Pastor Shane Krause

Cause/Effect—In life, there's almost always a cause behind every effect — an agent driving each action. We live in a world shaped by cause and effect. Recognizing that pattern is essential to living wisely. If you want a healthy heart, you need to understand what leads to heart disease. If you're aiming for financial stability, you have to consider the long-term impact of your spending before making big purchases. And if you desire the peace that comes from a close walk with God, it's important to understand what fosters that kind of relationship.

As we approach the end of the church year, our Scripture readings begin to draw our attention back to the central themes that have echoed throughout the year. In this final series, we’ll reflect on how God’s kingdom works through cause and effect — not in a mechanical or transactional way, but in a way that reveals His heart and His purposes.

Truth/Freedom— Many people believe that freedom means being able to do whatever you want. But Jesus teaches the exact opposite. “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31–32). According to Jesus, living however you please doesn’t lead to freedom — it leads to slavery. True freedom—spiritual, emotional, eternal—comes only when you “hold to [His] teaching” and “know the truth.”

Truth is the cause that brings about the effect of freedom. One of the key principles Martin Luther upheld during the Reformation was sola scriptura — Scripture alone. What is the final authority on the truth that leads to freedom? Scripture alone. Heirs of the Reformation still bind themselves to God's Word as the source of truth. Does limiting ourselves to Scripture restrict our freedom? Just the opposite is true. God's truth brings freedom from slavery to sinful delusions and the crushing weight of guilt. This week, we celebrate that cause and effect: the truth sets us free.