Advent Sermon Series (What Do You Want For Christmas?) – Seeking Peace (Part II)

Sermon Title: What Do You Want For Christmas –Seeking the Peace of Christ

Good News Statement: Jesus grants us peace through his presence

Summary: Let the peace of Christ remove our selfish behaviors, our hatred greed, and help us to give our concerns to God

Preached: Sunday, December 7^th, 2025 at Dogwood Prairie & Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSV): Matthew 11:1-6 – Today’s Scripture reading comes from the New Testaments. In today reading, we find ourselves in the presence of John the Baptist and his disciples who are seeking the peace of Christ. May the hearing, reading, and understanding of the word add a blessing to your life.

 

11 Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities.

Messengers from John the Baptist

² When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples ³ and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” ⁴ Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: ⁵ the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. ⁶ And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

This is the Word of God for the People of God; And all God’s people said, “Thanks be to God.”

 

James W. Moore, What Do You Want For Christmas: An Advent Study for Adults, Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 2008.

 

 

Introduction:

In 2016, Forbes Magazine senior contributor Kathy Caprino, published an article striving to find an answer to the following question: “If you could say in one word what you want more of in life, what would that be?” As of 2016, 771 people responded to Caprino’s survey. Upon analyzing the results of her survey, Caprino shared, “What’s so intriguing about these responses is that it’s becoming more obvious with each passing year that the things we humans desperately long for today are not only universal and timeless, but also have become even more elusive and challenging to access and sustain, even as we “evolve” and develop in this tech-frenzied, time-crushing world.”[1]

Of all the things people indicated they want more of in life, the following were the eight mentioned most frequently, according to Caprino’s survey: happiness,[2] money,[3] freedom,[4] peace,[5] joy,[6] balance,[7] fulfillment,[8] and confidence.[9]  Doing a simple Google search on “What people want in their life” you will see that there are many lists that claim to provide what people want most in their life. Most of those links are valuable. However, most of those links are composed by people fulfilling out survey upon survey: they don’t necessarily describe what you want most in life. Happiness, money, freedom, peace, joy, balance, fulfillment, and confidence, are all great things, but are they what you really want in life?

During the Advent Season, our “wants” increase. We make lists. People ask us all the time what we want. Amazon and Wal-Mart both know our address by heart. As humans, our need to want more consumes us this holiday season. However, is what you want something that you need? When was the last time, especially during Christmas, you sat down and made a list not from your mind but from your heart? The birth of Christ, in Bethlehem, in a manger because there was no room in the Inn with two scared and uncertain parents, is what we need in our life. What is your heart seeking this Christmas Season?

To help us answer this question, for the next four weeks we will be using the words of James W. Moore (1938-2019), an author and preacher and pastor ordained in The United Methodist Church. In 2008, he published a book titled What Do You Want For Christmas: An Advent Study for Adults.

 

Body:

It happens every year. You count on it. It always repeats itself. Again and again and again in the days leading up to Christmas, we will hear people ask the big question “What do you want for Christmas this year?” Parents will ask their children; Husbands and wives and spouses will ask each other; girlfriends and boyfriends will ask each other; neighbors will visit each other and before they leave the will ask each other this time honored question. After the question is asked, those asking are hoping to hear these words: “All I want for Christmas is______________ (You fill in the blank).

During the Christmas Season, sometimes we find ourselves asking for absurd things—sometimes they remain on our list for many, many, years, and sometimes those things show up at our front door, which is what happened several years ago for a little girl. The year was 1953 and a Christmas novelty song written by John Rox and performed by 10-year-old Gayla Peevey captured the hearts of thousands of people. As a matter of fact, the song peaked at number 24 on Billboard magazine’s pop chart in December 1953. This song was released by Columbia Records with the B-side of the original record featuring “Are My Ears on Straight?”[10] Upon its national release, the song shot to the top of the charts. Peevey performed the song on the November 13, 1953 episode of The Ed Sullivan Show, which had been recorded earlier in October. The chorus goes something like this: “I can see me now on Christmas morning creeping down the stairs. Oh, what joy and what surprise when I open up my eyes, to see my hippo hero standing there. I want a hippopotamus for Christmas, only a hippopotamus will do. No crocodiles, or rhinoceroseses. I only like hippopotamuseses and hippopotamuses like me too.” The name of this song is “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.”

