Sermons from Good News: Keeping peace in a changing world

Blogger's Note: On Sundays, I will be copying and pasting on this blog notes I take in my phone from sermons at the church I attend. I'll be sharing sermons from the current week. On Wednesdays I'll also be sharing sermon messages dating back to October, when I first began attending my current church. Because of the backlog of sermons, I will be running posts on Wednesdays until sometime in May. My goal on Sundays is that sharing these sermons will theoretically be perpetual, or until I feel God nudging me to do something different. I want to also clarify that these are not my sermons, but rather the bullet point notes I put together. I enjoy our pastor's messages very much, and more importantly he preaches the Word of God as-is, which means the Spirit of God is imparting wisdom and knowledge through him. To God alone be the glory.

Church 2-6-2021

Church's 30th birthday

Worship theme: God's goodness

Offertory scripture:

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8,11-12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Corinthians%209:6-8,11-12&version=NIV

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2014:27&version=NIV

Sermon message

Intro reminder for all of us: God loves you, cares about you, and wants you blessed. The Bible tells us God is a good God. Even when you're going through a rough time.

Tonight's thesis: Keeping peace in a changing world.

How do you keep peace in your mind and heart when everything is changing around you?

When the world is changing around us, we can run the risk of making bad decisions.

We subconsciously want to find ways to take control of areas in our lives when things change. It's easy to get angry, frustrated, violent, or make bad decisions when things change. It's easy to lose your peace.

It's good, wise, and smart to remember God even when things change. He is still the same. He still loves you. He's still there for you. He's still powerful. He's still in control.

Jesus is talking to his apostles before He leaves, and reminds them that things will change. But He equips them.

Jesus has given us His peace.

God offers us salvation through Jesus.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%203:16&version=NIV

But we must receive His salvation by faith and to acknowledge it.

15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Mark 16:15-16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Mark%2016:15-16&version=NIV

A peaceful life is a powerful life.

Jesus said "peace! Be still!" To the storm. And it stopped.

Daniel was thrown into a lions den. But the lions never touched him.

Peace will bring you through a storm. Let Jesus' peace be in your heart.

Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego were thrown into a fiery furnace, 7x hotter than usual. God protected them.

In these cases, Daniel, Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego refused to deny God His honor. They faced the storms the world threw at them. And God brought them through.

Jesus tells us to not let our hearts be troubled.

This means we have a choice. We could choose to let our hearts be troubled, or we can hold on to Jesus.

27 Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]

John 14:27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2014:27&version=AMP

It's possible to have peace regardless.

Examination of the word "troubled" in John 14:27.

Don't let your heart be shaken so much that you let go of family, responsibilities, church, God. Instead hold on. Hold on to your faith, in Jesus and His word and his promises. Not the world around you.

We need to stand during the shaking. We realize the shaking is real.

When Jesus withdrew and was alone, He wasn't really alone; He spent alone time with His Heavenly Father. Also people kept approaching Him. He spent alone time with Dad, and then went to help others with their troubles.

Keep your mind stayed on God, and not on the storm.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Isaiah 26:3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Isaiah%2026:3&version=NIV

When we shift our eyes to Jesus, we will find peace. His peace.