Christmas at Evolve" - Pastor Jono Zantingh - December 7th, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus’ promise: the Holy Spirit lives with you

Jesus’ presence is not distant but personal — the Spirit lives with believers now and will come to dwell within them. This is a Trinitarian promise of ongoing help, teaching, and reminder of Jesus’ words so that followers are never left as orphans. Embrace the reality that God’s advocate is active in you, equipping you to obey and to experience the peace Jesus gives. [54:00]

John 14:15-27 (NLT)

15 "If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 When that day comes you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them. 22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, 'But, Lord, why do you intend to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?' 23 Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.' 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey me. And remember, the teaching you have heard from me does not come from me but from the Father who sent me. 25 I am telling you these things while I am still living with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. 27 I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.'

Reflection: In what specific area of daily life do you most need the Holy Spirit’s teaching and reminder right now, and what practical step will you take this week to invite the Spirit to teach you there?

Day 2: Obedience opens the door to Christ’s peace

Peace begins when one surrenders to Jesus’ commands, trading the old nature for new life in Christ. Obedience is not legalism but the loving exchange where God gives wholeness, new identity, and the Spirit to help and empower. Examine any area where convenience or pride has kept you from the next obedient step and choose surrender. [01:07:43]

Psalm 85:8 (NLT)

I will listen to what God the LORD will say, for he will speak peace to his people, his faithful ones. But let them not return to their foolish ways.

Reflection: What one specific command of Jesus have you been putting off because it’s inconvenient, and what tangible action will you take in the next 48 hours to obey it?

Day 3: Your identity in Christ secures inner peace

Real peace is rooted in knowing whose you are — not in accomplishments, roles, or failures, but in being born of God. When identity shifts from "who am I?" to "whose am I?" the heart rests, and obedience flows out of being a son or daughter, not from performance. Recenter your worth on being God’s child so the peace of Christ can guard your heart. [01:10:07]

John 16:33 (NLT)

"I have told you these things so that you may have peace in me. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have overcome the world."

Reflection: Name one label (role, failure, or success) you often use to define yourself; how would replacing that label with “child of God” change your reactions this week in a specific situation?

Day 4: The peace of God guards heart and mind

God’s peace transcends human understanding and acts as a guard over thoughts and emotions when life is chaotic. This guarding comes as believers live in Christ — obeying, remembering identity, and allowing the Spirit to settle the heart. Rather than chasing external calm, receive the inward peace that steadies you amid conflict and trial. [01:18:38]

Philippians 4:7 (NLT)

Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: When anxious thoughts come at night, what exact sentence or Scripture will you practice saying to redirect your mind and invite God’s guarding peace?

Day 5: Peace flows out — be sent as a peacemaker

The peace you receive is meant to be given away; it flows out of a life tethered to Jesus and changes the world around you. Rather than seeking peace outwardly, be the underground sprinkler — root your life in obedience and identity so God’s peace springs up and blesses others. Choose to reach out, forgive first, or extend unexpected hospitality as a tangible way to send peace into a relationship. [01:25:54]

John 20:21 (NLT)

Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you."

Reflection: Identify one strained relationship this Christmas season; what specific first step (a call, a meal invite, a written note, or a prayer offered for them) will you take to carry Christ’s peace to that person this week?

Sermon Summary

What a joy to celebrate our kids, our volunteers, and the growing sense of family in the room. I reminded us that we don’t gather to watch; we gather to encounter God together. We shared updates about December—caroling at a seniors’ home and Christmas Eve gatherings—and announced that we’re moving to three Sunday services in late January so we can welcome more people who are finding hope in Jesus. I also thanked our church for radical generosity. We’ve already seen remarkable vision offering momentum, not because we love money, but because we love surrender—refusing to let money pretend to be our god.

From there, I led us to John 14:15–27. Jesus ties love to obedience, promises the Holy Spirit, and speaks a kind of peace the world cannot give. In a culture where anxiety is spiking, Advent reminds us that Christ’s peace is not simply the absence of conflict. It is shalom—wholeness, rebuilding, completion—from the inside out. The angels announced peace “among those with whom He is pleased,” meaning Jesus’ people are meant to carry a different quality of peace in the middle of the same storms everyone else faces.

I offered three pictures. First, peace begins with obedience to Jesus. Some of our unrest isn’t mysterious; it’s connected to places where we’ve delayed or excused disobedience. Second, peace is anchored in identity. We are not orphans; we are sons and daughters in whom the Spirit dwells. Ask not first “Who am I?” but “Whose am I?” Third, peace flows out, not in. The world hunts for peace like a hose that has to be found and attached; Jesus places a river within us. As we walk in obedience and identity, the Spirit’s peace springs up and guards our hearts and minds.

