Did the Angels Waste Their Words?

December 3, 2017

Sermon Notes

Peace on Earth

Did the Angels Waste Their Words? (Luke 2:8-14)

When the angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, they told them that peace on earth had come.  As we look around us, how do we reconcile this supposed peace with the state of the world?

ANNOUNCING PEACE

  • Jesus’ birth announcement came to lowly outcasts before the religious elite (Luke 2:8).
  • The gospel of Jesus is able to turn great fear into great joy (Luke 2:9-10).
  • The gospel is intended for all people (Luke 2:10).

EXPLAINING PEACE

  • At His birth, Jesus is identified as the Savior, Messiah, and Lord (Luke 2:11).
  • The greatest birth in all of history would be in the most humble of settings (Luke 2:12).
  • Peace can only be found in God’s glory and from God’s favor (Luke 2:14).

SHARING PEACE

  • Knowing about the Messiah is insufficient – you must seek to know the Messiah (Luke 2:15).
  • Making haste to seek Jesus is the most appropriate pace you can set (Luke 2:16).
  • Once you encounter Jesus, you don’t leave the same way that you came (Luke 2:20).
If the Peace-Giver was born into obscurity, hunted down as an infant, misunderstood all his life, and crucified innocently as an adult, why do expect that by following Him we will experience circumstantial peace in this life?

KNOWING PEACE

  • Peace on earth comes from God’s favor and not man’s approval.
  • Peace on earth comes by giving glory rather than receiving glory.
  • Peace on earth comes with being communicators rather than consumers.