As we approach Independence Day, we often think of freedom as something that separates us from others—freedom as independence, autonomy, or control. But in this opening message of our Mind the Gap series, Pastor Shawn Franssens invites us to consider a different kind of freedom: freedom that moves us toward others in love.

Drawing from Galatians 5 and the Sermon on the Mount, we explore what it means to use our freedom not to protect ourselves, but to serve one another in love—and why that’s the first step in building real peace.

This message invites us to take an honest look at how we live and love, and how Jesus calls us to shine with a light that doesn’t just burst like fireworks—but lasts.