1. Prepare your family’s clothes and make food preparations the night before to reduce the chaos on
Sunday morning.

2. Wake up early enough to do your own personal prayers and meditation. Take this time to think about God’s goodness and thank him for all his blessings.

3. Sing and listen to hymns in your home and in your car throughout the day.

4. Go to Bible class. The teachers have spent time studying all week to present to you the wisdom and beauty of God form his word. You should take full advantage of that opportunity. Plus, learning the Bible with your church family is a whole different experience than personal study time.

5. Engage in the service with your heart by thinking about how God has blessed you and how much you love your church family. Such thoughts help me to overlook the ‘imperfections’ of the service and to be thankful for the opportunity to worship God with my spiritual family.

6. Engage in the service with your mind by singing the songs, following along the scriptures in your own Bibles and taking notes.

7. Engage your body in the service through your own preference of prayer posture. Kneel on the ground. Lift your hands in the air. Hold the hand of the person next to you. Bow your head and clasp your hands together. Whatever helps you to engage in prayer is what you should do.

8. Cherish communion. Do your best in the short time dedicated to communion to engaging your heart, body, and mind in communion. Be thankful for the sacrifice of Jesus and rejoice in the salvation that the cross provided.

9. Stay after services and talk with visitors and other Christians. Don’t just talk to the people you talk to every Sunday. Branch out and get to know the brothers and sisters you worship with. Go out to eat with others for lunch at every opportunity.

10. Spend the rest of the day resting and enjoying your physical/spiritual family. Worship doesn’t end at noon. You can worship by yourself or with others. Engage in discussions about the Bible. Get a group together and sing. Spend time in prayer. Evangelize. Help those in need. The opportunities are endless.

In the YouVersion “The One Year Bible” plan, we are reading the book of Romans. In it the apostle Paul describes the basic foundations of Christianity, defining topics such as sin, grace and faith, and introduces important themes like salvation, righteousness and justification. Throughout this letter he provides us practical guidelines of what to believe, and how to behave to Be Set Free From Sin.

1. Renew your mind – We think members of the church, Christ thinks disciples of His Church.

In Romans 12:2 Paul writes “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

I believe Paul is stating that we must consciously choose each day to live Christ-centered lives and that we should pray for God’s guidance to implement His will.

Paul also writes in Romans 8:5-6 ⁵ “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.  ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

I believe the apostle is stating that as Christians, we are united with Christ and we are set apart, we are in this world, but not of this world. He is testifying that we should let the Spirit affect how we choose to behave each day. With a renewed mind we should reflect Christ in our actions.

2. Strive to be righteous – Faith in Christ does not make one free to sin, but free from sin.

Romans 6:11-12, 13 ¹¹ “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹²Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³…and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.”

We are created in His image. We were created righteous, so we should live righteous. With a renewed mind we should walk in newness of life with Jesus and strive to do His will.

In Romans 6:20-21 Paul continues ²⁰ “When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. ²¹What benefit did you reap at the time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things that result in death!”

This passage hits home pretty hard. How often do we do something and then immediately regret the actions or the decisions we made? As Christians, we all know that choosing to sin separates you from God and leads to death. Why would you continue to take actions that you are ashamed of?

3. Have faith in salvation – Justification is to be enjoyed, salvation should be a fact of your life

Romans 6:22-23 ²² “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. ²³For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

As a Christian, salvation should change your life. You should desire to have a wonderful relationship with Christ. We are free from sin’s control to grow and become more like Christ. 

Romans 5:9-10 ⁹ “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! ¹⁰For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”

Throughout Romans, Paul clearly sets forth the foundation of the Christian faith. All people are sinful, Christ died to forgive sin, we are made right with God through faith. As a Christian, we are reconciled through the death, burial and resurrection of our savior Jesus Christ. As a believer, you MUST be baptized to be reconciled with Christ and receive salvation.

Jesus has never been in favor of us having a title or a position. For instance, in Matthew 23:8 he says that we should not even have the title of teacher because we only have one teacher, and we are all brethren. What that means is that we can execute the role of teaching as an ambassador of our teacher – Jesus Christ. The same applies to those SERVING AS deacons, pastors, missionaries, etc.

Jesus illustrates this principle in Luke 7: 36-50. Here we have a humble harlot kneeling at the feet of Jesus and washing his feet with her tears. While this beautiful humble serving gift is going on, the pious Simon, with the title of Pharisee, is taking on the role of judge, jury, and executioner. His mistake is to think that his thoughts will not be made known. But they are: Luke 7:39 (ESV) — 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”

Friend, are you currently the Humble Harlot at Jesus’ feet or have you assumed the Pious Position of judging your fellow man?

“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt 16:24–26)

Jesus’s words continue to challenge us today. The call to deny ourselves and take up our crosses in pursuit of Jesus often makes us wince. We love ourselves. We love our lives just as they are. We love the comfort of our houses, our friends, our family. Why would we want to change? For these reasons and more we grow too comfortable. We’ve become too comfortable using and laughing at foul language so that we forget to encourage others with our words and actions. We have grown so accustomed to lusting or viewing pornography that our eyes gloss over Jesus’ statement that lust is adultery. We are so snug in our luxurious clothes, houses, and cars that we forget the biblical command to care for the poor, the widows, and orphans.

