Off Leash

Off Leash

My family and I love animals. I've told you before about all the crazy pets we have, but I forgot to mention that we also have a very normal one: a dog. Her name is Biscuit — a little terrier rescue. My son named her after my dad mentioned that his uncle Christopher had a dog with the same name when he was young.

Biscuit is a sweet little dog, but I don't know what it is about my family — every dog we have runs away like crazy. Anytime we leave the door cracked or the gate open, she's gone. Biscuit is the all-time winner of hide-and-go-seek and tag. You cannot catch her. She can run about 20 miles an hour, and the moment you get close, she gives you that look — "Yep, gotcha" — and bolts. She won't even come for her name.

The Day It Came to a Head

About a month ago, the dog got out. We live in a neighborhood, but just one street over is a busy intersection — six lanes of traffic. Biscuit ran straight in that direction and made her way into the street. Cars were slamming on their brakes and honking.

My son chased her out of the house but, thankfully, didn't run into the street after her. He stood there calling her name, trying to coax her back, but she wouldn't come. Finally, one of our neighbors ran out with a treat, coaxed her over, grabbed her, and saved her. Everything was okay, thank God.

Discipline That Leads to Freedom

I was determined to do something about this. I loaded up on treats, got the e-collar, and started talking with a friend of mine who is like a dog Yoda — a dog wizard who has trained all kinds of dogs, including dogs for the military. He understands how a dog thinks.

I started doing what he said, and within two days I had Biscuit heeling, sitting, staying, and walking off leash — completely responding to me. It blew my mind. Just a short amount of obedience training transformed her.

Now, Biscuit probably wasn't stoked at first when I put that collar on her. (It's not an electric chair — it's a very low setting, like touching a 9-volt battery to your tongue. Just a little uncomfortable pressure, with the zap reserved for emergencies.) When we'd go for a walk, she used to pull on the leash and lead me all over the place. She was very much in charge.

But once I got her dialed in, something struck me. It required discipline to get to that place. It required patience, correction, rewarding, instruction, and repetition. And through those things, she has more freedom than she's ever had.

Because she understands the parameters now, she is free to do whatever she wants within those parameters — a hundred times more freedom than she ever had before.

How Much Am I Like This Dog?

Going through this, I started thinking: how much am I like this dog? How much is all of humanity like this dog?

We think we know what's best. We think we know what freedom is — but it's running into the street, almost getting ourselves killed. True freedom actually requires safety first. It requires guidelines, boundaries, and structure.

A lot of times when God is disciplining us or teaching us something new, we buck against it. "No, God, I like the way things are. I don't need to pray more. I don't need to read my Bible more. I don't need to share my faith or forgive more." We make all kinds of excuses.

But God gives us these principles in Scripture not to restrict us — to free us. To liberate us from our three enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil.

God's commands are not walls keeping you as a prisoner. They are walls keeping the enemy out. They are not keeping you in — they are keeping danger away.

Some say Christianity is stale, boring, and just a list of rules. But the truth is, nobody enjoys life more than the believer, because we have freedom and peace. If you've walked with the Lord for any length of time, you've realized that denying yourself — denying the passions of the flesh — is actually the way to peace, fulfillment, and success.

The freedom the world offers is the exact opposite. It's slavery. When you engage in behavior contrary to God's Word, it puts a shackle on you.

It's been said that sin takes you farther than you're willing to go, keeps you longer than you're willing to stay, and costs you more than you're willing to pay.

I know that to be true. I started with a little dabbling here and there, and things went 0 to 60 so quick. I found myself out of control and couldn't break free. It's the worst deal you could ever make.

A Different Kind of Person

In Luke 17, Jesus describes a completely different kind of person than Biscuit running into the street — a transformed, liberated one who walks in real freedom. Off leash.

What Jesus shares here isn't just a list of rules or behavior modification. It's rooted in identity. The Bible tells us we are new creations — old things have passed away, all things have become new.

Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come. It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones." (Luke 17:1–2)

1. Your Influence Is Never Neutral

All of us have influence. We're all "influencers" — not necessarily on social media, but with our co-workers, friends, families, neighbors, and kids. And Jesus tells us that what we do with that influence matters.

He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. (Matthew 12:30)

That means in all of our relationships we are doing one of two things: gathering for Jesus or scattering away from Him. You're either leading people toward Him or away from Him.

Let's be honest — nine times out of ten, we use our influence for our own best interest. With our boss, it's to get paid more. With co-workers, it's to be respected or liked. That's dog-running-in-the-street behavior — chasing what feels good, chasing our own glory. But there's a car coming, and if we keep living this way, it's going to hit us. Or worse, someone following our example might be the one who gets hurt.

I literally had to tell my kids: if the dog ever runs into the street, you stay on the sidewalk. Don't chase her — you might get hit.

Bless, Don't Impress

Here's a key truth:

You cannot impress people and bless people at the same time.

When you're trying to impress, you draw attention to yourself. When you're trying to bless, you point attention to God. You can't do both at once.

But here's the irony — so like God — when you stop trying to impress people and simply focus on blessing them and leading them to God, that's exactly when they become the most impressed. Not with you, but with the God you serve.

Look at Jesus. He loved people, served people, told them the truth — but He always pointed them to the Father. Two thousand years later, we're still following His example.

Who Are the "Little Ones"?

The Greek word Jesus uses is mikros, meaning unimportant, insignificant — a person who lacks importance, influence, or power. Is Jesus talking about literal children? Yes. But He broadens it to anyone vulnerable: the new believer, the easily influenced, anyone who looks up to you and with whom you carry weight.

For parents, your greatest mission field is inside your own home. Before your child ever hears a sermon, attends Sunday school, goes to camp, or memorizes a verse, they will see you. They will understand who Jesus is based on what you tell them, and they will model their faith after yours.

This is why we must take care of ourselves first. On an airplane, they tell you to put your own oxygen mask on before assisting others. It's the same for the believer — we can't take anyone further than we've gone ourselves. If you want your children to be spiritually successful, to have a healthy marriage and a strong devotional life, you have to model it first.

I learned this when I saw how my parents responded after my brother went to be with the Lord. They chose to worship God, to bless Him, and to trust Him. That led me closer to Him. I wanted a faith like that.

Infiltrate, Don't Isolate

We're called to lead our children, not keep them in a bubble. We protect their innocence, especially when they're young, but as time goes on we need to talk with them about what's happening in the world.

As Christians, we're called to infiltrate, not isolate — to influence culture, not hide from it. If you make all your kids' decisions for them and never prepare them, what happens the moment they leave for college? We hear it all the time: they go crazy. Sometimes leading them means allowing them to make their own decisions, even to fail — and then instructing them and guiding them back to the One who loves them.

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. (Deuteronomy 6:6–7)

The best way to lead our little ones to God isn't a formal classroom with boxes to check and theological terms explained. It's for the love of God to permeate out of you — talking about the Lord around the house, in the car, when you lie down and when you rise. Whether your kids grow up rich or poor, a pro athlete or a mechanic, the most important thing is that they know the God who created them.

Spiritual Little Ones

Mikros isn't only physical little ones — it's anyone little in a spiritual sense. All of us are surrounded by them.

For example: you have the liberty to drink alcohol. But exercise caution that you don't influence someone who was delivered from alcoholism to start drinking again because they see your liberty. Be careful you don't lead them astray.

Or maybe you're at work complaining about drama at church — this person's a jerk, that person borrowed money and never paid it back — and you're saying this to a non-believer who was thinking about coming to church. Why would they ever want to go if it's just a bunch of messed-up people? Be careful you don't lead one of these little ones astray.

