Small Shifts, Big Faith: Seek Life, Liberty and Happiness

Sermon Title: Small Shifts, Big Faith – Seek Life, Liberty, and Happiness

Good News Statement: Jesus encourages his church to be alive

Summary: The church isn’t perfect but yet is willing to grow in faith, practice love, and be alive today and tomorrow.

Preached: Sunday, July 5^th, 2026 at Dogwood Prairie UMC & Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSVUE): Psalm 33:12 Today’s scripture passage comes from the Book of Psalm. This particular passage reminds us of what is written in the preamble to The Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Our scripture reading comes from the Book of Psalm Chapter Thirty-Three, Verse Twelve. May the hearing and understanding of this scripture add a blessing to your life?

 

Psalm 33:12

12 Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.

Galatians 5:1

1 For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

John 8:36

36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

John 14:6

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

 

 

This is the Word of God for the People of God; And all God’s people said, “Thanks be to God.”

 

 

Introduction:

The ministry of Jesus Christ has been shared. Healings have been performed. The blind were able to see and the lame able to walk. Those demon possessed were set free. The chains of the oppressed were broken. People began to believe and prayed to have their “unbelief turn into belief” (Mark 9:24). Some were even raised from the dead to breathe again. And some were welcomed home after being outcast to the dark, damp, tombs outside of the city walls.

Then, after riding into Jerusalem on a never before ridden donkey and being praised as the people laid their cloaks on the ground as shouts of “Hosannas” filled the air, Jesus is turned over to the religious leaders of the day. Jesus is questioned and tortured by the Roman soldiers—beaten nearly to death—prior to receiving a crown of thorns and a purple robe as a sign of earthly mockery. He was presented to the people in the presence of Pontius Pilate, who said, “But what crime has he committed? I cannot find anything he has done to deserve death! I will have him whipped and set him free” (Luke 23:22, GNT). To which the people responded, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (Luke 23:20, GNT). Luke 23:24 states, “So Pilate passed the sentence on Jesus that they were asking for.”

Jesus is marched from the palace to Calvary, bearing the weight of the cross—most likely the horizontal beam—as excruciating pain shot through his body with every step, as blood dripped from his head to the ground, soaking the dirty road beneath his feet, and as both cries and shouts surrounded him. On Calvary, he hung on the cross for six hours before taking his last breath and proclaiming “It is finished” (John 19:30). Then he was taken down from the cross and laid in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. Three days later he rose from the dead to prove that death does not have the last word, that a tomb sealed by a large stone could not withhold him, and that an instrument of death—the cross—is a promise of hope and salvation. And now, after 40 days of walking this earth in his resurrected form, he has ascended to heaven; but before leaving this earth, he gave his apostles and disciples a challenge: to keep the church alive.

This is where the Book of Acts comes into play. For those that are unaware, the Book of Acts (or sometimes called the Acts of the Apostles), written during the time of 33AD to 62AD, is a sequel to the Gospel of Luke. Luke was a physician back in the day and has been credited to write the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. The theme of Luke’s writing after the ascension of Jesus Christ is focused on how the Holy Spirit empowers believers to declare the gospel among both Jews and Gentiles. In doing so they establish the church, which is the fulfillment of God’s promises from the beginning of time. Jesus states in Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Luke’s purpose for writing the Book of Acts—the journey and testimony of Paul and the rise and growth of the early church—was to give an orderly account of the early church after Christ’s resurrection; and to highlight the notion that keeping the church alive was not, is not, and will not be easy. But keeping the church alive is necessary. So, for the next several weeks, we are going to explore certain themes sprinkled throughout the Book of Acts which I believe remind us of how important it is to keep the church alive today for tomorrow. And the question I propose to you is this: “What are we doing and could be doing to keep our church and the whole Church—the body of Christ—alive?”

