Prince of Peace: Advent Call to Costly Faith

Devotional

Day 1: True peace may cost relationships and comfort.

You are called to a peace that will not simply smooth over conflict but will call you to pick up your cross and follow Jesus, even when it divides relationships and upends comfort. This peace reorders loyalties so Christ is supremely treasured above family, plans, and security; it may provoke opposition from those closest to you. Embrace the paradox that losing your life for Jesus is the path to truly finding it. [37:14]

Matthew 10:34–39 (ESV)
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter‑in‑law against her mother‑in‑law. 36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Reflection: Identify one close relationship where following Jesus' call creates tension; what is one concrete step you will take this week to choose Christ's way while still seeking to love that person well?

Day 2: The child brings everlasting rule and peace.

Hold fast to the promise that the child born is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, whose government and peace have no end. This peace is rooted in the reign and justice of Christ, not in temporary political fixes or seasonal comforts, and it reshapes hope toward the eternal. Let that 700‑year promise steady you when earthly solutions disappoint. [31:09]

Isaiah 9:6–7 (ESV)
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Reflection: What area of life are you expecting earthly systems or people to "fix" for your peace, and what concrete step will you take today to submit that area to the rule of the Prince of Peace?

Day 3: Hope in God restores downcast souls.

When the soul is cast down and in turmoil, the remedy is not more striving but a deliberate turning of hope to God, confessing that praise and salvation belong to him. Like David who speaks to his own heart, you are invited to rehearse truth back to your soul and wait on God so praise can rise again. Make hope in God your active practice when discouragement comes. [28:22]

Psalm 42:11 (ESV)
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Reflection: When you notice inner turmoil today, what specific truth from Scripture will you say to your soul, and when will you stop to say it aloud?

Day 4: Christ gives a different kind of peace.

Jesus gives a peace that is not the world's absence of trouble but a presence of himself in the midst of trouble, granted through the Holy Spirit so hearts need not be troubled or afraid. This peace guards the inner life even as storms rage, because the Lord is with you in the chaos—not always removing the storm but standing with you in it. Receive that peace by resting in Christ's presence rather than chasing temporary calm. [42:35]

John 14:27 (ESV)
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

Reflection: Which anxious circumstance are you trying to "fix" to manufacture peace, and what one sentence of surrender will you pray tonight to receive Jesus' peace instead?

Day 5: Prayer opens the way to God's guarding peace.

Instead of increasing anxiety, bring everything to God in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, making your requests known to him and trusting his timing and wisdom. When prayer is offered with a grateful heart, God's peace—which surpasses understanding—will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus amid uncertainties. Let thanksgiving shape your petitions this week and watch how it steadies your soul. [01:11:51]

Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: List three specific requests you will bring to God with thanksgiving tonight; how will you remind yourself during the week to trust God's guarding peace over those concerns?

Sermon Summary

Advent points us to a peace deeper than calm circumstances. I began by reminding us where hope truly rests: “Why are you downcast, O my soul?… Hope in God” (Psalm 42). We don’t find hope—or peace—in control, comfort, power, gifts, or a full calendar. We find it in the person of Jesus, the child promised in Isaiah 9: a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace whose government and peace know no end. That promise was given to a people facing centuries of chaos, which helps us recalibrate our expectations: God’s peace doesn’t bow to our timelines, tastes, or traditions.

Jesus confronts and redefines peace in a way that unsettles our assumptions. He says He didn’t come to bring the world’s peace but a sword (Matthew 10). He isn’t canceling peace; He’s correcting our version. Biblical peace is not circumstance management—it is heart transformation by the risen Christ that produces obedience, wholeness, and courage. As Jesus says, “My peace I give to you… not as the world gives” (John 14). That means He often changes us before He changes anything around us.

Because peace is a fruit of the Spirit, it is public, not private. We are called to acknowledge Christ before people, to be peacemakers in places of conflict, and to let our faith operate, not sit dormant. Living this way will place us in tension with the dominant story of our age—the pursuit of happiness. Happiness makes us self-focused and exhausted; holiness makes us self-giving and at peace. The path to Jesus’ peace will cost us: it may divide households, reorder our comfort, upend our plans, reshape our relationships, and demand our cross. Yet this is the paradox—losing our life for His sake is how we find life. Bonhoeffer said peace isn’t found in safety but in daring obedience; John Owen reminds us peace grows where we yield our time and even our death to God. So we pray, with Philippians 4 in hand, and we step: into peacemaking generosity, public witness, and the costly joy of following Jesus.

