Peace Is Here

Devotional

Day 1: God announces peace first to the lowly.

Shepherds in the fields receive the first proclamation of good news, showing that God's peace breaks into the world among ordinary, overlooked people. This announcement reorients who is considered worthy of heaven's joy: not the powerful, but those keeping watch in the margins. The glory that surrounds the shepherds is a promise that peace arrives where life is messy and the world is chaotic. [01:31]

Luke 2:8-14 (KJV)
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Reflection: Who in your daily life feels overlooked or ordinary, and how can you open your heart to receive and share the peace God sends specifically to those places and people?

Day 2: Jesus' birth embodies God's peace for humanity.

The incarnation is God choosing to enter human chaos so peace might be made real and accessible to all people. Even in infancy, before ministry or miracles, the birth itself is the decisive movement of God toward reconciliation and rest for the troubled. Claim the present reality of that peace rather than treating it only as a future promise. [14:55]

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Reflection: What is one clear way you will remind yourself this week that the Prince of Peace came into human life—not only for future hope but for present calm—and how will you practice living from that reality each morning?

Day 3: God's peace guards heart and mind in Christ.

Peace from God is not mere absence of trouble but a sustaining presence that protects inner life amid external storms. This peace changes how one is affected by circumstances: it does not always remove the trouble, but it steadies and transforms response. Look back and see where God’s peace has already kept you from being consumed. [22:21]

Philippians 4:7 (KJV)
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Reflection: Identify a recent trigger that steals your calm; what specific spiritual practice (prayer, Scripture, breath, confession) will you use in the next week to call on God's peace the moment that trigger appears?

Day 4: Be ready to receive and to speak peace.

Peace must be both given and received—one must have hands up, eyes open, and a posture ready to catch what God offers. Jesus taught to speak peace into a house, and the congregation is invited to both proclaim and welcome peace; if not received, it can return. Practice a posture of expectancy this week so blessings do not simply bounce off. [32:13]

Luke 10:5 (KJV)
And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.

Reflection: What practical posture or habit will you adopt (raising hands in worship, a short prayer before meetings, pausing for breath) to make yourself ready to receive and pass on God's peace in your next encounter?

Day 5: God keeps you from falling; fear will not have the final word.

God’s power is present to steady and catch those who lose balance, which frees people to take faithful risks without living in crippling fear. Being kept from falling does not mean one never stumbles; it means there is a sustaining hand that restores, protects, and presents with joy. Let that assurance reshape the way fear and failure shape your path forward. [33:42]

Jude 1:24 (KJV)
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

Reflection: When you imagine taking one faith-filled step that currently scares you, what is the smallest tangible next action you can take this week, trusting God to catch and correct you if you stumble?

Sermon Summary

Luke 2 draws our eyes to shepherds—overlooked, ordinary people—chosen to receive heaven’s first announcement of Jesus. That choice threads through Scripture: Abel, Abraham, Rachel, Moses, David, Amos—God keeps meeting leaders in fields before He sends them to thrones. Advent proclaims peace not as a soft sentiment but as heaven’s reality breaking into earth’s chaos. When we pray, “Your will be done,” we are asking for a world with no racial lines, no economic tiers, no warring factions—the peace of heaven now. Luke writes as a historian to make a contrast we dare not miss: Emperor Augustus claimed the title “son of god” and enforced “peace” through domination and bloodshed, but Jesus, the true Son, brings peace by shedding His own blood and knocking, not forcing, His way into our lives.

You don’t need to name yourself when heaven knows your name. Walk in what God called you to be, and let the fruit bear witness. The Roman Empire left ruins; Jesus’ kingdom leaves living communities—no relics required—because the King still reigns. So I say, not “peace is coming,” but “peace is here.” Like the eye of a hurricane, there is a calm at the center of the most violent winds. If you can endure the eyewall—the betrayal, the pressure, the grief—you find blue skies on the other side. And if you can’t see clear skies yet, know this: God is with you in the wind, sustaining you through it.

Peace means freedom from disturbance. Circumstances can clang and rattle, but they don’t get to own your interior life. Jesus walked on waves and spoke to storms; the same authority steadies your heart in the fight, not just after it. The angels sang “peace on earth” while Jesus was still a baby—no miracles yet, no résumé—teaching us to celebrate peace in its infancy and receive it before the evidence arrives. Fear chokes peace, so the word comes: “Do not be afraid.” Keep your hands ready—heaven can throw peace your way, but you must receive it. Like teaching a child to ride, the Father knows whether to run beside you or step back and watch. Either way, He is with you, and that is why I have peace.

