Set A Course For Peace -Second Sunday of Advent

The Advent season marks the beginning of the Christian liturgical year, is a time of joyful anticipation and spiritual preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

The Second Candle: Peace

The lighting of the second candle on the Advent wreath signifies the theme of peace, offering a profound reflection on the tranquility and harmony brought by the birth of Jesus Christ. This candle, often referred to as the "Bethlehem Candle," embodies the timeless message of peace that resonates throughout the Christmas narrative.

Luke 1:68–79 CSB

Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and provided redemption for his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets in ancient times; salvation from our enemies and from the hand of those who hate us. He has dealt mercifully with our ancestors and remembered his holy covenant— the oath that he swore to our father Abraham. He has given us the privilege, since we have been rescued from the hand of our enemies, to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days. And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. Because of our God’s merciful compassion, the dawn from on high will visit us to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Philippians 1:3–11 CSB

I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

Set A Course For Peace

Welcome

Welcome to My Safe Harbor at MBC.

We are so glad that you are here!

Please consider this your safe harbor to explore faith in Jesus. We embrace our imperfections but don't linger there, focusing on learning, growing, and serving Jesus together.

We strive to live out an authentic faith, showing God's love through service, inspiring Aquidneck Island to follow Jesus, united in purpose, and living life as He leads.

Set A Course For Peace- The Text In Its Context

The title of today’s message is Set A Course For Peace, looking at God’s Word as found in Luke 3:1-6.

In this passage, Luke recounts John the Baptist’s call to repentance as he prepares the way for Jesus, emphasizing the importance of making our hearts ready to receive the Lord.

True peace during Advent comes from repentance and preparation for the coming of Christ. If we could meet John the Baptist in person and ask him what we need to do to be ready to meet Jesus- he would tells us that we need to clear the paths of our lives, removing anything from our lives contrary to God, allowing Jesus to enter our hearts unhindered.

Big Idea: To truly experience peace during Advent, we must actively prepare our hearts to receive Christ by repenting and removing the barriers that separate us from Him.

When Navigating Life Let God Chart Your Course

Luke 3:1–2 CSB

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God’s word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

You might look at these verses and think the details are not of any great importance- yeah, yeah, Tiberius Caesar ruled Rome, Pontius Pilate was his governor of Judea, while others were called Tetrarchs and ruled portions. Who cares about this Lysanius Annas and Caiaphas were high priests. Got it. Ok here we go with something important- God’s word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

Why not just start right there!

You will see these names and titles in history books. You probably are familiar with Caesar being the head of the empire and what a governor is and does. Tetrarchs were leaders of one fourth of a province, and when Herod the Great died his sons became Tetrarchs of parts of his territory. Lysanias was the ruler of a tetrarchy, centered on the town of Abila. You may be more familiar with his father- Ptolemy, son of Mennaeus, who ruled the tetrarchy before him.

Annas and Caiaphas are two high priests and yes God declared that there would be only one high priest at a time. While it is not recorded in the Bible, the tradition is that the Romans had deposed Annas and installed his son-in-law Caiaphas as the new high priest. So, officially, Caiaphas, was high priest during Jesus’ ministry, but Annas, the former high priest, still held significant sway and was still called a high priest.

God was in total control of the placement of people in power- either directly placing them in that position or allowing them rise to power- and the timing of John the Baptist receiving His word.

As we voyage towards Advent peace, we need to recognize God’s timing in our lives, acknowledging that God has charted our course.

These verses set the historical context of John the Baptist’s ministry, reminding us that God orchestrates events at the perfect time.

The Bible is not meant as to be a history book- but it is a book that tells us the story in a historical context.

There was a time when people thought that Pontius Pilate was a fictitious figure. Before 1961, there was no concrete archaeological evidence that Pontius Pilate, the fifth governor of Judaea, ever existed. There were accounts of him, of course, not least the accounts in the Gospels. But the records of his administration had disappeared completely: no papyri, no rolls, no tablets, no (authentic) letters to Rome. The Roman ruins that remained in Israel seemed to have nothing to do with him. Even his aqueduct - a project that got him into plenty of trouble at the time - appeared to have crumbled away. Then Italian archaeologists found a piece of limestone, 82cm wide by 68cm high, in the ruins of a sports stadium in Caesarea, beside the sea. The stone bore his name, and provided clues that led to scholars being forced to admit that Pontius Pilate wasn’t a figment of some Christian’s imagination.

