WEBVTT 00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:08.640 Hello, I'm Pastor Creighton, and thank you for tuning in to New Sun Churches Podcast. 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:15.359 We're a gospel center church in Port Perry, Ontario, proclaiming the true and life-giving word of Jesus as we love and serve our neighbors. 00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:18.239 May God bless you today through his life-giving word. 00:00:19.199 --> 00:00:22.879 This is the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:25.760 Glory to you, Lord Christ. 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:33.520 In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 00:00:33.759 --> 00:00:42.560 This was the first registration when Corinius was governor of Syria, and all went to be registered, each to his own town. 00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:59.840 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:14.319 And while they were there the time came for her to give birth, and she gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:20.959 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:29.120 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. 00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:40.159 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. 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:47.680 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:50.480 And this will be a sign for you. 00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:56.000 You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. 00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:10.000 And suddenly there was with an angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased. 00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:21.120 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:27.360 And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger. 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:32.800 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:37.280 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:42.319 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:51.439 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen as it had been told them. 00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:53.840 This is the gospel of the Lord. 00:02:54.080 --> 00:03:03.039 Praise to you, Lord Christ, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased. 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:05.280 Let's pray. 00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:22.000 Lord God, we come to your word needful, but confident in your abundant mercy and grace. 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:28.400 You have given us the gift of gifts lying in a manger. 00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:35.280 Take us in spirit to the watchful shepherds and enlarge our minds. 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:37.919 Let us hear good tidings of great joy. 00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:47.759 Let us clasp the newborn child to our hearts, embracing him with undying faith, exalting that he is ours and we are his. 00:03:48.479 --> 00:03:53.520 In him you have given us so much that heaven can give no more. 00:03:53.840 --> 00:03:54.479 Amen. 00:03:55.199 --> 00:03:56.639 Please be seated. 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:11.599 Well, we have sung our fair share of carols this evening, and we're not done yet. 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:16.160 But unfortunately, this evening we won't be singing my favorite carol. 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:18.160 Well, is it my favorite carol? 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:21.120 I feel conflicted about this carol, let's put it that way. 00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:23.839 My favorite carol is not one you'd sing in church. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:31.279 My favorite carol, Christmas Carol, was released in 1971, and it was written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. 00:04:33.040 --> 00:04:37.279 This is a hymn, and you can't tell me by the way that John Lennon wasn't a hymn writer. 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:40.480 This is a hymn called So This Is Christmas. 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:43.199 Parentheses, war is over. 00:04:43.839 --> 00:04:45.360 You know this song, right? 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:46.959 So this is Christmas. 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:48.480 And what have you done? 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:50.319 Someone help me out here. 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:52.800 Ah, good. 00:04:52.879 --> 00:04:53.680 You guys are great. 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:55.519 Just want to make sure you're still awake. 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:03.600 I think about this song probably more than any other Christmas song in a given year. 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:08.079 And it's not so much John Lennon's contemplative lyrics that get me thinking. 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:12.399 It's actually what the boys' choir is singing behind those lyrics. 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:13.439 Do you remember that? 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:15.120 War is over. 00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:16.720 If you want it. 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:17.839 War is over. 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:18.639 War is over. 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:19.680 You remember that? 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:27.600 More than any other Christmas song, I probably end up thinking about this song the most around this time of year. 00:05:27.839 --> 00:05:32.800 And the reason for that is because it really does seem that simple, doesn't it? 