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Dec 08, 2024

Peace For You Too

Peace For You Too

Passage: Luke 2:8-14

Speaker: Andrew Kerhoulas

Series: 2024 Advent - Peace On Earth: The First and Lasting Promise of Christmas

Keywords: joy, peace, good news, christ the lord, a baby

The angels were sent to pronounce the best news the world has ever heard. And who was the first stop on the tour? Shepherds, which was code back then for an everyday, normal person. This is heaven's gospel for a certain kind of person, someone we can all relate to. For the second week of advent we hear the most glorious news of the in-breaking of a peace beyond anything the world has to offer for real people like you and me.

CENTRAL TEXT:  Luke 2:8-14

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!

 

PRE SERVICE TEXT:  Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; 
and the government shall be upon his shoulder, 
and his name shall be called 
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

PRAYER/SCRIPTURE READING/CONFESSION OF FAITH: Philippians 2:4-11

LEADER:  “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
The Word of the Lord

ALL:   Thanks be to God

 

POST SERVICE TEXT:  Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; 
and the government shall be upon his shoulder, 
and his name shall be called 
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

RELATED SCRIPTURES:

  • Psalm 29:11
  • Isaiah 9:6; 26:3
  • Jeremiah 16:5
  • Zechariah 9:9
  • Luke 1:69
  • Acts 5:31; 13:23
  • Philippians 2:7
  • Galatians 4:4-5

 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 

  1. Shepherds were common, everyday people in biblical times. Read Luke 2:8-14 and replace “shepherds” with your own name. How did that shift things for you? What surfaced? 

  2. The shepherds were initially terrified, they were “sore afraid” as the King James Version puts it. Try to remember a time when you were so afraid it hurt. Next, consider how the angel dispelled their particular fears. How might God speak into current fears you have?

  3. Looking at verse 11, what was the good news of great joy for all the people? Why are all these titles of Jesus significant? 

  4. Biblical peace, the English translation of the word shalom in the Hebrew Bible, is not so much about achieving a state of tranquility or inner peace, but rather harmony in relationship with God. How does this definition of peace square with what we typically strive for? How can you practice and pray for this kind of peace where you live, work, and play? 

  5. Who is this peace for according to verse 14? How is God’s peace delivered to you, then? Take a moment to thank God for the grace of his peace given to us in the gospel. 

  6. Author Steve Cuss suggests that overwhelm can be our constant companion due to the bombardment with the world’s problems via the internet. How might his suggestion to focus on a few in front of you help protect your peace this holiday season?

 

ILLUSTRATIONS:  

 

QUOTES:  

 

  • The people that men consider to be NOBODIES, God considered them to be SOMEBODYS.
    - Kevin Brennan

  • It's hard to shake off the idea that the Son became incarnate to see what it felt like to be human, to expand his awareness of our perspective. But the incarnation is no reconnaissance, no fact-finding trip, no junket. It is not for him & his information, but for us & our salvation.
  • Religion stops working for a lot of people because of their belief that who they really are... the real... is rejected by the Giver. Why would the Giver reject what It gave? The Incarnation proclaims that the unseen God comes to us full of grace and truth - comes seeing us in all our real, right now, just as we are. Grace and truth releases us from the janky treadmill of religious striving and invites us to a long walk on the beach as ones who love each other…This is why the kingdom of heaven is built on the foundation of forgiveness. For Given-Ness - presence not withheld in the midst of seeing the real. “FOR unto YOU a child is born . . .unto YOU a son is GIVEN.
    - Scott Erickson

       

       

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