WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480
 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:09.560
 Our passion is to experience and express grace.

00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:10.620
 Join us.

00:00:12.220 --> 00:00:19.460
 For those of you who right now have a question in your mind of most importance, what is a

00:00:19.460 --> 00:00:19.900
 homily?

00:00:20.859 --> 00:00:24.859
 Homily is a Greek word for about 20 minutes or so.

00:00:26.039 --> 00:00:28.300
 So now you know what to expect.

00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:37.679
 This Christmas season here at Southwood, we've been seeking to slow down a little bit, to

00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:43.759
 consider our hearts and how the Christmas story that we've read tonight, that we've celebrated,

00:00:43.980 --> 00:00:48.120
 this month especially, would speak to our deepest emotions.

00:00:48.820 --> 00:00:56.579
 We've discussed longing and hope, grief and comfort, apathy and awe.

00:00:56.579 --> 00:01:03.199
 And tonight I want us to consider for just a few minutes turmoil and peace.

00:01:03.839 --> 00:01:05.159
 Turmoil and peace.

00:01:05.640 --> 00:01:12.799
 As I thought about those two particular emotions, turmoil and peace, the picture that came into

00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:16.359
 my mind was of an arcade game from my childhood.

00:01:17.079 --> 00:01:19.219
 You may know it as whack-a-mole.

00:01:19.219 --> 00:01:27.579
 In this game, whack-a-mole, essentially you hold this big padded mallet and you stand in

00:01:27.579 --> 00:01:31.200
 front of a board with several holes, maybe a dozen or so holes.

00:01:32.140 --> 00:01:37.879
 And when the game starts, little plastic moles begin to pop up from one hole or another.

00:01:38.099 --> 00:01:39.879
 And when a mole pops up, what do you do?

00:01:40.700 --> 00:01:41.359
 You whack it.

00:01:41.359 --> 00:01:43.099
 You whack the mole.

00:01:43.400 --> 00:01:45.680
 And then another mole pops up and you whack that one.

00:01:46.039 --> 00:01:50.659
 But what happens as the game goes on is that they come faster and faster.

00:01:50.980 --> 00:01:53.219
 And first it's one over here and then it's two over there.

00:01:53.260 --> 00:01:55.760
 And then the one you just thought you knocked earlier pops up again.

00:01:56.099 --> 00:01:58.019
 And by the end of the game, your head is spinning.

00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:00.500
 You're just whacking wildly, hoping to hit at something.

00:02:01.060 --> 00:02:04.159
 To make contact with some mole that might pop up.

00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:07.359
 If you haven't played the game before, it's really fun.

00:02:07.739 --> 00:02:10.180
 You should go to an arcade and find it sometimes.

00:02:10.180 --> 00:02:18.439
 But many days I feel like that's a pretty good picture of the turmoil in my life and in my heart.

00:02:19.260 --> 00:02:24.879
 If I ever get control of one area and feel like there's a little bit of peace and calm there,

00:02:24.980 --> 00:02:26.280
 something else pops up.

00:02:26.939 --> 00:02:29.879
 And it's hard to get everything under control.

00:02:30.580 --> 00:02:32.700
 Something always needs my immediate attention.

00:02:33.620 --> 00:02:35.860
 Maybe you've felt that before.

00:02:36.520 --> 00:02:39.939
 At first it's your kids and then it's your parents.

00:02:40.939 --> 00:02:46.400
 And then when they're calming down and things seem to be under control, things just unravel at work.

00:02:47.319 --> 00:02:48.300
 And it's out of control.

00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:50.000
 You don't know what to do about it.

00:02:50.180 --> 00:02:53.520
 And then you start thinking, I'm just a really bad neighbor.

00:02:53.900 --> 00:02:54.599
 I need to spend time.

00:02:54.599 --> 00:02:57.680
 Oh no, my marriage needs attention.

00:02:57.819 --> 00:02:59.000
 What am I doing?

00:03:00.040 --> 00:03:00.980
 And let's be honest.

00:03:00.979 --> 00:03:03.739
 Those moles never wait for each other, do they?

00:03:04.259 --> 00:03:08.599
 It feels like always more than one at a time is in crisis mode.

