Tension Overload
Part 2 of "How NOT to Ruin Christmas" message series
The BIG Idea:
Most people are on edge during the holidays because they are stressed-out. The chaos and frustration feel very out of place with what Christmas is supposed to be about. It is important to remember that the very first Christmas was NOT exactly peaceful. Jesus did not come to show us how wrong we are, but how cherished we are. Nothing should be more important for us than loving God and loving each other. We experience true peace when we have our lives transformed by Christ Jesus.
ILLUSTRATION: Clashing Cars for Christmas
People are on edge during the holidays because they are stressed-out.
The chaos and frustration feel very out of place with what Christmas is supposed to be about.
The first Christmas was NOT exactly peaceful.
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. – Matthew 1:18-19 (NASB)
There is a cost to peace.
For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. – I Corinthians 2:2 (NASB)
37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ – Matthew 22:37-39 (NASB)
Nothing should be more important for us than loving God and loving each other.
Jesus did NOT come to show us how wrong we are, but how cherished we are.
True peace comes when we have our lives TRANSFORMED by Christ.
Questions for Reflection:
Why do you think the Christmas season seems to invite conflict?
What sort of conflicts do you imagine happened between Mary, Joseph, and their families during the first Christmas?
Isaiah 9:6 tells us that one of the titles for Jesus is “Prince of Peace.” In what places do you see peace in the story of His birth?
In what way does mercy move us from conflict to peace?
Where are the places in your life this Christmas where you need to let go of being right at all costs in exchange for being loving?
Most people are on edge during the holidays because they are stressed-out. The chaos and frustration feel very out of place with what Christmas is supposed to be about. It is important to remember that the very first Christmas was NOT exactly peaceful. Jesus did not come to show us how wrong we are, but how cherished we are. Nothing should be more important for us than loving God and loving each other. We experience true peace when we have our lives transformed by Christ Jesus.
ILLUSTRATION: Clashing Cars for Christmas
People are on edge during the holidays because they are stressed-out.
The chaos and frustration feel very out of place with what Christmas is supposed to be about.
The first Christmas was NOT exactly peaceful.
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. – Matthew 1:18-19 (NASB)
There is a cost to peace.
For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. – I Corinthians 2:2 (NASB)
37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ – Matthew 22:37-39 (NASB)
Nothing should be more important for us than loving God and loving each other.
Jesus did NOT come to show us how wrong we are, but how cherished we are.
True peace comes when we have our lives TRANSFORMED by Christ.
Questions for Reflection:
Why do you think the Christmas season seems to invite conflict?
What sort of conflicts do you imagine happened between Mary, Joseph, and their families during the first Christmas?
Isaiah 9:6 tells us that one of the titles for Jesus is “Prince of Peace.” In what places do you see peace in the story of His birth?
In what way does mercy move us from conflict to peace?
Where are the places in your life this Christmas where you need to let go of being right at all costs in exchange for being loving?