No word placed in God’s word is accidental. And nothing happens in the Gospel story without a reason. The timing of Christ’s coming may well have been linked to the rise of the Roman Empire.

Why?- roads, language, and safe travel The Roman Empire had an extensive and well-maintained road system that spanned across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. This network facilitated travel and communication, allowing early missionaries like Paul to spread the Christian message more easily.

Latin and Greek were widely spoken throughout the Roman Empire. The use of these common languages helped in spreading Christian teachings and texts, making it easier for people from different regions to understand and adopt the new faith. Lastly, the Roman Empire's emphasis on law and order, along with its well-patrolled roads, made travel relatively safe for missionaries and traders. This safety allowed for the movement of people and ideas without the constant threat of banditry or conflict.

The Pax Romana (Roman Peace) provided a period of relative peace and stability, which was conducive to the spread of Christianity.

If God planned for the Romans to build the roads, promote a common language, and maintain public safety to prepare the way for the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, what is God using to do the same in our lives? Pray for wisdom to see our life and circumstances from God's perspective and identify the right moment for repentance and change.

Chart A New Course Through Repentance

Charting the course means creating a new plan or direction, often based on a unique vision or need that others may not yet recognize. In our context it means turning our back on sin, and permanently execute a course correction so that we are headed towards Jesus.

Luke 3:3 CSB

He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,

After hearing verse three- lets revise our response to verses one and two. Instead of praying for wisdom to see our life and circumstances from God's perspective and identify the right moment for repentance and change, perhaps we only need to pray to see our life and circumstances from God’s perspective. Because it is always a good day to choose to follow Jesus faithfully by repenting from our sin, and turning towards God.

Today is a good day to repent from our sins and turn to God

Repentance is a crucial step in preparing for Christ. John’s proclamation of a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins signifies the importance of acknowledging and turning from sin.

We are hearing this message with the intention of preparing for celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We lit the second candle this morning, signifies the theme of peace, focusing on the peace that surpasses understand, which comes from having a heart guarded by Jesus.

Imagine our lives, filled with fear, pain, and uncertainty, as a ship caught in a storm, tossed about by waves.

The captain navigates through the turbulence, but the passengers are moments away from losing themselves in terrified panic. Even the crew is starts to show fear and uncertainty as the storm builds to a crescendo.

If we think about those sailors being Christians, people who know Jesus and are on the path towards spiritual maturity, and the passengers as people who have know idea that Jesus can protect them from the stormy darkness, we can identify with their fear. AMEN? Just like those sailors and passengers, we sometimes find ourselves in emotional storms, feeling lost and overwhelmed.

Suddenly the crew sees why the Captain has been so certain they were safe. The beacon from the lighthouse suddenly penetrates the darkness of the stormy night and guides ships to safety, illuminating their path to a safe harbor.

Just like that lighthouse, Jesus stands as our guiding light through transformation. In moments of confusion or despair, we must allow His light to expose areas that need change—whether it's forgiveness or letting go of past hurts—leading us toward tranquil waters of peace and reconciliation with the Lord.

And when we do so, it should also remind us to share that certainty of safety and peace with the passenger, the community around us who don’t know Jesus, and let them feel the same hope of peace and safety.

Clear The Deck And Batten Down The Hatches

The phrase "clear the deck" means to prepare for action by removing or securing objects on the deck of a ship. The phrase is often used figuratively to mean to remove unnecessary things so that you are ready for action. "Batten down the hatches” means to secure the entrances to the ship especially when rough weather is expected.

Luke 3:4–5 CSB

as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight! Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth,

If you have a naval or nautical background- can you hear Isaiah, or John the Baptist, crying out CLEAR THE DECK and Batten Down the Hatches. Get ready for inspection. Make sure you are headed in the right direction.

