What is Freedom?
Freedom is a Small Group designed to help you build on the foundations of your faith in Christ, and uncover what could be holding you back from living in the fullness of life He came to give us!
Galatians 5:1 reminds us: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we’re not only promised eternal salvation, but we have access to live this life with the victory, power and authority He shares with us!
This Freedom course helps identify and break through what’s holding us back so we can discover God’s purpose and make a lasting impact in our relationships, work, and community. Living in true freedom helps us “run the race” of life in a way that aligns us with God’s Kingdom, making an eternal impact.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” Hebrews 12:1
This curriculum will guide you in applying God’s truth to your life - your past, your struggles, your identity, your worldview, and purpose in His kingdom - so you can experience deeper intimacy with Him and walk in true freedom.
Join us as we learn how to remove any obstacles and step into the true FREEDOM God has for each of our lives!
Join a Fall 2026 Freedom Group
Additional Resources for Walking in Freedom:
"Out of the Cave: Stepping into the Light when Depression Darkens What you See" by Pastor Chris Hodges
Pastor Chris Hodges is the founding pastor of Church of the Highlands as well as a trusted friend, mentor, and Pastor of Peter and Carolyn Haas. In Out of the Cave, Pastor Chris uses Elijah's life to show us that everyone is susceptible to depression. Even when we're walking closely with God, we can still stumble and get lost in the wilderness of tangled emotions. But we don't have to stay there, because we serve a God who meets us in the darkness. Out of the Cave helps us
- remove the stigma of depression and realize we're not alone;
- understand the ways our temperament and view of God affect the way we handle depression; and
- learn a comprehensive approach to wellness—mind, body, and soul—from Elijah's journey.
With his trademark blend of Bible-based wisdom, practical application, and vulnerability in sharing his personal struggles, Pastor Chris explores the causes of depression we can't change, the contributors we can conquer, and offers transformative hope and spiritual power to help us win the battle.
"Discover Your Identity" Series by Pastor Peter Haas
When fear, insecurity, or anger show up, they may be pointing to a lie we’ve unknowingly accepted. God’s invitation is not just forgiveness, but freedom—by uncovering false identities and rediscovering who He says we are. We don't have to live tied to our past, or false names we carry. Learn how to discover your identity in Christ and step into purpose!
"Address the Mess" Series by Pastor Peter Haas
Discover Holy Sexuality!
Next Steps if you've been through the Freedom course:
Take the Freedom course again!
It’s not uncommon for people to be a part of this Freedom course more than once! Missed a few sessions? Want to dive in a little more intentionally? Interested in meeting different people and processing with other leaders? Just really enjoyed it? We’d love to have you come back for the next Trimester starting in September at all campuses! Because this content is based on the Word of God, it is alive and active in every season, however many times you come back to it! There is always more to receive and contribute to the group each time you attend. Plan to register for the next course kicking off in September!
Consider attending guided Prayer Sessions
We believe in the power of prayer and the authority of Jesus to bring healing, restoration and LIFE in all areas that have been affected by the brokenness of the world and the schemes of the enemy to steal, kill and destroy. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
Often in guided prayer sessions, there is the opportunity to invite the Holy Spirit’s counsel and power to address specific areas that are causing individuals to experience unwanted bondage like fear, anxiety, sickness, panic, torment, confusion, addiction, oppression, unforgiveness, shame, etc. By applying the word of God, being led by the Holy Spirit, and partnering with trusted intercessors, these can be powerful environments to allow the power and authority of Jesus to be at work in what we feel powerless to shift or break free from on our own. Talk to your Freedom leader or go to substancechurch.com/prayer for next steps.
Consider working with a trusted Christian Therapist or Counselor
We believe the Holy Spirit is the wonderful counselor, and there are spirit-filled believers who partner with Him in the field of psychology, just as there are spirit-filled believers who partner with Jesus our Healer in the medical field. If there were specific wounds, triggers, traumas, or painful topics that you discovered by working through the content of this course, you may benefit from having an additional, trusted place to process your life experiences more in depth with a professional who understand the complexities of both psychology and faith - body, soul, and spirit. As we keep God’s Spirit as our leader and align with Spiritual Order, we can greatly benefit from spirit-filled resources and professional counsel when applied through the compass of faith, and processed in the context of a safe and trusted Christian community - not isolation. If you take this next step, we recommend sharing this with a trusted Substance leader and safe christian friends who can support you in this process. Therapy is not meant to be a stand-alone solution, but accompany a commitment to continue to attend small groups, services, and be involved in the local church community! Please talk to your group leader if you would like to receive a recommendation list of trusted therapists and additional resources.
Commit to Community in Christ
There are many other amazing groups to be a part of here at Substance that will empower your Freedom journey, especially if there is a specific area you need more support in. Check out these options for your specific needs:
Alpha - Alpha is a place to explore the Christian faith with others. It’s a series of conversations focused on the questions of life, faith, and meaning. Each session includes a time to connect with others over dinner, a talk on some element of faith, and then a chance for people to share their own questions and perspectives with the group. SubstanceChurch.com/Alpha
Grief Share - If you’re grieving the loss of a spouse, child, family member, or friend, you’ve probably found there are not many people who understand the deep hurt you feel. This can be a confusing time when you feel isolated and have many questions about things you’ve never faced before. We'd love to walk with you in this journey! GriefShare Group
Divorce Care - DivorceCare is a safe place where caring people come alongside you as you find healing from the pain of separation or divorce. At this 13-week, video-based support group program, you’ll find helpful counsel to manage the emotional turmoil and practical tools for decision-making. DivorceCare Group
Betrayal & Beyond - (Women only) The pain and trauma created through sexual betrayal is devastating. The life you thought you had is gone. And now, you are consumed with thoughts and feelings you’ve never experienced before—thoughts and feelings you can’t even describe. With a fresh perspective on trauma treatment, Betrayal & Beyond takes a partner sensitive approach to healing from the effects of sexual betrayal. Throughout your group experience, you will:
- gain a greater understanding of how the trauma from betrayal is impacting your mind, body, and soul.
- apply strategies to keep you safe and emotionally healthy.
- identify and recognize the symptoms of trauma.
- incorporate proactive strategies to alleviate trauma symptoms during times of stress.
- learn the power of self-care.
- reestablish trust and emotional health in your relationship.
- create a plan for your future that is informed, intentional, and healthy.
Help Her Heal - (Men only) Join other men in sexual recovery every week working on developing empathy in order to help their partners heal. We will be going through the workbook Help. Her. Heal. by Carol Juergensen Sheets. Help Her Heal Group
CLEAN Mens Purity - We gather as men to address God's plan for our sexuality and the freedom that comes with it. Join us as we work towards freedom and the purpose God created us for - we are NOT meant to do life alone! CLEAN Mens Purity Group
Connect Groups - Engaging in consistent faith-filled community is one of the top predictors of spiritual health and essential in any Freedom journey. These small groups meet in a host home, share a meal together, pray, and discuss the weekly sermon to apply it to our day to day experiences. We're a BIG church of SMALL groups that help people find those 4 to 7 friends that are statistically essential for predicting the success of your spiritual growth! Connect Groups