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:34.319 War is over. 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:37.279 You know, if you want it. 00:05:37.519 --> 00:05:39.600 Who doesn't want war to be over? 00:05:39.839 --> 00:05:42.879 Who doesn't want peace on earth? 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:45.920 What generation has not longed for this? 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:55.439 Some more deep in our hearts we long for peace, and we cannot realize that for one reason or another. 00:05:55.600 --> 00:05:56.399 Why is that? 00:05:56.480 --> 00:06:05.360 When will our enlightened self-interest kick in to the point where that peace we long for so desperately can be realized? 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:15.120 The great philosopher Jimi Hendricks wrote that when the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. 00:06:15.360 --> 00:06:17.199 When will that happen? 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:24.000 Generation before John Lennon lived a man named Andrew Carnegie. 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:28.639 And among other things, Andrew Carnegie funded peace initiatives and institutions. 00:06:29.600 --> 00:06:39.040 He was convinced of the possibility of a world without war, world of peace, and he wanted to do whatever he could to realize that world. 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:53.040 He wrote that I am convinced that the only thing required to abolish war is to educate the next generation to despise it as they would the infliction of unnecessary pain. 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:55.600 Who doesn't despise unnecessary pain? 00:06:55.759 --> 00:06:56.720 Of course we do. 00:06:56.879 --> 00:07:00.000 Why can't we just think of war that way? 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:03.439 Andrew Carnegie wrote that in 1907. 00:07:04.399 --> 00:07:10.959 Seven years later, the world was plunged into the most horrific war it had ever seen. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:13.920 And then 20 years later, it did it again. 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:26.160 And since then we have lived with the atomic bomb, with governments forming and collapsing, with unrest, violence, warfare. 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:29.439 I mean, think about this year alone, 2024. 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:35.439 We have seen violence in Gaza, in Ukraine, in Myanmar and Sudan. 00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:38.560 We have seen violence in the streets of the UK. 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:41.680 We've seen assassination attempts in the United States. 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:46.399 Are we any closer to realizing that peace that we long for? 00:07:47.279 --> 00:07:49.439 War is over if you want it. 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:55.040 We don't even have to look at the news to recognize that, do we? 00:07:55.680 --> 00:07:58.560 If we had the courage, we could look a little more personally than that. 00:07:58.800 --> 00:08:01.839 We can look closer to home in our neighborhoods or our families. 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:10.399 We might recognize that there is hostilities, conflicts, enities, folks we haven't talked to for years. 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:18.879 The question is, is peace just a sentiment for Christmas? 00:08:20.639 --> 00:08:22.959 That's what the angels announce, isn't it? 00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:28.160 Glory to God on high and peace to all on earth. 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:30.240 Is that just a sentiment? 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:38.720 The Bible is, by the way, kind of unapologetic about the realm of what we might call the supernatural. 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:45.519 If God can create physical beings like us, it's not unreasonable to think he can create spiritual beings that we call angels. 00:08:45.679 --> 00:08:53.919 And so here they are, singing, as it were, over the birth of the newborn Savior, peace on earth. 00:08:54.320 --> 00:08:56.639 What are we supposed to understand by that? 00:08:57.279 --> 00:09:00.000 Is that a nice thing to think about at Christmas? 00:09:01.360 --> 00:09:07.840 What does Luke, the author of this biography of Jesus, understand by this announcement of peace? 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:09.600 What makes it so different? 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:11.679 Here's what I want to suggest. 00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:24.480 This peace is not a result of earth achieving heaven, whether that's through politics or education, what have you. 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:33.440 This peace, this true peace announced by the angels, is a result of heaven to come down to earth. 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:42.240 We need heaven to break into our earth if we're going to know peace. 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:49.120 And not just peace on a global scale, but peace in our homes, peace in our hearts. 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:52.799 That's the peace the angels are announcing. 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:55.840 If we were to ask Luke, what do you mean by this peace? 00:09:55.919 --> 00:10:02.159 I suspect he would, one, want us to understand where this true peace comes from. 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:08.480 Number two, he'd want us to understand what this true peace looks like in action. 00:10:08.879 --> 00:10:14.240 And number three, he'd want us to understand how we should respond to this true peace. 00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:16.240 What does it require of us? 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:17.759 Let's look really briefly. 