 

Body:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” These are the words to the preamble of The Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson, the supposed author of this document, who was just 33 years old when he wrote it with the help of John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, explained fifty years later that the document’s purpose was never meant to be thoroughly original; it’s purpose wasn’t to articulate anything that hadn’t been said before, but to make the case for the American colonies in plain terms and persuade the world to see common sense. He noted when writing to Henry Lee on May 8^th, 1825, “It was intended to be an expression of the American mind. The Declaration’s authority rests then on the harmonizing sentiments of the day.”[1]

The final paragraph, beginning with “We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America,” affirms that the thirteen colonies are free and independent states. It breaks all ties with the British government and people. As independent states, they can make trade agreements and treaties, wage war, and do whatever is necessary to govern themselves. This formal declaration of independence ends with important words. The words tell us what the signers of the Declaration of Independence were willing to give up for freedom: “…we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

Thinking about The Declaration of Independence, did you know that the finalized document was adopted on July 2^nd, 1776, and not on July 4^th? Did you know that two future presidents of the time signed the document? John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who both died on the same day fifty years later on July 4^th, 1826. Speaking of signatures, there are 56 signatures on The Declaration of Independence. Fifty men from 13 states signed the document on August 2^nd, 1776. The other six signed over the course of the next year and a half. As the President of the Second Continental Congress, John Hancock, who wrote his name the largest, signed first. Some of the men abbreviated their first names, like Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. Of the 56 people who signed The Declaration of Independence, six also signed The Constitution.[2] The youngest persons to sign the document were 26-year-olds Edward Rutledge and Thomas Lynch, Jr. of South Carolina; and the oldest was Benjamin Franklin, who was 70 years old. After the committee of five wrote The Declaration of Independence, 86 edits were made in the span of just two days.

This document—this sacred collection of words of independence and prosperity—written, approved, and signed 250 years ago, is what governs America today. This document reminds us of our past, places us in the present, and encourages us, with hope, to look toward the future. This document reminds us to continue to seek life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as we thrive to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Today, we celebrate the 250^th Birthday of America by returning to this document and asking “What does it mean to seek life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in our life today?”

 

Movement One: What Does It Mean To Seek Life?

First, what does it mean to seek life? How many of you have heard the phrase “Life is what you make it”? How many know what this phrase means? This specific phrase means that your personal fulfillment and success depend on your choices, attitude, and actions rather than just your circumstances. It emphasizes personal agency, suggesting that you have the power to shape your own happiness and determine how you react to challenges. From a theological standpoint, we would call this “free-will”: being able to make our own decisions, choosing which path to take, what to believe and not believe, how to exercise our faith, and so on. Every day, we strive to live life in how we make it. The authors of The Declaration of Independence provided that one of our unalienable rights is to seek life: to essentially create an America that gives agency to the people the right to live their life in ways that brings them fulfillment and success. However, they also intended for the people to seek a life created by the Creator. Let me explain…

Jesus said, in no uncertain terms, “I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, NIV). In other words, real, lasting life can only be experienced through Jesus Christ! In fact, Jesus even said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10, NKJV). Another translation puts it this way: “My purpose is to give life in all its fullness” (TLB). Apart from Jesus Christ, this life is no life at all. The founders of our nation understood that—and believed it. Unless we believe in Him and commit our lives into His hands then this life has no real purpose or meaning. We can make our life what we want it, but without Jesus in our life there is no substance, no grounding foundation, no hope and no salvation.

Our earliest settlers were people who came here primarily looking for religious freedom. Other nations, for the most part, came into existence by conquest for selfish and ambitious motives. But it was primarily in the atmosphere of God, not gold, that America was born; hence our nation’s motto, “In God We Trust.” The hardy souls who sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 fled from tyranny and oppression—the same things Jesus came to set us free from. And in the Mayflower Compact which they signed beneath the swinging lantern in the cabin of their ship, they proclaimed that they had come to the new world for “the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith.” Our earliest settlers, living in a new land, could have chosen whatever path they wanted: complete freedom from existing rules and governments, complete freedom from religious beliefs and ties, and complete freedom from control and order. But that’s not what they chose. They chose freedom by having life in God and in their faith.

In 1643, as more and more people arrived on these shores, they joined together to form “The New England Confederation.” They wrote a constitution—the first constitution written in the New World—and it began with these words: “We all came into these parts with one and the same end and aim, namely to advance the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ and to enjoy the liberties of the gospel in purity and peace….” They chose a life focused on God.

