Tis The Season: Pt 3 - On Earth Peace

This message challenges our cultural understanding of Christmas by examining what Scripture actually promises us. While greeting cards and carols speak of 'peace on earth,' the biblical account in Luke 2 tells us something different—'on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.' This distinction matters profoundly. Jesus himself said in John 16:33 that in this world we will have trouble, but in Him we can have peace. The reality is that earth may never experience complete peace, but we can. This isn't about waiting for circumstances to change or society to improve; it's about finding peace within our hearts through Christ. The sermon walks us through four common peace-stealers: unavoidable circumstances, unbearable people, unexplainable problems, and uncontrollable worry. Yet against all these challenges, we're offered four powerful principles from John 14:27—receiving God's pardon, running to His presence, respecting His principles, and relying on His provision. The message reminds us that Mary and Joseph's story wasn't pristine or perfect; it was messy, difficult, and misunderstood. Jesus stepped into that mess, and He steps into ours too. We don't need to clean ourselves up before coming to Him—He meets us right where we are and transforms us from the inside out. This Christmas season, we're invited to experience the peace that passes understanding, the kind that kept Daniel calm in the lion's den and gave Noah confidence to build an ark when it had never rained.