We are so glad that you joined us today at North Main Street Church of God. At North Main, we exist to develop completely committed followers of Christ who...

Know Christ intimately,

Grow in Christ continually, and

Go for Christ daily

CONNECTION LUNCHEON
Join us after service TODAY for our Connection Luncheon! Anyone new to North Main eats for free so make sure to invite your friends! Cost: $6/adult $4/child and a max of $20/household. ON THE MENU: Ham, Potatoes, Vegetable, Coleslaw, and Pie.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
Our Christmas Eve services will be identical candlelight services held at 4pm and 7pm on December 24th. There will be childcare available for children 3 and under in our Nursery & Toddler space downstairs.

Peace
2025 Theme: Faithfulness
Series Title: The Unexpected Messiah
Scripture: Luke 2:8-20
December 7th, 2025

Something to think about:

Pax Young was an active member of a congregation in Queensland, Australia. We often encounter the surname Young, but his first name is not one you hear every day. How did he get the name Pax? The answer: he was born on the very day World War I ended. The midwife who helped with the delivery asked the privilege of naming him, and when granted permission, she named him Pax, which means peace. Often in Slavic lands, one encounters the name Vladimir, which means peace. And sometimes one hears the name Olivera, which means peace. But the only person whose name and very life meant peace was Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Only He can give ‘the peace that passes understanding.’”[1]

As we continue our series today entitled, “The Unexpected Messiah,” we come to a passage in Luke’s Gospel that focuses on the peace of Christ that came into the world through His birth. It’s the passage where the angel/s appear to the shepherds in the fields around Bethlehem, the night Jesus was born. Let’s take a closer look:


[1] Robert Shannon, “Preaching,” May/June 1998.

It has been said that peace exists not in the absence of danger, but in the presence of GOD. One can be at peace even when there is chaos all around. As we consider this passage today from Luke’s Gospel about the birth of Jesus, we must remember that…

Key Point: “Peace only comes through trust and surrender to the One who is Peace: Jesus.”

What did the angel/s declare to the shepherds that night?...

1. Don’t be ______________.

Luke 2:9-10a (NLT), 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said.

2. Good ______________ of great ______________.

Luke 2:10b (NLT), “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.”

3. ______________ on ______________.

Luke 2:14 (NLT), “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

Something to take home:

It’s been said that the closer we are to GOD, the more peace and happiness we experience. A baker never expects to get a better cake than the ingredients he puts into it. Yet many people who complain that life is not as rewarding as they expected it to be forget that, by leaving GOD out of their lives, they have left out that which alone can give life its glory, hope, love, joy, and yes, peace.

Do you have peace today? Are you living under the same declaration that the angels brought to the shepherds the night that Jesus was born? Or, are you struggling to find peace amidst the chaos of your circumstances? If you are holding on too tightly to your fears, worries, and anxiety, you will find that peace is elusive. However, if you let go and lean deeply into GOD, a breakthrough of peace awaits you.

Paul reminds us, in order to have peace, we must…

Philippians 4:4-7 (NLT), 4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.*
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

And let’s also consider the words of Jesus:

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT), “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Key Point: “Peace only comes through trust and surrender to the One who is Peace: Jesus.”



*4:5 Greek the Lord is near.

Don’t be afraid.

Read Luke 2:8-10 again. Why did the angel of the LORD tell the shepherds to not be afraid? Would you have been frightened? Why or why not?What do you suppose the “radiance of the LORD’s glory” is?Do you have an experience where you were frightened in the presence of GOD’s glory? If so, would you be willing to explain what you experienced?

Good news of great joy!

The angel told the shepherds that they brought “good news of great joy.” What was the good news that they brought to the shepherds that night (vv. 10-12)? Why was the birth of the Savior/Messiah good news?What is the best news you have ever received? What made it good news? Did it bring you great joy? Explain...

Peace on earth.

In addition to the angel that proclaimed good news to the shepherds, there was an appearance of a great host of angels that sang, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased” (v. 14). With whom is GOD pleased?After the angels left, the shepherds hurried into Bethlehem to see Mary and Joseph and the newborn Jesus. When they returned back to the fields, what was their response? What do you think your response would have been? Explain...

OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Thursday
9:00am - 4:00pm