Entitlement. Sounds good to us. After 10 stamps on our coffee card, we're entitled to one free coffee. Who doesn't want a free coffee. A free anything! AND, we've earned it by buying the 10 previous cups. We deserve it. We're entitled to it!

We live in an entitlement culture. Just listen to our media (which reflects our cultural values). We are entitled to everything from clear skin to a pampered, all inclusive vacation at a Sandels resort in the Caribbean. Of course, those entitlements come at a cost, but that's okay because we deserve it. Entitlement has permeated our language and our perspective on everything from politics (entitlement programs), to the workplace, to our relationships. We are simply entitled.

What about our relationship with God? What about the principles of his Kingdom, his reign and rule in our lives? Does this entitlement mindset influence our perspective on our faith? Do we feel entitled to blessings? To healing? To a good and easy life?

God does say that grace is free, that Jesus came to bring us life and life abundant. He does say ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened. Jesus said he came to set us free. However, Jesus also said the last shall be first, and the one who loves her life will lose it, while the one who hates her life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Grace, mercy, entitlement and freedom. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. This weekend at the Wellspring Worship Services we'll take a look at our entitlement culture and the true freedom that the Lord makes available to us through his son and in his kingdom. Join us as we continue our look at I Corinthians and bring practical instructions for the culture clash in which we live.

Teaser: Who is the object of entitlement? Who is the object of true freedom?