Live Free with Josh Howerton

For the last few days, we’ve been hanging out with Jesus and listening in as He gives His final words to His disciples. In John 17, Jesus prays to His Father, giving thanks for the disciples and those who would come after them. On the night He was arrested, Jesus prayed for you! He prayed for us to be unified so we could be a beacon of hope to the world, pointing to Him.

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Sometimes, our lives can change course with just a few words. To illustrate this, Jesus explained to His disciples that He was the true vine. For them to live the full life He wanted for them, they needed to remain in Him. The job of the branch is just to stay connected and bear fruit, but it cannot do that apart from the vine. Imagine how God could work in and through you when you remain in Him.

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Join us this week as we look at some of the last words Jesus spoke to His disciples. In John 14, He told them, “Trust in God, and also trust in me.” He knew that what was coming would be hard for His disciples, and He wanted them to trust in the reliability of God. Jesus calls us to trust Him with every trouble we face in life, knowing that He will always be with us.

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Have you ever failed so badly that recovery seemed impossible? The apostle Peter experienced that, too. Instead of hiding in shame, Peter ran to Jesus. Jesus still bore the marks of suffering and death, but His resurrection brought grace and forgiveness to Peter. No matter what you have done, there is hope. Jesus is waiting for you to run to Him.

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Just as Jesus prophesied, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times when less than 24 hours prior, he promised to be faithful. Matthew’s account of this story tells us that Peter was grieved and owned his failure. He stayed with the group instead of letting failure isolate him. Are you letting failure or embarrassment keep you from others? Who is one person you can reach out to today?

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The disciples were distraught when Jesus revealed He was going where they could not follow. Peter pridefully promised that he would remain by Jesus' side no matter what. Jesus knew the weakness in Peter’s heart and prophesied Peter’s denial. Yet nothing would take Jesus’ love away from Peter, and nothing can take it away from you.

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At the Last Supper, Jesus left His disciples with a few final words as He prepared to go to the cross. He called them to love each other as He had loved them. Following His resurrection, they lived out this command, loving others in such a way that love became the defining feature of the early church.

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Join us today as we start the week in John 13. During the Last Supper, Jesus forewarned His disciples of an impending betrayal against Him. As He sat with the disciples, Jesus knew that it was Judas who would betray Him. Despite Judas' efforts to retreat into the darkness to hide, he was still seen by God. No sin, no matter how secretive, can be hidden from the One who sees all. Do not linger in hiding. Embrace the light, for in it, you will find God’s love waiting for you.

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We close out the week by looking at John 13, where Jesus demonstrated His deep love for the disciples, including Judas, who succumbed to temptation and betrayed Him. Jesus knew what was coming yet still took on the role of a servant by washing all the disciples’ feet. May we follow the example of our humble servant King and serve those we are around this week.

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Despite all the amazing things Jesus said and did, many people still did not believe He was their promised Messiah. Their doubt was prophesized back in Isaiah. It is our choice to stay in the dark or walk toward the light Jesus offers. Jesus loves you and desires you to come to Him no matter where you are or what you’ve done. Will you take Him up on that offer today?

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Jump in with us today as we continue to look at the way John describes Passover Week in his Gospel. After the Triumphal Entry, we see the Pharisees seeking to preserve their own lives while Jesus was seeking to lay His down for the sake of the world. He had a love for the Father and the whole world in mind as He humbly walked toward His death.

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While the people surrounding Jesus sang praises to Him with the anticipation of political salvation, Jesus wept. Too often, we can get swept up in the crowd and forget what is truly important. Are you seeking the applause of heaven or the applause of the crowd today?

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The applause and praise from others drive too many of us daily. However, that was not true with Jesus. Although He was tempted in every way we are, He did not give in to sin. The people praising Him as He entered the city on the first Palm Sunday could not grasp what He had come to do. They praised him like a conquering king, but His victory could only come through His humble sacrifice and death.

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As people headed to Jerusalem for the Passover, many would stop to see Jesus and Lazarus in Bethany. They had heard of the amazing miracle and wanted to see it themselves. Because of this, the Pharisees were plotting to murder both men, all in the name of God. Their actions would set in motion the epic events of Passion Week.

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In John 12, we see Jesus back in Bethany at the house of Lazarus, Martha and Mary. During dinner, Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume as an act of worship and gratitude. In contrast, Judas had a heart hardened by greed, and he criticized her actions. Will you approach Jesus with a heart of greed or gratitude today?

