Topic: Conversion, Putting God First, Syncretism

Purpose: This message will look at the famous choice that Joshua called the Israelites to make. He called them to fully follow God. This involved purging things that compete, choosing God, and making a public statement. 

Bible: Joshua 24:14-24

Bible: Philippians 4:4-9

Topic: Serving and Celebrating the Message of Peace

Purpose: This message will focus on a life dedicated to the message of salvation and peace. Simeon was faithful into old age, waiting for and pointing people to God’s Savior. He is content to just catch a first glimpse of God’s solution to the sin problem. The gift of God is for all people (the nations & Israel). 

Our greatest joy is to receive and distribute the good news; to play a role in God’s great plan. 

Bible: Luke 2:25-35

Topic: Receiving God’s Peace, Relationship between Humility and Blessing

Purpose: This message will focus on the special peace (salvation) that comes to those who come under God’s favor (receive grace). The people who heard this utterance are strategic. They were simple shepherds, showing us that salvation is offered to all and can only be received by the lowly of heart. 

We will look at the incarnation as having two great objects: bringing peace to earth and bringing glory to God (vs. 14). 

Bible: Luke 2:8-17

Topic: Peace with God, Inner Peace, Peace with Others

Purpose: This message come from Zechariah’s song after he regained his voice. Zechariah was celebrating that his son (John) would lead people to the Savior and Messiah. We will focus first on finding peace (with God, with ourselves, with others) through Jesus. Then we will focus on Walking in Peace, being transformed by the peace bringer. 

Bible: Luke 1:64-79

Topic: Prophecy of Peace

Purpose: This message will focus on verses 6&7. The prophesied Messiah will be a Prince of Peace and will bring Abundant Peace. The peace will eventually mean an end to war and faulty human governance. The peace will be rich and holistic, dealing with both the visible and invisible realms. 

Bible: Isaiah 9:1-7

Topic: Thankfulness, Worship

Purpose: Changing our attitude and action into thankfulness. Choosing to celebrate the greatness of God, even in a broken world.

Bible: Psalm 95:1-7

Topic: Seeking Peace with Others

Purpose: Becoming a peacemaker. Being deliberate about swimming upstream in a world of division.

Bible: Romans 12:17-21

Topic: Things that anger or sadden God.

Purpose: Avoiding things that anger or sadden God. Learning to seek and embrace things that please God. Remembering that we all sometimes anger or sadden God.

Bible: Proverbs 6:16-19; Deut. 7:25, 17:1, 23:18; 2 Kings 16:3; 1 Kings 14:24; Prov. 11:1, 16:16-19, 17:15; Isa. 1:12-13

Topic: Power of Prayer

Purpose: Practicing Persistence and Patience in Prayer. Learning that Prayer is powerful spiritually. 

Bible: Daniel 10