Come Home

Devotional

Day 1: A promised child brings enduring government and peace

Isaiah announces a king whose arrival offers comfort in the midst of national fear and political chaos; this promise reminds you that God's plans for justice and peace outlast present troubles. When circumstances feel overwhelming, hold to the truth that a ruler from David's line ushers in an unending reign of justice and peace — a hope to lean on until God's promises are fulfilled. Let that promised reign quiet the frantic parts of your heart and give perspective to today's trials. [01:00:02]

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. 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 that time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:6–7, ESV)

Reflection: Name one fear or situation you currently assume won’t improve; what single promise from this passage will you remind yourself of when that fear returns, and how will you practically rehearse that truth this week?

Day 2: Pray, worship, and refocus your anxious thoughts

The pathway away from anxiety is simple in instruction but demanding in practice: take concerns to God in prayer, bring them with thanksgiving (which is worship), and intentionally redirect the mind to what is true and praiseworthy. Practicing these three — prayer, worship, and disciplined meditation on good things — trains the brain to move from a problem-centered worry to a God-centered faith. Begin small and consistent so that peace can guard heart and mind amid the season's pressures. [01:11:11]

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:6–8, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one recurring worry you carry each day; what single prayer, a worship song, or a short Scripture will you practice each morning to reorient your thoughts for the next seven days?

Day 3: Christ's victory gives hope despite present trouble

Jesus' words remind you that trouble in this world is inevitable, yet his overcoming the world is the bedrock of Christian hope — meaning the final outcome is victory for those in him. This hope does not deny pain but anchors perspective: suffering is real, rescue is certain, and the presence of Christ in the struggle changes how you endure it. Let that reality shape your expectations for tomorrow when today's trials feel relentless. [01:05:03]

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33, ESV)

Reflection: When a current trouble feels overwhelming, what is one tangible step you will take this week to "take heart"—whom will you tell, which verse will you recite, or what action will you do—to remind yourself you share in Christ's victory?

Day 4: Don't let distractions dominate your thought life

The original sense behind "do not be anxious" points to preoccupation and distraction; the call is to take control of where the mind lingers rather than to deny the reality of worry or the need for practical help. By identifying the thoughts that repeatedly steal your peace and choosing what to meditate on instead, you can begin to interrupt the worry cycle and replace it with faith-focused habits. This is practical discipleship: intercept the runaway thought, replace it with a promise, and practice it until it becomes a new reflex. [01:12:46]

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" (Matthew 6:25, ESV)

Reflection: List two daily distractions that most easily hijack your mind (for example, social media scrolling or obsessing over bills); choose one 15-minute replacement practice (prayer, reading a Psalm, calling a friend) you will use the next three days to intercept that distraction—what will you do and when?

Day 5: Commit to deep growth through disciplined Scripture practice

A year-long, through-the-Bible rhythm and a simple SOAP journal sharpen spiritual eyesight: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer. Choosing a paper journal, setting aside regular time, and committing to a plan with others creates the context for spiritual depth rather than surface Christianity; faithful small rhythms compound into lasting growth. Prepare to sign up, get a paper journal, and expect that steady engagement with God's Word will reorient both heart and habits. [42:26]

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8, ESV)

Reflection: Will you commit to acquiring a paper journal this week and writing one SOAP entry on a single passage in the next seven days; which day and time will you schedule for that quiet practice, and who will you ask to keep you accountable?

Sermon Summary

We celebrated God’s faithfulness in a tangible way: you gave so generously in our Legacy Offering that we doubled last year’s amount. That lets us finish needed projects here while sending help outside our walls—Christmas gifts for our community and our missionaries. On top of that, we’re stepping in so 80 students at Clinton West don’t miss out on their Christmas blankets. Bring a $5 blanket next Sunday or use the links we posted—let’s knock this out for those kids. I’m grateful for a church that enjoys giving, enjoys each other, and enjoys worship.

I also challenged us to get out of the shallows and dive deep next year. We’re going church-wide with a through-the-Bible devotional and SOAP journaling. I’m asking you to pick up a paper journal and a pen—not for nostalgia, but because slowing down helps truth soak in. Alongside that, we’re launching a “Through the Bible in 52 Weeks” Wednesday class starting Jan 7. Commit, sign up, and by year’s end you’ll have a strong overview of the Old and New Testaments.

This Advent we’re calling it “Come Home.” Announcements of a child bring hope, and Isaiah’s announcement in chapter 9 did exactly that for a people under the shadow of Assyria. Into fear and political pressure, God spoke: a Child would come—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Hope says tomorrow can be better than today, not because life gets easier, but because Jesus has overcome. And the peace He gives doesn’t always make sense; it steadies us when circumstances don’t.