I asked us to think of one strained relationship and to release our expectations—who apologizes first, what the timing should be—and then to carry peace into that space as a gift. Peace is not passive. It is received by faith and released in courage. We closed by inviting the Spirit to convict and fill, to rebuild what’s broken, and to send us as carriers of Christ’s peace into homes, workplaces, and holiday tables. And for those ready to trust Jesus, we prayed a simple prayer of surrender—stepping into peace with God that births the peace of God.

Key Takeaways

1. Peace begins with obedient surrender. Peace isn’t a mood that drifts in; it is the fruit of aligning our actual choices with Jesus’ commands. Where we resist obedience, we often resist peace. The great exchange happens here: we give Jesus our pride, He gives us His humility; we give Him our shame, He clothes us in hope. Obedience is not punishment; it is the doorway into wholeness. [67:43]
2. Identity as God’s children steadies us. An orphaned heart is restless; a son or daughter can rest. Peace grows when “Who am I?” yields to “Whose am I?”—in Christ, not in roles, failures, or labels. Only the Spirit can anchor you in this belonging, where tribulation is real but fear loses its grip. [70:07]
3. The Spirit’s peace flows outward. The world searches for peace outside; Jesus installs a spring within. As we obey and live as God’s kids, the Spirit releases a guarding peace that rises from the inside out and spills into our relationships. Don’t clutch it—let it flow to weary people around you. [78:38]
4. Bring peace to strained relationships. Release your script for how reconciliation “should” happen and carry peace into the gap. Go first with hospitality, forgiveness, and presence—not because they deserve it, but because Christ lives in you. A life saturated with peace becomes contagious, saving thousands around you. [83:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[38:34] - Evolve Kids volunteers and participation
[43:36] - 12 Days of Christmas and caroling
[46:57] - Moving to three Sunday services
[48:35] - Vision offering and generosity
[51:40] - Citywide prayer and ways to give
[54:00] - John 14 reading: Promise of the Spirit
[59:27] - Advent peace: angels and expectation
[62:15] - Shalom: peace amid conflict
[65:08] - Three pictures of Jesus’ peace
[67:43] - Peace begins with obedience
[70:07] - Identity as sons and daughters
[78:38] - Peace flows out from within
[94:23] - Prayer of surrender to Jesus

Bible Study Guide

BIBLE READING (NLT)
John 14:15–27
15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Spirit who leads into all truth. 17 The world cannot receive him because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. I will love them and reveal myself to each of them. 22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) asked, “But, Lord, why do you intend to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24 Those who don’t love me do not obey me. And the teaching you hear is not my own but from the Father who sent me. 25 I have told you these things while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will cause you to remember everything I have said to you. 27 I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS (3–4)

What connection does Jesus draw between love and obedience in verses 15 and 21, and how is the Advocate (Holy Spirit) described in verses 16–17? [54:00]
How does Jesus describe the present and future presence of the Spirit—“lives with you now” and “later will be in you”? What difference do those phrases make for the disciples’ experience? [56:08]
In verse 20 Jesus says, “I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you.” What images or promises of belonging and security does that create for a believer? [59:27]
How does verse 27 contrast the peace Jesus gives with the peace the world offers? Note specific words Jesus uses for his gift. [01:18:38]

INTERPRETATION QUESTIONS (3–4)

How does obedience function as a pathway to peace rather than a burden? Consider the “great exchange” idea—what is given up and what is received—and how that shapes the relationship between surrender and wholeness. [01:07:43]
What does shifting the question from “Who am I?” to “Whose am I?” do to a person’s inner life and anxieties? How might that change the way someone responds to fear or shame? [01:10:07]
In light of “the Spirit lives with you now and later will be in you,” how should the indwelling Spirit change the way believers expect to experience peace—not as a one-time feeling but as an ongoing presence? [01:18:38]
The biblical idea of shalom includes rebuilding, completeness, and wholeness. What does it mean to experience peace “in the middle of conflict,” and how does that differ from the world’s idea of peace? [01:02:15]

APPLICATION QUESTIONS (4–7)