In the early colonies, it has been noted, the first public building to be erected was a church house and the first public exercise was the worship of Almighty God. When sorrow came they gathered at the church to appeal to God for help. When bountiful harvests filled their barns they gathered at the church to bless His name. When chaos overran the colony they gathered at the church to pray for a peace that passed all understanding. When illness, pain, and plagues swept through the colony they gathered at the church to pray to God for healing and protection. When the seasons grew arduous and exhausting they gathered at the church reciting the words of Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” The people chose a life focused on God.

As time passed, and the original settlers died off, many of their descendants were more concerned with increasing their wealth and comfortable living than being faithful to God and His Word. And as wave after wave of immigrants arrived, many of them came for other reasons and with entirely different motives than those earliest settlers. The end result of it all was that by 1730, only about 10% of the people in the Colonies attended church at all. But then something amazing happened! Beginning in 1734, a handful of preachers began to preach in the churches and in the streets and in the fields. So many people came to Christ that this era came to be known as “The Great Awakening” an event John Wesley found himself partaking in after being invited by James Oglethorpe, the founder of the Georgia colony. Tens of thousands dedicated their lives to Jesus. Benjamin Franklin wrote, “It was wonderful to see the change soon made in the manners of our inhabitants. From being thoughtless or indifferent about religion, it seemed as if all the world were growing religious, so that one could not walk through the town in an evening without hearing psalms sung in different families of every street.”

It was during the “Great Awakening” that our Founding Fathers, the authors of The Declaration of Independence, those who wrote our Constitution and the Bill of Rights, those who put their lives on the line, who fought and died that we might be free—all these grew up and came into leadership while this “Great Awakening” was engulfing the land. One of those leaders that sought a life through God was George Washington.

Washington noted in his personal diary, “Let my heart, gracious God, be so affected with Your glory and majesty that I may…. discharge those weighty duties which Thou requires of me…. Again, I have called on Thee for pardon and forgiveness of sins…. for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ offered on the Cross for me. Thou gavest Thy Son to die for me; and hast given me assurance of my salvation.” The first President of these United States acknowledged that Jesus is the Christ, the Son God, the source of all life. He knew and believed that it was only through Jesus that sin could be forgiven and eternal life inherited. One hundred and thirty years later in 1862, it is noted that Abraham Lincoln told Patton and Dempster during a debate, “Whatever shall appear to be God’s will, I will do.”[3] Even before that moment, while in Chicago in 1856, Lincoln was quoted saying “The human heart is with us—God is with us.”[4] In the words of Jesus, “I have come that they may have life, and…have it more abundantly.”

The Declaration of Independence calls us to seek a Life: a life of success and a life that brings us joy, but it also calls us to seek a life in Christ Jesus. Are you living a life focused on Christ? Are you seeking a life in Christ Jesus today? When it comes to making life what you want it to be, what are you including, what are you using, what are you doing, and who is involved? Two-hundred and fifty years ago, our founding fathers were thinking about future generations and hoping and praying that the life they pursued would be a life in which Jesus was involved. To seek a life in Christ means to surrender all that you have and all that you are so that whatever Christ’s will is it will be your will as well.

 

Movement Two: What Does It Mean To Seek Liberty?

The second of our unalienable rights, according to The Declaration of Independence, is liberty (or freedom or independence). What does it mean to seek liberty? Patrick Henry was a great statesman and a great speaker. He was also a great patriot during the infancy of this nation. As a lawyer, he defended the character under which the colonies were founded in America. His most famous speech, though, was before the Virginia Assembly in 1775, when British troops were advancing to enforce King George’s rule on Virginia. At the conclusion of one of the most fiery speeches ever delivered, Patrick Henry cried, “Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” And the fire of freedom was lit that still burns in this great nation today.

“Give me liberty…” The Statue of Liberty stands across from the Island of Manhattan in New York. Soldiers, on their return from overseas, often speak in awe of the feelings they had as they sailed into the harbor and viewed the “Torch of Freedom” in Lady Liberty’s hand. To the Christian, the Statue of Liberty and the Cross of Jesus Christ have kindred meanings. Both symbolize the highest and noblest in freedom and liberty. Both stand as beautiful and glorious ensigns of a liberated people.

