December 21, 2025
LINK TO SERMON ON YOUTUBE
(May expire after about 6 months)
TEXT: Matthew 1:18-25
TOPIC: Jesus is the Prince of Peace
SERMON SUMMARY:
The Prince of Peace: Finding True Shalom in Christ
This Advent season, I've been reflecting deeply on Isaiah 9:6, which declares, "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."
What strikes me most about this prophecy is how it reveals not just a human baby born in Bethlehem, but the eternal Son of God entering our world. As John 1:1 reminds us, Jesus existed from the beginning—He wasn't created, but came in flesh as the Creator sustaining the entire universe. This child carried divine authority from eternity into time.
The title "Prince of Peace" resonates powerfully with me. In Hebrew, "shalom" means so much more than the absence of war or conflict. It encompasses wholeness, well-being, harmony, and interior peace in our world and within ourselves. This kind of peace feels elusive in our days, doesn't it? Yet the biblical hope is that Christ brings restored order among us and within our individual lives.
Here's what changed everything: Christ's sacrificial death on the cross bridged the insurmountable chasm between us and God. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:13-14 that through Christ's blood, those who were far off have been brought near, and the dividing wall of hostility has been torn down. Our sin separated us from God, but Jesus' mercy destroyed that barrier.
This peace isn't passive—it requires something from me. When I truly abide in Christ, remembering His sacrifice, casting my cares upon Him, and obeying His call to follow, I experience that supernatural calm. It's not about my own strength or efficiency, but about resting in what He's already accomplished. Jesus invites us to behold His victory on our behalf and anchor ourselves in Him as the true source of lasting peace.
Discussion Questions
Understanding Shalom: How does the biblical concept of "shalom" (wholeness, harmony, well-being) differ from how we typically think about peace today? Where in your life do you need this deeper kind of peace most?
The Dividing Wall: Paul describes how Christ has "torn down the dividing wall of hostility" between us and God. What are some "walls" in your life—whether sin patterns, relationships, or circumstances—that feel like barriers to experiencing God's peace? How does Christ's sacrifice speak to those specific walls?
Active Abiding: The sermon emphasizes that experiencing Christ's peace requires us to actively abide in Him, cast our cares upon Him, and follow in obedience. What practical steps can you take this week to move from anxious striving to peaceful abiding in the Prince of Peace?
Prayer
Father God, in the name of Jesus Christ, we come to You with grateful hearts. Thank You for sending Your Son, the Prince of Peace, to bridge the chasm our sin created. We acknowledge that in our own strength, we cannot find the shalom our souls desperately need. Lord, help us to truly abide in You—to release our anxieties, doubts, and fears into Your capable hands. Tear down the walls of hostility that separate us from You and from one another. May we rest in the finished work of Christ on the cross, knowing that He has already won the victory on our behalf. Teach us to walk in obedience, following Your voice, and experiencing the supernatural peace that passes all understanding. We anchor our lives in You, Jesus, the true vine. Apart from You we can do nothing, but in You, we find wholeness, hope, and lasting peace. In the mighty name of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
The Rev. Jose Poch graciously volunteers at St. Luke’s as an Assisting Priest. Retired from over 40 years of rectorship, most recently at St. David’s in Burbank, Fr. Jose has served God and God’s people faithfully as a priest, a police chaplain, a conference and retreat speaker, and a spiritual father to many. During his tenure at St. David’s, he guided the church through a number of major transitions, including the church’s exit from the Episcopal Church and entrance into the Anglican Church. Fr. Jose was one of the founding clergy of the Western Anglican Council and the Diocese of Western Anglicans. Before leading St. David’s, Fr. Jose piloted St. Margaret and St. Ann’s in Los Angeles from a 30-member English-speaking congregation into a bilingual church of over 170. Fr. Jose has a Master in Theology degree from Fuller Seminary. He has been on the board of SOMA and ACTS 29, served as Chairman of the MDP, led numerous mission trips to Latin America, and has been an integral member of the Charismatic Movement in Los Angeles and the Cursillo Movement locally and nationally.
For over a century, the congregation of St. Luke’s has followed Jesus Christ through ancient forms of worship and spiritual growth presented in a contemporary style. St. Luke’s celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024. The original stone building, made of stones from the local mountains, still stands on Foothill Blvd in La Crescenta—though the Anglican congregation has moved to a new building just a few blocks away near downtown Montrose. Retaining its biblically faithful foundation and liturgically rich worship service through the move, this long-standing Los Angeles church also carries on a tradition of warm welcome for newcomers. St. Luke’s is part of the Diocese of Western Anglicans, Anglican Church in North America, and the Global Anglican Communion. We invite you to join us online or in person this Sunday!
