Keep Calm! It's Christmas!

"Keep Calm, It’s Christmas!"

Scripture: Luke 2:8-14, Micah 5:3-9

I would like to read the passage from Micah!

3 Therefore He shall give them up,

Until the time that she who is in labor has given birth;

Then the remnant of His brethren

Shall return to the children of Israel.

4 And He shall stand and feed His flock

In the strength of the Lord,

In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God;

And they shall abide,

For now He shall be great

To the ends of the earth;

5 And this One shall be peace.

Theme: Finding Peace Amid the Holiday Chaos can be a challenge to say the least. But there is a group of people that have harnessed the power that brings PEACE every day.

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Introduction:

Symptoms of stress overload:

1. Decision-making becomes difficult (both major and minor kinds).

2. Excessive daydreaming or fantasizing about "getting away from it all."

3. Increased use of cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, TV, food and/or anything that takes your mind to what we believe to be a safe place.

4. Increased use of tranquilizers and "uppers."

5. Thoughts trail off while speaking or writing.

6. Excessive worrying about everyday things.

7. Sudden outbursts of temper and hostility or crying.

8. Paranoid ideas and mistrust of friends and family.

9. Forgetfulness of appointments, deadlines, dates.

10. Frequent spells of brooding and feelings of inadequacy.

11. Reversals in usual behavior.

Keith W. Wehnert, Stress/Unstress, 1981, Augsburg.

• Christmas in 2024 often feels anything but peaceful.

• Transition: In the first Christmas story, God delivered peace through Jesus, even in the midst of chaos, as we saw in this morning’s video.

• I have 3 points I’d like to share with you to take with you in the coming days and years.

1. Peace Announced in Chaos

Luke 2:8-9 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

• Explanation: The shepherds were working through the night, likely dealing with the challenges of their job.

• Illustration: I can only imagine the shepherds' stressful job and watching the sheep at night probably made it worse than daytime duty. Much like shopping at Wal-Mart during Christmas season. Talk about stress?

• Application: God’s peace can break through even when life feels overwhelming.

• Philippians 4:7 “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

• Peace is more visible in times of chaos.

• Your true PEACE exposes itself in the middle of the storm.

2. A Message of Joy for All People

Scripture Reference: Luke 2:10-11 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

• Explanation: The angel proclaimed good news that would bring joy to all people.

• Humorous Angle: Imagine the shepherds reacting to being chosen as the first to hear this message—"Us? Really?"

• This is the true joy in life, that being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one: the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap and being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. George Bernard Shaw quoted in: Jon Johnston, Courage - You Can Stand Strong in the Face of Fear, SP Publications, 1990, p. 171.

• Application: No matter your circumstances, God's message of joy is for you.

You are not the world’s scap-goat.

3. Responding to God's Peace

Scripture Reference: Luke 2:15-20 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told to them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.