John 8:31-38

There is a nearly universal experience in childhood of wanting to run free without anyone telling you where to go or how long you can stay there. Most children long for open space, movement, and freedom simply because they were made to explore. As we grow older, life begins to narrow, with schedules, expectations, responsibilities, and obligations shaping our days. School keeps us seated for hours, work demands consistency, and adulthood often feels more restrictive than free.

That longing for freedom does not disappear as we age. It simply changes form. Beneath our routines and responsibilities is a deeper question that many of us carry, whether we say it out loud or not: Have you ever truly felt free?

There is a danger here that cannot be ignored. There is a difference between the freedom God offers and the freedom the world says is attainable. The world will tell you that you can, or should be able to, do whatever you want in life, and no one should tell you otherwise. You might hear people say, “Live your truth.” This is often the justification for living freely in whatever capacity this may look like in your life, as long as it makes you happy. 

Freedom is more than the absence of rules or authority. It is the experience of being released from something that once held power over you. When you are freed from a heavy burden, there is relief, joy, and often gratitude. If freedom feels abstract or unfamiliar, consider what is holding you bound. Every person is bound by something.

Jesus teaches that sin has the power to enslave us, even when we believe we are acting on our own terms (John 8:34). Bondage does not always look dramatic or destructive on the surface. It can look like patterns you cannot break, emotions that control your reactions, approval you constantly chase, or beliefs that quietly shape your identity. What binds us does not always announce itself, but its presence is felt.

In John 8, Jesus speaks to two types of people at once. He speaks to those openly caught in sin and those who believe their religious obedience has made them free. To put it plainly, He speaks to the rebels and to the religious. 

Although they are two very different groups, Jesus offers them the same invitation. He says that true freedom is found by abiding in His Word (John 8:31). To abide means to remain, to cling, and to stay rooted. It is not a momentary agreement with, compliance, or toleration of Jesus but a continued trust in what He says is true.

Jesus goes on to say that knowing the truth leads to freedom (John 8:32). This truth is not simply information or moral guidance. It is the truth about who God is, who we are, and what Jesus has done. Truth exposes the lies we believe about ourselves and the faulty sources of freedom we rely on too often. With truth at our root, freedom flourishes and follows.

For the rebel, this freedom looks like release from the power and death grip (literally) of sin. Jesus does not minimize sin, but He does break its authority and bondage. Scripture teaches that if the Son sets you free, you are truly free (John 8:36). 

Freedom in Christ does not mean the absence of struggle, but it does mean sin no longer defines or owns you.

For the religious, freedom looks different but is no less necessary. Legalism promises control and security through rule keeping or following traditions, but it cannot produce life. The religious leaders Jesus addressed believed their heritage, obedience, and being perfect guaranteed freedom, yet Jesus tells them they are still enslaved (John 8:33–34). 

When faith becomes about performance and production rather than relationship, it quietly morphs into a form of bondage.

Jesus offers freedom to both the rebellious and the religious by centering everything on Himself. Freedom is not found in doing more or rebelling harder. It is found in belonging to the Son, who brings us into the family of God (John 8:35). In Jesus, we are no longer slaves trying to earn freedom. We are children who live from it. 
True freedom is not the ability to do whatever we want. It is the ability to live as we were created to live. That freedom begins and continues by clinging to Jesus, trusting His Word, and allowing His truth to reshape our lives (John 8:31–32).

Join us for a six-week Bible Reading Plan through a portion of Revelation that leads us from warning to worship, from false security to lasting hope, and from distraction to devotion. As we seek God’s presence, His Word will guide us in responding authentically as we are continually sculpted into a deeply faithful and remarkably healthy church for God’s glory. Click here to get started.

ADVENT | CHRISTMAS EVE: CHRIST

Click here to watch the Advent Christmas Eve video.

Scripture Focus:

Luke 2:28–33 (Simeon’s Praise)

Devotion Recap:

• Simeon waited faithfully for the Messiah. He did not know when God’s promise would come, but he trusted God completely to fulfill His promise.
• When Simeon held Jesus, he knew immediately: This is the promised Savior.
• Simeon essentially said, “Now I’m ready because You have given the greatest gift of all.”
• Real hope, peace, joy, and love are not found in gifts, plans, or perfect moments. They are found in Christ alone, our perfect substitute and Savior.
• Christmas Eve reminds us that all our waiting, and all of history’s waiting, leads to Jesus.
• Praise God for keeping His promises, for being the source of all hope, peace, joy, and love. Ask Him to grow in you a heart that is willing to trust and follow Him in all things.

