Sermon Tone Analysis

Announcements

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:1-5; 12-19

Title of the Message: Celebrate Peace!

Message: Celebrate Christ!

Celebrate Peace!

Christmas is a season of celebration.

Too often, though, it is a celebration of all the wrong things.

I started off with a message entitled...

Celebrate Christ!

Then, last week, we considered this...

Celebrate Hope!

This morning...

Celebrate Peace!

Peace!

An American Dictionary of the English Language (PEACE)

1.

In a general sense, a state of quiet or tranquillity; freedom from disturbance or agitation; applicable to society, to individuals, or to the temper of the mind.

2. Freedom from war with a foreign nation; public quiet.

3. Freedom from internal commotion or civil war.

4. Freedom from private quarrels, suits or disturbance.

5. Freedom from agitation or disturbance by the passions, as from fear, terror, anger, anxiety or the like; quietness of mind; tranquillity; calmness; quiet of conscience.

6. Heavenly rest;

7. Harmony; concord; a state of reconciliation between parties at variance.

8. Public tranquillity; that quiet, order and security which is guaranteed by the laws; as, to keep the peace; to break the peace.

There are two things, from those definitions, which stand out to me:

In a general sense, a state of quiet or tranquility...

Freedom from disturbance or agitation...

And yet, those are two things that we all seem to be lacking today!

So, how can we celebrate peace when we are not able to enjoy a state of quiet?

How can we celebrate peace when our lives are filled with disturbances and agitation?

Is it possible to enjoy a state of quiet and tranquility when, in this life, we will never truly be free from disturbances and agitations?

Do you recall the message that the angels shared with the shepherds in Luke chapter 2?

Luke 2:10–14 (KJV 1900)

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men.

Notice that last verse:

Luke 2:14 (KJV 1900)

Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men.

Aside from the tranquility which the shepherds enjoyed by being away from the hustle and bustle of the city as they tended their sheep on the hillsides outside of Bethlehem, there was not peace on earth when Christ was born?!?!

In fact, some of the shepherds may have argued with you as to whether there was peace on the hillsides while they were tending their sheep...

They had to “put up with” their co-workers.

They had to “deal with” the constant disturbance of taking care of the sheep.

Similarly, we could certainly argue the point that there is no peace on earth in 2022!

In fact, I have no problem echoing the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow when he wrote:

And in despair I bowed my head;

"There is no peace on earth," I said;

 "For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

So, did the angels lie to the shepherds that night?

No, not if you stop and considering who it was that they - the shepherds - were worshipping that night.

Luke 2:15–17 (KJV 1900)

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Beth-lehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it...

When they had seen WHAT?

Peace!

When the shepherds looked into that manger and saw baby Jesus, they were looking at the embodiment of peace!

Consider what the Prophet Isaiah had written:

The Prince of Peace.

This morning, I want to share with you two reason why it is possible for us, even now, to celebrate peace (and to experience that peace) in spite of our circumstances.

Through Christ we may experience peace with God!

Notice again, from our Scripture reading:

…Without God in the world...

I’ve not seen this sign in awhile:

No God; no peace.

Know God; know peace.

For He [Christ] is our peace...

Romans 5:1 (KJV 1900)

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Through Christ we may experience the peace of God!

Colossians 3:15 (KJV 1900)

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Philippians 4:6–7 (KJV 1900)

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The night before Christ was crucified, He spoke these words to His disciples (and by extension, to us):

A little later, He said:

Two points:

Jesus Christ was the peaceful Person to walk upon this earth!

The world’s peace requires the absence of disturbances, etc.; the peace of God is available even in the midst of disturbances, etc.

There was nothing - there was no one - who could disturb Christ’s tranquility; who could take away His peace!

Celebrate Peace

Turn to and read Mark 4:35-41.

How often do those last two verses describes our lives, as Christians?

We have Jesus Christ living within us and yet, still, we, like the disciples are not experiencing the peace of God.

Instead, we cry out to God, “Don’t you care that I’m going under?!?!?”

…how is it that ye have no faith?

The peace of God is that state of quiet and tranquility even in the midst of troublesome circumstances.

We must trust God - have faith in God - that He will only allow into our lives that which is His will for our lives, designed to bring us into conformity with the image of His Son, Jesus Christ!

Two of the greatest demonstrations of this type of peace - a peace that world cannot give and a pease that the world cannot understand - can be found in Daniel chapters 3 and 6:

Daniel chapter 3 - Shadrach Meshach and Abednego

Daniel chapter 6 - Daniel and the Den of Lions

Illustration: Going down the slide in the deep end.

Celebrate Peace!

Exploring Ephesians & Philippians: An Expository Commentary ((1) The Secret of a Guarded Thought Life (4:7))

It was Christ Jesus who brought the peace of God down to earth.

Heralding His birth across the Judean hills, the heavenly host said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”