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:19.919 Where does this true peace come from? 00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:23.120 This heaven come to earth peace. 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:30.799 Well, if you have your order of service, you can flip quickly to Isaiah chapter 9, which is our first reading this evening. 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:33.279 This is from the Hebrew Scriptures. 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:41.039 God is speaking his word to his people through his prophet Isaiah. 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:45.279 The prophets are folks that God speaks to so that they can speak to God's people. 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:47.919 They can address God's people with God's word. 00:10:48.240 --> 00:11:01.039 And in this moment, God's people are wayward and they are exiled from their homeland, and they are without hope, lost, both in a political sphere of gloom, but a spiritual sphere of gloom as well. 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:06.080 Apart from God's intervention, they don't see any way forward. 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:11.279 And it's into this spiritual gloom that God speaks promise. 00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:17.279 He speaks a promise of deliverance, a promise of rescue, a promise of redemption. 00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:24.879 And to fulfill this promise is a child, for unto us a child is born. 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:39.519 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. 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:53.759 To this promised child, this Savior, belongs all wisdom, all divinity, all power and providence belongs peace itself. 00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:58.240 This is what Luke is drawing from. 00:11:58.480 --> 00:12:04.720 This is what Luke understands as the angels are announcing peace on earth. 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:09.840 Luke wants us to see that this is a fulfillment of God's promise. 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:16.399 God has promised a prince of peace, and now he is delivering on it. 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:19.759 But not just any kind of peace, true peace. 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:24.799 The word that Luke uses is a work, uh, pardon me, is a Greek word for irene. 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:28.480 We get our work ireneic from this word irene. 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:30.399 Irene is a loaded word. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:37.600 It's a translation of an even more loaded Hebrew word, shalom, which is the word that Isaiah uses. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:41.679 We might have even heard folks greet one another with shalom. 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:49.600 Roughly translated, that does mean peace, but it means more than peace in the way that we might talk casually about it. 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:52.720 We might talk about peace as the absence of conflict. 00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:57.039 We might talk about peace as tranquility or serenity, sense of well-being. 00:12:57.200 --> 00:13:03.919 And all those things are true in their way, but shalom, Irene, goes much, much deeper than that. 00:13:04.559 --> 00:13:19.200 This is a peace realized when all of creation, our lives included, are rightly gathered up and oriented to God's good purposes for his world. 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:39.759 When that sort of peace is realized, we are aimed towards God's purposes for us in his world, then things like justice and community and friendship, all of these things spring up, as it were, like side effects of shalom at the heart of it all. 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:48.559 It's this shalom, this peace being realized in this promised child, this promised Savior. 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:55.519 And Luke wants to make it clear that's Jesus lying in a manger. 00:13:55.919 --> 00:14:02.159 True peace comes from the Prince of Peace, the Messiah, Jesus. 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:05.600 He himself is our peace. 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:06.559 That's how St. 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:07.679 Paul puts it. 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:11.360 But what does this true peace look like in action? 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:15.120 Luke wants us to understand, he's writing a biography of Jesus after all. 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:17.519 We're just reading the birth narrative. 00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:24.399 Luke goes on to describe Jesus' life and his ministry, his teaching, his healing, everything Jesus gets up to. 00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:35.279 And the fascinating thing as we read through Luke's account is that what so often results from an encounter with Jesus is sharing in God's peace. 00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:38.159 Let me give you two examples. 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:51.519 In Luke chapter 7, Jesus meets a despised woman who washes his feet with precious ointment and even her tears, she is so moved by God's grace in Christ that she anoints him with her tears. 00:14:51.840 --> 00:15:05.600 She is received with hostility from the religious elites around her, but she is received tenderly by Jesus, who offers her God's own forgiveness. 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:11.759 Jesus says to this woman, Your faith has saved you. 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:13.440 Go in peace. 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:18.000 Another example is a few verses later in Luke chapter 8, verse 48. 