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When we are so self-focused, we miss out on the good things in life. Some of the people who had seen Lazarus' resurrection reported it to the Pharisees. The Pharisees were trying to preserve their selfish interests and missed seeing Jesus for who He is and what He was there to do. Are you missing out on Jesus and the life He has for you?

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Even in the face of death, Martha and Mary believed that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Seeing the grief, sadness and pain experienced by His dear friends in this world caused both anger and tears to well up in Jesus. He approached the tomb, had the stone rolled away from the entrance and proved He is who He says He is by raising Lazarus back to life!

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John 11 tells us an amazing story about Jesus and His dear friends Lazarus, Martha and Mary. Although He loved them, Jesus stayed where He was when He heard the news that Lazarus was sick until the time was right. When He finally arrived, Martha came to Him in grief because Lazarus had died. With compassion, Jesus reminded her that He is the resurrection and the life and asked her, “Do you believe this?” We need to ask ourselves the same question today.

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As we read through the Gospel of John, we can see that Jesus made it very clear who He was and that He came from the Father. However, the Pharisees did not believe Him. Despite everything He said and did, they continued to stand against Him and even tried to stone Him. But His time had not yet come.

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Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is so committed to caring for us, His sheep, that He was willing to lay down His life for us. Have you ever stopped to consider that as He told this story to the Pharisees, He knew that the suffering He would endure on the cross was coming? Not only that,

but He also knew the resurrection was coming and that redemption would then be available to all. That is some really good news from the Good Shepherd.

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In John 10, God was standing right in front of the Pharisees, but they did not recognize Him or His voice. Jesus told them a parable about how a good shepherd will care for his sheep, and the sheep will listen to and obey their shepherd’s voice. Jesus has come to give us life to the fullest if we will listen to His voice, the voice of our Good Shepherd.

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As the Pharisees continued interrogating the man Jesus had healed from blindness, his faith in what Jesus had done for him grew deeper. Eventually, the Pharisees, the ones who were supposed to bring the people to God, threw the man out of the synagogue. They were blind to the truth of who Jesus is. Take time to pray that God will open your heart to who He is today.

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This Monday, we jump back into John 9 to see Jesus heal a man who had been born blind. It was an amazing miracle, but not everyone was excited. The Pharisees were upset and questioned the healed man. Despite their intimidation, the man told the truth of what happened and pointed to Jesus. What healing has Jesus done in your life that you can tell others about this week?

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Join us today as we wrap up our week in Joshua 5. God led the Israelites into the Promised Land, but it would not be easy. They faced the massive wall of Jericho and had to remember the promises of God. What promises of God can you focus on when you face walls in your life?

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For 40 years, God miraculously provided manna for the Israelites. After they celebrated Passover, the manna ceased because God began doing a new thing. Sometimes, God wants to do new things in our lives too. Tune in today to learn how we can correctly respond when we get too comfortable and God makes a change in your life.

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After their season of healing, the Israelites celebrated the first Passover in the Promised Land. The Passover points to Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb who paid the price for our sins. Every day, we are reminded that everything is about Jesus and this world needs Him. Ask God to help you know how you can live more for Jesus today.

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As we continue looking at Joshua 5, we see that the people of Israel needed a time for healing. It was part of God’s purpose for Israel. We too often need seasons of healing from hurts or sins in our lives. The degree to which we are willing to embrace the pain of recovery is the degree to which we will truly recover. Where do you need healing and wholeness today?

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In Joshua 5, we see the people of Israel finally make it to the Promised Land after 40 days of wandering in the wilderness. The old generation who had been circumcised died, so before they could go any further, God commanded Joshua to circumcise the new generation. In a different way, God may be asking you to cut away something in your life so that you can move into what He has next for you.

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As we close out this week, we will look at John 9. The apostle John tells us that Jesus saw a blind man and chose to show the power of God through this man by healing him, but it was not immediate. Sometimes, God asks us to cooperate with the miracle He wants to do in our lives. How is God asking you to cooperate with Him this week?

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Tune in today as we continue looking at the Gospel of John. In chapter 8, Jesus declares that He is the light of the world. When the religious leaders confronted Him about it, Jesus stood firm in His identity and relationship with His Father. He wants everyone to know the truth of who He is because it will set them free. Do you know this truth?

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Guilt is a strange emotion to deal with. It can be a good thing when we realize we have sinned against a holy God and it draws us to Him. However, our enemy, Satan, can twist it and use it against us until it turns into shame. Guilt points out what we’ve done, while shame attacks who

we are. But shame has an enemy: grace. Grace from our good God sets us free and reminds us who we really are.