Key Takeaways

1. Peace starts where Jesus rules hearts Peace isn’t the absence of problems; it’s the presence of the Prince of Peace ruling the inner life. Jesus gives a peace the world cannot supply or take away, and it steadies us amid storms rather than requiring the storm to stop. Expect Him to transform your center before He alters your circumstances. That is His mercy, not its denial. [42:35]
2. Public faith cultivates peacemaking courage Peace with God propels us into public witness, not private sentiment. When we acknowledge Christ before people, we step into conflict with gentle boldness and become conduits of reconciliation. Peace grows as it’s practiced—spoken, risked, and embodied—especially where it’s least convenient. [51:35]
3. Pursue holiness, not the American dream Chasing happiness often breeds restlessness, comparison, and self-absorption. Holiness, by contrast, reorders desires, frees us from excess, and makes us attentive to people over possessions. Seek holiness and you’ll find the sturdy peace that comes from everything that matters being in its right place. [59:01]
4. Peace may divide before it heals When Jesus claims first place, some relationships resist that claim. The sword He brings cuts through loyalties that compete with Him—comfort, family expectations, and the fear of man. That division, painful as it is, often becomes the doorway to deeper, truer peace on the other side of surrender. [62:28]
5. True peace will cost your life The way of peace is the way of the cross—losing life to find it, releasing control to receive communion. Safety is not the metric; surrender is. The more fully we yield, the more fully His peace guards our hearts and minds. [68:28]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:56] - First-time guests and gift
[07:07] - Ecuador ornament tree explained
[10:28] - Call to pray for peace
[31:09] - Reading Isaiah 9:6–7
[37:14] - Not worldly peace but a sword
[38:39] - Defining biblical peace
[42:35] - “My peace I give to you”
[51:35] - A personal but public faith
[58:27] - The fight with the American dream
[62:28] - Peace that divides households
[64:52] - Jesus over comfort, plans, relationships
[68:28] - Take up your cross, lose life
[71:51] - Peace of God guards hearts
[73:19] - Closing and next steps

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
- Isaiah 9:6–7
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Observation questions (3–4)

What four titles does Isaiah give this child in verse 6, and what basic needs or longings (counsel, power, care, peace) do those titles address for people living with fear and chaos?
Psalm 42 calls the soul to hope in God: where does the text point the speaker’s hope to rest, and how is that different than hoping in comfort, control, or success? [29:09]
Jesus says he did not come to bring “peace” as the world knows it but a sword (Matthew 10). What sort of tension does that image create with Isaiah’s “Prince of Peace”? [37:14]
In John 14 Jesus offers a peace “not as the world gives.” What does he connect that peace to (what person or gift), and how does that change the object of our hope? [42:35]

Interpretation questions (3–4)

How does the declaration that the government shall be upon the Messiah’s shoulder (Isaiah 9:6) shape the expectation of God’s peace—does it point primarily to political order, inner rule, or both? Why? [31:09]
Why would the coming of Jesus both bring peace and provoke division among families (the “sword” image)? What does this reveal about the kind of peace Jesus brings and the loyalties he demands? [37:31]
What does it mean that peace is a public fruit — that peace “propels us into public witness” — rather than something kept private? What practical forms might that public peace take in everyday relationships? [51:35]
The texts call believers to costly obedience (take up the cross). How should the possibility of loss, rejection, or suffering shape expectations about where peace is found and how it is practiced? [01:08:28]

Application questions (4–7)

Where have you most recently looked for peace (comfort, control, buying, approval, career)? What would it look like this week to turn that specific hope toward Christ instead? [29:09]
Are there relationships in which following Christ’s lordship has already caused tension or distance (family, friends, workplace)? What single conversational next step could you take this week to honor Christ while seeking reconciliation? [01:02:28]
Identify one concrete way to make your faith more public in the next month (a gospel letter, inviting someone to church, sharing why you serve, participating in a mercy ministry). What keeps you from doing that now, and what first action will you take? [51:35]
What comfort, plan, or future expectation do you need to surrender to Christ right now (career move, security, retirement plan, family plan)? What is one practical act of surrender you can do this week (prayer, conversation, a written commitment)? [01:04:09]
Compare two pursuits in your life: the pursuit of happiness (self-focused comfort) and the pursuit of holiness (God-focused obedience). Which habit, purchase, or relationship most clearly reveals which pursuit you are living for? What change could you make to move toward holiness? [59:01]
The way of peace is described as costly—“take up your cross.” What would “losing your life for Christ” look like in your context (time, money, reputation, career)? Name one small, costly step you could take in the next 30 days to practice that posture. [01:08:28]

(Use the Isaiah passage above together with your group’s stories and prayers as you discuss these questions.)

