Feeling trapped by debt, circumstances, or cycles you can't break?

In this honest conversation, Sharon Edmundson explores the Year of Jubilee - God's radical 50-year reset system where debts were cancelled, people were freed, and everyone got a fresh start. From her own struggles with inner darkness despite outward success, to discovering how Jesus transformed this ancient practice into everyday freedom, Sharon offers hope for anyone who feels permanently stuck.

You'll discover why God built liberation into the very structure of society, how this applies to modern debt slavery, and practical steps for your own jubilee reset. Whether you're drowning financially, relationally, or spiritually, this message reveals that freedom isn't just possible - it's promised.

[03:00] The System That Sounds Too Good to Be True

Sharon starts with an incredible scenario - imagine the government cancelling all your debts tomorrow.

"Three and a half thousand years ago, God designed exactly this kind of system for an entire nation, and it wasn't a one-off. It happened every 50 years like clockwork."

What we explore:

• The radical nature of the Jubilee system
• How it prevented permanent poverty cycles
• Why ancient "slavery" was different from what we think
• Built-in hope for desperate situations

Key takeaway: God's response to suffering wasn't to blame people but to build hope into society's structure.

[08:00] Why People Get Trapped

Sharon gets honest about debt and circumstances, including Matt's early business disasters.

"I often joke that I married Matt and his debt - bucketloads of enthusiasm for business, but a teacup's worth of wisdom, and the teacup is a bit generous."

Real-life understanding:

• Multiple reasons people end up in debt
• How systems can be loaded against people
• The cycle of poverty and desperation
• Protection built into God's law

Key takeaway: The Bible recognises that debt and poverty aren't always someone's fault.

[15:00] When External Freedom Isn't Enough

Sharon's most vulnerable moment - having everything but being internally broken.

"For many years, looking at my life from the outside, you'd think I was doing well... and yet inside I was a mess. My inner world was full of darkness."

Personal breakthrough:

• The difference between external and internal slavery
• How Jesus takes Jubilee deeper
• From once-in-a-lifetime to everyday freedom
• The meaning of "it is finished"

Key takeaway: Jesus offers internal freedom that has positive knock-on effects in every area of life.

[19:00] Your Personal Jubilee Reset

Three practical areas Sharon challenges us to examine honestly.

"I don't think God's calling us to lobby Parliament for a new Jubilee law, though honestly, it might not be the worst idea. But I do think he's inviting us into our own personal jubilee moments."

Practical application:

• Where are you with God? (receiving vs earning forgiveness)
• What relationships need jubilee? (who to forgive or make amends with)
• How are you using what you've got? (money, influence, skills)
• One thing to try this week

Key takeaway: Jubilee isn't just about getting set free - it's about becoming people who help others find freedom too.

Well, hello and welcome to Crowd Church's non-live,

2

live stream here in August.

3

My name is Matt, and I just wanted to

jump on here before we get into the

4

talk and let you know what's going on.

5

Now this isn't your usual Crowd service.

6

Uh, and that, if I'm honest,

is completely intentional.

7

If you are a regular Crowd, you will have

twigged that this isn't the usual live.

8

There's no, you know, no me fluffing lines

or figuring out technical difficulties,

9

or Anna laughing at me when I do 'cause

something has gone completely wrong.

10

Uh, and you definitely won't be

getting Conversation Street today.

11

But here's the thing, August for

Crowd is different, isn't it?

12

It's always different for everybody.

13

Uh, half of us usually are

somewhere hot trying to forget

14

what the weather's like back home,

especially if you live in England.

15

And the other half is wondering why

we didn't book something ages ago.

16

Uh, so instead of pretending

everything's normal, we've

17

done something a bit different.

18

Yes, we like to do the non-live,

live streams in August where

19

the whole team gets to rest.

20

And recuperate.

21

Uh, but we obviously still want to put

stuff out for people to connect with.

22

And this year, our August talks,

uh, are prerecorded as usual.

23

The on live, live stream.

24

You can watch them whenever you like.

25

Whether that's Sunday morning

with, you know, a cup of tea or

26

Wednesday afternoon when you're

avoiding doing something important.

27

Whenever we just might, uh,

this August we're exploring

28

something called sacred rhythms.

29

Looking at how biblical festivals offers

a completely different approach to rest,

30

to celebration and actually living life.

31

Well, I thought this would be

a really good thing to study

32

whilst we do our normal holidays.

33

Like what does the Bible have

to say about taking a holiday?

34

Uh, an inner culture that's obsessed

with, you know, working ourselves into

35

the ground and then collapsing for two

weeks somewhere with overpriced cocktails.