00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:10.939
 Crying for your attention.

00:03:11.719 --> 00:03:13.639
 Needing to be dealt with.

00:03:15.239 --> 00:03:19.039
 Thankfully though, the Christmas season is the season of great peace.

00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:25.359
 Where I experience the utter calm and tranquility of life through the entire month of December.

00:03:26.359 --> 00:03:28.560
 Except for the cold we're passing around.

00:03:28.659 --> 00:03:30.579
 Those Christmas cards we need to mail.

00:03:30.919 --> 00:03:33.340
 It's an appetizer for the party Friday.

00:03:33.539 --> 00:03:35.759
 And is it a dessert for Saturday night?

00:03:36.379 --> 00:03:37.259
 I think that...

00:03:37.259 --> 00:03:38.579
 Did we get a gift for your mom?

00:03:38.580 --> 00:03:42.520
 Oh no, we've forgotten to get ready for Christmas Eve.

00:03:42.700 --> 00:03:45.880
 And relationships are starting to feel a little bit tense.

00:03:46.340 --> 00:03:47.420
 And strained.

00:03:47.760 --> 00:03:48.900
 Things are piling up.

00:03:49.240 --> 00:03:53.020
 And then on top of it, all your family expects you to come to a Christmas Eve service?

00:03:54.140 --> 00:03:55.240
 What in the world?

00:03:56.320 --> 00:03:57.800
 How am I going to do all of this?

00:03:58.140 --> 00:04:02.460
 Our lives year round and at Christmas are full of that turmoil.

00:04:03.020 --> 00:04:03.740
 Aren't they?

00:04:04.620 --> 00:04:05.720
 We feel anxious.

00:04:07.220 --> 00:04:07.700
 Restless.

00:04:07.699 --> 00:04:07.819
 Yes.

00:04:08.280 --> 00:04:09.359
 Often exhausted.

00:04:10.899 --> 00:04:13.759
 But I think for most of us, we've just kind of gotten used to it.

00:04:13.959 --> 00:04:15.079
 And called it normal.

00:04:15.959 --> 00:04:21.680
 And given up the hope of ever having a deep sense of peace on most days, haven't we?

00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:27.120
 Well, Christmas is actually about peace.

00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:30.819
 Although perhaps not in the way we've hoped or envisioned.

00:04:31.719 --> 00:04:36.860
 Jesus says something interesting to His disciples as He prepares to go to the cross.

00:04:36.860 --> 00:04:38.240
 And leave them.

00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:40.780
 He says in John chapter 14,

00:04:40.780 --> 00:04:43.920
 Peace I leave with you.

00:04:44.120 --> 00:04:46.460
 My peace I give to you.

00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:49.920
 I do not give to you as the world gives.

00:04:50.280 --> 00:04:52.040
 Do not let your hearts be troubled.

00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:55.000
 And do not be afraid.

00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:59.980
 Jesus is concerned for the hearts of His disciples.

00:04:59.980 --> 00:05:02.480
 He doesn't want them troubled, does He?

00:05:03.079 --> 00:05:05.199
 Or afraid or in turmoil.

00:05:06.100 --> 00:05:07.759
 Rather, He wants them to be what?

00:05:08.699 --> 00:05:09.459
 At peace.

00:05:10.040 --> 00:05:12.139
 That's His desire for them.

00:05:12.139 --> 00:05:21.839
 But He makes it clear that this peace that He offers them and wants for them is very different from the peace that the world offers.

00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:25.439
 How does the world offer peace?

00:05:26.699 --> 00:05:31.519
 I want to suggest tonight the world offers two potential paths to peace.

00:05:31.939 --> 00:05:38.079
 Path one is to get enough control over your circumstances that then you can be at peace.

00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:43.120
 Peace is found when things are good enough or when you have enough control over them.

00:05:43.139 --> 00:05:44.359
 You have enough power.

00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:47.620
 You have enough money to get what you need.

00:05:48.479 --> 00:05:53.079
 To find peace, you need to get enough of the right kind of people in your life.

00:05:53.939 --> 00:05:55.680
 A spouse who treats you better.