Key Takeaways

1. Walk in your calling quietly You don’t have to announce who you are; obedience will say it for you. Jesus didn’t self-brand—heaven testified. Resist the urge to grasp titles and control outcomes; live faithfully and let God handle recognition. That posture protects peace from the anxiety of self-promotion. [10:12]
2. A kingdom with no ruins Empires built by fear eventually become museums; the kingdom built by love is alive. Where domination needs legions, Jesus builds people, not monuments. Hope anchors in a reign that doesn’t crumble, which frees us to invest in what outlasts us. That’s why peace endures. [13:17]
3. Peace in the storm’s center God designed even hurricanes with a calm in the middle. Sometimes you must pass through the fiercest winds to find the stillness they circle. Endurance is not denial; it’s trusting that presence and protection carry you through the eyewall. Blue skies are nearer than they feel. [16:43]
4. Receive peace before evidence appears The angels sang “peace” over a swaddled infant—no miracles yet, only promise. Learn to praise in seed form, not just in harvest. Peace grows when we trust God’s character before we tally results. Early celebration trains the soul for long obedience. [25:57]
5. Peace meets the overlooked, unafraid Heaven’s first audience were shepherds—unclean, underpaid, unseen—and the word began, “Do not fear.” Fear stifles reception; peace can be thrown to you and still bounce off closed hands. Lift your hands—ready to receive what God speaks over you. Courage creates room for peace to land. [29:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:31] - Shepherds and angelic announcement
[04:04] - Shepherds across Scripture’s story
[06:16] - Advent peace in a chaotic world
[08:27] - Luke frames Jesus and Augustus
[10:12] - Walk in calling, not titles
[13:17] - A kingdom with no ruins
[14:55] - Peace is here, not later
[16:43] - The hurricane eye and peace
[19:06] - Peace: freedom from disturbance
[25:57] - Celebrate peace in its infancy
[28:49] - Peace for the overlooked shepherds
[32:13] - Ready hearts receive peace

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
Luke 2:8–14 (ESV)
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Observation questions

Read Luke 2:8–14. Who receives the angel’s announcement, and what are the first words the angel speaks to them? [01:31]
What specific phrases do the angels use to describe the good news and its scope (who it is “for,” where the Savior is born, and the sign to look for)? [03:01]
The sermon listed a chain of biblical figures who were shepherds (Abel, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, Amos, etc.). What pattern emerges from these examples about where God often meets and calls leaders? [04:04]
What contrast is drawn between the “peace” enforced by Augustus and the peace announced by the angels? How does that difference show up in the description of Jesus’ coming? [09:04]

Interpretation questions

How should one interpret “peace on earth” in Luke 2:14—primarily as a future eschatological promise, a present spiritual reality, a social/political claim, or some combination of these? What evidence in the passage supports the chosen reading? [06:16]
What are the theological implications of comparing a ruler who enforces peace by domination with a Savior who brings peace by self-giving and invitation? How does that comparison affect how authority should be understood? [10:12]
The image of the hurricane eye was used as a picture of peace at the center of violent winds. How does this image shape the interpretation of God’s presence in suffering—does it promise removal of trouble, an inner calm amid trouble, or both? [16:43]
The angel says “Do not be afraid” before announcing peace. What does that sequencing suggest about the relationship between fear and the ability to receive God’s gift? [32:13]

