PURSUING PATRICK’S MISSION:
BRING FREEDOM TO THE CAPTIVES
(John 8:21-47)
Bringing freedom to the captives…
- Starts with the _____________ of ______________ship. (vv.21-30)
- Calls for the _____________ of ________________ship. (vv.31-38)
- Stands in the ______________ of _______________ship. (vv.39-47)
“I cannot keep silent, nor would it be proper, so many favors and graces has the Lord deigned to bestow on me in the land of my captivity. For after chastisement from God, and recognizing him, our way to repay him is to exalt him and confess his wonders before every nation under heaven.”
(St. Patrick, 4th century Christian Missionary to Ireland)
“Free will is not the liberty to do whatever one likes, but the power of doing whatever one sees ought to be done, even in the very face of otherwise overwhelming impulse. There lies freedom, indeed.”
(George McDonald, 19th century Scottish pastor and author)
“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom to the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor…”
(Isaiah 61:1-2a)