John’s prophetic role in the wilderness calls for the leveling of spiritual and moral barriers.

Remember that illustration of a Captain calm in the face of a storm while the crew and passengers ranged from grave concern to pure terror?

On a storm-tossed ship, when the Captain calls out to Clear the Decks and Batten Down the Hatches, the sailors know the importance doing just that!

Similarly, John the Baptist called for the hearts of the people to be prepared for the coming of the Lord. Just as we must secure our ship against the storm, we must clear our lives of distractions and sin to fully embrace repentance and baptism, paving a straight path for God to work in us. Clearing the the debris in our lives to make room for God’s transformative work in us.

Today we have heard the Captain cry out for us to do just that. Ask God to show you the specific hindrances in your life that prevents an unhindered relationship with God and others, so you have a clear course headed toward God’s promised peace.

Picture The Safe Harbor Of Peace With God

Luke 3:6 CSB

and everyone will see the salvation of God.

John 3:16 CSB

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Everyone will see the salvation God offers, but not everybody will enjoy that safe harbor.

John 3:18 CSB

Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

Jesus Christ has paid the price of sin- death- for the entire world. Past, present, future. PAID in full.

Are you wondering if that includes you or the people you care about- the answer is YES! It doesn’t say God loved part of the world, or a special limited subset of the people in the world. It says he loved - and loves- the world in THIS WAY. Jesus paid the price for sin so we can be right with God.

It doesn’t matter if you have never thought about Jesus before this very moment! Jesus has paid the price for your sin! God loves you that much. So I dare you, I double dog dare you, to test this promise from God. And to share it with the people you care about, with all the people that God loves..... which is everybody if I haven’t been clear on that to this point. :)

Choose to believe in Jesus, and Jesus will give you his peace.

Ultimately,we need to understand that Jesus’s peace is best understood as the Hebrew understanding of Shalom. Often translated as peace, but it is much more nuanced than our English word peace. Shalom is not just the absence of conflict; it is the presence of completion; it occurs when everything is right with the world. One of the best-written definitions I have found is that

Shalom results from all creation thriving in God’s presence, under God’s sovereignty, and in perfect harmony with God, themselves, and others.

To fully experience Shalom, everybody must know their place, and all of creation must be in the right place. All creation must be right with God, themselves, and each other. That will not happen until Jesus comes back to judge the living and the dead.

In the meantime, seek to be as right with God, yourself, and the people around you as you can be.

Find God’s Peace- Our Contemporary Application

Romans 10:8–10 CSB

On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.

Belief in your heart brings righteousness, then you confess what you believe outloud, resulting in salvation.

Do you believe? Say that you do.

Do you believe, but are struggling in that belief? Say that out loud too!

Jesus once spoke to a man whose son was demon possessed. His disciples had tried to drive the demon out, but failed. In desperation the man begged Jesus for help. “But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

Mark 9:23–24 CSB

Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’? Everything is possible for the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”

Listen to what the father said, and ponder its application.

“I do believe; help my unbelief!”

“I believe, help me overcome my doubt!”

He said those words out loud to Jesus- “I believe, help me overcome my doubt!” - and Jesus drove his son’s demon out.

Choose to believe in Jesus, believe that it bring’s righteousness. Confess that belief out loud, bringing salvation, even if you need to ask God for help in completely believing in his Word.

Just moments before Jesus had rebuked everybody there for failing to fully believe and trust in God’s love, power, and willingness to act in our lives.

Mark 9:19 CSB

He replied to them, “You unbelieving generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me.”

Yet God helped the father who wanted so badly to believe that he asked for help with his unbelief.

Lord- help us with our personal struggles to embrace your love for us. What more can we ask for. You loved us enough to set aside the privileges of divinity to suffer the indignities of being a baby born in a manger. All you ask if that we believe you are who you say you are. You even help us to believe when we struggle to do even that.

Big Idea: To truly experience peace during Advent, we must actively prepare our hearts to receive Christ by repenting and removing the barriers that separate us from Him.

God does the planning, the prep, even the work. All we need to do is to embrace Jesus’ call to share this peace widely, drawing the community around us to experience Christ's redemptive love and reconciliation.