00:05:56.139 --> 00:05:58.159
 A boss who appreciates you more.

00:05:58.500 --> 00:05:59.860
 And so on.

00:05:59.860 --> 00:06:07.480
 You need to whack enough of the moles so that you're in charge of everything around you and can finally, confidently rest.

00:06:09.980 --> 00:06:11.220
 That's one path.

00:06:11.400 --> 00:06:14.379
 And it proves for most of us very difficult.

00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:19.180
 Although we often find ourselves desperately on it time and time again, don't we?

00:06:19.220 --> 00:06:21.420
 Thinking there's going to be peace at the end of this.

00:06:23.280 --> 00:06:24.580
 And so there's path two.

00:06:24.579 --> 00:06:33.399
 Path two, which became very popular a few decades ago when some of you were young people, was a lot about peace, wasn't it?

00:06:33.599 --> 00:06:37.039
 It's a path to this peaceful, easy feeling.

00:06:38.019 --> 00:06:39.099
 That kind of peace.

00:06:39.219 --> 00:06:41.199
 Where you don't control your circumstances.

00:06:41.419 --> 00:06:41.899
 No way.

00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:43.399
 Rather, you just let go.

00:06:43.879 --> 00:06:49.079
 And you ignore and quit caring about the difficult life.

00:06:49.180 --> 00:06:49.639
 Check out.

00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:52.360
 The real world is just too hard.

00:06:52.360 --> 00:06:53.959
 So just ignore it.

00:06:55.259 --> 00:07:01.479
 It's mental gymnastics to pretend that you're resting, but no actual substance behind it.

00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:04.019
 No solid reason to be at peace.

00:07:04.099 --> 00:07:05.639
 Just a lot of peace, man.

00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:06.860
 Just peace.

00:07:08.099 --> 00:07:10.860
 But you don't really feel peace.

00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:12.919
 Life is still difficult.

00:07:13.919 --> 00:07:15.399
 Do those sound familiar to you?

00:07:15.579 --> 00:07:19.819
 Sometimes I try both of those paths in the course of the same day.

00:07:20.500 --> 00:07:26.259
 I usually start with path one, trying to get everything under control and get everything and everybody where I want them.

00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:29.360
 And when that doesn't work, I just go to path two and I give up.

00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:31.439
 And I check out and I don't care anymore.

00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:33.139
 And just act and pretend.

00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:34.719
 Everything's okay, right?

00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:35.500
 Self-talk.

00:07:35.659 --> 00:07:36.560
 It's going to be okay.

00:07:36.680 --> 00:07:37.480
 Hakuna Matata.

00:07:38.039 --> 00:07:38.839
 No worries.

00:07:38.839 --> 00:07:41.599
 Everything's fine.

00:07:41.739 --> 00:07:43.799
 But it's not.

00:07:45.799 --> 00:07:53.239
 You see, the peace Jesus offers is entirely different from those paths to peace that the world offers us.

00:07:53.240 --> 00:07:57.139
 From the outset, it's different in that it's substantial.

00:07:57.860 --> 00:08:00.460
 Not mere wishful thinking where you quit caring.

00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:07.420
 Not a mere feeling of good cheer or a serenity in a candlelit service.

00:08:07.879 --> 00:08:09.579
 I'm going to go find one night.

00:08:10.259 --> 00:08:14.660
 But something real and deep that Jesus is actually addressing.

00:08:14.660 --> 00:08:22.140
 There's an objective reality to the peace that underlies the peaceful feeling we're talking about.

00:08:22.200 --> 00:08:24.680
 That Jesus wants His followers to have.

00:08:25.260 --> 00:08:31.960
 See, when the Bible talks about peace at Christmas, it talks about things like Jesus as the prince of peace.

00:08:32.779 --> 00:08:34.060
 Isaiah chapter 9.

00:08:34.740 --> 00:08:39.040
 Of peace on earth, goodwill to men, we heard in Luke 2.

00:08:39.340 --> 00:08:42.600
 That Jesus Himself will be their peace.

00:08:42.779 --> 00:08:44.560
 Micah 5.5.

00:08:45.480 --> 00:08:55.120
 When the Bible talks about peace, it is typically this objective peace that Jesus comes to achieve between God and man.

