Embracing High Road Living: Cultivating Peace and Worship
Summary
### Summary
Today, we focused on the theme of "High Road Living," emphasizing the importance of taking the high road in our daily lives, especially in the face of chaos and conflict. We began by reflecting on the holiness of God and the power of worship, encouraging everyone to engage deeply in praise as an expression of drawing closer to God. We then transitioned into a special prayer for educators and students returning to school, highlighting the significance of community support and prayer in their lives.
The core of our discussion centered on the concept of being peacemakers, as outlined in Matthew 5:9. We explored the Beatitudes and how Jesus calls us to embody peace in our interactions and decisions. Being a peacemaker doesn't mean avoiding conflict but managing how we address issues, speaking truth with love and wisdom. We delved into the difference between being at peace with God and having the peace of God, emphasizing that while many believers are at peace with God, they often lack the peace of God in their daily lives.
We discussed practical steps to achieve and maintain this peace, such as not being anxious but presenting our requests to God with thanksgiving, as stated in Philippians 4:6-7. We also touched on the importance of regaining peace before attempting to resolve problems, ensuring that we approach challenges with a clear and calm mind. The sermon concluded with a call to see others through God's eyes, recognizing the divine image in every person, and to spread peace by living in peace ourselves.
### Key Takeaways
1. Engage in Authentic Worship: Worship is a powerful way to draw closer to God. It’s not about being comfortable but about expressing our devotion and gratitude to God, regardless of our personal preferences or discomforts. Worship should be an act of surrender and connection, acknowledging God's presence in our lives. [24:56]
2. Be Peacemakers: Jesus calls us to be peacemakers, which involves more than just avoiding conflict. It means actively bringing peace into situations, speaking truth with love, and managing how we address issues. Being a peacemaker reflects the character of God and brings His presence into our world. [52:30]
3. Difference Between Peace with God and Peace of God: Many believers are at peace with God, knowing they are saved, but lack the peace of God in their daily lives. Achieving the peace of God involves trusting Him in every situation, not being anxious, and presenting our requests to Him with thanksgiving. [01:00:14]
4. Regain Peace Before Resolving Problems: When faced with problems, it’s crucial to first regain your peace before attempting to resolve the issue. This ensures that you approach the problem with a clear and calm mind, allowing God’s peace to guide your actions and decisions. [01:05:58]
5. See Others Through God's Eyes: Recognizing that every person is made in the image of God helps us to extend grace and peace to others. This perspective allows us to be more compassionate and understanding, fostering a spirit of unity and love in our interactions. [01:13:48]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[24:00] - Engaging in Worship
[24:56] - Drawing Closer to God
[25:44] - Psalm 150: Praise in the Sanctuary
[31:59] - Special Prayer for Educators and Students
[33:26] - Launching a New Campus
[45:36] - Announcements and Updates
[50:11] - Introduction to High Road Living
[51:44] - High Road Leadership
[52:30] - Being Peacemakers
[53:22] - The Beatitudes
[54:20] - Handling Insults and Persecution
[56:53] - The Need for Peace
[57:39] - Inner Rest and Wholeness
[01:00:14] - Peace with God vs. Peace of God
[01:05:58] - Regaining Peace Before Resolving Problems
[01:13:48] - Seeing Others Through God's Eyes
[01:18:33] - Living in Peace
[01:25:04] - Evidence of God's Presence
[01:27:34] - Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 5:9 - "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."
2. Philippians 4:6-7 - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
3. Psalm 150:1-6 - "Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord."
### Observation Questions
1. What does Matthew 5:9 say about the role and identity of peacemakers?
2. According to Philippians 4:6-7, what should we do instead of being anxious, and what is promised as a result?
3. In Psalm 150, what are the various ways mentioned to praise the Lord? [25:44]
4. How did the sermon describe the difference between being at peace with God and having the peace of God? [01:00:14]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus emphasized peacemaking in Matthew 5:9? How does this align with the overall message of the Beatitudes?
2. How can presenting our requests to God with thanksgiving, as mentioned in Philippians 4:6-7, help us achieve the peace of God in our daily lives?
3. The sermon mentioned that worship is an act of surrender and connection to God. How does this perspective change the way we approach worship? [24:56]
4. What practical steps can we take to regain peace before resolving problems, as suggested in the sermon? [01:05:58]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current worship practices. How can you make your worship more authentic and an act of surrender to God? [24:56]
2. Think of a recent conflict you were involved in. How could you have approached it differently to be a peacemaker, as described in Matthew 5:9? [52:30]
3. Are there areas in your life where you are at peace with God but lack the peace of God? What steps can you take to trust Him more in those situations? [01:00:14]
4. When faced with a problem, do you tend to rush to resolve it or take time to regain your peace first? How can you practice regaining peace before addressing issues? [01:05:58]
5. How can you start seeing others through God's eyes, especially those you find difficult to deal with? What practical steps can you take to extend grace and peace to them? [01:13:48]
6. Identify one situation in your life where you need to regain peace. What specific actions will you take this week to present your requests to God with thanksgiving and trust Him for peace? [01:03:13]
7. How can you be a peacemaker in your community or workplace this week? What specific actions will you take to bring peace into a chaotic situation? [52:30]
Devotional
Day 1: Authentic Worship as a Path to God's Presence
Worship is a powerful way to draw closer to God. It’s not about being comfortable but about expressing our devotion and gratitude to God, regardless of our personal preferences or discomforts. Worship should be an act of surrender and connection, acknowledging God's presence in our lives. Authentic worship involves engaging deeply in praise, not just as a ritual but as a heartfelt expression of our love and reverence for God. When we worship authentically, we open ourselves up to experiencing God's holiness and power in a profound way. This kind of worship can transform our hearts and minds, drawing us closer to God and aligning our lives with His will. [24:56]
Psalm 95:6-7 (ESV): "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand."