Legend has it that the Oklahoma City Zoo, the birthplace of Gayla Peevey, picking up on the popularity of the song and Peevey’s local roots, launched the “Gayla Peevey Hippo Fund” so that Peevey could be presented with an actual hippopotamus on Christmas.[11] The campaign succeeded; and Peevey was presented with an actual hippopotamus—which was donated to the Oklahoma City Zoo.[12] It was reported that the hippo lived nearly 50 years.[13] Then, in 2017, Peevey, at the age of 74, was again present when the Oklahoma City Zoo acquired a rare pygmy hippopotamus from the San Diego Zoo.[14] (As a side note, receiving a hippopotamus for Christmas, has been on Emily’s Christmas list for as long as I have known her. And so, a few years ago, I did get her a hippopotamus for Christmas…it was a book titled “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.”)

“What do you want for Christmas?” It’s an age old question, a Christmas classic if you will. Each week to help us ponder this question, we will look at a passage or passages from scripture focused on the birth of Jesus Christ, relate the scripture chosen to our own life, and then I will offer you what is on my Christmas list this year. To begin, my hope is that this year for Christmas you answer that age old question by saying, “All I want for Christmas is not a hippopotamus but…freedom through peace.”

 

Movement One: Examination of Scripture…

Last week, we took time to consider what it means to place hope on our Christmas list. Hope is more than wishful thinking. Hope is more than dreaming. And hope is more than a single word. Hope is a prayer. Hope is what is needed to change our life. Hope begins our Advent Season because we expect to be filled with the hope of God as we anticipate to witness the salvation of Christ lying in a manger in the small town of Bethlehem surrounded by all people of all walks of life. Hope is what inspires us to echo the words of the Prophet Isaiah and Mary, the mother of Jesus, at a time when hope was lost: “Here am I.” Hope is what allows us to find ourselves at the manger scene and then at the cross and then leaving the empty tomb. Hope is realizing that you need God in your life. Hope is what allows you to hear God, to obey God, and to trust in God. Have you put hope on your Christmas list yet?

Today, we return to the words of James Moore, author of the book that I am using for this Advent Sermon Series, who uses the Gospel of Matthew to highlight the second item on our Christmas list: the item is freedom through peace. When was the last time you allowed yourself to embrace peace during the hustle and bustle of Christmas? When was the last time you had enough time to breathe, to sit still, to watch your favorite Christmas movie or show? When was the last time you heard the silver bells through the chaos and the noise? When was the last time you surrendered to the “peace that passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:7)? When was the last time you called upon the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) to help you get through the day? When was the last time you reminded yourself of the words Jesus told his disciples on the night before his crucifixion, “Peace I give you, my peace I leave with you” (John 14:27)? When was the last time you enjoyed a silent and holy night? God continually gives us moments and chances to experience peace, but more often than not we pass it up assuming it will be there tomorrow.

Peace. It’s through peace that we are set free from the things that keep us from getting to the manger scene. If we don’t allow ourselves to experience peace, then we will be asking the same question that the disciples of John the Baptist asked Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew because we have lost sight of who Jesus is: they asked, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” (Matthew 11:3). Let’s explore our scripture passage for today.