Paul shows us how to participate in that peace: pray first, worship with thanksgiving, and take charge of our thought life (Philippians 4:6–8). Prayer moves burdens from our hands to God’s. Worship re-aims our minds toward gratitude. And disciplined thinking—meditating on what is true, noble, and good—keeps anxiety from setting the agenda. Finally, we turned outward with prayer-and-invite cards for Christmas at Harvest. Write three names, pray, invite, and sit with them. When we lift our eyes to those who need Jesus, our own anxieties often loosen their grip.

Key Takeaways

1. Hope looks beyond immediate trouble Jesus didn’t promise a trouble-free life; He promised His overcoming presence in the middle of it. Christian hope isn’t denial—it’s defiance in the face of darkness, anchored to the One who already conquered. Keep telling your soul, “It will get better,” here or in His presence, because He has the final word. [66:17]
2. Pray first, then problem-solve Prayer is not the last resort; it’s the first alignment. When we move our fear from the front of our minds and bring it before God, we trade control for communion. Then we work, decide, and act from a steadied heart rather than a scattered one. [74:13]
3. Worship recalibrates attention to gratitude Thanksgiving is worship in plain clothes. When we adore God for who He is and thank Him for what He’s done, our minds are retrained to notice grace rather than obsess over gaps. Gratitude doesn’t erase pain; it right-sizes it beneath God’s faithfulness. [78:23]
4. Curate thoughts with Scripture’s filter Paul’s list—true, noble, just, pure, lovely, commendable—isn’t poetry; it’s a practice. We learn to reject mental clickbait and dwell on what forms Christ in us. Worry and faith are both rehearsals of a future; only one rehearses God’s promises. [80:58]
5. Turn outward: pray and invite Focusing on others’ salvation loosens our grip on self-preoccupation. Write three names, pray, invite, and sit with them this Christmas—because every person is a story God loves. Mission redirects anxiety into intercession and hospitality. [86:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[29:25] - Legacy Offering Doubled
[31:24] - Local Missions Updates
[33:06] - Clinton West Blanket Drive
[36:05] - Joyful Giving and Fellowship
[40:05] - Calling Us to Go Deeper
[42:26] - SOAP Journaling for 2025
[46:44] - Through the Bible in 52 Weeks
[50:56] - Advent: Hope and Peace
[55:06] - Isaiah 9: Context and Comfort
[64:50] - Hope When Life Is Hard
[69:23] - Peace That Surpasses Understanding
[74:13] - Pray First, Not Last
[80:58] - Train Your Thoughts on Truth
[86:06] - Pray and Invite for Christmas

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Guide — “Come Home”: Hope and Peace (Isaiah 9)

Bible reading (ESV)
Isaiah 9:1–7
1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
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.

Observation questions (look closely at the text and what was said)

What four names does Isaiah give to the coming child in verse 6, and what concrete roles or expectations does each name suggest? (look at the words themselves in the passage)
Isaiah speaks into a people facing political threat and possible exile. What specific historical pressures were named as the backdrop for this prophecy? [55:06]
Verse 7 says “of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end.” How does the passage describe the scope and permanence of this ruler’s rule?
The sermon connected Isaiah’s announcement to the present promise of hope. Which images in verses 1–4 (light, harvest, broken yoke) most directly show that hope is both present and future?

Interpretation questions (think about meaning and implications)

How would the names “Wonderful Counselor” and “Prince of Peace” have functioned as words of comfort to a people living under looming foreign domination? [55:06]
How do prayer, thanksgiving/worship, and deliberate thinking (Philippians 4:6–8) work together as habits that open a person to God’s peace? Be specific about how each practice changes the heart or mind. [01:14:13]
What does it mean that peace from Christ “surpasses understanding”? How might that kind of peace look in the middle of ongoing trouble rather than only after trouble ends? [01:09:02]
Isaiah announces a child whose reign will bring justice and righteousness. How should the promise of a righteous reign shape a believer’s expectations for justice in the present age?

