Advent 2025 #4 — Joy and Peace

Notes

17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ro 14:17.

In this Christmas sermon on Romans 14:17—"The kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking, but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit"—we see why Jesus' birth matters so much: He is the promised King bringing God's kingdom, which is already here but will be fully revealed when He returns. The message unpacks the heart of this kingdom: true righteousness (forgiveness and real change through faith), deep peace (with God and others), and lasting joy (from forgiven sins, eternal life, and future glory)—all powered by the Holy Spirit—and invites us to experience these gifts that Christmas truly celebrates.