Creekside Church, Sunday, Dec 22, 2024
Swords
Locations & Times
Creekside Church
660 Conservation Dr, Waterloo, ON N2J 3Z4, Canada
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
What does the manger make you feel?
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Luke 2:25-35
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
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MATTHEW 10:32-39
32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
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Jesus, in his own words, knows that he will create division.
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But Jesus also says things like:
MATTHEW 10:16 - “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
And Paul will teach:
ROMANS 12:18 - If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
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Is Jesus telling us to go out into the world and be jerks with swords?
Or is he warning us, that following us will cause division?
He wants us to expect and be prepared for division and hardship. Not to amplify it.
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Think ahead to the social settings you'll be in this Christmas season.
What will you say when the inevitable, difficult conversations come up?
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Jesus also causes us to see how we are internally divided.
The duplicity of our own hearts.
The ways in which other ways of life are in competition with the way of Jesus.
Examples:
- Growing the church
- Transformation
- Life in Community
- Serving
- Giving Financially
PRAYER
Jesus illuminate where I am divided.
Help me to see that your way is better.
Strengthen me to choose to follow you.
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Luke 2:25-35
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
----------
MATTHEW 10:32-39
32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
----------
Jesus, in his own words, knows that he will create division.
----------
But Jesus also says things like:
MATTHEW 10:16 - “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
And Paul will teach:
ROMANS 12:18 - If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
----------
Is Jesus telling us to go out into the world and be jerks with swords?
Or is he warning us, that following us will cause division?
He wants us to expect and be prepared for division and hardship. Not to amplify it.
----------
Think ahead to the social settings you'll be in this Christmas season.
What will you say when the inevitable, difficult conversations come up?
----------
Jesus also causes us to see how we are internally divided.
The duplicity of our own hearts.
The ways in which other ways of life are in competition with the way of Jesus.
Examples:
- Growing the church
- Transformation
- Life in Community
- Serving
- Giving Financially
PRAYER
Jesus illuminate where I am divided.
Help me to see that your way is better.
Strengthen me to choose to follow you.