The Sound of the Free

11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers,[a] who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

- Luke 17:11-19

Don’t Just Walk Away… Come Back With Praise.

15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice…

- Luke 17:15

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess His name.

- Hebrews 13:15

Don’t Just Say Thanks… Fall at His Feet.

16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.

- Luke 17:16

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

- Romans 12:1 NIV

Don’t Just Get Healed… Leave Whole.

9 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

- Luke 17:9

14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”

- John 5:14

Set Free for a Purpose

Set Free by Power

As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

- Acts 16:16-18

Set Free on Purpose

27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”

- Acts 16:27–28

Set free to set others free

29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.

- Acts 16:29-33

Freedom from Church Hurt

'And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.'

- Acts 15:36-41

Church hurt exists.

No church is free from Church hurt.

Church hurt can lead us to the Head of the Church.

'The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound…'

- Isaiah 61:1

Church hurt can give us the opportunity to love like Jesus.

'A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.'

- John 13:34

We can be free from Church hurt.

‘…Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. '

- 2 Timothy 4:11b