“One of the most popular passages of the Advent season,” according to Moore, “is this colorful story in Matthew 11 which comes just after Jesus names the twelve disciples (Matthew 10:1-4), after Jesus gives instructions to the twelve as they embark on his mission alone (Matthew 10:5-15), after Jesus warns them about forthcoming persecutions—“I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves” (Matthew 10:16-25)—and after Jesus tells them “have no fear” (Matthew 10:26) and promises them a reward of righteousness (Matthew 10:40-42). As the disciples are sent forth, Jesus, now alone, encounters followers of John the Baptist—the very individual who is called to “prepare the way of the Lord” (Mark 1; Isaiah 10)—who have been told to seek Jesus out but aren’t sure if Jesus is the Jesus.

John the Baptist sends his disciples out to ask Jesus a question: “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” (Matthew 11:3). Now, this is a curt question. What we have here is a situation where two cousins are going at each other! And we can understand John’s impatience since he has been imprisoned for publicly rebuking King Herod. You see, Herod had stolen his own brother’s wife, and John the Baptist, in his typical hard-hitting, prophetic style, had publicly reprimanded the King. He had exposed King Herod’s sordid, selfish and sinful ways to many of the King’s royal officials. King Herod, being mighty and powerful, didn’t like this, so he took revenge and arrested John the Baptist and later has him beheaded to fulfill the request of Herodias’ daughter (Matthew 14).

It’s here in prison that John the Baptist begins to get a bit impatient with his cousin, Jesus. John sends his disciples out to Jesus with this question: “Look! Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3). What John is asking Jesus is, “What are you waiting for? You have the power. When are you going to rally the people and lead the march to Rome? When are you going to get with the program? When are you going to get this kingdom going? When are you going to smash the Romans and seize the throne? When are you going to set me free from this prison?”[15]

At this point, I want to remind us that we have all been a “John the Baptist.” Not in the sense that we have publicly reprimanded someone for their actions. But we have been impatient with someone or even something. Especially, during this time of year, we find ourselves more impatient than ever: gifts don’t arrive on time, what we ordered was not what we received, items are sold out, family members keep changing plans last minute, the weather doesn’t cooperate, our schedules are too full yet we add one more thing, and the list goes on. During a season where peace should be our focus, we find ourselves allowing the act of being impatient to rule our lives. We have all been impatient in our lives. Statistics show impatience is common, particularly concerning technology and consumer experiences, with many Americans unwilling to wait more than a few minutes for food, a ride, or service. For food, 64% of Americans don’t want to wait more than five minutes for counter or drive-thru service. For a ride, 41% of consumers say they would not wait longer than 15 minutes for a ride. And for customer service support, more than half of the respondents will hang up after being on hold for one minute or less. We live in a culture that is so used to what Sigmund Freud described as “instant gratification” that being impatient happens more often than experiencing peace does.

However, John the Baptist isn’t impatient because it’s Christmas or because his food hasn’t arrived or because customer service is taking too long: he is impatient because he wants Jesus to do things quicker for him. He wants Jesus to do something that Jesus didn’t plan to do: conquer the Romans, the same mind set many people had when Jesus rode into town on a donkey on what we call Palm Sunday. Now, I have to ask you, “Have you ever been impatient with God? Have you ever rushed God before? Have you ever told God what to do?” Whether you want to accept it or not, you can say “yes” to each of those questions. I bet at some point in your life, you have asked God to answer a prayer on your time instead of on His time. I bet you told God to hurry up a time or two. I bet you have told God, “God if you do this one thing for me, I promise to trust you more, to pray more, to forgive so and so.” We find ourselves impatient with God because we don’t understand God’s timing, and we never will. We find ourselves impatient with God because He hasn’t answered our prayers yet. We find ourselves impatient with God because we have places to be, people to meet, things to purchase, etc. We find ourselves impatient with God because we haven’t allowed ourselves to experience peace.

Jesus understands the impatience of John the Baptist which is why he answers the original question by verifying all the things that he has done with John’s disciples: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them” (Matthew 11:4-5). Now, what did Jesus mean by that? Simply this: Jesus meant that he had chosen not the way of might or power or wrath but the way of love and peace.