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:22.240 Again, Jesus meets with a woman who has an ongoing discharge of blood. 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:27.600 Not only is that a serious medical issue, it's a serious spiritual issue in her day. 00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:32.480 She wouldn't be allowed to worship in the temple because she'd be considered unclean. 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:37.919 Not only is she cut off from community, she is seemingly cut off from her God as well. 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:47.840 But she knows Jesus can make the difference, which is why she sneaks up behind him and grasps at him so that she can be healed. 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:55.600 But we, the reader, need to understand that before she grasps at Jesus with her hand, she has already grasped him by faith. 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:57.600 She has put her trust in Jesus. 00:15:57.759 --> 00:16:02.879 And so Jesus says to her, Daughter, your faith has made you well. 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:04.639 Go in peace. 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:07.039 Isn't that interesting? 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:17.039 True peace results from a personal encounter with Jesus, trusting in the word that He speaks to us. 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:21.519 His word is healing, his word is salvation. 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:31.200 And so Luke wants us to understand that if we want to know peace in action, we have to go to Jesus. 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:34.399 But how do we respond to this true peace among us? 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:36.639 That's the third question we might want to ask. 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:40.720 And to answer that, we might go towards the end of Luke's biography of Jesus. 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:45.600 In chapter 19, the word peace shows up in a very important way once again. 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:50.559 In Luke chapter 19, Jesus is making his way into Jerusalem. 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:53.600 It's the final chapter of his life and ministry. 00:16:53.679 --> 00:16:58.559 And Jesus knows exactly what is waiting for him in Jerusalem. 00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:06.400 It's not conquest, it's not taking it to the Romans, it's suffering and cross. 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:10.640 But through his suffering and through his cross, he will bear our sin. 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:19.680 He will bear the power of our death, and he will put it to death in his death, so that we can share in his resurrection life. 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:25.200 Jesus knows that cross and suffering is waiting for him in Jerusalem. 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:31.119 And as he makes his way into Jerusalem, people have an impression of what's going on. 00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:38.880 The crowd, in fact, the crowd hails him with something that echoes the very angel's announcement that we just read in Luke chapter 2. 00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:42.240 Jesus is riding into Jerusalem on a beast of burden. 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:51.279 He's met with a crowd crying, Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord, peace in heaven and glory in the highest. 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:53.599 Here's that word peace again. 00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:57.119 Here's what's really interesting about this scene. 00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:58.640 Picture Palm Sunday. 00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:01.039 Picture Jesus riding in on that donkey. 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:03.200 This is not the way I picture it. 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:09.039 When Jesus drew near and saw the city, he wept over it. 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:14.559 Jesus was not riding in Jerusalem, shoulders held back. 00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:16.960 He was bawling his eyes out. 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:19.680 He was ugly crying. 00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:22.240 Why would he do that? 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:28.079 Jesus said, Would that you, that's you, plural. 00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:42.480 You, God's people, even you had known on this day the things that make for peace, but now they are hidden from your eyes because you did not know the time of your visitation. 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:46.000 What's Jesus saying? 00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:54.960 Even while God's people gather to celebrate Jesus, we can still miss him. 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:57.759 We can miss his purpose. 00:18:58.160 --> 00:18:59.839 We can miss his cross. 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:06.079 And if we miss his cross, we will miss his invitation to take up our cross and follow him. 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:10.720 Because for Jesus, the way of cross is the true way of glory. 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:29.519 True peace requires us to recognize Jesus' visitation, Jesus' presence among us, and to respond in personal trust with him, to receive him by faith. 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:33.839 This is good news. 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:44.799 There is good news because God in Christ, who has been made a child on Christmas, has become a child so that we by faith can become children of the Most High God. 