00:08:55.120 --> 00:09:01.219
 It's shalom brought between God and His entire creation, as a matter of fact.

00:09:01.980 --> 00:09:09.059
 False prophets have long come and declared peace, peace, when there's actually no reason for peace.

00:09:09.059 --> 00:09:14.759
 When actually the reality that we see all around us is pain and brokenness.

00:09:15.479 --> 00:09:17.859
 When things aren't as they should be, right?

00:09:17.979 --> 00:09:19.519
 And I can't ignore that.

00:09:19.719 --> 00:09:21.199
 You can't ignore that.

00:09:21.459 --> 00:09:22.500
 You watch the news.

00:09:22.500 --> 00:09:24.519
 You live in this world.

00:09:24.519 --> 00:09:26.820
 You look around and say, peace, really?

00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:28.960
 Something's got to happen.

00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:29.980
 I can't just pretend.

00:09:32.019 --> 00:09:39.440
 Jesus comes to address the underlying cause of all the turmoil and strife that we experience.

00:09:40.259 --> 00:09:49.200
 He comes to bring reconciliation between the good Creator and His creation that is warring and rebellion against Him.

00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:52.060
 Living under a curse due to our sin.

00:09:52.420 --> 00:09:56.879
 Christmas is the launch of that rescue mission, as it were.

00:09:56.960 --> 00:10:03.759
 That project of reconciliation that climaxes at the cross where Jesus dies for sinners.

00:10:04.620 --> 00:10:09.720
 Where Jesus becomes the curse so He can bring blessing instead of curse.

00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:13.360
 And so He creates peace on earth.

00:10:13.580 --> 00:10:16.620
 Peace between God and mankind.

00:10:17.500 --> 00:10:24.259
 Jesus comes really and truly to address the deep problems that we have and that we see around us.

00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:27.680
 There's something to the peace that He offers.

00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:36.219
 And it's that objective reality that grounds the true peace for our hearts.

00:10:36.439 --> 00:10:39.639
 The feeling He wants us to experience.

00:10:40.059 --> 00:10:44.000
 The Bible speaks of that subjective personal peace too.

00:10:44.179 --> 00:10:48.279
 The feeling of being at peace or at rest.

00:10:48.279 --> 00:10:53.720
 But when it does so, it says something I find so comforting.

00:10:54.519 --> 00:10:56.899
 It's not peace as the world gives.

00:10:57.779 --> 00:11:03.759
 That feeling is not found at the end of getting enough control over our circumstances.

00:11:04.220 --> 00:11:08.019
 It's actually peace right in the midst of them.

00:11:09.299 --> 00:11:11.699
 Jesus enters into our turmoil.

00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:13.600
 He calls it what it is.

00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:19.019
 And He offers Himself as the source of our peace.

00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:24.040
 Listen to what He says to His disciples in John 16 at verse 33.

00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:30.399
 I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace.

00:11:31.060 --> 00:11:33.200
 In this world you will have trouble.

00:11:33.620 --> 00:11:34.560
 But take heart.

00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:37.860
 I have overcome the world.

00:11:38.600 --> 00:11:40.399
 Jesus says to His disciples,

00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:44.360
 Listen, you're in the world but you're also in someone else.

00:11:44.500 --> 00:11:46.539
 You can be in Me.

00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:51.279
 Without leaving the world you can be in Me.

00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:54.500
 And that's going to make all the difference for you.

00:11:54.840 --> 00:11:57.459
 Jesus says I want you to know this peace.

00:11:58.039 --> 00:11:59.220
 I see what you're facing.

00:12:00.899 --> 00:12:01.459
 Tribulation.

00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:02.959
 Trouble.

00:12:04.279 --> 00:12:04.799
 Difficulty.

00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:08.199
 But my solution is not to avoid that.

00:12:08.199 --> 00:12:10.179
 Not to downplay that.

00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:12.879
 Rather, I want you to trust Me.

00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:17.079
 That I will handle all of that for you.

00:12:18.199 --> 00:12:24.279
 And I love that because what happens to me when I pursue the world's path to peace.

