Being a volunteer inside prison provides insight into an explicit form of captivity. Less clear are the ways we're held captive in our daily lives, in our common attitudes, and in our routine expectations. Resurrection witness reveals liberation in so many ways.
In the story from Acts 16, we're given several layers of captivity sprinkled with a host of ironies. From the opening with a slave girl prophetess for the Temple of Apollo dogging the apostle Paul and his group, the contrasts are at play and the story continues.
After she has the "spirit of the snake" cast out, is freed, then Paul and his fellows are imprisoned. At their opportunity for liberation, they pass it up, ministering instead to the jailer who comes to recognize his own captivity. The liberation is complete as the jailer and his household come to faith in the way of Jesus' good news of new life.
In John, a less elaborate story has Jesus engaged with Jewish believers. He teaches them about their captivity, to which they protest. He insists that knowing his truth will set them free like nothing else.
To get the full scoop, check out the sermon video below and note the downloads available below the video panel.
In the story from Acts 16, we're given several layers of captivity sprinkled with a host of ironies. From the opening with a slave girl prophetess for the Temple of Apollo dogging the apostle Paul and his group, the contrasts are at play and the story continues.
After she has the "spirit of the snake" cast out, is freed, then Paul and his fellows are imprisoned. At their opportunity for liberation, they pass it up, ministering instead to the jailer who comes to recognize his own captivity. The liberation is complete as the jailer and his household come to faith in the way of Jesus' good news of new life.
In John, a less elaborate story has Jesus engaged with Jewish believers. He teaches them about their captivity, to which they protest. He insists that knowing his truth will set them free like nothing else.
To get the full scoop, check out the sermon video below and note the downloads available below the video panel.
| 05-08-16-ff-answers.pdf |
| 05-08-16-resurrection_witness-liberation_from_captivity.pdf |