Seek God’s Peace

November 7, 2010 | Author Shane Galbraith

Podcast: Download (Duration: 52:30 — 6.0MB)

Scriptures: Haggai 1:15b—2:9;

Psalm 145:1–5, 17–21; II Thessalonians 2:1–5, 13–17; Luke 20:27–38; Jacob 5:30; Doctrine and Covenants 163:4a

Ordinary Time (Proper 27)
Message from Fred Dalton

Today’s Prayer for Peace – Netherlands

Direct link to download today’s audio message http://jcoc.no-ip.org/media/JoplinCOC-11-07-2010.mp3

http://jcoc.no-ip.org/media/JoplinCOC-11-07-2010.mp3

Announcments and News

Today

6:00 PM – Christmas Choir Practice

Wednesday, Nov. 10

Mid-Week Renewal of the Spirit – 6:00 PM

Saturday, Nov. 13

Mission Center Conference ,12:30 PM at the Chapel of Peace, 909 W. Battlefield, Springfield, MO.

Sunday, Nov. 14

Theme: Rejoice in God’s New Creation

Presider: Pat Jones

Speaker: Testimonies

Musician: Leslie Hicks

Morning Devotions: Ben & Pat Jones

Deacon in Charge: Sylvia Honeyball

Thanksgiving Dinner – Meat and potatoes provided, please bring side dishes and desserts.

Sunday, Nov. 21

Congregational Business Meeting – Immediately following church to sustain/elect congregational officers for 2011.

Birthdays & Anniversaries, Nov. 7 – 13

11 Parker Strausbaugh 12 Melody Hutchison

12 Brent Farris

7 David & Leah Peterson’s Anniversary

Administration Teams, Nov. 7 – 20

Daytime: Max Honeyball and Lester Lay

Evenings: Don and Ann Thompson

Scriptures: Haggai 1:15b—2:9;

Psalm 145:1–5, 17–21; II Thessalonians 2:1–5, 13–17; Luke 20:27–38; Jacob 5:30; Doctrine and Covenants 163:4a

Exploring the Scriptures

Haggai is one of the twelve “minor” prophets whose writings appear in the Old Testament. They are called minor because their writings are shorter, not because their message is less important, than Isaiah and Jeremiah—for instance. Haggai consists of only two chapters. In this passage the prophet is addressing those who have returned from exile and find the temple destroyed. For good reason, the people are discouraged. He asks, “How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing?” (v. 3). But Haggai goes on to call his listeners to “take courage” (v. 4). The reason why the people should have courage is because the Lord is with them, according to God’s promise dating back to when they were freed from Egypt (vv. 4–5).

This is a lesson for all people in all times, and is certainly for today. There are many reasons to feel discouraged and to look back wishfully on former times when it seems, from today’s vantage point, that things were better. The prophet counsels the people not to fear, because God’s Spirit abides with them. That is always wise counsel. God’s presence with us is what we can always count on, even when times get rough.

Haggai, in verses 6 and 7, goes on to prophesy that God will shake things up; they will not remain as they are. And in verse 9 he says that the splendor of the new temple that will be built will exceed that of the old one that was destroyed. This is a very future-oriented passage. The people are not to remain in the past or even the present but are to have confidence that God will do a new thing in the future. For those who have confidence in God, there is every reason to hope.

In the last verse, the NRSV uses the word “prosperity”; but this can be misleading. It has been used by many as support for the idea that those who follow God’s laws and ways will be rewarded with material prosperity. However, the King James and Inspired versions use the word “peace,” which in its broadest sense means wholeness. This is the promise for those who trust in God during times of adversity, those who have hope when there appears no reason to have it.

In the words of today’s theme, we are called to “seek God’s peace.” This is not a seeking where we spend time and energy looking for something that is lost. Rather, God’s peace is much more likely to be found when we stop allowing ourselves to be caught up by the hustle and bustle of life and the attempt to fix all our problems ourselves. This peace comes to us as we rest in the promise that God is always with us and trust that the future is in God’s hands.

Sharing in the Communion is an expression of God’s peace as found in Jesus Christ. We receive the emblems in faith that God will always be present and that Gods calls us to a new and unknown future.

Central Ideas

1. Putting our confidence in things of the past does not bring us real hope.

2. God calls us to have courage in times of adversity.

3. God is working out new ways that will shake up the status quo.

4. God’s new creations will exceed the splendor of the old ones that have been destroyed.

5. God offers us peace, and we seek it by opening ourselves to receive it as God’s gift.

Posted in Recorded Services, Recorded Services

Joplin Community of Christ

Seek God’s Peace

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