READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l The world around us is marked by an absence of peace. Many are living in great distress. Yet God says to us he that wants peace for the world – as angels announced during the birth of Jesus; “Peace on earth, goodwill to men”!
Our idea of peace is often a picture of tranquillity in an open space. But is this God’s view?
At the personal level, two realities make peace elusive for most of us:
1. No peace in pieces
Our life is like pieces called work, church, home, self-care, etc. Each piece demands time and effort from us and other pieces are affected when one piece is not doing well.
2. Missing peace in fragments
There will always be unfinished business, conversations, relationships, etc with no closure.
The effects of the lack of pace include:
– lack of clarity and courage to change/improve
– weak decision making as we choose the path of least resistance instead of finding a way forward
– relational tensions which often find us judgmental and harsh.
Yet into this world Jesus is born to give peace. His peace is beyond understanding. It comes from knowing God the Father that we may find peace in the midst of brokenness, emptiness and unbearable circumstances.
How do we find peace, live it and share peace?
1) Christ as the centre who holds all things together
– Pieces and fragments become whole when Christ holds them together. Our world is not spun off axis and the centrifugal forces in our lives do not destroy us because the grace of Jesus holds us together. When we know Jesus personally, the present reality of Jesus holds us in the ups and downs of life. Christ is the image of God who created all things, is before all things and in him all things hold together (V15-17).
– As Christ holds things together, he heals, orders and connects.
– He heals the wounds in our lives by giving us grace to forgive and let go of bitterness and self- pity. He intervenes to direct us to get our priorities right. He connects the dots as we step back and learn to listen to him.
– We are in fact guests in this life where God is the gracious host. This is a powerful perspective that can shift how we engage. For eg. when God hosts our conversation, pleasing God becomes more important than proving we are right.
2) Put on the new self, renewed in the image of God (Col 3:10)
– In Christ we are a new creation with potential to be like Jesus. Take time to know Jesus who feeds our spiritual hunger. Start with keeping your eyes on Jesus. Over time, the Holy Spirit grows us so that we are able to put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bear with each other, forgive and love (Col 3:12-14).
– We can let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts instead of our regrets and wounds or unmet expectations. Through it, we will find healing, order, restoration and wholeness, so that we no longer drown in insecurity and lostness, but are held by Jesus who holds all things together. This new life has to be constantly renewed as we are in the world.
– The renewing process requires us to seek Christ, develop a vital living relationship with him and let his word dwell richly in our hearts.
– Then we will have genuine regard for each other and help one another, doing all things in the name of Jesus (Col 3:15-17).
– As we live into our identity as God’s people, and set our minds on things above, not on earthly things (Col 3:2), we will come to experience God’s promise that he will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in him (Isaiah 26:3)
The message of hope given by Jesus is entrusted to the church that we may pass it on to the world. May the Lord renew us each day and empower us to be people of peace and peacemakers.
(Sermon notes by Woo Choi Yin)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Share an example of a loss of peace that you have personally experienced or witnessed.
- Why do you think peace is so elusive?
- According to the sermon, how can we experience and grow in peace? In what way can you practice this in your life?