Conversation Starters

Use these questions to help your family reflect on Christ:

1. What do you look forward to on Christmas Eve?
   Why are these moments meaningful?
2. What Christmas Eve traditions does our family have?
   What do you enjoy most about them?
3. Why do you think this night feels special—even different—from other nights?
4. What were God’s people waiting for?
   How is that like our own waiting today?
5. How do our Christmas Eve traditions point us to Jesus? What is something we could do on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day as a family to focus our attention even more on Christ?

Family Christmas Activities

Each activity connects your family to the theme of Christ as our only source of true hope, peace, joy, love and light.

Choose one or try all three throughout the week. 

1. Happy Birthday Jesus Party

Have a birthday party for Jesus! Make a birthday cake, decorate, create a card or sign. As you spend time preparing this party, talk about what it means for hope to be found in Christ alone. Light a candle in the birthday cake and sing “Happy Birthday”, giving thanks that Jesus came to be the light of the world!  

2. Favorite Ornament

Have each person choose an ornament on your family tree and explain why it is unique and special to them. Enjoy a time of remembering and conversation. Connect this back to the truth that we are each intentionally designed by God for a purpose. Because Jesus came as our Rescuer, we can be a light in the darkness, pointing others to his hope, peace, joy, and love.

3. Gift to Jesus

What will you give God this year? Each person writes one thing they want to give Jesus this year (i.e. gratitude, obedience, trust, worship, time in His Word, etc.) Place the cards under the tree or in a special box that you can wrap and place under the tree. This can be kept personal or shared together with family.

Worship: 

Listen to these Christmas Carols and Worship Songs to go along with this week’s Advent Devotion: 

• “Silent Night”
• “O Holy Night”
• “Light of the World (Sing Hallelujah)” by We the Kingdom
• “Light of the World” by Lauren Daigle
• “In Christ Alone” by Shane & Shane
• “Christ Be Magnified” by Cody Carnes

ADVENT WEEK FOUR: LOVE

Click here to watch the Advent Week 4 video.

Scripture Focus:

1 Corinthians 13:4–13
John 3:16-17

Devotion Recap:

• The Bible has a lot to say about love. Paul gives us a beautiful description of what love looks like in real life in 1 Corinthians 13.
• Faith, hope, and love remain—but the greatest of these is love.
• John 3:16 is the Christmas verse we often forget! It reveals the very heart of God.
• Jesus came, took on flesh, and lived among us because God loves us deeply, eternally, sacrificially.
• Christmas is all because God loves you.
• Love isn’t based on feelings, it is rooted in God’s unchanging truth and character.
• May we echo Evy’s sentiment in all we think, say, and do this Christmas season: “God, You love us and we love you back.”

Conversation Starters

Use these questions to help your family reflect on the true meaning of God's love:

1. When you think about people who have loved you well, who do you think of?
2. What is love?
   How have you seen real love shown in words or actions?
3. How do you know God loves you?
4. Why is Christmas the perfect expression of God’s love?
5. How can our family show love to each other in our home this week? How can our family show love to others outside of our home this week?

Family Christmas Activities

Each activity connects your family to the theme of LOVE.

Choose one or try all three throughout the week. 

1. Heart Ornament Craft

Create simple paper hearts with John 3:16 written inside.
Hang them on the tree as reminders of God’s love given through Christ.

2. Family Love Letters

Write short notes to each family member naming one thing you love about them.
Read them together at dinner or bedtime.

3. Christmas Card Craft

Choose one person to send a special Christmas Card. Create it from scratch or purchase a premade card, but be intentional with the message. Remind them that they are loved and be specific in telling them what you love and appreciate about them. Don’t have time to create a card? Send a text or email that reminds them they are loved! 

Worship: 

Listen to these Christmas Carols and Worship Songs to go along with this week’s Advent Devotion: 

• “O Come All Ye Faithful” 
• “Behold” by Phil Wickham
• “Adore” by Chris Tomlin
• “I Love You Lord (To My King)” by Gatherhouse Music
• “God So Loved” by We the Kingdom
• “His Mercy is More” by Matt Boswell/Matt Papa

ADVENT WEEK THREE: JOY

Click here to watch the Advent Week 3 video.

Scripture Focus:

Luke 2:1–10

Devotion Recap:

• The angel’s announcement ends with: “Good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
• Christmas is overflowing with joy—joy in traditions, family time, giving, receiving, laughing, gathering.
• But the greatest joy of Christmas is that Christ has come.
• “Joy to the World” was not originally written as a Christmas song but as a poem about Jesus’ second coming!
• We celebrate both comings:
  • He came once—just as God promised.
  • He will come again—just as He promised.
• Joy is not the absence of sorrow; it is the presence of Christ.

Conversation Starters

Use these questions to help your family reflect on the true meaning of joy in Christ:

1. What gives you joy?
   What makes you smile or laugh?
2. Is joy the same as happiness?
   How would you describe the difference?
3. What brings you joy at Christmas time?
   Gifts? Family? Traditions?
4. How does the Christmas story bring joy to your heart?
5. Can you have joy even when something difficult is happening?
   Why or why not?

