Advent Week Two at Roswell Community Church: Peace

Finding True Peace This Christmas Season
The holiday season is often described as a time of peace, yet for many, it feels anything but peaceful. Between the demands of family gatherings, work deadlines, holiday shopping, and endless events, peace can seem out of reach. At Roswell Community Church, we’re reflecting on how peace isn’t just a seasonal slogan—it’s a transformative gift that begins with Jesus.

The Paradox of Christmas Peace
Many of us resonate with the tension described in Ephesians 2:12-14, where Paul writes about a world marked by division and hostility. In our modern lives, those divisions manifest in countless ways—family conflicts, societal pressures, and even our internal struggles. Despite the chaos, the message of Advent reminds us that peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of Jesus.

“For he is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility…” (Ephesians 2:14)

This scripture challenges us to redefine peace. It’s not about controlling our environment or avoiding stress but about allowing Jesus to transform us from the inside out.

Peace in Three Directions: God, Others, and Ourselves
The peace Jesus brings operates on three levels:

1. Peace with God
   Our ultimate barrier to peace—our sin—has been overcome through Jesus. As Paul’s transformation on the road to Damascus illustrates (Acts 9), peace begins when we surrender our expectations of how God “should” work in our lives. Instead, we trust in His plan, even when it feels counterintuitive.
2. Peace with Others
   In Acts 9, Ananias’ obedience to God’s call to disciple Paul demonstrates how peace can break down even the most impenetrable barriers. Through the lens of God’s grace, we’re called to see others not by their past but by their potential in Christ.
3. Peace Within Ourselves
   Inner peace often feels elusive because it requires us to slow down and reflect—a challenge in our fast-paced lives. Yet, as we rest in God’s love and learn to see ourselves through His eyes, we experience a deep, abiding peace that sustains us through life’s trials.
   
   

Living as People of Peace
As a local church in Roswell, we’re committed to embodying this peace within our community. This means:

• Seeking reconciliation: Just as Paul and Ananias found unity through Christ, we strive to bridge divides in our relationships.
• Serving others: True peace often comes when we focus on being agents of transformation in the lives of those around us.
• Resting in God: Slowing down to reflect and pray allows us to hear God’s voice and align with His will.
  
  

A Call to Communion
Every Sunday, as we gather around the communion table, we are reminded of the source of our peace: the sacrificial love of Jesus. Communion is more than an individual act; it’s a communal celebration of the unity we have in Christ. Together, we declare that in Jesus, we are one people—a new humanity called to reflect His peace to the world.

This Christmas season, we invite you to experience true peace—not the fleeting kind tied to perfect plans or ideal circumstances, but the transformative peace of Christ. Join us at Roswell Community Church as we worship, reflect, and celebrate the gift of peace.
Discover the peace that transcends understanding.