Peace Beyond Understanding

Fear Not! Gender Reveal?

December 26, 2021 • Mike Burt • Luke 1, Matthew 1

If Heaven were to hold a gender reveal party, how would it go? We can only wonder since Isaiah gave us the spoiler 700 years before – ‘it’s a boy!’ “Unto us a Son is given” was foretold in Isaiah 9:6. So what is with all the Angels? At the Nativity a different reveal was made – a Redeemer Reveal – God with us as Emmanuel. While much of the World finds or invents reasons to celebrate – we know the true Reason for the Season – Jesus. As we pass Christmas this year, let us be certain in our celebrations to focus on the truth revealed to us – Jesus is our Redeemer! We do not want to live under the illusion of good cheer apart from the gift of grace and our forgiveness of sin – that is worth celebrating! Christmas is the very best time of year, not because of anything we find at the mall or online – but because Jesus was born as Messiah, Jesus was offered as Redeemer, Jesus was raised as King of Kings! Those are each worth celebrating and together I hope they are overwhelming to our life – see you Sunday at 10am. Pastor Mike

Peace in Troubled Times

December 19, 2021 • Mike Burt • John 14

We do not need to go hunting to find a good advent verse – even in John. This is a verse that fits well into the theme of great peace! The peace of Christ as Christ came to bring peace. He is the Prince of Peace. And the angels announced at his birth, “Peace on earth, good will towards men.” This Sunday morning, we will look at the answer Jesus gives to the Disciples after they heard Him warn them about the turbulent days ahead. He would be taken, beaten, crucified and buried. They want to know about how He would bless the people of Israel – they were not ready for how He must die for the World. Sunday we will listen to Jesus’ words of peace – not like the World’s but from the heart of God by the hand of Jesus. See you Sunday - the final Worship Service before Christmas - Merry Christmas to you and your family! Pastor Mike

Glory to God - Peace on Earth

December 12, 2021 • Mike Burt • Luke 2:8–14

The Shepherds account of the angels is very revealing about the glory of God and peace on Earth. The message given to them was to be heard and then heeded – as it is for us! God did not send a memo – He gave instructions to be obeyed! This humble birth was to bring all the glory of Heaven to men while giving a basis for peace among men. All this in a single gift from God. Two clear lessons emerge from the herald of angels: God is to be glorified and peace is to be among men. These are the twin great purposes for the coming of Jesus: Glory rising from men to God. Peace descending from God to man. God’s glory is to be declared among men and God’s peace is to be lived out among men. Sunday I will try to place this unparalleled event in historical context as well as redemptive context. When Linus finished with the last line of our verses he turns and says: “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.” Come and hear what Christmas is all about this week! Pastor Mike “God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself because it is not there. There is no such thing.” C.S. Lewis

Prince of Peace

December 5, 2021 • Mike Burt • Isaiah 9:6

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" "And when the Lord Jesus has become your peace, remember, there is another thing: good will towards men. Do not try to keep Christmas without good will towards men.” C.H. Spurgeon God offers a peace that exceeds our understanding – even our imagination! This peace is so dynamic it reaches out in four directions in our lives – upward toward God in worship, inward so as to offer peace within as Jesus taught in Matt 11. Outward so that we can then get along with even the most difficult in the World. Finally God’s peace allows us to press forward as Paul teaches in Philippians 3:14. Sunday we will look at all four directions and be challenged to address the disturbances in our lives as well as seek the peace offered by God that exceeds our imagination offered by His Son – the Prince of Peace! See you Sunday! Pastor Mike “Real contentment must come from within. You and I cannot change or control the world around us, but we can change and control the world within us.” Warren Wiersbe

Peace that exceeds understanding!

November 28, 2021 • Mike Burt • Philippians 4:6–7, Colossians 3:15–17

Anxiety is not our enemy! What curious times! We live in a world broken by conflicts and facing opposition on many fronts. Yet with all of that, we are told that peace is available to the believer. This seems extraordinary if not unbelievable, so Paul refers to this as ‘peace which passes understanding’ and that is the theme for our Christmas Worship for December. Sunday I will begin in Philippians and introduce our key verse for the month and then on into Colossians for our first look at peace in a troubled world. How is it that many wish for their problems to simply pass them by when God is offering a path through instead. Beginning this week, we will describe God’s peace and define our peace. Don’t miss the first of this most important series – Peace that exceeds understanding! See you Sunday! Pastor Mike “God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” C.S. Lewis

Grace Bible Church

Christmas 2021 Series