Jesus says it would be better to have a millstone tied around your neck and be thrown into the sea. A millstone isn't a light rock — it's a huge, heavy stone used to crush grain or olives. This is dark. There's no softening here. Jesus is telling you exactly how seriously He takes your influence over vulnerable people.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God... I do not seek my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:31–33; 11:1, paraphrased)

If you've fallen short in this category — you're in good company. All of us have. So what should we do? Repent. Repentance is a fancy word for a spiritual U-turn: recognizing I've been going one way, stopping, turning 180 degrees, and following what God says. Turn from the shortcoming, ask God to forgive and strengthen you.

2. Forgive as You Have Been Forgiven

Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, "I repent," you shall forgive him. (Luke 17:3–4)

We do a lot of gossiping — talking about people's problems. What we don't do a lot of is talking to the person we have the problem with. It's easier to talk about the problem than to talk to the source of it. But Jesus says to rebuke the brother who sins against you.

Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. (Proverbs 27:5–6)

A good friend tells you the truth even when it hurts. Someone who isn't your friend flatters you — tells you how great you look in that outfit when actually you don't. I recently got on some Instagram algorithm feeding me people singing very confidently but very badly, thinking they're doing great. In the comments some people say "You're amazing, post more!" A true friend would gently tell them the truth.

Jesus is giving us great relationship advice: tell the truth. When someone sins against you, call it out. And there are two errors to avoid:

1. Don't ignore it. We like to pretend it didn't happen, grin and bear it, act like it didn't affect us. But an untreated infection spreads. Ignoring sin — in your marriage, family, or with your kids — lets it fester and reach into other relationships. It actually does a disservice to the person sinning.

2. Don't pick at it. Don't nitpick and bring it up over and over. "Remember when you said this to me five years ago?" That's like picking at a scab so it never heals. Address it, rebuke it, forgive, and move on.

Forgiving Seven Times

Then Jesus doubles down: forgive them seven times in a day for the same thing. That's a tall order! We're all on board with the rebuking part — that feels good — but forgiving seven consecutive times?

Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (Luke 6:37)

Jesus is perfect. He's the one Person who never needed to forgive anyone, yet He forgives us. How much more should we — imperfect people — forgive other imperfect people? This is not a suggestion; it's a command.

What Forgiveness Does and Doesn't Mean

To forgive means to release someone from a debt. It does not mean making yourself endlessly vulnerable.

Say I borrow a thousand dollars from you and never pay it back. Eventually you realize you'll never see that money again. You are to forgive me — release me from that debt, don't hold a grudge. (You can still pursue small claims court if you want.) But forgiveness doesn't mean that after all that, you have to loan me another five hundred dollars. That would be foolish. You release the person of the debt, you forgive them in Jesus' name — but you put safeguards in place so it won't happen again.

3. The Right Faith

Notice how the disciples respond to the command to forgive:

And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." (Luke 17:5)

I love this. Of everything Jesus told them — heal the sick, raise the dead, walk on water — forgiving someone seven times in a day is what made them cry out, "Lord, increase our faith! This is the hardest thing anyone's ever asked us to do."

So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you." (Luke 17:6)

Jesus' answer wasn't a recipe for more faith — it was a redirect toward the right kind of faith. A mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds there is, less than a millimeter wide. Jesus was saying: you don't need more faith. You need a deeper understanding of what faith in God can accomplish.

It's not faith in faith. The object of your faith is what matters. In Hebrews 11 — the "Hall of Faith" — Moses, Enoch, Noah, Rahab, Abraham, and others accomplished great things not by their own strength, but by faith in God.

So don't put your faith in yourself, in the universe, or in "manifesting." Put your faith in the supreme God who hung the heavens, created every living creature, and gave you His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross — and who gives you His Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen you. That's a good object of faith. We don't need more faith; we need the right faith.