Billy Graham from his daily devotional titled “Hope For Each Day: Words of Wisdom and Faith” noted, when reflecting on the Statue of Liberty, “During the national observance of the one hundredth anniversary of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, I was struck by the great emphasis on the number of immigrants who had often left everything behind. Coming to America with nothing but the clothes on their backs, they risked their lives for something they valued more highly than everything they had left behind: freedom….

Their experience is a picture of what we must do when we come to Christ. We must forsake our allegiance to this world, leave behind all that it offers, and become citizens of a new kingdom—the kingdom of God. His statue of liberty is in the form of the Cross. The statue in New York Harbor lifts her lamp ‘beside the golden door.’ The statue of liberty on that hill outside Jerusalem lights the way into eternal life.[5] The Statue of Liberty signified freedom for many people: a new beginning, a new life, a fresh start, a hope that they longed to forever harbor.”[6]

As Billy Graham hinted, those who were seeking a new life in America were welcomed by a statue that holds a “lamp” both night and day to guide people to safety. That lamp signified hope found in freedom. The “lamp” that hung on the cross signifies to us an eternal freedom that lives within our hearts leading us toward living a free life in Christ. The lamp on the cross is not just seen from one part of the world; it is seen from all over the world. The lamp on the cross doesn’t just shine for those traveling from one country to another, but for every one needing a home in Christ. The lamp on the cross is not stationary but goes where we go. The Statue of Liberty represents a freedom, a liberty, and an independence that signifies something new. But Jesus on the cross represents a freedom that can never be taken away: it is absolute, it is trustworthy, and it is everlasting. Or as Abraham Lincoln noted while in office regarding the Emancipation Proclamation, “Freedom means separation:” separation from what was so that we can pursue what can be. The lamp on the cross separated us—set us free—from what was our sins so that we can pursue what can be—a loving relationship with Christ. Jesus stated in John 8:36, “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”

Jesus came into our world on a mission of liberty. He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18 ESV). Specifically, the Bible teaches that there are at least three oppressions from which Jesus came to liberate us. The Bible says, “In the past, the law held us like prisoners, but our old selves died, and we were made free from the law. So now we serve God in a new way with the Spirit, and not in the old way with written rules” (Romans 7:6 NCV). The Old Testament law was a system of rules and regulation that only served to condemn us, but Jesus “canceled the debt, which listed all the rules we failed to follow. He took away that record with its rules and nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14). The Bible also says, “And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death” (Romans 8:2 NLT). Because Jesus has given us his Spirit, sin no longer has any power over us and neither does death.

This country was founded by people who trusted more in the liberty found in Jesus than in the liberty granted even by our own Constitution. What we often forget is that in declaring their independence from England, our forefathers made an equally strong declaration of dependence upon Almighty God. The closing words of their Declaration solemnly states: “With a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.” It is important that we remember this very basic declaration of their dependence, because the United States today is rapidly forgetting the God of our fathers, the God who gave this nation its birth and its greatness—the only source of true liberty.

We have liberty today because of what God did through Jesus Christ. We have liberty today because of what Jesus was willing to do: proclaim liberty to the captives and to set at liberty those who are oppressed. We have liberty today because our sins have been forgiven. We have liberty today because of unmerited grace, because of unconditional love, and because of a sacrifice that shook the earth, opened tombs, and tore the curtain. Church, we have freedom today that rings wherever we go because that freedom is Jesus Christ, who lives within our heart. Our founding fathers, 250 years ago, introduced liberty not in the middle nor at the end of the document, but at the very beginning sending a message to all people that its liberty—specifically liberty in the Creator—that will set us free from the chains of our past, from our enemies, and from those who oppress us.

When we live as if liberty is in our heart, not only will we be changed but so will the lives of many people. Jesus didn’t come to keep things in a box; as a matter of fact, he came to open that box so that people could live, breathe, and live a life of liberty, to experience the light on a hill that cannot be hidden under a bushel. In the words of Paul, “It is for freedom that Christ set us free. Stand firm, then do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). We are not called to experience what was again but rather to embrace what can be through the freedom of Jesus Christ.

