Embodying Peace: The Call to Be Peacemakers
Summary
In my sermon today, I began by expressing my excitement and anticipation for what God is doing in our church and community. I welcomed everyone, highlighting the joy of having live music from our praise team, which has been enhancing our worship experience. I also mentioned the upcoming baptism of Gary, which was a cause for celebration.
I then transitioned into discussing the significance of the Beatitudes, focusing on the seventh Beatitude, "Blessed are the peacemakers." I emphasized that being a peacemaker is not about avoiding conflict but about actively bringing God's peace into situations of discord. I shared a personal story about a trip to Austin with my wife, Cricket, to pick up a picnic table. This experience taught us about seeing people through God's eyes and not focusing on differences, which is essential for being peacemakers.
I also touched on the power of Jesus' sacrifice and the importance of communion, reflecting on the healing and redemption available through His blood. I shared a testimony of physical healing in my own life as an example of the power of faith and the significance of the blood of Jesus.
Throughout the sermon, I reiterated the importance of experiencing peace with God, within ourselves, and with our circumstances. I encouraged the congregation to extend this peace to others, becoming vessels of God's peace in a world that desperately needs it.
I concluded by calling the church to a time of corporate prayer, seeking God's direction and outpouring of the Holy Spirit. I expressed a desire for revival, not just within our church but also in the hearts of individuals and the community. I led the church in a prayer of thanksgiving, believing for answered prayers and miracles.
Key Takeaways:
1. Being a peacemaker involves actively bringing God's peace into situations of discord, not just avoiding conflict. It requires us to see people through God's eyes, without focusing on differences, and to extend the peace we've received from God to others. This is how we truly embody the seventh Beatitude and live out our calling as children of God. [01:04:05]
2. The power of Jesus' sacrifice and the significance of communion are central to our faith. Through His blood, we receive healing, redemption, and the righteousness of God. As we partake in communion, we remember and receive the fullness of what Jesus accomplished on the cross for us. [23:54]
3. Experiencing peace with God is foundational to our spiritual well-being. It is through our relationship with Him that we find true peace, or shalom, which is a state of wholeness and completeness. This peace is available to everyone, regardless of past mistakes, through faith in Jesus Christ. [01:05:03]
4. Peace within ourselves is crucial for facing life's challenges. By following the guidance of Philippians 4, we can regain peace through prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving, even before we see the resolution of our problems. This inner peace allows us to hear the Holy Spirit's direction more clearly. [01:07:39]
5. Corporate prayer is powerful and can lead to a move of the Holy Spirit within our church and beyond. As we come together to seek God's will and presence, we can expect miracles, gifts of the Spirit, and an outpouring that will impact our lives and those around us. [46:45]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 5:9 (ESV): "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
2. Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV): "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
3. Romans 5:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Matthew 5:9 say about the identity of peacemakers?
2. According to Philippians 4:6-7, what are the steps to regain peace in our hearts?
3. How does Romans 5:1-2 describe the relationship between faith and peace with God?
4. In the sermon, what personal story did the pastor share to illustrate the importance of seeing people through God's eyes? [01:21:48]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus call peacemakers "sons of God" in Matthew 5:9? What does this imply about their role and identity?
2. How can the practice of prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving in Philippians 4:6-7 lead to a peace that surpasses understanding?
3. What does it mean to have peace with God through Jesus Christ as described in Romans 5:1-2? How does this peace affect our daily lives?
4. Reflecting on the pastor's story about the trip to Austin, how can seeing people through God's eyes change our approach to being peacemakers? [01:21:48]
#### Application Questions
1. In what ways can you actively bring God's peace into a situation of discord in your life this week? Think of a specific conflict you are currently facing. [01:04:05]
2. How can you incorporate the practice of prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving into your daily routine to maintain inner peace? [01:07:39]
3. Identify a person or group in your community who might be different from you. How can you extend peace to them and build a relationship, as the pastor suggested with the picnic table story? [01:21:48]
4. Reflect on a time when you experienced peace with God. How did this peace influence your actions and decisions? How can you seek to experience this peace more regularly?
5. The pastor emphasized the power of corporate prayer. How can you participate in or initiate a time of corporate prayer in your church or small group? What specific steps will you take? [38:26]
6. Think about a recent challenge or stressful situation. How did you handle it? How might you handle it differently by first seeking peace through prayer and thanksgiving as described in Philippians 4:6-7?
7. The pastor mentioned the importance of extending peace through our lives. Identify one person you can reach out to this week to offer support, encouragement, or reconciliation. How will you approach this interaction? [01:14:55]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Active Peacemaking
Peacemaking is an active process that involves more than just avoiding conflict; it requires intentional engagement to bring harmony into situations of discord. This means looking beyond our differences and seeing others through the lens of compassion and understanding, as God sees them. It's about embodying the seventh Beatitude by becoming agents of reconciliation in a world rife with strife. By doing so, we reflect the heart of God and live out our calling as His children. This is not a passive stance but a proactive pursuit of peace in our relationships and communities.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." - Matthew 5:9 (ESV)
Reflection: Who is someone with whom you can actively seek reconciliation today, and what steps can you take to initiate peace?
Day 2: The Transformative Power of Communion
Communion is a profound act of worship that brings believers into a closer understanding of Jesus' sacrifice. It's a time to reflect on the healing and redemption that His blood provides. As we partake in the bread and the cup, we are reminded of the righteousness that has been imputed to us through His sacrifice. This sacred practice is a tangible reminder of the fullness of what Jesus accomplished on the cross, offering us a path to wholeness and spiritual renewal.
"But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." - Isaiah 53:5 (ESV)
Reflection: How does participating in communion deepen your understanding of Jesus' sacrifice, and how can it transform your daily walk with Him?
Day 3: The Foundation of Peace with God
Peace with God is the cornerstone of our spiritual well-being. It is through a relationship with Jesus Christ that we can experience true peace, or shalom, which signifies a state of completeness and wholeness. This peace transcends our past and our imperfections, offering us a fresh start regardless of our history. It is a gift of grace that is available to all who believe, anchoring us in the love and forgiveness of God.
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." - Romans 5:1 (ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper sense of peace with God, and how might this influence your interactions with others?
Day 4: Inner Peace Amidst Life's Turmoil
Inner peace is essential for navigating the storms of life. By following the guidance of Scripture, we can find solace in prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving, which help us maintain a sense of calm even before our circumstances change. This inner tranquility enables us to listen more attentively to the Holy Spirit and to make decisions that are aligned with God's will for our lives.
"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." - Colossians 3:15 (ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to experience God's peace, and what practical steps can you take to seek His peace in that situation?
Day 5: The Collective Strength of Corporate Prayer
Corporate prayer is a dynamic force that can lead to a profound movement of the Holy Spirit within the church and the wider community. When believers come together in unity to seek God's will and presence, they open the door to divine intervention. This collective intercession can result in miracles, spiritual gifts, and a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit that transforms lives and impacts the world around us.
"And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness." - Acts 4:31 (ESV)
Reflection: How can you more actively participate in corporate prayer, and what specific prayer can you bring to your next prayer gathering?
Quotes
1) "We can never be a peacemaker if we focus on the differences of other people around us. Never. We can't focus on how different they are. We will never have the compassion or the grace that we need to live out this beatitude if we're looking through the lens of the world's mindset." [01:19:53]
2) "Peacemakers are seed sowers and they sow seeds of peace into people's lives and the harvest for the sower is righteousness because you're doing exactly what God has called you to do as a peacemaker." [01:31:29]
3) "The enemy of peace is not your job. It's not your boss. The enemy of peace is not your favorite football team that let you down because they lost in the second round of the playoffs. The enemy of peace is not the economy. It's not politics. The enemy of peace is none of that stuff." [01:18:09]
4) "We are never more like God than when we take our wholeness and our completeness that we have and take it into a world that desperately needs that peace. So how are we going to do this? First of all, it starts this way. We experience peace in our hearts." [01:04:05]
5) "I believe that there's a time of revival just right on the crust of exploding. And it's going to take some individuals that want to come together, pray, seek, knock, ask, get the direction of God, in a corporate setting." [37:52]
6) "Thanksgiving. We said it earlier. Say it again. Before I ever see the result, before I ever feel the pain go away, before I see the check come in the mail, before I see the opportunity to sell a car and the money come in... Before I see it, before I see the building out yonder, thank you, Lord, it is done." [01:11:30]
7) "We are blessed when we are, when we are peace. In other words, we have it, and we are peacemakers. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall, what? Be called the children of God. So God is the God of peace. Jesus is the prince of peace. And we are, what? Peacemakers because we are children of God." [01:03:07]
8) "We can experience peace no matter what circumstances are coming at us. Doesn't matter what's going on. We can experience the peace of God in our life. And this is relevant to what's going on in the world today. Because the world today wants to take your peace away." [01:07:39]
9) "I'm telling you, if you're not slinging blood on everything, start. It makes a world of difference. It does. I'm trying to get into my message, but, I keep coming back to the blood. Nothing but the blood. Yes. The blood. The significance of the blood." [42:06]
10) "I thank you, Father, for the prayers that you've already answered. I thank you for the prayers that you are answering. I thank you, Lord, that you are our provider. That your word says that you shall, what? Supply all of our need according to your riches and glory by Christ Jesus." [47:23]
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