Jesus’ response is not to be read as him gloating about what he has done and what he can do. His response is about love and peace; specifically, highlighting miracles that have brought people peace through healing. In a way, Jesus’ miracles not only offer healing, but they bring peace to troubled and hurting souls; and they remind us today, that in order to experience true peace, the peace that Christ leaves with us, we need to be healed of what fuels our want to be impatient. Moore identifies these things as selfishness, hate, and unconcern.

 

Movement Two: Seeking Peace from what Fuels our Impatience…

First, peace comes from releasing our selfishness. During the Christmas season, more and more people focus on themselves, and the question we are examining doesn’t help as it asks you what you want. Throughout the season, we tell people “I want this. I have this going on. I need to pick up this. I need to send out cards. I got the coolest gift for so-and-so. My gift is going to be the talk of the town.” We use “I statements” and have a “me mentality” this time of season because that is how Christmas has been portrayed for decades. Sometimes our want list is a lot longer and greater than our “giving list.” We become a little more selfish this time of year.

In addition to Jesus telling us that he “came to serve and not to be served” demonstrating how he seeks to give more than receive (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45), he also teaches us against selfishness. Matthew 16:24-26 shares, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?” Jesus then states in John 13:34, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” You see, Jesus is saying, “The doors are open! You don’t have to let your selfishness imprison you anymore. Deny yourself and find peace in me.”

What does it mean to find peace in Jesus? It means that whatever is happening inside of you, you have given it to Christ. It means that the stress, worry, and frustrations from your day are put on the shoulders of Christ. It means that sins you bear are left at the foot of the cross. It means that you have a deep sense of security from Christ that calms your fears and anxieties, even during difficult times. If we continue to gloat about ourselves and seek to receive more than what we give, our selfishness will continue to fuel our impatience and peace will get farther and farther away. John the Baptist wanted his disciples to find Jesus so that he could get the answers he wanted, so that he could be set free, so that he could continue on in his ministry, so that he could conquer the Romans, so that he could become even more famous.

Christmas is not the season to be selfish and impatient. Rather, Christmas is the season to seek the peace of Christ. We all need to take a step back once in a while to see the bigger picture; but in order to do that, we need to remove ourselves so that we can see what is really going on. This Christmas, remove selfishness and seek peace. And if you have time, create a Christmas list that focuses more on giving—more on others—and less about wanting—less about yourself.

Second, peace comes from releasing our hatred. Moore notes, “I don’t know of anything more dangerous and destructive to our spiritual lives than hate. Hate will absolutely poison your soul.”[16] If you feel hatred right now toward anyone, for that person’s sake, for your sake, for God’s sake, get rid of that. Turn that over to God and let God cleanse you right now before it’s too late. The hatred you have in your life will continuously eat at you and strip you from your peace, if you don’t let it go.

Moore shares a story of how hatred, if not let go, can control our lives. The story is about two people whom some of you may know, Abbott and Costello—the authors of “Who’s on First?” The story goes like this: “One night on their radio program Abbott kept complimenting his lapel flower, much to Costello’s delight. However, a neighbor named Scott came along, admired the flower, and then suddenly, without warning, Scott pulled the flower out of Costello’s lapel, put it on himself, and walked away whistling. This made Lou Costello very angry, and as the program went on, Costello got madder and madder at Scott for taking his flower. Finally, after replacing his lapel flower with another one, Lou Costello said to Bud Abbott, ‘I’m ready for Scott now. Just let him try to take my flower out of my lapel now and see what he gets!’”[17]

I share this story to highlight something important. You see, what Lou Costello didn’t realize was that while the trap he was setting would do harm to his neighbor, Scott, it would also do harm to himself. When we lash out at others in hatred, we are also effected  ourselves by that hatred. Jesus taught “So everything, do to others what you would have them do to you…” (Matthew 7:12). Prior to this teaching, Jesus told his disciples, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). Luke echoes this sentiment by quoting Jesus, “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28). Paul, writing to the people of Rome, picks up on this same theme: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:19-21; Proverbs 25:21-22). Jesus doesn’t teach us to respond to hatred with hatred. No, he teaches us to set aside hatred and focus on the good.