4. It's Not Always About You

And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, "Come at once and sit down to eat"? But will he not rather say to him, "Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink"? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, "We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do." (Luke 17:7–10)

This is the opposite of "selfie Christianity." And it comes full circle back to influence. What's the best way not to lead one of these little ones astray? To be completely submitted and obedient to God, and not make it about yourself.

We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.

We don't talk about that much. We like to act like we're the main subject of the Bible, the center of the universe. But you are not the star of the show, and the rest of us aren't just supporting characters in your story. Jesus is the central figure of all history and all creation.

Too often we only embrace Scripture's principles when they benefit us. And praise God, they usually do — but sometimes it's not about how you feel.

Paul's Example

After his final missionary journey, the Apostle Paul called the leaders of the church in Ephesus and told them:

And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. (Acts 20:22–23)

If the Holy Spirit told me that, I'd chalk it up to a bad street taco! But Paul knew what was coming — and he was exactly right. The moment he reached Jerusalem, he was accused of a crime he didn't commit, jailed, and beaten. He was moved from leader to leader, eventually appealing to Caesar and being taken to Rome, where we believe he was killed. Yet Paul was a man surrendered to God who knew it was not about himself.

Grit and Surrender

This passage calls us to have grit, to sacrifice, and to see Jesus for who He really is. Jesus is not our peer or our homie we call up when we're bored. Jesus is our Master. The word "servant" here would be better translated slave.

Imagine you paid someone's debt, got them out of jail, and asked them to help with a task at your house — and there they are with a selfie stick: "Look at me serving this guy, blessing him with my time, working for free because I'm so good! #servant." You'd say, "What is wrong with you? I just paid your debt, and you're making it about yourself."

Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. (Matthew 6:3, paraphrased)

None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)

Paul knew exactly what he needed to do — use his influence for God, lead others to Jesus — and the only way to do that was to take himself out of the picture.

Off Leash: Real Freedom in Christ

Using your influence for God, not leading little ones astray, forgiving up to seven times a day, lowering your view of yourself, following your duty — these things are completely counterintuitive and countercultural. To an outsider it may look like the most boring, restrictive, small life imaginable.

That's probably what my dog thought too. She didn't want all those commands and rules — but they were exactly what set her free.

I titled this sermon Off Leash because that's precisely what happens when we obey God. It's liberating. It's freedom. It's revolutionary. The Christian life is not a checklist, behavior modification, or a performance — it is an identity. A person so secure in who they are that they have nothing to prove, nothing to earn, and nothing to fear. We are new creations, made new from the inside out.

The world offers freedom but delivers chains. Jesus offers a yoke — and it delivers rest.

Altar Call

Maybe you're like my dog — running around chasing other dogs, chasing after cars, doing crazy stuff, running from God because you think you'd have to settle down and live a certain way. If you've viewed Christianity as a bunch of rules, you've missed the point. It's the most liberating thing you could ever do, because you're set free from what the world tells you and from your own desires that lead you astray.

You're probably tired. The thing you were chasing didn't deliver. The quick spiritual vacation you thought you'd take has lasted a lot longer than you wanted. You don't have to live that way anymore. Jesus came to set the captives free — to liberate those in slavery to sin and death. He can free you today. He can make you a new creation. Not a religion, not a set of rules, but a new identity and a new nature with real freedom.

Let's pray together.

Father, I thank You for every person here. I thank You that You know their story, Lord, and that You're aware of the things they're drawn to. I thank You that You have a plan for their life. For those here who do not know You, Father, speak to their heart. Help them see that the best thing in this life is not living for themselves, but living for You.

If that's you — if you want to be free from your sin and from the lifestyle you've been pursuing — pray this prayer out loud after me. You're saying yes to God:

Dear God, I know that I'm a sinner, but I know that Jesus is the Savior who died on the cross for my sin. And today I turn from that sin, and I turn to You. Would You forgive me, Lord? Would You help me to know Your voice? In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

God bless you that prayed just now. Congratulations — that's the best decision you'll ever make.