Notice Peace | Pastor Rob Hemphill

·28 min·2 clips

Why would angels announce peace to shepherds living under brutal Roman rule?

Pastor Rob Hemphill opens by greeting the congregation and referencing his recent trip to Knoxville, Tennessee. He introduces the Advent series theme of noticing peace, particularly relevant in 2021. Hemphill references the Charlie Brown Christmas special and its presentation of the Christmas story. He reads Luke 2:11-14, focusing on the angelic announcement of peace. The sermon contrasts this announcement with the violent reality of Roman rule during Jesus' birth. Hemphill notes there are 30-35 active conflicts worldwide today. He shares a story from the Battle of the Bulge where American and German soldiers shared a Christmas dinner in a Belgian cottage. The sermon examines the frequency of 'peace' in the New Testament, appearing over 330 times. Hemphill defines the Greek word for peace as binding together disjointed things. He discusses how Rome actively suppressed Jewish hopes for peace. The teaching turns to the Hebrew concept of Shalom, which encompasses inner peace, spiritual wholeness, and the end of injustice. Hemphill references prophecies from Isaiah and Micah about a coming prince of peace. He connects this to the early church's practice of communion. The sermon includes a guided prayer and reflection time. Hemphill explains communion as commemorating sacrifice, anticipating Christ's return, and solidifying faith. He announces an upcoming baptism service with 30+ participants. Hemphill closes with a personal anecdote about stargazing in Arizona to illustrate the need to pause and perceive God's peace.

As heard by us

An Advent sermon on seeing peace in the middle of trouble.

Peace comes through here as a practiced way of looking at life, not as a quick escape from fear or trouble. Set within Advent, the sermon moves from the angels' announcement in Luke to Jesus' promise in John 14:27, where peace is spoken directly to hearts that are troubled and…

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When Christmas feels noisy, press play for a sermon about stopping long enough to notice peace before the noise wins.

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