00:12:24.699 --> 00:12:26.759
 To controlling my circumstances.

00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:30.360
 Thinking that once that happens everything will be okay.

00:12:31.139 --> 00:12:33.039
 You know what I usually get instead of peace?

00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:36.120
 Increased anxiety.

00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:37.939
 And exhaustion.

00:12:37.940 --> 00:12:40.980
 Because I can never get all the way there.

00:12:41.540 --> 00:12:48.620
 I can never get enough in control of myself and the people and the things around me to rest.

00:12:48.860 --> 00:12:52.840
 I need someone else to trust besides my own control.

00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:57.139
 And at Christmas Jesus enters into our turmoil.

00:12:57.259 --> 00:12:59.540
 He says I'm here with you.

00:13:00.160 --> 00:13:01.780
 And I'm the one you can trust.

00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:03.740
 I see the moles.

00:13:04.440 --> 00:13:06.500
 I know they're just picking up speed.

00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:08.019
 But I've got you.

00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:09.519
 I love you.

00:13:09.660 --> 00:13:10.940
 You can trust Me.

00:13:10.940 --> 00:13:16.400
 Isaiah was right when he said that's the only place to find perfect peace.

00:13:17.400 --> 00:13:19.860
 That it comes when your mind has stayed on Me.

00:13:19.940 --> 00:13:21.680
 The one who trusts Me.

00:13:21.920 --> 00:13:24.040
 The everlasting rock.

00:13:26.540 --> 00:13:30.500
 Peace is found not in getting your life circumstances under control.

00:13:31.060 --> 00:13:33.420
 Not in stopping caring about them.

00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:39.139
 But in trusting Me to control them and to care for you.

00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:42.699
 Peace is an objective reality.

00:13:43.559 --> 00:13:44.679
 It's easy to explain.

00:13:45.219 --> 00:13:49.559
 Jesus purchases God's eternal favor on the cross.

00:13:50.179 --> 00:13:50.819
 That's peace.

00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:57.039
 Peace as a subjective emotion is harder to articulate, isn't it?

00:13:57.779 --> 00:13:58.860
 What does it feel like?

00:13:58.899 --> 00:14:00.360
 How do you experience that?

00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:02.220
 How can I actually feel that?

00:14:02.279 --> 00:14:07.539
 Because what happens in my life is anxiety and restlessness always seem to be right there.

00:14:07.659 --> 00:14:10.240
 It's a harder thing to quantify, isn't it?

00:14:11.060 --> 00:14:14.840
 What's peace like as something I can experience?

00:14:16.300 --> 00:14:19.600
 We and our family have tasted some of it recently.

00:14:19.899 --> 00:14:22.680
 So I'll try to describe it for you this way.

00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:27.019
 When you hear that your wife has cancer.

00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:29.759
 And they need to test lymph nodes.

00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:32.779
 What you feel is turmoil.

00:14:33.700 --> 00:14:34.659
 Not peace.

00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:41.419
 In fact, feeling peace very quickly becomes quite elusive.

00:14:42.779 --> 00:14:45.360
 It's very hard to grab onto that.

00:14:45.419 --> 00:14:48.080
 There's so many other things spinning in your mind.

00:14:48.680 --> 00:14:50.440
 And it certainly didn't come.

00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:53.860
 We didn't taste any of that peace through ignoring the difficulty.

00:14:54.039 --> 00:14:55.500
 Pretending like we didn't care about it.

00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:56.039
 No big deal.

00:14:56.039 --> 00:15:03.240
 It also didn't come through getting control of the circumstances as much as I would have liked that.

00:15:03.319 --> 00:15:06.059
 This was something I had no control over.

00:15:06.059 --> 00:15:11.079
 You may be facing those realities with adult children.

00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:13.979
 With mental illness.

00:15:14.719 --> 00:15:16.359
 With marital discord.

00:15:16.899 --> 00:15:21.099
 With many other things and situations in your life.

00:15:21.219 --> 00:15:22.859
 Where you can't control it.

00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:25.620
 And you can't ignore it.

00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:29.820
 And both of those things are there in your life.

00:15:30.700 --> 00:15:34.320
 Listen, we're so grateful for successful surgeries.

