The Prince of Peace Leading a People of Peace
Speaker: John J Roberts
Date: December 4, 2022
Texts: Isaiah 9:1-7, Luke 1:76-79, 2:14; Matthew 5:9
Introduction
The Word is made flesh as the promised Prince of Peace.
The Old Testament prophecies it – Isaiah 9:6
Zechariah foreshadows it – Luke 1:79
The Angels proclaim it – 2:14
The Prince of Peace invites us into The Kingdom of Peace, which was utterly counter-cultural in His day, and is in ours.
The current world system is governed by power and control – the ones who make the best war.
The life of peace making is the life of the future Kingdom of Heaven brought into this present Kingdom of Heaven!
“The Life of the Kingdom of Heaven – the life of the realm where God is already King – is to become the life of the world, transforming the present earth into the place God always intended.” - NT Wright (The New Testament for Everyone
The Prince of Peace invites us to speak the story of peace into an embattled world.
The beatitudes – “Blessed are the Peacemakers”
We reflect the life or Christ as sons and daughters of God when we are spilling the peace Christ into the world.
Prayer for the Week: Instruments of Peace
-St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.
Questions for Reflection
- How is your life reflecting the life of Christ presently in your relationships at home, work, and leisure?
- Is there a specific place of conflict in your life, work, or leisure that God may be calling you to address? How can you address it? Who could help you?
- Where are you being called to hospitality?
- Where are you being called to make peace?
- Where are you being called to love?
- How are you living joyfully in your life of faith?