One simple solution to these vices is to be more intentional with how you live your life. If we wake up each day and meditate on living up to the call of the gospel and pray for God’s mercy and help, we will undoubtedly notice a significant difference in our behavior and attitude. We must intend to live like Christ in every aspect of our lives. This is not to say that we will be perfect. Instead, we will be like Paul who said, “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:12–14).

In the movie Braveheart, William Wallace, played by Mel Gibson, shouted his last words to his followers before he was executed,  “FREEDOM” .   It was an encouraging message to his followers to not give up!

For freedom Christ has set us free, stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a  yoke of slavery. Gal 5:1

From this scripture we learn Christ is constantly working to deliver his children from the yoke of sin. Romans 6 tells us that we were once slaves to sin, but now we have been set free, now we are slaves to righteousness.    

If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we have been set free from the bondage of sin.  Sin should no longer have a hold on us or control our lives. Satan will, however, continue to battle, to try to lure us from the right path. That is why your fellowship with other Christians is so important.

Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life, and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the Spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and Holiness. Eph 4:22-24

Brothers and Sisters, choose to live in freedom from sin.  God has promised us a life of freedom.  We should now live a life filled with joy, peace, and love.  We know Christ’s last words were “It Is Finished” telling his followers His work on this earth was done and he was going to the right hand of God. 

To us it should mean, “(Your name here), I give you FREEDOM.”

The purpose of God in my life will flow out of both my scars as well as my successes. In the life of Paul, it can be seen in a submissive word from God: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor.12:9 NKJV).

After I have embraced who I am and how I got there I need to know that Jesus accepts me just as I am. Jesus said: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV)). It is Jesus’ blood bought grace gift that makes me acceptable before God. Nothing but the cross I bring.

From this point the life we live is Christ living vicariously through us. That means:

• Love God and your neighbor, Mt.22:37-39.

· Do unto others as you would want them to do to you, Mt.7:12.

• Pray continually and be thankful always, 1 Thess.5:17-18.

• Forgive seventy times seven, Mt.18:21-22.

• Your best decisions will reflect your values (God’s will), Js.4:17.

Friend do not let life get the better of you. Rather, live the life God created for you.

She walked into my counseling office, completely broken by sin. A very well-hidden secret had come to light. Could this be describing you?

Many years ago, the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh asked Moses for permission to live on the wrong side of the Jordan River. After assuring Moses that they were not trying to shirk their duties, Moses agreed with this warning: “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, AND BE SURE YOUR SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT” (Num.32:23).

The problem with sin is that it does not want to stay hidden. Last week, Douwene was out of town. How easy it would be for me to sneak into “Little Caesars” and order a Pizza. I mean, Douwene would never find out – right?

This happened to “a friend of mine”. He went to Little Caesars and ordered the cheapest pizza on the menu – without his wife’s knowledge. But then something very unfortunate happened. They told him that they could not sell him a pizza because of the time. So, they offered him two pizzas and his choice of chicken wings. However, because it was done in secret, he is now unable to tell anyone of his good fortune.

Friend don’t be like “that friend of mine”. Rather remember, “Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed or hidden that will not be known” (Lk.12:2).

I am amazed by the number of applications one can have on one’s cell (smart) phone.  The camera can be linked to applications that allow you to identify trees and plants, bar codes on packages and even identify an airplane passing overhead.  The one application that I use frequently is the flashlight. The light is produced by a small light emitting diode (labeled as a LED).   It also serves as the flash for the camera when needed.  The light is very bright. I have a cover on the back case of the phone, which covers the camera lenses and the light.  Several times unknowingly, I have touched the icon and turned on the light and wondered why my battery usage rate is so high after 4 to 5 hours.  With the light covered, it is hard to notice its illumination.  I have discovered this at the most inopportune times.

A covered or hidden light is a waste of energy and serves no useful purpose other than to baffle the user why there is so little battery left.  When the light is not covered, where we are looking is illuminated.  The dark area is no longer dark.  A lighted room raises spirits and eases worries or troublesome thoughts.  A light on the front porch is a welcome to the weary traveler.

Jesus said,  “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.   Your eye is the lamp of your body.  When your eyes are healthy (generous), your whole body also is full of light.  But when they are unhealthy (stingy), your body also is full of darkness.  See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.  Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”  (Luke 11: 33-36)

I must be a welcoming light rather than a hidden light that is wasting energy on my own self-importance.  I need and must seek God.  Daniel said that our God is a God of light that illuminates the dark places.  (Daniel 2:22)

BE A LIGHT IN THIS DARK WORLD

What do you fear? Many fear flying, spiders, death, or the dark. My top fear is my family suffering. As you can imagine, raising three boys, I faced this fear many times. So how did I handle my fear? I employed all the obvious solutions. Every night I would make sure the house was locked and everyone was where they needed to be. But then, as they grew up and took “flight” I had to find a more permanent solution. So, I turned to David’s Psalm 27.

During times when his enemies wanted to remove his head from his body, he wrote this beautiful solution to fear.

· First, turn to the Lord, 1-3.   The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

· Second, remain in fellowship with God, 4-9.   One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life...

· Third, become God’s adopted child, 10. For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.

· Fourth, learn God’s one true path, 11-12. Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.

· And finally, patiently wait on the Lord, 13-14. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Friend, with our Heavenly Father on our side, whom shall we fear?