In the New York Harbor stands the Statue of Liberty in all her glory symbolizing freedom for those coming to America. On Calvary stands an old rugged cross symbolizing a freedom from our sins for all seeking a new life. Today, be thankful for the freedom that Jesus has given you. Be thankful for the freedom that has set you free. Be thankful for the freedom that changes you every day. “In liberty and justice for all.”

 

Movement Three: What Does It Mean To Pursue Happiness?

Finally, the third unalienable right recognized by our forefathers was the pursuit of happiness. What does it mean to pursue happiness? I know have shared this story with you all before, but it is one that I think about during this time of the year. Several years ago, while attending a Fourth of July event with my family and Aunt and Uncle, we found ourselves sitting behind a family with a little girl, who was probably 2 or 3 in age. Every firework that burst and boomed and lit up the night sky, the little girl would turn to her dad, with energy and enthusiasm, and ask, “Is this the fi-alley Dad? Is this the fi-alley?” Keep in mind this was asked every time a firework went off. The program was about 25 minutes.

At minute 20 as “God Bless the U.S.A.” played in the background, the true finally began! For about three minutes, the darkness of the night quickly became illuminated like the morning sky. People were cheering. Phone cameras were capturing the wonder of the moment. And heads were tilted up towards the heavens. Then, the father sitting in front of us, turned his head, and in a low and subtle tone, told his daughter, “This is the fi-alley.” The little girl’s face lit up! She was smiling from ear to ear as she stood next her dad, who was lying on a blanket. She was so excited. She was so happy. What is it that brings you happiness?

Happiness comes and goes from day to day. Situations and experiences can make us happy or sad. But in Jesus, our happiness is not dependent upon outside forces, like fireworks. The word often translated blessed in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount actually means happy. The New Century Version translates it as such: “Those people who know they have great spiritual needs are happy, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. Those who are sad now are happy, because God will comfort them. Those who are humble are happy, because the earth will belong to them. Those who want to do right more than anything else are happy, because God will fully satisfy them. Those who show mercy to others are happy, because God will show mercy to them. Those who are pure in their thinking are happy, because they will be with God. Those who work to bring peace are happy, because God will call them his children. Those who are treated badly for doing good are happy, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.”

John Wesley is said to have translated the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount this way, “Happy are the poor in spirit…. Happy are they that mourn…. Happy are the meek…. Happy are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness…. Happy are the merciful…. Happy are the pure in heart…. Happy are the peacemakers…. Happy are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Happy are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake” Matthew 5:3-11). Jesus wants us to be happy, to feel blessed!

[7]True happiness can only be found in Jesus Christ and the true gifts he has and continue to gives you—and in Him it can never be taken away. Emory S. Peck was someone who understood well the joy that could be found only in Jesus. He writes: “If the skies above you are gray, and you are feeling so blue, If your cares and burdens seem great, all the whole day thru, There’s a silver lining that shines in the heavenly land, Look by faith and see it my friend, trust in His promises grand. Sing and you’ll be happy today, Press along to the goal, Trust in Him who lead-eth the way, He is keeping your soul; Let the world know where you belong, Look to Jesus and pray, Lift your voice and praise Him in song, Sing and be happy today.”

Psychologists tell us that people need three things to make them happy: (1) something to do, (2) someone to love, and (3) something to look forward to. Jesus gives us all three. Jesus gave us something to do, saying, “I tell you the truth, whoever believes in me will do the same things that I do” (John 14:12, NCV). Jesus gave us someone to love, saying, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23, NIV). And Jesus gave us something to look forward to, saying, “When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (John 14:2, NLT). Only in Jesus can Americans, or anybody else, find genuine, lasting happiness.

So I ask you again, what brings you happiness each every day? Are you happy because you feel blessed? Are you happy because of the people God has put in your life? Are you happy because God answered your prayers? Are you happy because something fell into place? Are you happy because God got your through a tough situation? Are you happy because you feel loved? Are you happy because there is someone in your life that cares for you and gives you hug? Are you happy because there is food in the fridge, clothes in the closet, and a roof above your head? Are you happy because of the life God has given you? Are you happy because Jesus died for you and took away your sins? Are you happy because you got up this morning? Are you happy because God gave you a second chance? Are you so happy today that you could clap your hands, stomp your feet, wave your arms, and shout “hooray” as your face surely shows your happiness? Are you happy?

