For Freedom | In Step With The Spirit | 5.18.2025

·45 min·4 clips

Pastor Brian recalls running around a camp asking why nobody told him God had this much love and freedom.

The episode opens with Pastor Brian Bennett announcing church updates, including over 30 baptisms and the opening of nominations for two board positions, seeking 'hungry, humble, and spirit-led' leaders. He transitions into a sermon from Galatians 5, focusing on freedom in Christ. Bennett shares a personal story from his late teens about experiencing a breakthrough from anxiety and depression at a Christian camp, leading to a profound sense of God's love. He contrasts egocentric freedom, centered on self, with theocentric freedom, centered on God, as described in Galatians 5:13-15. The sermon addresses common struggles like backbiting and devouring, referencing social media and Southern culture. Bennett discusses walking by the Spirit to avoid gratifying the flesh, using his own past struggles with partying as an example. He explains the tension between legalism and licentiousness, advocating for a middle path of delighting in God. The message includes practical advice: staying in step with the Spirit guarantees freedom, and Christians should confess sins to find cleansing, as per 1 John 1:9. Bennett shares multiple anecdotes from a mission trip to Nicaragua with the Chosen I mission, involving medical work and evangelism. One story details how his shoes led to a conversation with a government worker, resulting in prayer and gift-giving. Another highlights the journey of two individuals from the Mosquito tribe who traveled extensively for eye surgery and spiritual sight. Bennett recounts the testimony of Eddie, a 20-year-old Nicaraguan whose sharing led to a team member's conversion. He references a Billy Graham story about feeding one dog to win a fight, illustrating the principle of feeding the Spirit over the flesh. The sermon lists works of the flesh from Galatians 5:19-21 and the fruit of the Spirit from verses 22-23, emphasizing that bearing fruit comes from abiding in Christ. Bennett introduces seven markers for organic discipleship: Bible engagement, passionate prayer, wholehearted worship, humble service, joyful generosity, consistent community, and organic outreach. He concludes with the story of Dr. Jill and Pastor Frank, who reconnected after 22 years when her teenage sermon led to his conversion and pastoral calling. The episode ends with a call to embrace freedom, stay in step with the Spirit, and bear fruit, followed by a prayer for baptisms.

As heard by us

A church sermon links freedom with following the Spirit when familiar plans fall away.

The sermon presents freedom as a life kept in step with the Spirit when familiar plans fall away. It ties that theme to baptism, a call for nominations to two board openings, and a mission trip where prepared devotionals were set aside as the week took another shape.

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Why you'd press play

Hear freedom through baptism, a mission trip that leaves the script behind, and a humbling journey from Nicaragua's jungle to a clinic.

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