The Prince of Peace

Here are the two points from this brief sermon:

If you seek romance you’ll never find it. Instead pursue your spouse and the romance will follow. It’s the same with peace. Pursue peace and you’ll never find it. Seek Jesus instead.

Besides, what God gives is so much better than a mere feeling of peace. Anything can give you a feeling of peace. A hug. A pill. A movie. A cup of coffee. No, God doesn’t just offer a feeling of peace. He offers a Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. A prince who pulls together the broken peaces of our lives into a cohesive wholeness under his command.

The word translated prince is often translated commander. It means ruler, authority, chief, governor, leader. We often derive our feeling of peace from the coziness of Christmas, the sweet little baby wrapped in swaddling cloths. But the true peace is in following Jesus as lord and there is no peace outside of Jesus’ rule in your life.

You may say, “I’m waiting for him to come through and give me peace. Then I’ll know he’s legit and I’ll follow him.” But that’s like saying, “If I’ll float, then I’ll swim.” No, the floating is in the swimming. The peace is in the following. You want to float? SWIM! You want peace? FOLLOW! Because it is his rule that is characterized by peace. One must move from warm feelings toward Jesus to devotion to Jesus. From association with the things of Jesus to citizenship in his Kingdom.

So, to the lost and broken, this Christmas follow the Prince of Peace. Open that Bible to Matthew, Mark, Luke or John and read about him and what he said. And obey.

1.       Describe the least peaceful time in your life. Describe the most peaceful time in your life. 

a.       How does Jesus affect both broken and peaceful times?

2.       How does Jesus’ birth compare to an arrival of light into darkness? (v2)

3.       How has Jesus multiplied the nation? (v.3)

4.       What government is Isaiah referring to in v.6 -7? (see Matt 13:31-33)

5.       What counsel (advice) do you need right now? Brainstorm as a group what Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor, has said that might help.

6.       Talk about the difference between following Jesus and being familiar with Jesus. Why is it so crucial that church people move from familiarity to following Jesus? (see Matt 7:21-23)

a.       How can people do so?

7.       How can we serve one another in light of this passage?

8.       How can your group pray for you this week?