Redemptive Community Part 3
Opening Prayer:
Lord God,
You are the Redeemer; you came to redeem us, not just to save us from sin and death, but to save us for your kingdom work.
You call us back to yourself and set us on the road of being your redemptive community for the world, bringing your redemptive love to the places and people who do not yet know it.
Empower us to be your witnesses in this world, for your glory, Lord.
In Jesus’s name,
Amen.
Key Scripture:
10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”
15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”
Luke 13:10-16
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
Acts 24:13-22
Sermon Summary
This week we explored the biblical theology of redemption, defining it as the act of releasing something from wrongful captivity and restoring it to its rightful owner. Using the Exodus story as a core memory, the message illustrates how God reclaims what is rightfully His from a world currently possessed by evil and death.
The True Meaning of Freedom
While first-century followers expected a political liberator to overthrow Roman oppression, Jesus revealed a deeper mission. He also came to confront the "bigger enemy"—death itself and the sin that stems from humanity choosing independence over trust in God. By becoming subject to the cost of life apart from God and subsequently defeating death through the resurrection, Jesus nullified the power of the enemy for those who follow Him.
The redeemed are called to go back into broken spaces to invite others into the life God intended.
Submission as the Path to Life
We concluded with the paradox that true freedom is found through submission to Christ. Using the analogy of a kite, the speaker explains that just as a string allows a kite to soar rather than crashing, our connection to Christ enables us to achieve our full purpose. We cannot achieve this through self-effort or modern fads; Jesus is the "gate" to experiencing "life to the full". Ultimately, this journey points toward a future where God dwells with His people and wipes away every tear, making all things new.
Discussion Guide:
Icebreaker
Can you share a small "redemptive moment" from your own week? A time when something fractured or broken was made right?
The biblical concept of redemption is often misunderstood. We tend to think of it as just "going to heaven," but the sermon defines it more actively.
Discussion Questions
What areas of your life do you see still need redemption. In other words, can you identify an area of your life where you experience captivity?
The "Kite" Analogy: If you were a kite soaring in the sky you may think the string is a constraint, yet without the string, we’d crashes. In what areas of your life are you tempted to "cut the string" of God’s leadership to find "freedom"?
The Emmaus Disciples: The disciples on the road to Emmaus were downcast because Jesus didn’t redeem Israel the way they expected (political revolution). How do our own expectations of how God "should" work sometimes keep us from recognizing Him walking right beside us?
Practices:
This Week’s practices are based around the elements of a redemptive community that have been highlighted over the past three weeks:
Forgiveness
Individual Application: Who do you need to release from the "captivity" of your resentment?
Community Application: How can we make this group a "safe to fail" space where betrayal is met with grace?
Celebration
Individual Application: Where can you "straighten up and praise God" for a small victory this week?
Community Application: How can we better celebrate that "God is good and people aren't all bad"?
Diversity
Individual Application: How can you personally "accommodate and embrace" someone different from you?
Community Application: In what ways can our group become more inclusive of different backgrounds and perspectives?
Additional Resources:
Further Study Resources:
Bible Project - What is Redemption
Daily Bible Reading Plan - https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/60325
For a printable version of this guide click here