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:50.880 This Jesus who marches to the cross is the same Jesus who is raised to new life. 00:19:58.559 --> 00:20:01.440 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:09.599 Jesus will not let you go or me go without a chance to realize this is the day of our visitation. 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:27.519 Christians proclaim that Jesus who was crucified is also Jesus who rose again, is Jesus who ascended into heaven, and is Jesus who will one day come again in glory and establish his kingdom of peace, fully realize his kingdom of peace here on earth as in heaven. 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:31.119 But he has not left us as orphans. 00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:40.319 He has sent his Holy Spirit to dwell in the hearts of Christians, to dwell in the hearts of his church, so that we may know him, so that he may visit us. 00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:45.119 Don't miss the day of your visitation. 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:47.200 That's Luke's point here. 00:20:49.039 --> 00:21:03.440 True peace is not a result of heaven achiev earth achieving heaven, raising itself up, but realizing that heaven has come down to earth in the Lord Jesus. 00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:06.559 He's the one we have to do business with. 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:16.640 So this is Christmas. 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:19.200 And what have you done? 00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:28.000 In light of the good news of Christmas, that's really an irrelevant question, isn't it? 00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:32.640 The good news of Christmas asks not what you have done. 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:35.119 Have you contributed to peace on earth? 00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:37.920 Have you raised earth a little bit more to heaven? 00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:42.559 The good news of Christmas is this heaven has come to earth. 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:48.960 It is not about you have done for God, it is about what God in Christ has done for you. 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:51.359 What have you done? 00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:53.519 What has Christ done? 00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:59.759 So maybe you're here tonight and you're here. 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:05.759 And you're glad it works for some, but maybe it's just not your thing. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:06.880 Maybe it seems too vague. 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:09.119 Maybe it seems like the math just doesn't add up. 00:22:09.359 --> 00:22:12.079 By the way, if that is you, thank you for hanging in there. 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:12.640 Well done. 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:13.920 That takes a lot of courage. 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:15.119 Seriously. 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:22.480 If that's you, I might just suggest a question for reflection. 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:25.119 If that's you, there's no trick. 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:27.839 Something to think about. 00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:32.400 Is earthly peace possible? 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:35.039 If so, by what means? 00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:40.640 Is peace possible to fully realize in your life? 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.720 What's that gonna take? 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:51.440 The question really is why do we long for peace if we ourselves can't raise ourselves up to realize it? 00:22:54.160 --> 00:23:02.960 If you'd say it's not possible, but it's a nice sentiment, and it's better to aim for that and fall short than to not aim at all, then fair enough. 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:05.680 But why do we long for peace? 00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:07.200 Why can't we shake it? 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:12.799 If I long for, if I'm hungry, I feel that longing, I can satisfy that with food. 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:15.920 If I'm lonely, I can satisfy that with friendship. 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:21.039 If we long for peace, could it be that the satisfaction is still out there? 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:21.920 C. 00:23:22.079 --> 00:23:22.160 S. 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:30.960 Lewis writes that if we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world. 00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:33.519 Could that be true? 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:46.960 If you're here tonight and you're a little less than skeptical, but curious what's this Jesus guy about, then I'd want to encourage you to investigate this claim that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:49.519 Investigate it. 00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:51.119 Go to the source. 00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:58.960 Figure Jesus or who Jesus reveals himself to be, and not who we might just figure he is. 00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:06.319 Because we can have a lot of impressions and a lot of fragments and fail to do business with Jesus himself. 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:24.160 And if you're here tonight and you're a believer, if you'd say I put my faith in Christ, maybe you'd say the truth is I might have my faith in Christ, but I don't feel the kind of peace that you're talking about. 