Together We Find Peace
Notes
Transcript
Handout
OPENING
OPENING
We are excited to be participating and celebrating this Back to Church Sunday as part of a national movement simultaneous with our church anniversary
This is a great opportunity for us to join with other parts of the body of Christ across the country to reflect on and reclaim the true nature of the church as a place and expression of love, peace, and hope for our friends, neighbors, communities, and the world
I know that everyone here today has a personal story and experience with the church—some good and life giving, some bad and painful.
I know that everyone here today has a personal story and experience with the church—some good and life giving, some bad and painful. For those of you whose experience with the church may have been painful, I’m sorry. For all of you, no matter what path has brought you here today, let me say that we are honored to welcome you and to get to know you
Together is our theme for the year, and as I thought about togetherness and what it means for us as followers of Jesus, I thought of . . . Legos
Illustration: Using Legos (show photo of Legoland)
Who could imagine that these pieces of plastic are worth billions of dollars? Literally, a fortune.
The Danish toy company that began in the 1930s has built a Lego empire around the building bricks that they introduced in the 1950s
Individually, Legos are just cheap pieces of plastic—and, I might add, the cause of great distress to parents who, in the darkness of night, step on the lone Lego left on the bedroom floor.
But despite their basic design, the magic is in the way they fit together
And together these plastic pieces can be made into fantastic creations
The church is like Legos—a collection of individuals of various sizes, shapes, and colors. Individually, we may not be much to look at— but when we come together the way God intended, we form the Church, which is a creation much greater than the individual members.
God takes our chaos and, by His design, makes something spectacular and gives us purpose.
The church is like Legos—a collection of individuals of various sizes, shapes, and colors. Individually, we may not be much to look at—or kind of a big jumble at a glance—but when we come together the way God intended, we form the Church, which is a creation much greater than the individual members. God takes our chaos and, by His design, makes something spectacular and gives us purpose.
In real life, this concept is powerful and life changing. Christ invites us to be together with Himself and be together with one another.
Together we are on this journey of transformation
As we celebrate Back to Church Sunday, I hope that what we experience today is just the beginning—a taste of the belonging that we can experience here, and an invitation to come back for more.
Whether you’re a regular member, a first-time visitor, or on the fence about church, I invite you to commit to joining us for this four-week journey...
Over the next four weeks, we will discover together how we experience peace, love, strength, and purpose as we explore these themes:
Over the next four weeks, we will discover together how we experience peace, love, strength, and purpose as we explore these themes:
Together We Find Peace
Together We Find Peace
Together We Experience Love
Together We Experience Love
Together We Experience Love
Together We Grow Stronger
Together We Grow Stronger
Together We Grow Stronger
Together We Can Change the World
Together We Can Change the World
Together We Can Change the World
Let’s start this journey with a bit of a road map.
The guide for our journey comes from the book of Ephesians.
While in prison in Rome, the apostle Paul wrote a letter to a group of believers in the city of Ephesus about 30 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection
Does anyone know where Ephesus is, or was?
Modern day Ephesus is found in Turkey (show maps)
The port city of Ephesus was once considered the most important Greek city and an important trading center in the Mediterranean region.
The port city of Ephesus was once considered the most important Greek city and an important trading center in the Mediterranean region. The Romans made it a provincial capital, and it was home to the Temple of Artemis—one of the seven wonders of the ancient world
The Romans made it a provincial capital, and it was home to the Temple of Artemis—one of the seven wonders of the ancient world
Ephesus is a big and bustling city. People are coming and going
Ephesus became a place of evangelism where the gospel spread quickly and many people came to be believers
Paul had previously spent time in Ephesus as a missionary, so he knew the culture and the challenges this group of believers faced
The church at Ephesus needed the strength of unity to grow and survive.
So Paul wrote this letter to encourage and instruct the young church
So Paul wrote this letter to encourage and instruct the young church
The first half of Ephesians basically looks at the gospel story—how Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection changed the world
Part One describes God’s redemptive plan to bring humans together with Himself through Jesus.
Nobody can claim a higher position or status, because all believers are of the same status—sinners in need of grace… for it is by grace through faith that we’ve been saved, not by works so that no one can boast
God the Father has offered Christ to reconcile
Part Two then gets very practical—how we should live in response to God’s grace and relate with each other
In following the lead of Ephesians, we will spend today and next Sunday looking at the peace and love that were given to us through the life and sacrifice of Jesus.
Then the next two weeks, we will look at how, in light of the gospel, we can grow stronger together and impact our world.
Our world seeks peace in so many different ways.
Our world seeks peace in so many different ways. We seek peace among nations, peace in our cities, peace in our families, peace in our churches, and peace in our own minds and hearts. As we explore the concept that Together We Find Peace, let’s dive into , our main text this morning
We seek peace among nations, peace in our cities, peace in our families, peace in our churches, and peace in our own minds and hearts.
As we explore the concept that Together We Find Peace, let’s dive into the letter of Paul to the church in Ephesus
In this letter alone, Paul mentioned the word “Together” 7 times
17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
And the word “Peace” 8 times
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,
15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,
17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul could not emphasize enough the importance of being together
That we are “joined together”, “being built together”, “heirs together”, “sharers together”, “held together”.
