Peace for Families in a Chaotic World - Colossians 1

Pastor Dan Walker, PhD, MDiv

Introduction: Why Families Need Christ-Centered Peace Today

Today we continue our message series entitled “Stronger Families Through Christ.” Why do we need stronger families in today’s world? Because we are facing an unprecedented onslaught of lies, temptations and violence. We need God’s strength to continue to stand strong in the midst of attacks on our families.

In fact, the very essence of what a biblical should be is being distorted by many. I’ve entitled this second message in our series: Peace for Families in a Chaotic World. Families today are surrounded by chaos on many levels. Endless schedules, sports, school, work, activities and pressures.

Many young families are so busy trying to do it all that they push away what’s even more important to the margins. The most important things in life for us and our families are Christ, church, God’s Word and prayer. We think busyness will build strong homes, keeping up with the other families. But without Christ at the center, families feel fractured, exhausted, and spiritually dry.

God’s grace meets us in this weakness; He has given us Jesus Christ. Jesus is the one who holds all things together. When Christ is placed at the center of our families, He brings peace in the midst of chaos and strength for every season. So, the answer for how to have peace for families in a chaotic world is to put: Jesus at the Center of Your Family.

When Jesus is at the center, when you trust Him to navigate through life’s chaos, your family will have the strength and peace that it needs to flourish. Every young family knows the family calendar. In years past, it may have been stuck to the door of the fridge. Today, it might still be there, but maybe it’s on a phone app.

Every spare moment is crammed with activities: sports, music lessons, school projects, birthdays, doctor appointments, work meetings, shopping and play dates. At first it seems exciting to have so many good things to do. But eventually the calendar runs the family instead of the family running the calendar. In many cases, it ends up with the children and their activities actually running the calendar.

What gets crowded out by those busy schedules? Often, time for church, youth group, family worship, and prayer. Families must discover that peace is not found in more activity by in Christ at the center. Let’s see what God’s Word has to say about priorities and our busy schedules.

Matthew 6:33 (ESV): "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

In this verse, Jesus sets the order of priorities for families. God must come first, not job, not children, not parents, but God. When we put God first, he will provide for our families everything we need. When Jesus is pushed aside by busyness, peace and much more is lost.

Psalm 127:1 (ESV): "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain."

Activities and schedules don’t build a secure home. The Lord does. Families may work tirelessly, but only when they allow Christ to build their home will it stand strong.

Mark 8:36 (ESV): "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?"

Families can gain trophies, achievements, and filled calendars, but good is it if they or their children lose Christ? True peace and reward come only from Him.

When Christ is at the center of our families, He brings peace in the midst of chaos and strength in every season. In Colossians 1, God’s Word gives us three reasons why Jesus must be at the center of our homes. He holds us together, He reconciles us in peace and He empowers us to grow.

Christ Holds Our Families Together

Colossians 1:15 (ESV): "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation."

Jesus. both God and man shows us what God is like, who we can’t see. Jesus is the firstborn of all creation, which does not mean that Jesus was created, Jesus is eternal. The NLT translation captures the meaning: He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation. Jesus shows us exactly who God is.

Families looking to Him see God clearly and know His heart.

Colossians 1:16 (ESV): "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him."

Everything that has been created, in the universe and on earth, the things we can see with our eyes and the spiritual beings we can’t see were created through Jesus. Not only were they created by Him, but they were also created for Him. All things, including family life, were made by Him and for Him. That means that our families were created for Jesus with His purpose in mind.

Our homes only make sense when lived for Christ.

Colossians 1:17 (ESV): "And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

Scientists can describe the force that holds atoms together. They call it the strong nuclear force, but they can’t explain why it exists at all. If Jesus is holding the universe together and all its atoms, then He can hold our families together. Families can’t hold themselves together with effort or busyness.

With Jesus at the center of our families, He can hold us together.

Application: Put Christ First in Your Weekly Rhythms

As parents begin each week by praying over the family calendar. Ask Jesus to hold your family together as you put Him first. Parents, model prioritizing Christ over activities. Show your children that church and faith come first in your life and in theirs.

Remember that as parents, you are to lead your children in the ways of God. By putting Christ first in your family, that will mean that some other activities will need to be removed or cut back. The change in activities may be both for parents and for children. But as you get your schedule in line with God’s priorities, you will find more and more of God’s peace in your family.

Christ Brings Peace Through the Cross

Colossians 1:18 (ESV): "And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent."

This verse makes it clear that Jesus is the head of the church. He is the only one who is preeminent in the entire universe. Every believer must acknowledge Jesus as Lord, which means that whatever He says, you will do without question. When parents recognize Jesus as Lord in their lives, their children will learn to follow Jesus as Lord as well.

Families thrive when Christ’s authority comes first.

Colossians 1:19–20 (ESV): "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."

Peace comes not from lighter schedules or fewer problems, but from the blood of Christ. Every person, whether parent or child is born a sinner by nature. As a sinner each of us was an enemy of God, at war with Him. But Jesus died for us that our sins might be forgiven, and we could have peace with God.

When each person in our families is at peace with God, there will be peace in our homes.

Colossians 1:21–23 (ESV): "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him—if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard…"

These verses speak of what life without Christ at the center is like. We are alienated, hostile and evil, not just towards God but towards others. But when we believed in Jesus, we are made holy and blameless, if we continue in the faith. When Christ is at the center of our lives and families, we have no need to worry, we have hope for the future.

Christ brings peace through the cross.

Application: Practice Daily Forgiveness and Simple Family Devotions

Since you have been forgiven, God’s Word call us you to make forgiveness a daily rhythm in your household. Teach your children to say, I’m sorry, and I forgive you. Model forgiveness as a parent, forgiving one another as Jesus has forgiven you. Never let your children hear you say, I could never forgive someone.

Jesus warned us that if we do not forgive those who have hurt us, the God will not forgive us. Unforgiveness is not an option for believers. Forgiveness in your home will bring God’s peace to your family. Establish a simple weekly family devotion time with your children.

Even 15 minutes to remember the peace Christ gives as we follow Him. There is a free Bible app from our Assembly of God fellowship called the Bible Engagement Project. It has a section on Family Devotions that you can use with your children. We highly recommend it for families to use.

Christ Brings Peace Through the Cross

Christ Gives Us Power to Grow

Colossians 1:24–25 (ESV): "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known…"

Paul endured hardship with joy because Christ empowered him. Families too will face stress, but Christ gives strength for faithfulness. Notice Paul’s priorities in life. Christ was preeminent, then the church, the body of Christ and finally to spread God’s Word.

When we put Christ at the center of our lives and families, there will be some suffering. Why? Because Satan our adversary will attack us, but He will not prevail as we walk in Christ’s power.

Colossians 1:26–27 (ESV): "…the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Through Jesus, this great mystery has been revealed to the saints, all who believe. Christ is not distant, He is in us through His Spirit, the hope of glory. Families can have real hope in a chaotic world when Christ is at the center.

Colossians 1:28–29 (ESV): "Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me."

Our mission is the same as Paul’s, particularly with our families. We are to proclaim, to warn, and to teach so that each person has the power of Christ working in and through them. Paul relied on Christ’s power, not his own. He describes that power as Christ’s energy powerfully working within him.

Families also need Christ’s power to grow and mature in a chaotic world.

Application: Pray for Strength and Keep a Family Blessing Journal

Parents pray daily for Christ’s strength, for you as parents and for your children. Pray regularly with your children for them to be strong in the Lord as well. Especially pray for and with your children when they go off to activities at school or with friends, away from you. Another idea is to keep a family blessing journal.

In that journal you can record answered prayers for those in the family. It will help teach you and your children to see God’s faithfulness. Christ gives your family the power to grow in Him.

Conclusion: Let Christ Lead Your Calendar and Your Peace

Remember the family calendar on the fridge that we talked about at the beginning. Without Christ, it becomes a source of stress and chaos. With Christ at the center of your calendar and planning, it becomes a source of peace. Peace because you’re following Christ’s lead for your family.

Jesus holds families together, He reconciles them through the cross and strengthens them to grow. Yes, you live in a chaotic world, but you don’t need to live in chaos. When Christ is at the center of your family, He brings peace in the midst of chaos and strength for every season.

📘 Continue the Journey

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