Sermon Clips

These people who are going to be ravaged. These people who are going to be kept in captivity. These people who are going to be taken from their families. These people who are going to have their names changed. Do you hear? These people who are going to live in chaos. For 700 years. Man. Like. Like. Just pause for a second. It's okay if God doesn't talk to you. In the way that you want him to talk to you. And meet your need. And give you peace to a situation. It's only been one year. You've got a people who are waiting 700 years. [00:35:10] (34 seconds) #TrustGodsTiming

Listen, Jesus came to bring peace. And this is the kicker. Basically, Jesus came to bring peace to your heart and not necessarily your situation. So if you're rooting having peace because Jesus is going to come fix every little tiny emotional problem you have or every physical need and problem that you have, then you're going to be sorely mistaken because the gospel addresses this problem. The gospel gives peace to this, your heart. You're trying to look for it in something else. [00:40:39] (33 seconds) #PeaceForYourHeart

If you just make my finances work out this season, Jesus, if you just make my kids listen and understand to me, Jesus, if you just make my spouse more obedient or listening to me or loving, Jesus, if you just make my job more enjoyable, that is not what the Prince of Peace came to do. The Prince Prince of Peace came to go here and fix this. You want to know why you're struggling even more this season? It's because your peace is rooted in something temporary and it's not rooted in Jesus Christ. [00:41:12] (32 seconds) #RootPeaceInChrist

Prince of Peace has come. You could get a filled bank account that you're not going to have peace. You can have every present that you could possibly get on Christmas. You won't have peace if you don't have Jesus. Jesus is saying, I'm coming to your heart. I'm coming to make peace. Not the peace that you understand. Well, he defines it out a little for us in John 14. [00:42:07] (31 seconds) #JesusNotStuff

That's exactly right. We get from the story of the disciples on the boat and them being crazed out of their minds. Like the peace came not because Jesus calmed the storm. The peace came because Jesus was with them in the storm. And so to know that peace surpasses what you think of this idea that I have to have calmness and stillness and everything has to make sense. Where peace of Jesus is really, I'm with you in all the crazy. Why? Because you look to me and I make sense. [00:50:17] (36 seconds) #PeaceInTheStorm

One of the biggest problems that we have that we don't get peace or we don't get a biblical gospel peace in our hearts and our lives is because we hold this gospel in so tightly. We're so afraid of offending someone. Man, it's got to be more than you putting the bumper sticker on your car that says, put Christ back in Christmas. You got to live it. You got to be bold with it. Christians have a public faith, not a private faith. It's personal for sure, but it's not private. [00:53:51] (41 seconds) #FaithOutLoud

I'm not dogging our Constitution. I'm just saying maybe the pursuit of happiness ain't the best thing for Christians. Because happiness is going to lead you to all these temporary things. Did you understand? I put it here in my notes so I know. The pursuit of happiness makes us extremely self-focused. I'm not anti-USA. I love our nation and I love the freedoms that we have. But let me tell you what. Before being a follower of the United States of America, you're a follower of Jesus Christ. [00:58:52] (43 seconds) #FollowChristFirst

As you scrape and claw and fight for all this pursuit of happiness, what it does is exhausts you and makes you tired and upset and angry at the end of the day because you have clawed and you have fought for and you don't get it. You don't get any closer to it. You're still upset. You're still tired. You're still stressed out. You're still this huge ball of emotion. Because you've been the hamster on the wheel. And you've run and run and run. Bless that little guy's heart. [01:00:41] (42 seconds) #StopChasingHappiness

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Prince of Peace: Advent Call to Costly Faith

Devotional

Day 1: True peace may cost relationships and comfort.

Day 2: The child brings everlasting rule and peace.

Day 3: Hope in God restores downcast souls.

Day 4: Christ gives a different kind of peace.

Day 5: Prayer opens the way to God's guarding peace.

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Prince of Peace: Advent Call to Costly Faith

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