freedom Archives - Pastor Brandon Cox

Sin Is Not Your Master Anymore

So much of the imagery of the Old Testament and the language of the New Testament illustrates the Christian life as having been set free from bondage and slavery to a place of spiritual freedom. In one familiar verse, Paul said, Sin is no longer your master, for you...

Now Stay Free!

Paul said it bluntly, “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.” (Galatians 5:1 NLT) Paul had been building a case with his letter to the Galatians that when we try to work our...

Breaking Free from the Bondage of Lust

Lust. It’s the topic of which we do not speak, at least in Christian circles. And yet it’s responsible for tremendous bondage in the lives of countless millions of believers. According to Psychology Today, 98% of men and 73% of women reported looking at...

Breaking Free from the Bondage of Fear and Insecurity

For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled with insecurity. In kindergarten, I remember envying those kids who had the boldness to ask to go play in the most fun areas of the classroom while I sat there, quietly hoping to be invited into the fun. And there...

Moving Beyond Shame and Regret, Step 7: Rejoice in Your Relationship with God

In case you missed it: Step 1: Recognize God’s Goodness Step 2: Release Your Heart Step 3: Repent of Sinful Choices Step 4: Receive God’s Forgiveness Step 5: Renounce Lies Step 6: Retrain Your Mind When you have 1.) recognized God’s goodness, 2.) released your...

Moving Beyond Shame and Regret, Step 4: Receive God’s Forgiveness

In case you missed it: Step 1: Recognize God’s Goodness Step 2: Release Your Heart Step 3: Repent of Sinful Choices If you’re a child of God, the only prerequisite to being forgiven of sin is your honest confession. The Bible is clear about that. If we confess...

Growing from “Ought To” to “Can Do” Living

You ought to go to church. You ought to read your Bible, eat right, quit smoking, pay your tithes, and be a better mom… dad… husband… wife… yodeler, underwater basket-weaver, etc. The weight of “ought to” living can be crushing. In...

Living Under Grace In a World of Law and Order

There’s a long, straight stretch of newly paved road in Bentonville near my home. It was gravel, and now it’s asphalt, and it’s a quick shortcut to town. Except it already isn’t quick because as soon as it was paved, a 30mph speed limit was...

How Can I Be Legalism Free?

I like rules, lines, and boundaries. I feel safer if I have clear parameters, which explains my love for graph paper. I like it when everything is nice and tidy. The problem is, life isn’t always nice and tidy. People around me don’t always play by my...

What the Church Ought to be FOR Today

As I write this, it’s the morning after a dozen police officers were shot, five of them fatally, sacrificing themselves to defend the freedom of people to protest. It’s been a terrible few days for America. Ironically, before any of this began, I had begun...