Peacemakers

We gathered at the Lord’s Table under the shadow of a manger throne. The Son of God embraced the lowest place—born in Bethlehem, laid in a manger—so that He could bear a body and blood for us, die our death, rise in victory, and be exalted to the Father’s right hand. That is why sinners can have communion with a holy God: grace given, peace announced, reconciliation accomplished. As we held the bread and the cup, we remembered that Christmas and Easter are one story: incarnation for crucifixion, crucifixion unto resurrection, resurrection unto reigning. And we answered with a song of surrender: my life, my praise, everything I own—His already, gladly returned.

We traced Advent through the Beatitudes—faith, love, joy, peace—arriving at the blessing: blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons and daughters of God. The order matters. Peacemaking is not a ladder of achievement but the fruit of union with Jesus. First, we belong: by grace through faith, enemies made family, adopted, the Spirit testifying that we are children of God. Second, we become like our Father: reconciled and declared righteous in Christ, we hunger for more righteousness. We refuse the half-truth that people are “basically good,” because Scripture tells a harder truth: apart from Christ, we were dead in sin and enemies of God; only then does the cross shine as true peace.

Third, we join His work: God makes His appeal through us. Peacemakers help people make peace with God vertically, and then practice and pursue peace horizontally in homes, churches, and neighborhoods. Ambassadors pray, persevere, and speak good news. Sometimes this looks like patient intercession for resistant loved ones; sometimes it is gentle, wise mediation between hurting believers; often it is costly love for the nations still unreached. Billions have little to no access to the gospel; we ask the Lord to send and to use us. In all of it, we live as people whose possessions and days are already His. The King who reigned from a manger now reigns over us; we gladly offer ourselves to His reconciling mission.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Adoption precedes authentic peacemaking Belonging comes before behaving. We do not manufacture peace from our resources; we receive peace from Christ and become sons and daughters through faith. The Spirit’s witness of adoption frees us from striving and anchors our identity as we pursue reconciliation. From that security, peacemaking becomes overflow, not self-justification. [41:05]
• 2. Face our enmity, seek reconciliation Real peace begins with the hard admission that apart from Christ we were enemies of God. Minimizing sin creates shallow peace; naming enmity makes the cross precious and repentance possible. When we accept the diagnosis, we welcome the cure and become gentle with other sinners who need the same mercy. [46:51]
• 3. Union with Christ grants real peace Justified by faith, we have peace with God now—not a mood, but a status secured by Jesus. This peace stabilizes us in conflict and nourishes a deeper hunger for righteousness. We rest in the righteousness given and reach for the righteousness promised, becoming more like our Father in the process. [49:30]
• 4. Live as ambassadors of reconciliation God makes His appeal through ordinary people who have tasted His extraordinary grace. Ambassadors pray first, speak with clarity, and persevere with patience—whether across a kitchen table or across cultures. The same gospel that reconciles us to God equips us to pursue peace between people with humility and hope. [52:37]
• 5. Surrendered lives amplify gospel peace When everything is already His, surrender becomes honest worship rather than negotiation. Open hands make room for God to place His reconciling work in our schedules, budgets, and relationships. The more we yield, the more available we are to be instruments of His peace. [61:49]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [12:59] - Communion and Manger Throne
• [13:55] - Angels announce peace to shepherds
• [15:50] - Bread, cup, and surrender call
• [22:13] - Institution of the Lord’s Supper
• [39:50] - Blessed are the peacemakers
• [41:05] - Peacemakers belong to the Father
• [45:36] - Are people basically good?
• [49:30] - Peace with God through Jesus
• [52:37] - Ambassadors and good news
• [56:04] - Intercession and global mission
• [59:29] - Peacemaking within the church
• [61:49] - Commissioning prayer of surrender
• [66:37] - Philippians 2 doxology

1. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, what phrases show the change that happens to someone who is “in Christ”?
2. According to 2 Corinthians 5:18–19, what two gifts does God give: one to us and one through us?
3. In 2 Corinthians 5:20, what role are believers called to, and whose appeal is made through them?
4. “Blessed are the peacemakers… The order matters… This is the seventh Beatitude, not the first one.” What did this emphasize about how peacemaking develops? [40:22]

1. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). How does union with Christ change a person’s identity before any new behavior shows up? Where might someone feel this change most in daily life?
2. “God… reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18). Why must belonging (adoption) come before behaving (peacemaking)? How does the Spirit’s witness of adoption steady a person in conflict? [42:56]
3. “We were enemies” who needed to be reconciled (Romans 5 language cited). Why does facing enmity make the cross precious and create deeper peace than simply saying people are “basically good”? [46:51]
4. “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God” (status now). How does this settled peace shape the way a believer engages hard conversations or mediation work? [49:30]

1. “My life, my praise, everything I own… to Jesus the King” — where is one concrete area you sense the Lord inviting surrender so you can be more available for His peacemaking work (time, budget, schedule, gifting)? [15:50]
2. “God… making his appeal through us.” Name one person far from God you will intercede for daily this month. What is one gentle next step—listening, a question, a testimony—you could take toward a gospel conversation? [52:37]
3. “First… peace with God vertically, and then… peace horizontally.” What relationship in your home, church, or workplace needs a peacemaker? What practical first moves could you make this week (prayer, ask good questions, invite a wise third party)? [52:37]
4. “We were enemies… but reconciled by the death of his Son.” Where do you tend to minimize sin in yourself? What specific confession to God—or to another person—would open the door to deeper peace? [46:51]
5. “I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord… help these women.” If asked to help two believers work toward peace, how would you prepare, what boundaries would you set, and what Scriptures would you bring to the table? [59:29]
6. “Ambassadors pray first… and persevere with patience.” What is your prayer plan for a resistant loved one (daily time, Scripture promises, fasting rhythm)? How will you persevere over months, not just days? [56:04]
7. “It’s already His anyway.” What is one specific change you will make in the next 30 days—reallocating money, planning a serve night, opening your table—to align your resources with Jesus’ reconciling mission (neighbors and nations)? [01:01:49]

1. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, what phrases show the change that happens to someone who is “in Christ”?
2. According to 2 Corinthians 5:18–19, what two gifts does God give: one to us and one through us?
3. In 2 Corinthians 5:20, what role are believers called to, and whose appeal is made through them?
4. “Blessed are the peacemakers… The order matters… This is the seventh Beatitude, not the first one.” What did this emphasize about how peacemaking develops? [40:22]

1. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). How does union with Christ change a person’s identity before any new behavior shows up? Where might someone feel this change most in daily life?
2. “God… reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18). Why must belonging (adoption) come before behaving (peacemaking)? How does the Spirit’s witness of adoption steady a person in conflict? [42:56]
3. “We were enemies” who needed to be reconciled (Romans 5 language cited). Why does facing enmity make the cross precious and create deeper peace than simply saying people are “basically good”? [46:51]
4. “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God” (status now). How does this settled peace shape the way a believer engages hard conversations or mediation work? [49:30]

1. “My life, my praise, everything I own… to Jesus the King” — where is one concrete area you sense the Lord inviting surrender so you can be more available for His peacemaking work (time, budget, schedule, gifting)? [15:50]
2. “God… making his appeal through us.” Name one person far from God you will intercede for daily this month. What is one gentle next step—listening, a question, a testimony—you could take toward a gospel conversation? [52:37]
3. “First… peace with God vertically, and then… peace horizontally.” What relationship in your home, church, or workplace needs a peacemaker? What practical first moves could you make this week (prayer, ask good questions, invite a wise third party)? [52:37]
4. “We were enemies… but reconciled by the death of his Son.” Where do you tend to minimize sin in yourself? What specific confession to God—or to another person—would open the door to deeper peace? [46:51]
5. “I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord… help these women.” If asked to help two believers work toward peace, how would you prepare, what boundaries would you set, and what Scriptures would you bring to the table? [59:29]
6. “Ambassadors pray first… and persevere with patience.” What is your prayer plan for a resistant loved one (daily time, Scripture promises, fasting rhythm)? How will you persevere over months, not just days? [56:04]
7. “It’s already His anyway.” What is one specific change you will make in the next 30 days—reallocating money, planning a serve night, opening your table—to align your resources with Jesus’ reconciling mission (neighbors and nations)? [01:01:49]