Podcast Summary: Church of the Highlands - "On Earth, Peace"
Date: December 25, 2024
Podcast: Church of the Highlands - Sunday Messages – Audio
Host/Speaker: Senior Pastor (A)
Theme: The true promise of peace at Christmas and the pathway to real, lasting peace
Episode Overview
This Christmas message from the Church of the Highlands explores the real meaning behind the scriptural phrase "on earth, peace." Pastor A addresses common misconceptions about the promise of peace, encourages listeners to pursue a deeper, personal peace through faith, and casts a vision for new beginnings in the coming year. The message is deeply pastoral, filled with biblical insights, personal stories, and a welcoming invitation to experience transformation and peace in God.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Gratitude and Community Welcome (00:00 – 04:15)
- Pastor opens by thanking the music, creative teams, and the Dream Teamers for their efforts.
- Extends a loving welcome to both long-time members and first-time guests, inviting everyone to be part of the church family.
- Shares the founding vision of Church of the Highlands—not just to start a church, but to help people find more in their faith journeys.
2. The Spiritual Journey: Four Purposes (02:25 – 04:10)
- The ‘more’ God wants for everyone is found in:
- Knowing God: “Really know Him personally and actually enjoy being in a relationship with Him.”
- Finding Freedom: Letting go of past issues to become your best self.
- Discovering Purpose: “The real reason God created you.”
- Making a Difference: “The only way to find real joy and fulfillment.”
3. Unpacking ‘Peace on Earth’: Common Misunderstandings (04:15 – 09:45)
- The phrase “peace on earth” is only found once in the Bible (Luke 12:51) — and Jesus says the opposite: “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No.”
- True biblical account is in Luke 2:14: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
“The message from heaven isn’t peace on earth; it’s on earth, peace. And those two things are completely different.” (A, 07:58)
- Earth is not promised peace; rather, people are promised peace while living on earth.
4. Why We Struggle with Peace: The Four UNs (10:00 – 14:20)
Pastor identifies four primary reasons people lack peace:
- Unavoidable Circumstances: Things you can’t control, from global wars to local traffic.
- Unbearable People: Difficult relationships, often highlighted during holidays.
- Unexplainable Problems: Personal hardships that don’t have obvious reasons.
- Uncontrollable Worry: Worries about health, finances, family, and future.
“If there was one great destroyer of our peace, it’s the things we worry about.” (A, 13:42)
- Worry “never solves tomorrow’s problems; it only robs today of its peace.”
5. The Real Gift: Jesus’ Offer of Lasting Peace (14:25 – 18:50)
- Jesus offers a different peace:
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27, quoted at 15:10) - Human solutions (pills, pipes, mindfulness, meditation) only provide surface-level or temporary peace.
6. The Pathway to Peace: God’s Favor Through Faith (19:00 – 24:40)
- “Peace is available to those on whom His favor rests.”
- We cannot earn God’s favor alone — “we’ve fallen short of His glory.”
- That’s why God sent Jesus: to make a way to real peace.
- “Peace doesn’t come from our problems going away. It comes when you and I are made right in God’s sight.”
“God saw humanity in darkness and earth without peace, and He sent His Son… to make it possible for there to be on earth, peace.” (A, 21:48)
- Quotes Romans 5: “Since we’ve been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus has done for us.”
7. Vision for the New Year: A Year of New Beginnings (24:45 – 27:40)
- 2025 is declared “a year of new beginnings,” emphasizing a fresh start.
- Invites everyone to "give us a year, go all in" – participate in church life fully for one year and promises life-transforming results:
“If you choose to start fresh and go all in with God... you’re going to have peace regardless of what your earth looks like. And I guarantee it.” (A, 26:34)
8. Personal Testimony: A Christmas Transformation (27:41 – 29:19)
- Shares his story: At age 15, in a dark time, invited to church at Christmas, experienced God’s presence, “felt the knock” on his heart, responded, and “life has never been the same.”
- This serves as an invitation for those listening who feel God stirring in them now.
9. Closing Call & Prayer over Listeners (29:20 – End)
- Before transitioning to the candlelight moment/song, Pastor prepares listeners to receive a sung prayer:
“It’s time to say yes to God and let Him give you His peace.” (A, 29:52)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On the biblical promise of peace:
“God isn’t promising peace on earth. His promise is that on earth, you can have peace.” (A, 08:56)
- On worry:
“Worry never solves tomorrow’s problems; it only robs today of its peace.” (A, 13:52)
- Christmas message in a phrase:
“On earth, peace—on whatever your earth has turned out to be for you. God wants you to experience real peace.” (A, 15:50)
- Invitation to life-change:
“There is nothing more peaceful than a clean slate. And I believe it’s time for many of you to start fresh, to begin again, and to enter the new year with a fresh focus for your life.” (A, 25:32)
- Testimony:
“God showed up, and I felt his presence, and I felt the knock on the door of my heart. God wanted in my life. He wanted to give me a new beginning and a fresh start. And I let him in. And my life has never been the same.” (A, 28:23)
Important Timestamps
- 00:00 – 02:24: Opening, gratitude, welcome
- 02:25 – 04:10: Church purpose and the four steps on the faith journey
- 04:15 – 09:45: The Bible’s teaching on “peace on earth” vs. “on earth, peace”
- 10:00 – 14:20: The “Four UNs” that rob us of peace
- 14:25 – 18:50: The true gift of Jesus’ peace
- 19:00 – 24:40: Peace comes through favor—accessible by faith in Jesus
- 24:45 – 27:40: Vision for 2025: a year of new beginnings
- 27:41 – 29:19: Personal testimony
- 29:20 – end: Closing invitation, transition to sung prayer
Overall Tone and Takeaways
The message is warm, earnest, and invitational, filled with hope and encouragement for anyone seeking peace in turbulent times. It reorients the Christmas narrative away from unattainable global peace to the deeply personal, accessible peace found in relationship with Christ, and extends a hand to all, whatever their present circumstances.
If you haven’t listened:
This episode reframes a familiar Christmas phrase, challenges common assumptions, and offers a genuine path toward peace and a new start—no matter what’s happening in your life or in the world.