36

Maybe just, maybe the

Bible has a better way.

37

Maybe there's some ancient

celebration, uh, that knew something

38

that we've forgotten about.

39

You know, like what does it

actually mean to truly rest and

40

to celebrate and to recover.

41

So that's why we're doing this.

42

So settle in.

43

This one's just for you.

44

No pressure to participate,

no need to unmute yourself.

45

Just space to think about how God might

want to reshape the rhythms of your life.

46

So let's dive in.

47

Sharon Edmundson: Do you like

festivals or celebrations?

48

A few months ago, my husband Matt

and I went glamping at a family

49

music festival in Yorkshire.

50

It was a great time to slow down,

enjoy the outdoors, meet new people,

51

listen to music brows, browse

through locally, created handicrafts

52

and eat locally produced food.

53

During August, we've taken

some time to look at the

54

festivals in the Old Testament.

55

These festivals teach us about God's

character and his love for us, lessons

56

which are still relevant today.

57

They also teach us some underlying

principles to help us flourish

58

individually and as as a society to

illustrate just how radical the principles

59

of some of these festivals can be.

60

I want you to imagine the following.

61

Imagine the government announced that

from tomorrow your mortgage will be

62

canceled, your student loans cleared,

credit card debt wiped out, and if

63

you are renting, you get handed the

keys to your own place for free.

64

You'd probably think the government

had lost the plot, wouldn't you?

65

It sounds too good to be true.

66

But three and a half thousand

years ago, God designed exactly

67

this kind of system for an entire

nation, and it wasn't a one-off.

68

It happened every 50 years like clockwork.

69

This was known as the year of

Jubilee, God's radical reset

70

button for society, and it's the

festival we'll be looking at today.

71

To be honest, when I was first

given this topic to talk about, my

72

heart sank because I've heard bits

about Jubilee before and I kind of

73

understood it, but on another level,

I really didn't, it didn't excite me.

74

But as I've studied it and wrestled

with it, it's challenged me in

75

so many ways and I've come to see

some of the beauty and depth of

76

what the Year of Jubilee is about.

77

The year of Jubilee was a special

celebration in ancient Israel.

78

That was to happen every 50 years, kind

of like a reset for the whole nation.

79

It was when a time when people got a

fresh start, and I think that sounds

80

amazing, but how did this actually work?

81

How do you suddenly have a reset

year that is just and fair and that

82

doesn't cause everything to collapse?

83

I think it might only work if

you built ideas of rest and reset

84

into the heart of the nation,

and I think that's what God did.

85

The year of Jubilee is described in

Leviticus 25, and we'll look at the

86

opening section through the chapter.

87

Um, although the chapter

goes into much more detail.

88

So here it is.

89

It says, count off seven Sabbath years.

90

Seven times seven years, so

that the seven Sabbath years

91

amount to a period of 49 years.

92

Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere.

93

On the 10th day of the seventh

month on the day of Atonement.

94

Sound the trumpet throughout your land.

95

Consecrate the 50th year and

proclaim liberty throughout the

96

land to all its inhabitants.

97

It shall be a jubilee for you.

98

Each of you is to return to your

family property and to your own clan.

99

The 50th year shall be a jubilee for you.

100

Do not so, and do not reap what grows of

itself or harvest the untended vines for.

101

It's a jubilee and it's

to be holy for you.

102

Eat only what is taken

directly from the fields.

103

In this year of Jubilee, everyone

is to return to their own property.

104

If that sounds a little

confusing, let me explain.

105

So the Sabbath mentioned

is a weekly day of rest.

106

The Sabbath year expanded this to a

year of rest every seven years when it

107

was not just for rest, but debts were

forgiven and slaves were released.

108

The Jubilee, which happened every 50th

year, it was not only a year of rest.

109

But a year of complete reset

as well, even more radical than

110

the reset in the Sabbath year.

111

And I'll explain that in

more depth a little later.

112

Um, we can see God built rest and reset

into the heart of his people by giving

113

them a chance to constantly practice it.

114

Now I need to pause here because I

mentioned slaves, um, that slaves

115

were released during the Sabbath year,

and I think it's worth clarifying.

116

The, um, what that

actually means in context.

117

When we read the word slave in the Bible,

our minds immediately go to the horrific

118

transatlantic slave trade or mor modern

human trafficking, and rightly so.

119

That kind of slavery is an

absolute evil that God abor abhors.

120

And there are some tricky passages

and the Bible around slavery, but

121

what I'm talking about here is

something completely different.

122

This wasn't about racial oppression

or people being treated as property.