Reflection: How can you make your worship more authentic and heartfelt today? What specific steps can you take to ensure that your worship is a true expression of your love and reverence for God?
Day 2: Embracing the Role of a Peacemaker
Jesus calls us to be peacemakers, which involves more than just avoiding conflict. It means actively bringing peace into situations, speaking truth with love, and managing how we address issues. Being a peacemaker reflects the character of God and brings His presence into our world. This role requires wisdom, patience, and a deep understanding of God's love and justice. As peacemakers, we are called to bridge gaps, heal wounds, and foster reconciliation in our relationships and communities. This is not an easy task, but it is a vital part of living out our faith and embodying the teachings of Jesus. [52:30]
James 3:17-18 (ESV): "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."
Reflection: Think of a recent conflict or tension in your life. How can you actively bring peace into that situation today? What steps can you take to speak truth with love and foster reconciliation?
Day 3: Understanding the Peace of God
Many believers are at peace with God, knowing they are saved, but lack the peace of God in their daily lives. Achieving the peace of God involves trusting Him in every situation, not being anxious, and presenting our requests to Him with thanksgiving. This peace transcends our understanding and guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. It is a deep, abiding sense of calm and assurance that comes from knowing that God is in control and that He cares for us. To experience this peace, we must cultivate a habit of prayer, gratitude, and trust in God's promises. [01:00:14]
Isaiah 26:3 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God fully? How can you present your concerns to Him with thanksgiving and cultivate a deeper sense of His peace today?
Day 4: Regaining Peace Before Resolving Problems
When faced with problems, it’s crucial to first regain your peace before attempting to resolve the issue. This ensures that you approach the problem with a clear and calm mind, allowing God’s peace to guide your actions and decisions. Taking time to pray, reflect, and seek God's guidance can help you regain your peace and approach challenges with a sense of calm and clarity. This practice not only helps you make better decisions but also reflects your trust in God's wisdom and timing. [01:05:58]
Colossians 3:15 (ESV): "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."
Reflection: When you face a problem today, take a moment to pause and pray. How can you regain your peace before addressing the issue? What practical steps can you take to ensure that God's peace guides your actions and decisions?
Day 5: Seeing Others Through God's Eyes
Recognizing that every person is made in the image of God helps us to extend grace and peace to others. This perspective allows us to be more compassionate and understanding, fostering a spirit of unity and love in our interactions. When we see others through God's eyes, we are reminded of their inherent worth and dignity, which can transform the way we relate to them. This mindset encourages us to treat others with kindness, respect, and empathy, reflecting God's love in our relationships and communities. [01:13:48]
1 John 4:12 (ESV): "No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."
Reflection: Think of someone you find difficult to love or understand. How can you begin to see them through God's eyes today? What specific actions can you take to extend grace and peace to them?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Just act like the king just showed up in your situation. Showed up in your circumstances. And I don't know what mountain valley you may be in, but just for this moment, just trust me for this moment here. Whatever your thing, whatever your situation, your pain, your struggle, your mountain, your valley may be. There's nobody else but God." [24:00] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We are never more like God than when we take the wholeness and completeness, the shalom of God, we have into a world that desperately needs it. We're never more like God than we who have the peace of God in our heart enter into dark places that doesn't have that peace." [58:16] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When a problem causes you to lose your peace, don't hurry to resolve the problem in hopes of regaining peace. But first regain peace and then see what can be done about the problem." [01:05:11] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "In this world, you will have trouble. And this is not subjective. This is objective. We got information, facts, and truth. You're going to have some trouble. The old folk used to say you're either in one or three positions. You just came out of a storm, you are in a storm, or you're about to go through a storm." [01:07:04] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Some storms, some problems come just for God to change you, to change us. We need to learn how to extend peace through our lives. People need peace. The world need peace. And we, as the peace bearers, need to know how to extend." [01:10:38] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God. I'm going to read the last two. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." [53:22] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. Now, let's start that for a second. The thief comes only. He ain't coming to hang out. He ain't coming to make sure your party is the best party. The thief coming for one particular assignment broken down into three things. He coming to steal, kill, and destroy." [01:11:20] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Some of you are trying to bring peace in other people's lives, but you haven't even made peace with yourself. Some of you are still holding yourself guilty and condemnation for something you did five and ten years. How can you bring peace into somebody else's life when you have not made peace with your own self?" [01:18:33] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We can spread peace by living in peace. We can spread peace, you and I, as peacemakers. We can spread peace by living at peace. And first, peace start with living at peace with yourself." [01:18:33] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We are never more like God than when we take the wholeness and the completeness of what God has given us, what God wants to give us and take it into a world that desperately needs it." [01:25:04] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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