And to be able to know that well, let’s take a look at some reasons why we lose our peace
Today let us focus on how we can Find Peace Together
We lose our peace
17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
We lose our peace when circumstances are uncontrollable - much of life is beyond our control
We lose our peace when people are unchangeable - The quickest way to lose our peace is to try to change somebody else
We lose our peace when problems are unexplainable - We know that life isn’t fair
It could have been nice if we could find peace once and be done with it!
But peace is not just a one time event
It is not just a temporary feeling that comes and goes
We have to deal with unpeaceful world and Jesus invites us to return to Him - the Prince of Peace
God’s ultimate provision of peace is discovered in the person and work of Jesus Christ
It is only through Christ that peace with God can be achieved and maintained
Accepting God’s peace doesn’t mean your life will be problem-free.
But peace is not just a one time event
It is not just a temporary feeling that came and gone
It is
It means that even when your world seems to be falling apart, you will be able to think clearly and sleep peacefully.
We have to deal with unpeaceful world and Jesus invites us to return to Him - the Prince of Peace
How do you get God’s peace in your life?
It is not something that you have to beg for, it is a gift you receive by faith
From the writings of Apostle Paul there are three things that are highly noticeable
THE DEEPER OUR FAITH, THE MORE PEACEFUL WE BECOME
THE DEEPER OUR FAITH, THE MORE PEACEFUL WE BECOME
1. I Found Peace in the Presence of God
1. I Found Peace in the Presence of God
That is much easier to say than do, isn’t it?
We live in a world that seems increasingly full of discord and anxiety
Daily stories demonstrates that as a population we struggle with anxiety, depression, isolation and division
We’re surrounded with war and conflicts so we cry out, I need peace!
Paul is crystal clear in verse 14 that Christ Himself is our peace.
Paul is crystal clear in verse 14 that Christ Himself is our peace. Peace is not a thing. It’s a person. We find peace—both personally and as a body—in relationship with Jesus
Peace is not a thing. It’s a person.
We find peace—both personally and as a body—in relationship with Jesus
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,
Paul echoes Isaiah’s description of God’s Messiah as the “Prince of Peace”
2. I Found Peace in the Unity of Believers
2. I Found Peace in the Unity of Believers
Do you ever find yourself searching for a place to belong?
Searching for a way to be part of something bigger than yourself?
Where do you experience that sense of belonging?
Paul
Paul says that the body of Christ—the church—is our place of belonging, rooted in the restoration and unity brought by Jesus
Paul is clear that we find peace in unity, but that does not mean in uniformity or sameness.
Paul is clear that we find peace in unity, but that does not mean in uniformity or sameness. The church at Ephesus was full of diversity, and the goal was not to change this. The goal was unity in the midst of those differences. It’s the same goal for the church today
The church at Ephesus was full of diversity, and the goal was not to change this.
The goal was unity in the midst of those differences. It’s the same goal for the church today
Let me tell you what peace is not:
Peace is not ignoring those differences
Peace is not undermining those conflicts
Peace is not neglecting those fears
But Peace is believing in Jesus, and trusting in His grace
We find peace not by separating ourselves from the world or from others, but by leaning into the grace and unity that Jesus brings
Let’s be a people of unity. Let’s be a people of grace. Let’s be a people of peace
15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,
3. I Found Peace in the Dwelling of the Holy Spirit in Me
3. I Found Peace in the Dwelling of the Holy Spirit in Me
When we surrender to His power and accept His life, we embrace the way of peace
But what about the fact that peace seems so temporary and fragile?
It seems that peace can be interrupted or destroyed in an instant.
The peace we see in the world never seems to last.
The good news is that, as believers our peace goes beyond a circumstance or a feeling.
In fact, our peace is the never-changing, always-present Spirit of God
Jesus knew the hardships His disciples would face, and He promised them peace.
He told them in
26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
CLOSING
CLOSING
Like those Legos we talked about earlier, we fit together to form the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.
And the Holy Spirit fills and enables us with the peace of Christ.
Why do we come back to church, and invite others to join us? Because coming together here does not just put us in the church. Instead, it is here that we realize we are the church—and as the church, God dwells with us
Like Jesus said in , “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.
APPEAL / CHALLENGE
APPEAL / CHALLENGE
Illustration: Story of My Deepest Dive (show photo)
There’s calmness underneath the storm
The deeper I went, the peaceful my environment becomes
My deepest dive was about 210 feet
Same is true with our faith in Jesus…
Let’s come together to live and worship in unity
Collectively, let’s turn our focus to experience the source of peace
Together, let’s offer the world the way of peace
Let our faith rise up...
THE DEEPER OUR FAITH, THE MORE PEACEFUL WE BECOME
THE DEEPER OUR FAITH, THE MORE PEACEFUL WE BECOME
Collectively, let’s turn our focus to experience the source of peace
Let’s come together to live and worship in unity
Collectively, let’s turn our focus to experience the source of peace
Together, let’s offer the way of peace to the world
Let our faith rise up...