123

This is more what we might call

indentured s service today.

124

So if you are an ancient Israelite

and things have gone badly wrong

125

financially, maybe your business had

failed, maybe there'd been a drought,

126

maybe you've made some terrible

decisions like, uh, my husband Matt

127

did early on in his business ventures.

128

Y you owe money.

129

You simply can't, can't pay.

130

Back.

131

In our world, you might declare bankruptcy

or have bailiffs turn up at your door,

132

but in their world, you would choose

to work for your creditor to pay off

133

the debt, you'd become their servant.

134

But with strict protections.

135

The law said, um, that you had to be

treated as a hired worker, not property.

136

You kept your dignity.

137

You could buy your way out

anytime if you got the money or

138

if your family got the money.

139

And crucially, and this is

massive, it can never be permanent.

140

Every seven years, all um, of

the Israeli slaves went free

141

automatically and every 50 years.

142

And the year of Jubilee, everyone

was released regardless of

143

how long they'd been working.

144

Compare that to our system today.

145

How many people do you know who are

essentially enslaved to their mortgage

146

for 30 years or trapped in jobs they

hate because they can't afford to

147

leave or trapped in poor housing

because they can't afford better?

148

At least the ancient Israelites

knew that there was always an

149

end date to their situation.

150

God knew that even with the

best intentions, people would

151

end up in desperate situations.

152

Life happens, bad decisions get made.

153

Circumstances change, stuff happens to

us, and his response wasn't just to shrug

154

and say, well, that's their own fault.

155

His response was to build hope into the

very structure of society, no matter how

156

bad things got, no matter how trapped you

felt, you knew that Jubilee was coming.

157

Liberation was written into the calendar.

158

That's the heart of God, um,

who sees people's suffering and

159

refuses to let it be permanent.

160

So every 49 years, every seven cycles

of Sabbath years, a trumpet was sounded

161

on the day of atonement, the most sacred

day in the ancient calendar, dedicated

162

to reflection, seeking forgiveness

and renewing the relationship,

163

be between God and his people.

164

The sounding of the trumpet

signaled the start of the 50th

165

year, the year of Jubilee.

166

This was meant to be the year of complete

reset, not just, um, of rest like the

167

the Sabbath year, but so much more.

168

There are primary, uh, full primary

features of the year of Jubilee,

169

rest for the land, cancellation of

debts, release of slaves, restoration

170

of land to its original families.

171

What would you say are the reason that,

reasons that people get into debt?

172

Maybe you're in debt now.

173

I often joke that I

married Matt and his debt.

174

The reason for his debts.

175

Bucket.

176

Loads of enthusiasm for business, but

a teac cup's worth of wisdom and the

177

teacup is a bit of a generous estimate.

178

He will freely admit he made

lots of stupid decisions.

179

It took us a few years of careful

spending and saving, and a very generous

180

gift from someone to get us out.

181

Fortunately, now he mixes

wisdom and experience with

182

his enthusiasm for business.

183

People end up in debt for so many

reasons, sometimes due to unwise

184

choices, sometimes because of illness,

disaster, or because the system

185

is unfair and loaded against them.

186

The Bible recognizes this complexity

showing that debt and poverty aren't

187

always someone's fault, and God's

laws protected those in needs from

188

being trapped forever in your country.

189

What happens if someone

gets into serious debt?

190

If you were an ancient Israelite, you

could borrow money, um, and the, the

191

lenders were forbidden from charging

interest to fellow Israelites.

192

You could maybe pledge your belongings

to security, but if you pledge clothes,

193

they had to be given back to you at

sunset so that you could keep warm.

194

Someone wasn't allowed to take

tools from you as collateral if

195

they were needed for livelihood.

196

The poor were not to be exploited or

deprived of means of earning a living.

197

This gets us back to the subjects of

slavery because if things got really

198

desperate, you could sell yourself

with your family members if needed.

199

And, um, if you, if you did this, you

were to be treated as a hired worker.

200

You or your family could buy yourself out

of slavery any time if they had the means.

201

But if you couldn't afford that or was not

lost because you knew that every 50 years.

202

Once in a lifetime, all debts will be

forgiven and all slaves would be freed.

203

This would prevent a family being

permanently stuck in a cycle of poverty.

204

How would you feel if you knew that no

matter how, how bad things got for you and

205

your family in the future economically,

that all was not lost because there

206

was always the hope of restoration.

207

Your family would not be doomed to into

poverty for the generations to come.

208

The fourth point I mentioned is that

the year of ju, in the year of Jubilee,

209

there's also land restoration, which

doesn't happen in the year of Sabbath.