When we allow hatred to control us, we become impatient instead of patient. When we allow hatred to control us, we move away from seeking goodness. When we allow hatred to dictate our thoughts, our words, and our actions, we let the devil win. Christmas is not about letting the devil win. It’s about letting the light of Christ outshine the darkness in our life, to remove the hatred in our life so that the devil will be no more. In life, we aren’t going to agree with everyone or everything—the current state of our nation and the world certainly doesn’t make things easy—but that doesn’t mean we should hate that which is different than us. Jesus didn’t agree with everyone he met or even healed, but yet he didn’t hate them. He heard them, talked with them, saw them, healed them, ate with them, and continually invited them to follow him. Every day, Jesus invites us to follow him, but we must let him have our hate. When we give Jesus our hate, peace will find our heart. Hatred removes peace from our life. I don’t know about you, but this world could use a lot more peace and lot less hatred. This world could benefit from embodying the words of Tiny Tim from Charles Dickens’ Christmas classic A Christmas Carol: “God bless, us, everyone!”[18]

Third, peace comes from releasing our unconcern. Jesus said to John’s disciples, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them” (Matthew 11:4-5). Christ came to show us how concerned God is, how much God cares, how deeply God loves, and he sends us out into the world so that we may love and care and serve other people in that same self-giving way. Christ is concerned about us, but are we concerned about Christ?

In life, we are concerned about a lot. You are concerned about yourself, you are concerned about those in your family, you are concerned about your friends, you are concerned about gas prices, you are concerned about the weather, and some of you are concerned about college football, about different events going on at the church and in the community, about the state of our nation, or about what tomorrow will bring. We are concerned about so many things; even things we can’t control we are concerned with. It’s not a crime to be concerned: being concerned is another way of showing that you care. But our concern shouldn’t control us.

Our concern, though, can help us focus on what is important as individuals and as a church. Jesus was concerned with the blind, the lame, the lepers, the deaf, the dead, the living, the poor, then wealthy, the sinner, the saint, the lost, the hungry, the naked, the disbeliever, those of little faith, the children, and even those who put him on the cross. Jesus was concerned about everyone and everything. For him, that is what he came to do: to show and offer his concern.

In Luke 12:25-26, we hear these reads, “And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? … Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear.” We are allowed to be concerned, but we must not let our concerns cause us to worry and lose faith in Christ. Instead, we should let our concerns help us find peace in Christ. We need to be concerned with how we find peace; with where we find peace; and with whom we experience peace with. Is experiencing peace a concern to you? Are you okay with going a day without experiencing a moment of peace? As busy as I like to be, always doing something, I need peace. Lately, Emily and I will end our day be watching a few episodes of the current show we are watching. That’s our peace. During the mowing season, before heading inside, I would sit in a chair in the garage and enjoy the sunset. That was my peace. After a busy and stressful week, my peace is found in playing drums. Some of you, to experience peace, watch television, work on a craft, contemplate a current project, tinker with something in the shed, go for a drive, read a book, color or draw, scroll through social media, or spend time with family or friends. We need to be concerned with making sure we experience peace in our life.

During the Advent season, the second candle we light is called the candle of peace. As the flame flickers on the small purple candle, God is giving us a moment of peace, knowing very well that as soon as we walk out of these doors, our mind will be on anything and everything not related to what we heard today. For just a brief moment in time, God has found a way to give us peace. Are you concerned about finding peace? Are you concerned about how peace can change your life? Jesus told John’s disciples that he was the one they were looking for; and in doing so, he gave them peace. They didn’t have to keep searching for who John was seeking. They found him. Jesus was there, present in their life. How will find peace this Advent season?