There must be something special about happiness if 250 years ago our founding fathers told us to pursue happiness in our life. Even before them, Solomon wrote, “A cheerful heart is good medicine…” (Proverbs 17:22). Church, what makes you happy? Are you willing to pursue happiness in your life? Jesus did whatever he could while he walked this earth to administer joy and happiness and to make people feel blessed because he understood that happiness is what changes the heart. We are encouraged to pursue happiness so that our heart continually changes for the better. I bet, on that Fourth of July evening with my family, God’s heart was changed when the little girl finally saw the grand fi-alley. Just think how happy God gets when we are happy! Don’t give up pursing what makes you happy. Don’t give up on wanting to see the grand fi-alley because it might just change your life.

 

Conclusion:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”

Two-hundred and fifty years ago, a group of individuals gathered to approve a document that would come to shape a nation: a nation that expanded because of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, a nation that fought against itself to bring freedom to slaves during the Civil War, a nation that in 1920 gave women the right to vote, a nation that became a military global superpower during World War II, a nation that witnessed the March on Washington and heard the famous phrase “I have a dream,”[8] a nation that witnessed the first moon landing in 1969 giving “a small step for man but a giant leap for mankind,”[9] a nation that was targeted with great fear as the Twin Towers came crashing down to earth in 2001, and a nation that battled a worldwide pandemic in 2020. Our founding fathers probably didn’t even think that our nation would go through any of what it has; however, they did understand that our nation would continue to be a place where dreams could come true. They saw a nation that could live for many years if it sought life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness through its Creator.

So, as we continue to into the birth of our nation, pray that our country might have a new birth of freedom; not a freedom from God, but a freedom built upon God and His commandments. Also, may each one of us, as individuals, reaffirm our dependence upon God. And then, as did the founding fathers of our country, we will find in Him in our life, our liberty, and our happiness!

I believe that if we as individuals and we as a church seek God in our life, our liberty, and our happiness then God will definitely “bless America, land that I love. He will stand beside her, and guide her, through the night, with the light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans, white with foam; He will bless America, our home sweet home.” May we continue to seek life in Jesus Christ, live into the freedom given to us from Jesus Christ, and embrace happiness in all that we do so that we can look into the sky, with smile on our face, waiting for the grand “fi-alley!” Let it be so…

 

 

Holy Communion:

 

Closing Prayer:

Let us pray… Dear Jesus, as the celebrations of our Nation’s Birthday still lingers, may we remember to live with you in our life, to embrace liberty, and to pursue happiness in all that we do so that we can continue to carry on the hope of what began 250 years ago. In your name we pray. Amen.

 

Benediction:

Church, may the birthday of our nation remind you of the work ahead that God is calling us to do. May this work lead to a more enriched life, a freedom that sets you free, and a happiness that changes your life. May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit go forth being the church God needs all of us to be. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.

 

 

[1] ”An Overview of the Declaration of Independence,” National Historical Park of Pennsylvania, published September 16, 2024: https://www.nps.gov/inde/learn/education/classrooms/resources-declarationoverview.htm  Accessed July 1, 2026.

[2] Franklin was among a handful of people who signed both historical documents. The others were George Read, Roger Sherman, Robert Morris, George Clymer and James Wilson.

[3] Jon Meacham, And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle, New York New York: Random House LLC, 2023, pg. 281.

[4] Ibid., pg. 154.

[5] No one braves the treacherous journey to America in order to live as they would in their homeland. Likewise, Christ did not leave glory and suffer an agonizing death so that you could live in anything less than absolute freedom.” What does it mean to you that Christ seeks for you to live in “absolute freedom”? What is “absolute freedom” in Christ?

[6] Billy Graham, Hope for Each Day: Words of Wisdom and Faith, Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Publishing, 2017, pg. 195.

[7] People all across this country will spend their lives pursuing a temporary sort of happiness. But that is all it will ever be—a pursuit. They will never be satisfied. They will never have enough. That empty feeling will never be filled. The pleasures and distractions of this world will never provide lasting joy or happiness.

[8] Martin Luther King, Jr., 1963

[9] Neil Armstrong, 1969