Before we get into today’s message, I feel I should address the obvious head wound I’m sporting today.
“You know, church… sometimes God gives us object lessons we didn’t ask for.
This week, my dog Buddy decided to help me prepare for this sermon on peace. I’m walking the little dogs downstairs, minding my own holy business, and next thing I know—BOOM! A giant flowerpot Buddy knocked over comes flying down like it’s auditioning for WWE, pops me right on the head, and I start bleeding like I just lost a UFC fight.
Stacy rushed me to the ER… the doctor gave me six stitches… and I walked out thinking, ‘Well, Lord… if You wanted me to preach on quieting the noise, You didn’t have to quiet my consciousness.’
But here’s the thing: life is loud. Sometimes the ‘noise’ isn’t traffic or busyness or stress. Sometimes the noise is a 100-pound Airedale named Buddy deciding gravity is optional.
And yet—even when chaos breaks loose, and even when the flowerpots of life are falling on our heads—God offers us a peace that doesn’t depend on everything going right.”
So, here we are at the beginning of December. Have you ever noticed how December comes in hot like a COSTCO stampede on sample day? One second, it’s Thanksgiving, next second the whole island’s running around like someone announced free poke bowls. Lights tangled, calendars packed, Amazon packages breeding like rabbits… And we’re supposed to find peace in this?
Shoot. Peace? The only peace some folks get in December is when the kids finally knock out and the dog stops barking at the inflatable Santa next door.
And here’s where this whole series comes in.
When I say, “Christmas Uncluttered,” I’m talkin’ about clearing out all the junk that piles up in our hearts and minds this time of year. Uncluttered means “make room,” “clear the mess,” “push out the stuff that doesn’t belong.” It’s like your garage gets so loaded that one wrong move and you’re baptized under an avalanche of beach chairs and Christmas totes. December tends to do that to our souls — everything gets crowded, noisy, heavy, messy. But Christmas wasn’t meant to be packed to the rafters. It was meant to be uncluttered — stripped back to what matters most: Christ stepping into our chaos with peace.
Let’s step into Luke 2:8–14
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Not a peaceful scene.
Not a quiet night.
Not a spa retreat for shepherds.
These guys are on the graveyard shift. Outside. In the cold. Smelling like the animals they babysit. And THEN an angel blows through the sky like a heavenly flashbang grenade.
Why them?
Why there?
Why that way?
Because peace comes to the ones who need it, not the ones who have it all together.
I. PEACE SHOWS UP IN CHAOS
The shepherds weren’t in a church service.
They weren’t journaling.
They weren’t fasting.
They weren’t listening to “Mary Did You Know” on repeat.
They were doing blue-collar work… trying to stay awake… minding their business.
And heaven explodes over their heads.
Because God steps into the noise, not away from it.
Scripture backs this up over and over:
• Psalm 46:1 — “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
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• John 16:33 — “In this world you will have trouble… but take heart! I have overcome the world.”
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• Isaiah 9:6 — “Prince of Peace” is His name — and princes don’t run from battle; they enter it.
Peace isn’t the absence of problems.
Peace is the presence of Jesus in the problems.
Illustration: When I coached wrestling, I taught my athletes to “wrestle through the noise.” Gym’s loud, parents yelling ridiculous things, whistles blowing, some uncle screaming like he’s auditioning for WWE… But the good ones? They narrowed in. Focused. They stopped letting the noise call the shots.
Peace is the same. The noise doesn’t go away — you just stop letting it be the boss.
II. NOISE COMPETES FOR WORSHIP
December’s noise level should be illegal.
Shopping lists…
Family drama…
Expectations…
Performance…
The pressure to have “perfect Christmas memories” like you’re filming a Hallmark movie.
The noise wants your attention.
Your energy.
Your affection.
Noise wants to be your god.
This is why Jesus warned us in Luke 21:34: “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with… the anxieties of life.”
Most of us don’t need more time.
We need less clutter.
More Jesus. Less everything else.
Colossians 3:2 — “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
Every time you set your mind on Him, you dethrone the noise.
III. PEACE ISN’T A FEELING — IT’S A PERSON
The angel didn’t announce a vibe.
He didn’t say, “Good tidings of chill energy.”
He said: “A Savior is born.”
Peace walked into the world wrapped in human skin.
Ephesians 2:14 — “For He Himself is our peace.”
Not His teachings. - Not His miracles. - Not His comforting words.
HE. HIMSELF. IS. PEACE.
You don’t “find peace.” You make room for the Person who is peace.
And that’s the heart of Christmas Uncluttered — clearing space so Christ can sit where He belongs.
CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK
1. Identify one thing stealing your peace.
Schedule item, habit, stress trigger, people-pleasing expectation.
If it’s cluttering your soul — ditch it.
2. Create one moment a day to breathe, pray, and listen.
Nothing fancy.
Just: “Jesus, I welcome Your peace.”
3. Invite Jesus into the loudest part of your life.
Your fear. - Your frustration. - Your finances. - Your family drama.
If He brought peace to shepherds working night shift, He can bring it to your December madness.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace…”
Not peace for the perfect. - Not peace for the organized. - Not peace for the people who color-coordinate their wrapping paper.
Peace for the earth. Messy, noisy, complicated earth.
And that includes you.