00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:29.920 And that makes me wonder is God not pleased with me? 00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:34.480 After all, he promises peace to all those with whom he is pleased. 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:45.920 I'd want to share with you what a companion of Luke the author, a companion named Paul, what he has to write in one of his letters. 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:57.440 He writes that since we have been justified, we have been made right before God by our trust in Jesus, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus. 00:24:58.079 --> 00:25:03.759 The means of peace is not what we have to offer God, it is what God has offered us. 00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:05.359 Our Lord Jesus. 00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:14.559 We look at the manger and we remember that he is God with us. 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:16.319 That is our peace. 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.680 That is your peace. 00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:25.119 And that is that is a peace that is as secure as it can be, regardless of how we feel or don't feel. 00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:27.920 Peace on earth, mercy mild. 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:31.200 God and sinner reconciled. 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:33.680 Glory to God in the highest. 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:37.599 And on earth, peace among those with whom he is pleased. 00:32:08.400 --> 00:32:15.839 Father, on this holy night, your son, our Savior Jesus Christ, was born as a child among us. 00:32:16.400 --> 00:32:19.839 Renew us, your church, as the body of Christ. 00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:22.319 Lord, in your mercy. 00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:29.200 On this holy night, there was no room for your son in the inn. 00:32:29.920 --> 00:32:35.519 Protect with your love those who have no home and all who live in poverty. 00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:38.720 Lord, in your mercy. 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:48.720 On this holy night, blessed Mary, in the pain of labor, gave birth to your son. 00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:54.799 Hold in your hand all who are in pain and in distress. 00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:58.960 Lord, in your mercy. 00:33:02.400 --> 00:33:07.119 On this holy night, your Christ came as a light shining in the darkness. 00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:12.640 Bring comfort to all who suffer in the darkness of our world. 00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:15.759 Lord, in your mercy. 00:33:19.359 --> 00:33:24.160 On this holy night, the angels sang peace to God's people on earth. 00:33:25.039 --> 00:33:29.519 Strengthen those who work for peace and justice in all the world. 00:33:30.559 --> 00:33:32.160 Lord, in your mercy. 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:41.039 On this holy night, shepherds in the field heard good tidings of joy. 00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:46.720 Give us grace to preach the gospel of Christ's redemption to all people. 00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:51.359 Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. 00:33:54.799 --> 00:34:01.440 On this holy night, the glory of heaven is come down to earth, and earth is raised to heaven. 00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:10.000 Receive our thanks and praise for all the faithful departed who have passed through death in the hope of heaven. 00:34:11.840 --> 00:34:13.519 Lord, in your mercy. 00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:31.199 Heavenly Father, grant these our prayers for the sake of Jesus Christ, our only mediator and advocate, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:32.159 Amen. 00:34:34.719 --> 00:34:38.159 Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God. 00:34:54.079 --> 00:34:58.000 By what we have done, and by what we have left undone. 00:34:58.239 --> 00:35:00.880 We have not loved you in our whole hearts. 00:35:01.119 --> 00:35:03.920 We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. 00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:07.360 We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. 00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:12.800 For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us. 00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:18.880 That we may delight in your Lord and walk in your ways to the glory of your name. 00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:43.039 Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, who in his great mercy has promised forgiveness of sins to all those who sincerely repent and with true faith turn to him, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and bring you to everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:44.000 Amen. 00:35:44.320 --> 00:35:47.840 Hear the word of God to all who truly turn to him. 00:35:48.400 --> 00:35:56.400 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 00:35:56.559 --> 00:35:57.920 Would you stand with me? 00:36:01.679 --> 00:36:05.119 Saints, the peace of the Lord be always with you. 00:36:06.639 --> 00:36:08.960 Let's greet one another at the peace of Christ. 00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:12.800 Peace with you, brother. 00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:14.639 Peace with you, Scott. 00:36:21.519 --> 00:36:22.719 Hi, peace be with you. 00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:23.280 I'm Creighton. 00:36:23.360 --> 00:36:23.679 What's your name? 00:36:23.760 --> 00:36:24.000 Patrick. 00:36:24.320 --> 00:36:24.719 Patrick. 00:36:25.039 --> 00:36:25.519 I'm Angus. 00:36:25.760 --> 00:36:26.239 Angus. 00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:27.920 I think we have we met before, Angus? 