Follow Along with the Message

I (Don't) Have a Peace About It

Pastor Tony Myles

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1, 14

One of our classic reactions to life is . 

We feel this most often at Christmas through . 

Christmas can also be a time when our  get . 

In these uncertain times, people are looking for something more. When the world around us seems to be falling to pieces (and perhaps also our personal lives), we  discover how to experience real peace this Christmas. 

What are your expectations for a "peace-full" ?

What are your expectations for a "peace-full" ?

Christians and not-yet-Christians can often look to  a decision or situation by saying, "I have a  about it."

Likewise, we reject things that we feel  about. 

When is that accurate...and when is it a ?

Case Study: Mary (Luke 1:26-38)

v.26a: As God invites you into His Story, He's also working in .

v.26b-27: Mary's life was filled with plans and righteous . 

v.28: God wanted Mary to know  He also wants you to know. 

v.29: Notice Mary's initial reaction...it wasn't ...but it did involve ...why?

v.30-33: God is always telling a  filled with a larger love. 

v.34: A  for God doesn't always equal  God...the difference is between skeptical unbelief vs.  curiosity. 

v.35-37: How do  you respond when God wants to "" you?

v.38: Mary received a  with God with  openness.

• What if true peace isn't about your "what" but your ""?

Case Study: Joseph (Matthew 1:16-24)

v.16-17: Yet again, we see God at work in others for the bigger ...and !

v.18a: We tend to work the plan  to us.

v.18b-19: "Faithful to the Law, and yet..."/tsadiq - what it's like to live right and not have everything go right...?

v.20-23: What appears to be a disappointment can actually be a .

v.24: Joseph allowed a God he "knew" to still  him and  him. 

v.25: In a "what's in it for me" culture, take in how Joseph doubled-down on being  vs. . 

• What if true peace involves seeing what God is doing, and choosing to  Him in it? 

How can I find Christmas peace?

What about all the times we read about when God clearly spoke to people who didn't have a "peace" about it? 

• God's peace isn't about feelings but about . 

Joseph and Mary certainly had their to the "disruption" of God's will for their lives...yet ultimately  to God.

• When presented with God's will, they didn't demand circumstantial "peace," but  into the "."

What if the greatest thing in your life would be that you get to take part in even just the  for the world? 

• Like Mary, let wonder erupt into . 
• Like Joseph, expect that right living still involves being surprised.

Peace is not about coming to terms with something, but . 

Don't miss this...

The only way to step through natural disappointments and struggles is by stepping toward . 

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