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When the Pharisees brought a woman caught in sin to Jesus, He refused to play their game. Jesus challenged them by saying that the one without sin can cast the first stone. The crowd faded away until Jesus was alone with the woman. He, the only one without sin, forgave her and called her to leave her life of sin. We, too, can be forgiven and set free from our past because of His great love for us.

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Start your week with us in John 8, where the Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus in an attempt to trap Him. Despite the Pharisees' selfish motivation to use the woman for their own purposes, Jesus saw this woman with love and stooped down to her. Jesus does the same with you and me. No matter what ditch you find yourself in, He will be with you.

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We close out our week by walking through the rest of John 7. The crowds feared the Pharisees and the Pharisees feared the crowds. Jesus alone was confident in who He was. He did not seek anyone’s approval except the Father who had sent Him. Who have you tried to seek approval from this week?

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In John chapter 7, we are introduced to Jesus’ brothers. What do you think it was like to have the perfect Son of God as a brother? At that point, none of them believed He was the Messiah. Despite their coaxing, Jesus did not let their expectations determine what He did or when He did it.

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Jesus asked His disciples a question that we often come face-to-face with in our own lives: “Do you want to leave, too?” Just as the disciples may have been tempted to abandon Jesus in the hard times, things will happen in our lives that are painful and difficult. It is in those moments

we have to remember, as Peter did, there is no one like Jesus. No one else offers us eternal life and unconditional love.

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The crowds misunderstood the miracle meal in John 6 and demanded that Jesus keep showing them signs. However, Jesus knew what they really needed and saw their spiritual emptiness. With compassion, He called them to follow Him, but the crowds did not understand the amazing life He was calling them to and turned from the one who could truly satisfy them.

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In John chapter 6, John tells us another amazing miracle of Jesus that shows us more of who He is. With just a few loaves and fish, Jesus fed a multitude. The crowds got so excited about what Jesus did that they missed who He really was. Do you get more excited about who Jesus is or what He can do for you?

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The Pharisees thought Jesus was a problem because He challenged their system by caring more for people than their man-made rules. Jesus told them that anyone who listens to Him will live, including them. They had all the knowledge but missed the truth of who Jesus is. How might you value knowledge more than truth?

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Instead of celebrating Jesus' miracles, the Pharisees focused on anyone who might be breaking their rules. The Sabbath was supposed to be a gift to humanity, but the Pharisees turned it into a burden. Trying to follow the rules won’t save us, but following the one, true Savior will. Don’t miss the miracle Jesus wants to work in your life.

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When Jesus healed the man at the pool, He told him to pick up his mat and walk. Why? His mat was a story, a reminder of what Jesus healed him from. We all have a mat, a story of what Jesus saved us from. How might Jesus be calling you to use your story to reach others who need to be healed with the gospel?

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Join us as we jump into the Gospel of John this week. As a close friend of Jesus, John wants to illuminate that Jesus came for everyone. He wants us to believe in who Jesus is, not just what He does. At the end of chapter 4, John shows us the heart of a hurting father who believed Jesus and His word without seeing the miracle. Do you believe God’s word even if you cannot see how He is working in your life?

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The power that allowed Jesus to cast out demons is the same power offered to you today through prayer. How? God has clothed us in the authority of Jesus through the cross. You may not feel like much, but your prayers are received and responded to by our all-powerful God.

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What do you believe God thinks about you when you come to Him? God is not disappointed in you. He delights in you! Yes, you! He is your Father and wants to hear your voice because He loves you. There is nothing you can do to make Him love you any more or any less. Bring all your prayers to Him, believing you are His delight.

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When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, He told them to ask, seek and knock. But what if those three actions aren’t the point of prayer? What if the ultimate point of prayer is encountering and receiving answers from God? Pray today with expectation and faith that God hears

you and will respond.

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Join us as we jump back into Luke 11 and Jesus’ masterclass on prayer. Jesus said that when we approach God, we can come to Him with shameless audacity. God loves us and wants us to come to Him with our requests. What have you been holding back from Him out of fear or doubt? Bring that to Him today.

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If you had been a disciple of Jesus, what would you have asked Him? The disciples didn’t ask Jesus to teach them how to heal people or calm storms. They recognized that His power came from His life of prayer, so they asked, “Lord, teach us how to pray.” Join us this week as we look

at what Jesus taught in response to His disciples’ request.

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Shame attacks your identity. Because of shame, the woman at the well tried to hide her sin from Jesus. Yet Jesus lovingly reveals that He already knows her sins but still loves her. Isn’t it amazing knowing our Savior can free us from our shame?

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