Application questions (practical, personal next steps)

Prayer should be the first response to worry, not the last. What is one real anxiety you will move to prayer this week (name it and when you will pray about it)? [01:14:13]
Thanksgiving is described as everyday worship that re-aims the mind. Name three specific things you will thank God for each morning this week to retrain your attention toward gratitude. [01:18:23]
Paul gives a list of categories to meditate on (true, noble, just, pure, lovely, commendable). Pick one worry you’ve rehearsed lately. What truth from Scripture or from your life can you use to replace that worry when it appears? [01:20:58]
Turning outward loosens self-preoccupation. Who are three people you will pray for and intentionally invite to a Christmas gathering or a conversation about Jesus? Commit to a concrete action for each (call, invite card, bring coffee). [01:26:06]
The church responded practically to need (blanket drive). What tangible act of generosity could you do in the next seven days to bring hope to someone in your neighborhood or community? (buy a small gift, volunteer time, give money, deliver a warm item) [33:06]
The Advent hope looks forward while calling for present participation. How will you embody hope this season so others see that “tomorrow can be better than today” because of Jesus? Name one weekly habit you will start or keep (Scripture reading, SOAP journaling, service, hospitality) and when you will begin. [42:26]
If anxiety is often a rehearsing of the problem instead of rehearsing God’s promises, what is one short Scripture verse you will memorize this month to use when anxiety rises? Where and when will you practice it daily? [01:20:58]

(End — no closing prayer included)

Sermon Clips

Into that political backdrop, he stands up as a prophet to that nation to go, I know, I know, I know, you're facing hard times. I know, you're fearful, you're stressed, you're anxious. But let me tell you, a child is going to be born. Now the fact is, we understand now that over 700 years later, Jesus is born. But Isaiah is trying to bring some peace and some hope that though you may face tribulation, tomorrow can be better. [01:00:30] (54 seconds) #PropheticHope

I found out that the word Advent simply means arrival. The celebration of Advent by the church is our looking back in celebration at Christ's first arrival while looking forward in anticipation of His second. Let me back up. Because we believe that not only did He come as a baby, but He will come again as a king. Advent consists of five Sundays, in our case four this year. And generally there is, and I've done this here before, but we often will do an Advent wreath where we do the five candles of Advent. [01:02:41] (52 seconds) #AdventMeansArrival

And the fact is, is in the darkest hours of our lives, any hope that we can cling to. Because let's be honest, there are some dark hours. Come on. When things don't turn out like we want them to, there are dark hours. When we thought we were getting a promotion and we got laid off. Right? There are dark moments. But any hope we can cling to. And the hope is this. Not that we won't have trouble. Because that's a false hope. But the hope is this. Is that in the midst of all of it, Jesus is with us. And He's overcome. And if He has overcome, then we in Him overcome as well. [01:07:20] (55 seconds) #OvercomeInChrist

Number one, pray. You go, well, that's just kind of a blanket response, preacher. Well, if we practiced it, it would cease to be a blanket response. And what I've found out is most people don't practice it as much as they practice stressing out. They don't practice prayer as much as they practice being preoccupied and distracted. They allow that bill to stay at the forefront of their mind more than they allow their God who's Jehovah Jireh. Come on. And what I, what I'm telling you is that our first response instead of our last should be prayer. [01:14:32] (46 seconds) #PrayFirstNotLast

A thankful heart is a worshipful heart. I can't find anybody who's grateful who isn't worshiping at the same time. Come on. When I come to the Lord and worship, I can't help but think on the things that he's done for me. And when I think about the things he's done for me, it causes me to stop and say thank you. Why? Because thank you is worship. And the thing about worship is worship retrains your brain where to focus. [01:17:59] (35 seconds) #GratitudeIsWorship

Because all I'm doing when I worry is I focus on my problem. But if I would learn to focus on his promise... I haven't seen his promise, but I focused on his promise, but it never came to pass. Listen, Isaiah gave the people of Judah a promise 700 years before it came to pass. Does anybody remember how long the children of Israel were in Egypt before the promise came to pass? 400 years. Yet, if God doesn't show up in 34 hours for us, we... I just give up. God apparently don't want me to have it. Maybe, maybe God wants you to learn how to trust Him when life just doesn't seem fair. [01:22:39] (62 seconds) #TrustThroughWaiting

Folks who just have a preoccupation with the negative stuff, I just have to look and go, How good is that doing you? Is that doing us to focus on the negative things of life? What difference would it make at least for our attitudes if we focused on what God has done, what God is doing, and what God's promised to do? [01:24:40] (30 seconds) #FocusOnGodsGoodness

Nobody complains about your favorite restaurant upping what they do to get people through the doors. But when the church does stuff to get people through the doors, then we go, I just want more people. Yes, I do. Want more? I want every seat in this place filled, because every person is a story. Every person has a soul, and every soul is going to spend eternity somewhere. And I want the opportunity to place before them the chance to spend eternity in the right place. [01:27:11] (32 seconds) #EverySeatMatters

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