Freedom to Let Go

7-5-20Sermon Notes“Freedom To Let Go”
Welcome to a new month, and a new sermon series called, “Let Freedom Ring!” I think now (more than ever) we need to remember the freedoms that God offers us and take advantage of them. I am always reminded of freedom on Independence Day. I hope that you had a great Independence Day, even if you had to be separated from those you love by distance due to quarantine issues.
We would love nothing more than to get everyone together and catch up on all the hugs and conversations that we have missed since the middle of March! But we will be patient, because we must keep the health of our congregation in mind. Still – I want you to hear an invitation today…an invitation to freedom!
I am reminded of the invitation that is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty:
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door.
Familiar words…but don’t ever forget. They are an invitation to freedom. Jesus gives an invitation to freedom in the Gospel passage for this Sunday:
16 “But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,
17 ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we wailed, and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; 19 the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
25 At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11: 16-19, 25-30 NRSV)
Did you notice Jesus’ invitation? “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens…”
Have you felt weighed down by heavy burdens lately? Sunday, we are going to talk about what it might mean to let some things go. I hope you will join us by Livestream or by Facebook Live.
God bless you!
Pastor Sam