00:36:28.159 --> 00:36:28.320 Maybe. 00:36:28.800 --> 00:36:28.960 Maybe. 00:36:29.119 --> 00:36:29.840 Oh, okay, very good. 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:30.559 Good to see you. 00:36:30.800 --> 00:36:31.280 Hi there. 00:36:31.360 --> 00:36:31.679 Yeah. 00:36:32.079 --> 00:36:34.480 Merry Christmas and uh peace in Christ, yeah. 00:36:35.679 --> 00:36:37.039 Peace in Christ, Valerie. 00:36:51.840 --> 00:36:54.159 Okay, dear friends, have a seat when you're ready. 00:37:04.639 --> 00:37:10.719 I feel like I'm going against my sermon if I cut the piece short, but yeah, it's stuff to do. 00:37:14.239 --> 00:37:20.480 Well, dear friends, if this is your first or one of your first times here with uh us uh at Newsong, welcome. 00:37:20.639 --> 00:37:23.360 Uh if you'd like to connect with us, we would love to connect with you. 00:37:23.440 --> 00:37:27.920 You'll find one of these connection cards just tucked in the chair, one of the chairs in front of you there. 00:37:28.079 --> 00:37:35.440 If you'd like to fill out your information and just drop it in the offering box on your way out, uh it would be a great way for us to be able to be in touch with you. 00:37:35.519 --> 00:37:36.800 So I invite you to do that. 00:37:36.960 --> 00:37:43.679 If you'd like to learn more about Newsong or keep in touch, you can subscribe to our newsletter at newsongportperry.ca. 00:37:44.719 --> 00:37:48.000 We'll continue our worship tomorrow on Christmas Day at 10 a.m. 00:37:48.239 --> 00:37:54.239 So I invite you to join us then, and I invite you to join us every Sunday for worship again at 10 o'clock. 00:37:54.400 --> 00:38:02.239 And for those who are curious, or for those, you know, feel like a chord was struck or would like to learn more, I'd like to invite you to take one or both of these booklets. 00:38:02.320 --> 00:38:05.119 Again, you'll find them tucked under the chair in front of you. 00:38:05.280 --> 00:38:06.719 One is called What is the Gospel? 00:38:06.800 --> 00:38:08.159 And the other is Who is Jesus? 00:38:08.239 --> 00:38:14.400 And I think they just make uh great, pithy outlines for what the Bible teaches on both of those things. 00:38:14.559 --> 00:38:22.559 And if you're feeling even more courageous still, you could uh give one of the biographies of Jesus that we find in the Bible a whirl. 00:38:22.719 --> 00:38:30.639 And one of uh the great resources that helps us to walk through uh these biographies is a resource called the Word One-to-One. 00:38:30.719 --> 00:38:32.800 And it's something that can be done over a cup of coffee. 00:38:32.880 --> 00:38:36.079 So if that's something that might interest you, just let me know on your way out. 00:38:36.159 --> 00:38:38.880 I'd love to talk with you more about that. 00:38:40.079 --> 00:38:42.559 Friends, let's continue in worship. 00:38:42.719 --> 00:38:44.320 There's nope, there's one more thing. 00:38:44.639 --> 00:38:46.239 Hold on, hold on to worship. 00:38:47.280 --> 00:39:05.679 Uh if you have grandkids or kids or uh neighbors, anyone who uh young folks who would enjoy uh some Christmas activities, we put together some grab bags, so just help yourself in the foyer on your way out tonight, and we'd love to share those with anyone who would be blessed uh by those this Christmas. 00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:08.480 We're going to be coming to the Lord's table together. 00:39:08.639 --> 00:39:17.840 All baptized Christians with repenting hearts and personal faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior are welcome to receive Holy Communion with us. 00:39:18.079 --> 00:39:23.360 We'll start from front to back, and rows can come forward in two lines down the middle aisle. 00:39:23.519 --> 00:39:28.480 And when you're at the front, please move as far to either side as you can to receive. 00:39:28.719 --> 00:39:31.440 You can open your hands in front of you to receive the bread. 00:39:31.599 --> 00:39:35.599 We receive from one loaf as a reminder that we're one body in Christ. 00:39:35.760 --> 00:39:39.199 But if you require a gluten-free wafer, just uh let me know. 00:39:39.360 --> 00:39:40.960 Let Matt know as he serves. 00:39:41.199 --> 00:39:42.639 You'll then be offered the wine. 00:39:42.800 --> 00:39:46.239 You can choose to either receive from the chalice or the individual cup. 00:39:46.400 --> 00:39:54.320 We do have a limited number of non-alcoholic cups or de-alcoholized uh cups, which are available if that's a ministry to you. 00:39:54.639 --> 00:40:01.920 Individual cups can then be deposited in one of the two water basins on the way back to your seat along the perimeter of the sanctuary. 00:40:02.159 --> 00:40:07.039 If mobility prevents you from approaching the Lord's table, I'll gladly bring the sacrament to you. 00:40:07.199 --> 00:40:10.480 Just flag us down as we make a round around the sanctuary. 00:40:10.639 --> 00:40:16.159 And if you're not a baptized Christian or you won't be receiving Holy Communion with us today, I'm so glad you're here. 00:40:16.320 --> 00:40:22.159 I want to invite you to come forward with your arms crossed so that we can pray God's blessing upon you. 00:40:23.039 --> 00:40:29.519 Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said it is more blessed to give than to receive. 00:40:29.760 --> 00:40:32.880 Let's come and receive his good gifts of grace. 00:40:33.760 --> 00:40:36.320 We hope that you've been blessed by God's word today. 00:40:36.480 --> 00:40:41.840 If you live in the Port Perry area, we hope that you'll come and worship with us in person on Sunday at 10 a.m. 00:40:42.159 --> 00:40:45.599 If you'd like to learn more about Newsong Church, we'd love to connect with you. 00:40:45.760 --> 00:40:50.559 Please find our contact information at newsongportperry.ca and reach out to us. 00:40:50.800 --> 00:40:56.000 Newsong's ministry is entirely funded by the generous giving of those who worship and journey with us. 00:40:56.159 --> 00:41:04.320 If you feel called to support our ministry with a financial gift, please go to newsongportperry.ca slash giving to make your contribution. 00:41:04.559 --> 00:41:07.119 Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.