00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:37.759
 For clear pathology reports.

00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:40.840
 We're so thankful for that in our family.

00:15:41.779 --> 00:15:43.860
 But there are always more exams.

00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:46.819
 And the anxiety is real.

00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:48.200
 You know it, right?

00:15:48.980 --> 00:15:49.939
 What next?

00:15:50.059 --> 00:15:51.879
 What's going to happen now?

00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:54.000
 It's easy to be anxious.

00:15:54.299 --> 00:15:57.960
 And so we didn't find true peace even in good test results.

00:15:57.960 --> 00:16:02.860
 We actually began to get tastes of it before that.

00:16:03.920 --> 00:16:07.600
 Reading psalms together through tears.

00:16:08.660 --> 00:16:13.960
 Psalms that reminded our souls find rest in God alone.

00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:15.960
 That's where you'll rest.

00:16:16.840 --> 00:16:21.980
 Reading notes of encouragement when we were anxious from y'all.

00:16:22.300 --> 00:16:24.060
 From our brothers and sisters.

00:16:24.059 --> 00:16:28.879
 Yet another one of you telling us about your prayers to God on our behalf.

00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:34.119
 Pleading with God for us and thinking, yeah, that's what we need.

00:16:35.219 --> 00:16:42.199
 Listening to a sermon together about God being good in the midst of difficulty and hardship.

00:16:43.179 --> 00:16:45.559
 And so worthy of our trust.

00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:51.879
 Tastes of true peace came in moments like those.

00:16:51.879 --> 00:16:56.580
 Moments where we felt the reality of God's love from His people.

00:16:57.220 --> 00:17:01.059
 Moments where we realized He was the only one we could trust.

00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:04.539
 Moments where that actually became a good thing for us.

00:17:04.660 --> 00:17:10.039
 Because there were days where Him being the only one we could trust was not necessarily something that made us peaceful.

00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:16.539
 Moments where that became a good thing because we knew we could trust Him.

00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:20.839
 Where we really believed He had us regardless of the outcome.

00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:23.640
 God's teaching us.

00:17:24.520 --> 00:17:30.680
 I'm learning that peace with God is something that happened once and we have it forever.

00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:31.960
 Praise the Lord, right?

00:17:32.380 --> 00:17:33.260
 Peace with God.

00:17:33.340 --> 00:17:35.020
 Eternal peace.

00:17:36.320 --> 00:17:42.080
 But peace in our hearts is something that happens moment by moment.

00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:47.259
 The peace that Jesus gives comes in the midst of our anxiety.

00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:53.599
 It comes alongside the troubles of life and the turmoil in our hearts.

00:17:53.859 --> 00:18:01.299
 It involves resting in His arms while the moles pop off all around us and keep going.

00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:08.899
 But it's peace, y'all, that Jesus gives unlike any other peace you've ever experienced.

00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:10.819
 It's peace that lasts.

00:18:11.639 --> 00:18:13.440
 Peace that really means something.

00:18:13.879 --> 00:18:20.059
 Peace you can truly and finally feel and rest because He's got you and He's not letting go.

00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:24.819
 That's the peace of Christmas that we can experience.

00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:34.619
 The baby in the manger reminds us that God loves us so much that He sent His Son to earth in order to restore His relationship with us.

00:18:34.879 --> 00:18:36.359
 That's how much God loves you.

00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:39.059
 That's how much He wants you are good.

00:18:39.939 --> 00:18:42.759
 He doesn't stand outside our turmoil and just say,

00:18:43.159 --> 00:18:43.659
 Get over it.

00:18:43.679 --> 00:18:44.839
 It's not that big a deal.

00:18:46.159 --> 00:18:47.179
 He enters in.

00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:51.600
 He feels our pain and He tells us there's true rest.

00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:56.200
 There's true peace only in Him.

00:18:57.759 --> 00:19:03.799
 This table reminds us that He was born in order to go to the cross for us.

00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:09.140
 To achieve for us ultimate peace in our greatest turmoil.

00:19:09.320 --> 00:19:16.440
 How much more can we trust Him to care for us now in the turmoils and trials of this life?