210

What was this about?

211

When the rights first settled in

the land at God's instruction, the

212

land was divided between the tribes.

213

This land was then to be

handed down the family line.

214

The land would provide a place for each

tribe to live and a way to earn a living.

215

If you got into serious debt, you

could sell some of your land, but

216

as the land was a means of feeding

yourself, if you had less land, this

217

could potentially lead to more poverty.

218

It would be a downward cycle, except

that in the year of Jubilee, the land

219

will be restored to its original owner.

220

All these things together, the laws,

the Sabbath, the Year of Sabbath, and

221

the year of Jubilee, were meant as a

blessing for the land and the people.

222

They recognize that this, in this

messy world, there are consequences

223

for our own actions and the

actions of other people against us.

224

But God's gracious and wants

to rescue us from both.

225

He doesn't want to see us

slide into poverty and slavery.

226

He wants each person to flourish.

227

So why did God give all

these laws and festivals?

228

I've kind of, I've just said

a little bit about that.

229

But when Jesus was asked to sum up God's

laws, he said this, love the Lord your

230

God with all your heart, soul, and mind.

231

This is the greatest commandment.

232

And the second is like it.

233

Love your neighbor as yourself.

234

All the law and the prophets.

235

Hang on these two commandments.

236

If we really love God, we'll

love the things he loves and

237

look after what he cares about.

238

If we really love people, all people,

not just our family, all the ones

239

we like, we won't exploit them.

240

We won't want systems that

keep people in poverty.

241

We need all of these laws in

place because we naturally

242

look out for our own interests.

243

We like to think we are good,

but the Bible has this to say

244

about us for all have sinned and

fallen short of the glory of God.

245

We often fail to keep our own

standards, let alone gods.

246

How many of us think it's wrong

when people lie to us, but quite

247

easily lie to other people?

248

We can have all the external freedom

we desire, such as a good home, uh,

249

a job with good pay, a tax system

that works in our benefit and systems

250

that benefit those like us, and we

can still be a slave on the inside.

251

I know what this feels like

and I think many of you do too.

252

For many, for many years it

looked like from the outside.

253

Um, well, if you looked at my

life from the outside, you'd

254

think that I was doing well.

255

I had a family who loved me a good job.

256

I lived in a beautiful part of

the country near gorgeous beaches.

257

I had enough money and I had free

time, and yet inside I was a mess.

258

My inner world was full of darkness.

259

And that's where Jesus takes the

year of Jubilee to a whole new level.

260

We started with the Sabbath.

261

The next level is the year of Sabbath,

and then the year of Jubilee builds on

262

that, but Jesus takes it all further.

263

Jesus died his ministry by quoting

these words from the prophet Isaiah.

264

The spirit of the Lord is upon

me because he's anointed me to

265

proclaim good news to the poor.

266

He sent me to proclaim

freedom for the prisoners.

267

Recovery of sight to the blind to

set the oppressed free to proclaim

268

the year of the Lord's favor.

269

These verses were connected

to the year of Jubilee.

270

Jesus was implying that.

271

His ministry was ushering in

a true jubilee, which goes

272

beyond what had gone before.

273

It would work beyond the

socioeconomic and reach deeper levels.

274

He was going to the heart of the

problem, which is our hearts.

275

When Jesus was on the cross dying

for us, he said these words,

276

it's, it is finished in Greek.

277

This is one word.

278

I'm trying to remember

how to pronounce it.

279

Um, forgive my pronunciation is teti.

280

It's a word that signifies that a debt

has been fully paid just as debts in

281

the year of Jubilee were counted as

being fully paid what debt was paid.

282

It's the debt that we owe God

for breaking his law of love.

283

He cleanses earth and

makes us new on the inside.

284

He gives us a sense of

identity and purpose.

285

He freezes from the

things that ensnare us.

286

He turns us from people who have to

have our urges, cursed by laws to

287

people who freely live by the law

of love, powered by God's spirit.

288

The year of Jubilee was given specifically

to one nation in one geographical place.

289

Jesus opened it up to all people in

all nations for all time going forward.

290

The year of Jubilee was a once in

a lifetime opportunity with Jesus.

291

Jubilee is an everyday internal freedom

that has positive knock on effects.

292

Jubilee was a socioeconomic reset.

293

Jesus gives us a spiritual reset, which

if we keep connected with God and work in

294

partnership with him, has an outworking

in resetting every area of life.

295

How we interact with our family,

our friends and other people.

296

How we do singleness or marriage and

kids, how we do our jobs, where we

297

choose to buy our food and clothes,

how we look after the environment.

