Quite a few years ago now, we conducted a survey in our church. One of the open-ended questions was: "I wish someone would preach about …" We collated the answers and I have enough to preach on until Jesus comes back!
Actually, what surprised me the most at the time was the fact that people wanted to hear messages about dealing with common challenges such as worry, fear, anger, depression and rejection. These weren't subjects we were speaking on very often and as a result we were not "scratching where people were itching!"
After this survey, we crafted a series of messages around the theme of "Prison Break". In Jesus' first sermon, he declared that he had come to set the prisoners free – to lead a prison break! We shared messages on freedom from worry, freedom from fear, freedom from anger, etc, etc. It was one of the most impacting teaching series we have ever done. Eventually, these messages were compiled into a book and it's been a best-seller ever since.
You can purchase Prison Break: Finding Personal Freedom from WORD Books in paperback format or from Amazon also in paperback or in downloadable format for Kindle. If you enjoy it, thanks for leaving a recommendation.
Here's the full description and a recommendation from Dr. Arch Hart.
Living in our broken world creates the possibility of becoming trapped by various negative emotions and habits that can easily become like a prison around us. In this helpful book, Mark Conner shares practical principles for finding freedom from common problems such as anger, fear, worry, rejection, depression, addictions, and spiritual bondages. With God's help you can make a prison break- beginning today.
"To some extent we all have our personal prisons, in these hectic and stress-filled days. This is why Mark Conner's book Prison Break is so timely and helpful. Whether your personal prison is one of anger or fear, worry or some destructive habit, addictions or whatever, Mark offers help that can free you from your prison. The book is practical yet sound, both psychologically and biblically and easy to read. I am sure no reader will be disappointed."
Archibald D. Hart, Ph.D., FPPR.
Senior Professor of Psychology and Dean Emeritus
Graduate School of Psychology
Fuller Theological Seminary
Pasasena, California