00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:20.940
 If He would send His Son to bring peace in our greatest battle,

00:19:21.180 --> 00:19:27.019
 how much more will He care for us moment by moment and day after day?

00:19:27.080 --> 00:19:29.680
 That's what this table reminds us of tonight.

00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:35.259
 Let's remember what Jesus said to His disciples when He instituted this supper.

00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:39.720
 The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread.

00:19:39.840 --> 00:19:42.279
 And when He had given thanks, broke it and said,

00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:45.619
 This is My body, which is for you.

00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:48.000
 Do this in remembrance of Me.

00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:52.779
 In the same way also He took the cup after supper saying,

00:19:53.139 --> 00:19:55.420
 This cup is the new covenant in My blood.

00:19:55.879 --> 00:19:59.559
 Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of Me.

00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:02.960
 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,

00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:07.339
 you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

00:20:07.339 --> 00:20:12.459
 Friends, we're so glad that you're all with us tonight.

00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:22.000
 This sacrament is a tangible reminder to us of the peace that we have with God through Jesus Christ.

00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:26.659
 What He has accomplished for us and we celebrate that tonight.

00:20:27.619 --> 00:20:32.339
 Listen, I'd invite you, if you're here tonight and you don't know that kind of peace,

00:20:32.339 --> 00:20:35.439
 if you don't know Jesus as your Savior,

00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:39.659
 the one who has brought peace between you and the God of the universe,

00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:43.019
 I'd encourage you not to come to this table tonight,

00:20:43.619 --> 00:20:48.279
 but instead to come to Jesus, to actually meet Him,

00:20:48.859 --> 00:20:51.599
 for us to have the chance to talk with you about Him,

00:20:51.699 --> 00:20:54.699
 to tell you about the peace that He brings.

00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:57.220
 If you do know Him,

00:20:58.100 --> 00:21:01.279
 if Jesus is the one that you have trusted,

00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:04.160
 as the one that's brought peace between you and God,

00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:07.279
 who has dealt with your sins once and for all,

00:21:07.360 --> 00:21:09.799
 so that you are always welcome at God's table,

00:21:10.120 --> 00:21:12.940
 then know that this table is not the table of Southwood.

00:21:13.660 --> 00:21:15.460
 It's not a Presbyterian table.

00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:17.440
 It is the Lord's table.

00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:19.740
 Jesus sets this table, not me.

00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:28.620
 Jesus would invite you to come and to eat with your Father by faith in Him.

00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:33.920
 It's His body and His blood to be a reminder to you again tonight

00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:35.779
 of your peace with God,

00:21:36.059 --> 00:21:38.819
 that your Father is not at war with you,

00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:40.759
 that He loves you.

00:21:41.620 --> 00:21:44.500
 Of a peace that is established between you and Him forever

00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:47.380
 and that He offers to you again tonight,

00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:52.440
 that you can know every moment of every day

00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:55.380
 in the midst of the difficulties of life.

00:21:55.460 --> 00:21:57.700
 Let's pray and then we'll come to this table together.

00:22:00.140 --> 00:22:03.980
 Jesus, thank You for giving Yourself for us.

00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:07.420
 Thank You for Your birth that we celebrate,

00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:11.059
 that You came to be born with a goal in mind

00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:14.319
 and it was not just to be born, but to die.

00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:18.660
 To give Your life as a ransom for many

00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:23.440
 and we rejoice in Your gracious gift to us tonight.

00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:26.599
 Father, would You set these elements aside?

00:22:26.859 --> 00:22:30.279
 They're very common in normal bread and wine.

00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:32.799
 Given for us tonight,

00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:35.279
 would You use them in our hearts

00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:40.000
 for a sacred purpose that we might know Your love,

00:22:40.099 --> 00:22:41.799
 that we might not just know it,

00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:44.879
 that we might feel the smile of our Father

00:22:44.879 --> 00:22:47.659
 and His care for us.

00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:49.980
 Do that we ask in Jesus' name.

00:22:50.919 --> 00:22:51.240
 Amen.

00:22:51.240 --> 00:22:59.259
 For more information, visit us online at southwood.org.

00:22:59.259 --> 00:23:10.599
馨