298

The concept of Jubilee has led to

some large scale global campaigns

299

such as Jubilee 2000 and many smaller

grassroot projects with a focus on

300

wealth, distri wealth distribution,

promote economic justice, and

301

create sustainable communities.

302

So where does this leave us?

303

I don't think God's calling us to lobby

Parliament for a new Jubilee law, though

304

honestly, it might not be the worst idea.

305

But I do think he's inviting us into

our own personal jubilee moments,

306

and that starts with getting

honest about where we actually are.

307

I wonder if you could take five

minutes this week, maybe with a

308

coffee, maybe on a walk, and just think

about these, um, three areas of life.

309

First, where are you with God?

310

I don't mean, are you being good enough?

311

I mean, have you actually

received that debt cancellation?

312

Jesus paid for.

313

Or are you still trying to earn

your way back into his good books?

314

Because if you're still working

off some spiritual overdraft,

315

you're missing the point entirely.

316

Uh, maybe you're not

even at that point yet.

317

Maybe you are still searching

to work out if God exists or,

318

um, if he does exist, who he is.

319

Continue in that search.

320

What's your next step?

321

Or are you able to rest or

are you enslaved to work?

322

Others, other people's opinions,

the desire for more stuff and

323

keeping up with other people.

324

Is your sense of self-worth based on

your job, your looks or achievements?

325

Or are you able to rest in the

knowledge that you are significant

326

because you're made in God's image?

327

Do you work hard, whether that's

paid, voluntary, or as a parent

328

or carer, or are you lazy?

329

So second, think about your relationship.

330

Is there someone you need to forgive?

331

Not because they deserve it, but because

carrying about that resentment is

332

like staying chained to something that

should have been canceled years ago.

333

Or maybe there's someone you've

hurt and you need to make it right.

334

And third, this one might sting a bit.

335

How are you using what you've got, your

money, your influence, your skills?

336

Are they just for you and yours?

337

Or are they part of God's

Jubilee for other people?

338

Are you treating people well or are

your actions part of the wider problem?

339

Are you storing up wealth just for your

own benefit and using the resources

340

you have only for your own pleasure

and that of your family and friends?

341

Or are you using them to

bless the wider community?

342

If you have any influence at your

job, how are you using that influence?

343

How are your actions

affecting the environment?

344

Are your actions taking into account

the impact on the environment?

345

I'm not talking about some

massive life overhaul here.

346

Just one thing.

347

Just one conversation, one

decision, one act of generosity.

348

One step towards the kind of freedom God

designed for us and for our community.

349

Because here's the thing about Jubilee.

350

It's not just about getting set free,

it's about becoming the kind of people

351

who help others to find freedom too.

352

May you experience your own taste

of Jubilee this week, grace, rest,

353

and restoration from God that

overflows to those around you.

354

Be blessed and have a great week.

355

Matt Edmundson: Well, thank you so

much for joining us, and there we

356

are, the end of this particular talk.

357

Now, if you're a regular Crowd, this

is a bit where we go into Conversation

358

Street, but like I said at the start,

we're not doing that during August in a,

359

what we call the non-live live streams

where the team is just taking some.

360

Well earned rest and just

hang in with their families.

361

Uh, but do stay with us as we

talk about holidays and rhythms

362

and rest throughout August.

363

And maybe there's just a different

way to the standard default.

364

Maybe, you know, God's got an idea

or two that we could learn from,

365

you know, ways that God has designed

life to perhaps work better for us.

366

I think he probably has.

367

Uh, and maybe this week you want to

try, you know, something from the talk.

368

What stood out to you?

369

It might not even be dramatic.

370

It could be just a tiny step towards

that kind of rhythm that actually

371

brings you life rather than draining it.

372

What is it gonna be?

373

Uh, if you're still watching

this, write it in the comments.

374

Um, even though we're not live, it's

always good just to write things down.

375

And of course you can reach us on

our website at www dot Crowd Church.

376

Now we're gonna be back next

Sunday, uh, with another talk.

377

If it's in August, it's gonna

be an on live, live stream.

378

If this is the last talk in

August or August, in August,

379

we'll be back to, uh, the usual

way of doing things in September.

380

But in August, do say stay with

us as we continue journeying

381

through the sacred rhythms.

382

Uh, same time, same

non-live stream approach.

383

So that's it.

384

Uh, but for now, wherever you are,

where whatever living room, you're

385

watching this or wherever you're on

a beach on a plane, we don't mind.

386

That's a beautiful thing

about digital church.

387

Uh, just remember that rest

isn't something you have to earn.

388

It's something that God simply gives you.

389

See you next week.