Risen - A Promise Made
- Mar 16
- 4 min read
What Are You Worth?
We live in a world that constantly tries to put a price tag on our lives. Usually, that price is based on our performance, our bank accounts, or our past mistakes. But this past Sunday, Pastor David Barnes launched our new series, "Risen," by taking us back to the moment our true value was decided: before the foundation of the world.
In a message titled "A Promise Made," we explored the staggering depth of God’s redemption plan. This message was a reminder that you have been bought back at an infinite cost.
1. The Ransom: A Price Beyond Silver and Gold
Pastor David pointed out that in the ancient world, a ransom was the price paid to free a slave or a prisoner of war. 1 Peter 1:18-19 tells us that we weren't redeemed with "perishable things" like silver or gold. Instead, we were bought with the "precious blood of Christ."
The Takeaway: The cost of a ransom always reflects the value the redeemer places on the captive. Because God gave His only Son, it proves that He places an infinite value on your life. God didn’t check His bank account to rescue you; He gave His very best.
2. The Rescue: From the Slave Market to the Family Table
Biblical redemption is more than just a "get out of jail free" card; it is a total shift in ownership. Pastor David explained that we have been rescued from the "slave market of sin."
Liberation from the Past: We are no longer bound by "broken traditions" or the "empty pursuits" inherited from previous generations.
A Shift in Ownership: Because the ransom has been paid, you no longer belong to your old life, your old addictions, or your old labels. You belong to the Living God.
3. The Plan: It Was Never "Plan B"
Perhaps the most encouraging part of the message was the revelation that Christ was "chosen before the foundation of the world" (v. 20).
Your salvation was not an afterthought. God didn't scramble to find a solution after humanity fell; He made a promise in eternity that was revealed in time—specifically for your sake. Even before you made your first mistake, God had already provided the payment for your rescue.
Live it Out This Week
Pastor David left us with a challenge: If the ransom has been paid, why are we still acting like slaves?
This week in Royse City, as you go to work, school, or run errands, carry this truth with you: You are owned by (belong to) God. Your past is paid for, your value is set by the blood of Jesus, and your future is secure in His promise.
Did you miss the service? You can watch the full message above.
Join us next Sunday! We continue the Risen series every Sunday at 10:00 AM. Whether your "house" is thriving or in need of restoration, there is a seat for you at Highpoint AG Church!
Small Group Discussion
Read: 1 Peter 1:18-20
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV
Discussion Questions:
If your "price tag" was the precious blood of Jesus, how should that affect the way you view yourself?
1 Peter 1:18-19 contrasts "perishable things" (gold and silver) with the blood of Christ. Why do we so often try to find our security or value in things that are perishable rather than in our eternal redemption?
Why is it vital to understand that Jesus was the final sacrifice?
Redemption literally means "to buy back." What are some specific "slave masters" (anxiety, addiction, bitterness, etc.) that God redeems people from?
How has your life gained specific purpose or "solid ground" since you began following Christ?
The text mentions being set free from "ways inherited from your forefathers." Are there any "family traditions" or generational mindsets in your house that you feel the Holy Spirit is asking you to break so you can start a new godly legacy?
If you have been "bought with a price," you no longer belong to your past or your sins. How does the reality of "God’s ownership" over your life make you feel? Is it a burden or a relief?
Why is it so easy to return to old habits even after we've been set free?
Christ was "chosen before the foundation of the world." How does it encourage you to know that God’s plan for your rescue was in place long before you ever made your first mistake?
This promise was revealed in the "last times" for our sake. As we approach Easter, how can we better reveal this promise to our neighbors and friends in Royse City?
Weekly Challenge: This week, every time you look in the mirror, remind yourself: "The ransom has been paid. I am not a slave to my past. I am owned by God." Identify one "empty pursuit" you’ve been chasing and replace it with a "promise made" from God’s Word.