The phrase “freedom in Christ.”

You’ve heard it a million times—in sermons, small groups, or scrolling through social media. You can read Galatians 5:1 and believe it’s true: freedom is a gift you have, not a goal to attain. So why does it always feel just out of reach—dangling beyond the “next step”?

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and it might be time to rethink how you learn to live in the freedom Jesus gave.

There’s been endless debate, both in academia and the Church, about how humans learn and grow. Public speaking is often championed as the most efficient way to share ideas, which is why talks—from reels to sermons—are everywhere. They’re convenient for delivering information and stirring inspiration.

But when it comes to moving from hearing about freedom to actually living in it, even the most powerful talks miss the mark.

This disconnect highlights the roadblock in modern “church.” We see preaching throughout Scripture and assume that we learn through sermons. What we’ve missed is that preaching and sermons are not the same thing.

Our tendency to cling to what’s familiar—known as egocentric myopia—can blind us to this distinction. We default to what we know, believing it’s the only way. But when we view learning to live free through the lens of talks, we limit our imagination and stunt our growth. To move forward, we must step back and recognize that what feels familiar is just one small part of a much larger story.

For instance, the sermon as we know it is relatively new. Its modern form—a polished monologue delivered by a professional—emerged during the revivalist movements of the 18th and 19th centuries. It wasn’t until the 20th century that sermons became the centerpiece of church gatherings, and a “teaching pastor” became a full-time vocation.

Contrast this with the way Jesus preached. In the Gospels, we find Him sitting on a rock, delivering a few short talks in the Sermon on the Mount. But then we find Jesus leaving that practice behind to spend the next three years walking with people, passing on relief in open-ended conversations as a friend.

This matters because we’ve been conditioned to think that preaching belongs to pastors and happens in the modern concept of church services. In truth, preaching is something every follower of Jesus is invited into—and it looks like a conversation, not a polished monologue.

Why? Because Jesus understood how humans learn.

Words Alone Aren’t Enough

Every diet plan comes with a list of rules promising transformation if you stick to them. The steps are clear. Yet most people abandon the plan, even if they understand it perfectly. Why? Because knowing isn’t the same as doing. In short: information doesn’t create transformation.

If it did, we’d all be fit just by reading the right books or listening to the right podcasts or influencers.

Jesus recognized this truth, and invited us into a way of life where experience comes into play—something known as: phenomenology. Focusing on how we perceive and interpret the world around us, phenomenology examines the structures of experience—providing the ongoing engagement needed for…

A level of retention that cannot be found in the consumption of content.

Perhaps the best example of this is how AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) sees learning. Knowing that alcoholism is a lifelong disease, AA doesn’t offer lectures to help people escape their addiction. Instead, it creates a space for shared experiences, honest conversations, and mutual support for living sober. Likewise, followers of Jesus, knowing the sin of self-reliance is a disease we cannot think our way out of, must move beyond content—realizing:  

1. Words Alone Won’t Work 

Hearing ideas is only the start. Having the right knowledge is powerful, but only when it’s practiced in faith. ​​Without experience, understanding remains limited to what you think instead of impacting what you believe. 

2. Experience Matters Most 

Information can’t do the heavy lifting. It’s having the time to go learn what we know in the everyday moments of life that turns knowledge into faith. Transformation of the mind happens when faith is shared and felt in real relationships and real situations.

This 1-2 combination unites open-ended conversation with impromptu teaching, allowing you to engage people where they are. Unlike a scripted speech, it’s more about listening to people’s stories and sharing your own. This dynamic, conversational style is how Jesus helped people live free, making each interaction unique and impactful for all parties involved. 

Learning Happens In Sharing

Seeing this, we understand why Jesus didn’t offer sermons, reform the religious organization everyone knew, or tell us start to start a new one. Instead, knowing how humans truly learn, He said, “Go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19-20).

The word “go” literally means “as you are going through life.” “Disciple” refers to the moments you help people see Jesus for who He already is for them. And “teaching them to observe everything I have commanded”? That simply means teaching them to observe the “will of God” in every aspect of life: To…

“Believe in the One he has sent” (John 6:29).

Far from being a heavy-handed assignment to fix people or plug them into church programs, discipleship is an invitation to keep learning to live free as you help others do the same—right where they are. It’s found in conversations over coffee, drinks with friends, and meals around the kitchen table. It’s about passing on relief—not with an organization to manage or measure—but with the honesty and grace that come from knowing you’re already free.

Jesus modeled this. He shared life, pointed people to the Father, and empowered them to live in the freedom He provided. This is the Church as Jesus intended—not a programmed service but a global movement of friends who help others live free.

So the question isn’t whether you believe in freedom. It’s whether you’re willing to step into it by trading the familiarity of consuming content for the messy, beautiful work of passing on relief in the everyday flow of friendship.

To learn more about how to live as a friend who helps others live free, check out the foundation of this truth in our free video series here. And to learn more about what this way of life looks like in the everyday, watch this ever popular episode on the Larkcast: