Sermon Outline

1. Practicing Peace is like Planting a Garden – it takes time and a lot of patience
2. Peace/Shalom in Bible Statistics
3. Isaiah 26 & Cosmic Justice
   1. In that day… (Isa 26:1a)
   2. …A song will be sung in the land of Judah… (Isa 26:1a, 24:16)
   3. The Song
      1. We have a strong city (Isa 26:1b, Gal 4:25-26, Heb 11:10)
      2. He sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks (Isa 26:1c)
      3. Open the gates that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in (Isa 26:2)
         1. Notice how they define righteousness – keeps faith (1Chr 10:13, Rev 14:12)
         2. So what does all of this have to do with peace? Much, notice the next verse:
      4. You keep him in perfect peace (Isa 26:3a)
         1. First, Perfect peace comes from God.
         2. Second, Perfect peace is not situational dependent
         3. Third, Perfect peace comes as a result of fixing our eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2)
4. So how can we practice the postures that lead to peace?
   1. Trust in Christ – not in your righteousness. (Mt 5:17, Heb 9:12, Rev 5:9-10, John 10:9-10)
   2. Set your mind on God (Col 3:2)
   3. Pray about everything (Phil 4:6-7)
   4. Take our thoughts captive to Christ (2Cor 10:5)