 

Movement Three: Feel God’s Presence in My Life…

Last week I shared that on my Christmas list, I put “hope to put first things first.” Essentially, I am seeking the hope to understand what is important in my life. This week, I add “feel God’s presence in my life through peace.”

“No room in the Inn”—that’s the way the Scriptures put it. There is a heaviness, a pathos, a sadness about those words, a lack of peace for Joseph and Mary. That was the beginning of the Christ Child’s life, and that experience would plague him for the remainder of his days on this earth: no room. To this Moore shares a story about his own church: “There is a woman in my church who is a saint if I have ever known one. She has had a lot of heartaches and tragedies in her life. I have admired her so much because I have been to her home in times of great joy, and I have been there in times of great sorrow, and she is always the same: poised, serene, confident; she has that beautiful smile, that radiant, powerful expression on her face, that positive, hopeful attitude. One day I asked her, ‘How do you do it?’ And she answered, ‘Well, I have always had the feeling that no matter how difficult the experience is, God is with us. I believe God’s presence gives me peace.’”[19]

God is with us. That is the message of Christmas; that is the promise of Christmas; that is the great gift of Christmas. Emmanuel, “God with us.” God is with us, but we need to let Him into our life. Because God is with us, we have the gift to experience peace in our life. What I want for Christmas is the constant reminder that God is with me—through everything—doing His best to assure me peace when I need it most. Do you need peace in your life? Do you know that God is with you?

At the start of Chapter Two, Moore tells a story of how the peace of Christmas can change our life. “A twelve-year-old boy had been brought to the hospital. He had been thrown off of a horse. The boy was so traumatized by that frightening experience that he had become the victim of an emotional paralysis. He was paralyzed in a prison of fear. His eyes were open, but he stared straight ahead. He made no recognition of anyone else, and he would not move or speak. He wouldn’t make a response to anyone or to anything. The doctors said there was nothing physically wrong with him—no bruises or cuts or broken bones, no concussion. The diagnosis was that he had been literally “scared stiff.”… Finally, one day in a moment of inspiration, one of the nurses brought in a baby, a happy six-month-old. The nurse laid the baby on the stomach of the twelve-year-old boy. The baby started cooing and scratching the little boy’s stomach. Then, the baby crawled up and began to touch the little boy’s face. Suddenly, the twelve-year-old boy smiled, and then he hugged the baby and patted him and kissed him on the top of his head….”[20]

This story underscores the incredible message of Advent and Christmas. A little baby comes to set us free. A little baby comes to heal us, to save us, to give us new life. A little baby comes to do for us what no one else can do. A little baby comes to remove our fears so that we can be at peace. God gives us many opportunities to find peace through the Christ child, but how often do we pass up those moments and instead live in fear?

This year, in addition to hope, I am asking for peace—to feel the presence of God—so that I can experience a new life.

 

Conclusion:

Have you ever wondered why we seek peace during Advent? Peace is what grounds us: it’s what we need to fully embrace the miracle of Christmas. This peace is not based on external circumstances but on a spiritual trust in Christ, who is the “Prince of Peace”. It is achieved by finding peace with God, with oneself, and with others through prayer, reflection, and living a life of love and forgiveness. To have peace means that God is with you. To have peace means that you have chosen to set aside your selfishness and focus on others. To have peace means that you have chosen to remove hatred from your heart. To have peace means that you have given your concerns to God. To have peace means that you realize that it’s time to wake up from your fears and to realize that the busyness of the season is no match for the “peace that passes all understanding.”

Don’t be a John the Baptist this Christmas being impatient with Christ—but do prepare the way of the Lord. Rather be a person that is patient with Christ as God abides with you. And who knows, maybe your peace will guide you toward getting a hippopotamus for Christmas! What do you need to do to find peace this Christmas season? Is peace on your Christmas list?

I leave you with these words from the song “Let There Be Peace On Earth”: “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me; Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. With God as our presence, family all are we. Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony. Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now. With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow; To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.”