Identify one area where obedience has been delayed in your life (a habit, an unresolved sin, a command you’ve avoided). What concrete step will you take this week to move toward obedience and trust God for the peace that follows? Be specific. [01:07:43]
Think of one strained relationship you carried into this season. What expectations are you holding about how reconciliation should happen (who apologizes first, timing, conditions)? What is one practical “first step” you could take this week to release that script and carry peace into that relationship? (A text? An invitation? A humble apology?) [01:05:08]
Write a short “identity statement” you can say aloud this week that begins with “I am…” and ends with “because I belong to God.” Share it with the group or a friend, and choose one daily practice (scripture, prayer, a verse to memorize) that helps you remember this identity. [01:10:07]
List two concrete ways you will let the Spirit’s peace flow out of you during the holidays (examples: host a short, unexpected act of hospitality; choose forgiveness in a conversation; pause and pray before reacting at a family gathering). Commit to when and how you will do them. [01:20:45]
If you have not yet placed your life under the lordship of Jesus, consider what “surrender” would look like for you. Who could you talk with this week about taking that step, or what simple prayer of surrender could you pray? (If you’ve already taken that step, how will you renew it this season?) [01:34:23]
Practice a brief spiritual habit this week to guard your heart and mind (Philippians 4:6–7): choose one evening to replace anxious rumination with a 10-minute time of confession, thanksgiving, and asking the Holy Spirit to guard your thoughts. When will you schedule it? [01:18:38]

Use these questions to be honest, specific, and humble with one another. The goal is not to perform but to lean into obedience, remember who we are in Christ, and let the Spirit’s peace flow out through us to the people around us.

Sermon Clips

and if you're not maybe it's becauseyou're so accustomed to anxiety and distress that you've all but given up on expecting the peace of Jesus in your life you said well this is my lot in life I guess I'm just going to run hot and anxious for the rest of my days maybe other people get to experience the peace of Jesus but something in me must be broken no what a lie from the pit of hell and I want to just grab a hold of that lie and lay it down today to invite the redeeming love of Jesus to flood your lifewith supernatural and unique peace today [01:01:12] (36 seconds) #PeaceOverAnxiety

here's the good newsyou can have conflict in your life right now conflict in your marriage conflict with your family anticipated conflict because aunt so and so is coming over for Christmas dinner you're just expecting there's going to be some kind of fight this Christmas because there's family and people are hard and messy but the good news of Jesus is that even in the middle of conflict you can still have his peacetrouble in this life does not equate to the absence of Jesus's unique peace because his peace is different [01:02:13] (36 seconds) #PeaceInConflict

because you're probably waiting for them to call you you're probably waiting for them to apologize you probably have an expectation that they own their part of the scenario that they come humbly and knock on your door or send you a text or call just release your expectations for a second release your imagined result to Jesus and then can we invite his peace to surprise us today because that's what Jesus' peace does he brings about a peace in the most unforeseen and unexpected kind of way [01:05:08] (31 seconds) #ReleaseAndReceivePeace

the peace that comes from obedience to Jesus is about a loving exchange and this exchange is remarkable I give Jesus my sin nature he gives me a brand new nature I give Jesus my brokenness he gives me wholeness and life everlasting I give Jesus any false sense of identity in me and he gives me a new nature a new identity and a new name I give Jesus my pride and he gives me his humility I give Jesus my shame he gives me his confidenthope the relationship we have with Jesus is a great exchange and the truth is some of us aren't experiencing peace simply because we're out of line with a commandment of scripture [01:07:00] (42 seconds) #PeaceThroughExchange

it's in Christ that we experience real peaceyou are not a career you are not an addiction you are not your sexuality you are not a role or birth order in your family of origin you are not a pattern or a habit of behavior when we choose to surrender our lives to Christ we belong to God we are His we are in Him and we are sons and we are daughters and it is impossible to experience the peace of Jesus without a right identity and our right identityis simply this we are born of God and we are children of God [01:11:13] (38 seconds) #IdentityInChrist

good news you're born of God you're a child of Godbut the truth is some of us aren't experiencing peace simply because we've been deceived into believing that our identity is anything other than our relationship to God the Father you're walking in an identity of what you're good at or what you're talented at or what you're skilled to do or what you're successful at you're walking in an identity of how you failed or how you've missed the mark none of those things have an opportunity to bring life and freedom to you only in our place as God's children as sons and daughters of God can we walk in wholeness right living [01:14:45] (35 seconds) #ChildOfGodIdentity

you and I have this unique opportunity today to become a picture and a foretaste of Jesus' future world right in the middle of the chaos of this present one we're set apart when we walk in bold obedience to scripture and to the commandments of Jesus when we live radically set apartas children of God with our identity firmly established in Christ then we get to carry the peace that flows out into the world around us and we get to be bearers of that peace and bringers of that peace [01:20:25] (34 seconds) #BeaconsOfPeace

we're supposed to scatter really really well we're supposed to be hearers of the word in a room like this and then put our coats on so we can go and be doers of the word and so stop looking for peace out therelike the world does and remember your peace isn't going to be found in a moment or a circumstance or a change of a circumstance or even in the reparation of a relationship peace in Christ begins with your willing obedience to Jesus your understanding of whose you are in Christ and then an understanding that the peace of the Holy Spirit made a home in you to flow out of you [01:21:56] (36 seconds) #ObedienceBringsPeace

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