Application questions

“You don’t have to announce who you are; walk in what God called you to be.” What is one area where you are tempted to self-promote rather than quietly walk in your calling? What concrete step can you take this week to practice faithful, low-profile obedience? [10:12]
“A kingdom with no ruins” calls Christians to build people, not monuments. Where are you investing time, money, or energy in things that will become “ruins”? Name one concrete way to redirect that resource toward building people (mentoring, hospitality, teaching, giving). [13:17]
If peace can be present in the “eye” of a storm, what practical spiritual habits steady your heart when the storm is fiercest (Scripture memory, short prayers, a trusted friend to call)? Choose one habit to begin or strengthen this week and say who will hold you accountable. [16:43]
The angels announced peace over a baby—peace in its infancy. In what area of life are you being invited to worship and trust before visible results appear (job, health, relationships, a decision)? What is one small act of faith (a prayer of praise, a generosity step, a confession) you will do this week to receive peace before the evidence arrives? [25:57]
The good news came first to the overlooked shepherds. Who are the “shepherds” in your neighborhood or church—people overlooked by systems or by the community? Pick one person and plan a specific, compassionate action to bring presence or peace to them this month (deliver a meal, listen for an hour, offer practical help). [28:49]
The text says fear stifles reception; hands must be ready to receive. What spiritual practices help you keep your “hands up” and ready to receive (worship, silence, confession, simple openness)? Which practice will you take up this week, and how will you make space for it in your schedule? [32:13]

Sermon Clips

Luke begins chapter 2 by mentioning a decree from Emperor Augustus to all the world.Why would he do this?This is significant because we will overlook what Jesus' birth means even politically unless you put it in the context of Augustus.Who was Augustus?I'm glad you asked.You're inquisitive this morning, Mount Moriah.Augustus changed Rome and the world forever and was one of the most popular emperors ever in the Roman dynasty.Luke is helping us understand the difference between this popular emperor and the king of kings and lord of lords. [00:08:42] (46 seconds) #KingOfKingsContrast

``Augustus called himself the true and living son of God.Luke wants to beg to differ and make sure that you understand that even though folk may like you and even though you had success as an emperor you are not the son of God.You are not the king of kings.You are not the lord of lords.Augustus came into power by the bloodshed of all his political enemies.In other words if you were against Augustus you better watch out because your life could be taken from you.But Jesus came into power by shedding of his own blood for everyone including watch this his enemies. [00:09:29] (42 seconds) #KingBySacrifice

Augustus named himself the son of God but Luke is letting us know that Jesus did not have to name himself the son of God because the angels showed up to make sure everybody knew who he was.Oh come here I got something to tell you and it is this you don't have to announce who you are you just have to walk in who God has called you to be and other people will announce it for you.You don't have to worry about your title because if you really are called if you really are chosen if God has appointed and anointed you other people will say who you are. [00:10:12] (37 seconds) #LetYourLifeSpeak

Jesus birth was a symbol and the reality of peace coming into a world of bloodshed chaos evil and painthat's why today we can boldly confess peace is here not peace is coming not peace was here not I had peace yesterday but I can speak right now and say peace is here because if you have a storm peace is still possible [00:14:35] (51 seconds) #PeaceIsHere

he choseto make himself like you and me so that he could be with us in the storm he had to go through terrible twos awkward preteens confusing adolescence all the way to young adulthood just so he could gain access to give us peace because he knew we couldn't do itand just like a hurricane he would have to go through betrayal persecution death and burial a violent eyewall just to carve out some peace [00:19:05] (37 seconds) #HeWalkedOurStorms

there's some folk who they were just sitting back waiting for you to lose it they would place and bet I bet you this week you watch she gonna lose it she gonna walk out I told you and they're scratching their heads why is it that you still have peace because my peace didn't come from my job my peace didn't come from my family my peace didn't come from my closet my peace didn't come from my credentials my peacecame from Jesus [00:23:04] (28 seconds) #PeaceFromJesus

not to those working in the halls of Congress but to brothers and sisters working hard on minimum wage the angel comes to the shepherds am I in the text Luke is intentional in retelling the story because he wants us to understand something about our savior this savior did not just come to the billionaires he came to everyonewho can breathe air he did not come just for Jews or Romans he came to be savior for all humanity [00:29:50] (33 seconds) #GoodNewsForAll

he came to set the slave free make the wounded hold mend the broken heart heal the shattered spirit comfort those who are mourning the emperor is powerless to really deal with the hearts of men and women but God does God's best work on the heartsof people he came so that even the lowly shepherds could experience peace [00:30:23] (27 seconds) #HealsBrokenHearts

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Peace Is Here

Devotional

Day 1: God announces peace first to the lowly.

Day 2: Jesus' birth embodies God's peace for humanity.

Day 3: God's peace guards heart and mind in Christ.

Day 4: Be ready to receive and to speak peace.

Day 5: God keeps you from falling; fear will not have the final word.

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Peace Is Here

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