Let it be so…

 

Closing Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for setting us free through the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Show us how to escape from the prisons that hold us back from experiencing peace. In your holy name we pray, Amen.

 

Benediction:

Church, how will you find peace this Christmas? This week avoid being selfish, remove hatred, give your concerns to God, and let the peace of Christ begin with you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, go forth living out the peace of Christmas. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.

 

 

[1] Kathy Caprino, Forbes Magazine, “The Top 8 Things People Desperately Desire But Can’t Seem To Attain.” May 24, 2016. Accessed November 24, 2025. https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2016/05/24/the-top-8-things-people-desperately-desire-but-cant-seem-to-attain/

[2] People said they find happiness in a job, a spouse, in their family, a title or position, a paycheck, or in fancy house.

[3] Money allows us to do wonderful things: buy our favorite brand of clothing, purchase the newest tool on the market, go on vacations, go out to eat, go shopping, and it allows us to support those in need. To this finding, Caprino asked, “How much money do you really need to bring about the life experiences that will truly fulfill you?”

[4] We all want it, and, to some extent, we all have it. Freedom requires making yourself right, following your own authentic beliefs and values, and building strong boundaries to protect yourself. It also requires, notes Caprino, “boldness and courage to make yourself your own.”^[4] We all want freedom, but how do we pursue freedom through our faith.

[5] We long for peace, desperately. Peace from noise, chatter, pressure, responsibilities. We also want peace from the painful thumping inside our own heads—the conflicts and strain we inflict on ourselves every minute to be better, stronger, smarter, you fill in the blank… I appreciate what Caprino states, “You don’t have to know your purpose to be at peace—you just have to commit to being at peace…”

[6] Simply put, joy comes from the process of becoming more of who you already are from those in your life, from your blessings, and from finding the good even in the bad.

[7] Balance takes understanding of our non-negotiables—what we won’t compromise on and what we will say “yes” to all while making the right decisions that align with our life’s priorities.

[8] Fulfillment can be defined as this: “Satisfaction or happiness as a result of fully developing one’s abilities or character.”^[8] Fulfillment is possible when you are filling up your cup (maybe to the point of having it run over), honoring and respecting yourself, and doing what brings you joy.

[9] Confidence comes from acknowledging our own magnificence, not shying away from it. When we’re in situations that are hurtful, demeaning, challenging and worse, we lose confidence. We get rocked and we stay rocked. We forget who we are, and what we are capable of.

[10] Bow, Dave (December 15, 2010). “Christmas Music Countdown: Day 9.5”. The Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved August 11, 2025.

[11] Siegel, Robert (December 13, 2017). “For The Oklahoma City Zoo, Hippos Are A Christmas Tradition”. National Public Radio. Retrieved December 27, 2021.

[12] Siegel, Robert (December 13, 2017). “For The Oklahoma City Zoo, Hippos Are A Christmas Tradition”. National Public Radio. Retrieved December 27, 2021.

[13] “The Breakfast Club” morning show. WNIC, Detroit, MI. December 19, 2007.

[14] “‘I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas’ Singer Welcomes Hippo to Oklahoma City Zoo”. Billboard. Associated Press. December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.

[15] James W. Moore, What Do You Want For Christmas: An Advent Study for Adults, Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 2008. pg. 15.

[16] James W. Moore, What Do You Want For Christmas: An Advent Study for Adults, Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 2008. pg. 18.

[17] James W. Moore, What Do You Want For Christmas: An Advent Study for Adults, Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 2008. pg. 18-19.

[18] Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, Orinda, California: SeaWolf Press, 2018. pg. 97.

[19] James W. Moore, What Do You Want For Christmas: An Advent Study for Adults, Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 2008. pg. XII-XIV.

[20] James W. Moore, What Do You Want For Christmas: An Advent Study for Adults, Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 2008. pg. 13-14.