Family Christmas Activities

Each activity connects your family to the theme of JOY.

Choose one or try all three throughout the week. 

1. Joy Jar

Begin a joy jar or journal to keep during the Christmas

season. When you struggle to celebrate or feel gratitude, it helps

to write down things to thank God for. Each day, write down

something that you are thankful for and/or that brings you joy.

If younger family members can’t write yet, have a parent write

it or have younger children draw what they are thankful for or that brings them joy. Place them in the jar and then take one out to read and talk about with family and friends each day at meal times, riding in the car together, or on your group text thread.

2. Joyful Acts of Service

Choose one simple way to bring joy to someone else by doing a chore for them without being asked, or a small act of kindness/service for them. Other ideas may be paying for the car behind you in the drive through line, taking the neighbors trash, delivering a meal/gift to a shut in.

3. Spread the Joy

Bring joy to someone through song! Make a quick, fun video of you and/or your family and friends singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” (or any Christmas song!) and send it to someone that needs to be reminded of joy in a difficult season. Be as silly, creative, and fun as you want! Let them see your Christmas JOY! 

Worship: 

Listen to these Christmas Carols and Worship Songs to go along with this week’s Advent Devotion: 

• “Joy to the World (Joyful, Joyful)” by Phil Wickham
• “Joy to the World (Unspeakable Joy)” by Chris Tomlin
• “Sounding Joy” by Ellie Holcomb
• “House of the Lord” by Phil Wickham
• “Rejoice” by Charity Gayle
• “Praise to the Lord” by Shane & Shane/Worship Initiative

ADVENT WEEK TWO: PEACE

Click here to watch the Advent Week 2 video.

Scripture Focus:

Luke 1:46–55 (Mary’s Song of Praise | The Magnificat)
Isaiah 9:6

Devotion Recap:

• God sent His Son into the world through Mary, a humble, ordinary girl, and she responded with worship and peace, not fear.
• Mary’s peace flowed into praise. She celebrated all God had done, even though her situation was not easy.
• Real peace doesn’t mean God removes every struggle.
• Peace is the presence of the One who is trustworthy in every situation.
• Christmas brought us peace because peace is a person: Jesus Himself.

Conversation Starters

Use these questions to help your family reflect on the true meaning of God’s peace:

1. What does “peace” mean to you?
   Is it quiet or calm? Is peace something you experience on the inside? the outside? Both? Discuss.
2. When you think about peace in your own life, what comes to mind?
   Are there places or times when you feel more unsettled or worried?
3. Do you think peace means the absence of problems?
   Why or why not?
4. How did Mary experience peace in the Christmas story?
   What did she do when she felt that peace? (she praised God/worshiped). What can we learn from Mary’s response?
5. How does Jesus bring peace to your life? (See Ephesians 2:13-17). How can you daily remind yourself of the peace that passes all  understanding? (See Philippians 4:4-9)

Family Christmas Activities

Each activity connects your family to the theme of PEACE.

Choose one or try all three throughout the week. 

1. Peace Prayer Walk

Take a prayer walk around your neighborhood or a prayer drive with family or friends around your city this Christmas season. Pray for the people who do not yet know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Pray that they would come to know the peace that only Christ can bring. Ask God to give you opportunities to share his hope and peace with others. 

2. Create notecards of hope and peace

If there are certain times and places where fear, loneliness, or anxiety creep in, put HOPE & PEACE in those places! Write on a note card, post-it note, or piece of paper a truth from God’s Word that reminds you of the hope and peace that only He can bring. Place it in your room, on your bathroom mirror, in your car, in your locker, on your work desk, etc. You may even want to make a project out of it, taking time to creatively decorate the card(s) with markers, stickers, etc. 

If you have younger children, write the scripture for them and have them decorate it. Read it to them often. 

You might also choose to go digital with this activity! Make a screen saver or lock screen for your device that reminds you of your hope and peace is found in Christ alone!

3. Praise Playlist

Make a short family playlist of songs that inspire you to worship God and give Him praise! Talk about how Mary’s peace overflowed into praise. As we worship God, we are reminded that He is near and He alone is our source of peace. Be intentional to use this playlist throughout the Christmas season to set the atmosphere of your home to be one of peace and praise.

Worship: 

Listen to these Christmas Carols and Worship Songs to go along with this week’s Advent Devotion: 

• “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” by Casting Crowns
• “O Come All Ye Faithful (His Name Shall Be)” by Passion
• “It is Well” by Anthem Lights
• “Psalm 34” by Shane & Shane
• “Tremble” by Mosaic