Following Christ’s Example
Read: Philippians 2:5-11 Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (v. 7) Human examples of surrendering to God, like the
Jessica Heikoop April 26, 2024
Is it possible to find freedom in surrender? Usually we think of surrender as a kind of defeat. Surrender seems like giving in, or giving up. That’s the opposite of freedom!
But that’s just what Jesus taught – freedom, real freedom, comes through surrender to God. To be a follower of Jesus we have to surrender everything to him: will, possessions, reputation, relationships, even our lives.
On the other side of surrender, Jesus offers us freedom – freedom from sin, but also freedom to live fully, with joy, in Christ. This isn’t a contradiction. It’s only through surrender to Christ that we can find freedom in Christ.
This 14-day series guides you through Jesus’s teaching on surrender, and how you can experience freedom in him.
Read: Philippians 2:5-11 Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (v. 7) Human examples of surrendering to God, like the
Read: Luke 1:26-38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (v. 38) Ask a student what her goal
Read: Romans 6:1-23 You are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness. (v. 16) Bob Dylan sang,
Read: Galatians 5:1-15 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (v. 13) Surrender.
Read: John 12:20-32 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (v. 25) An oxymoron is a seeming contradiction,
Jessica Heikoop was a writer and editor from Ontario, Canada. Beloved by her family and community, she died in 2013 at the age of 31.