-verse through 1 Peter 2:11-25 under the heading of Living an Honorable Life. We’ve already learned about our identity in Jesus (if you missed any of the first three messages, please make time to listen to them). This week we get another glimpse into who God says we are and how that impacts how we live as counter-culturals. We will be challenged to honor those who are in authority over us in this world.

I love you and can’t wait to see what God does in our church and for our community this summer. 

Here are the links you’ll need to prepare for Sunday’s Service: 

• Message Notes and Study Guide
• Weekly Spotify Playlist
• Children's Ministry
• Student Ministry 

Joyfully living on mission in intimacy with Jesus and others,

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