The Sword of Peace: Embracing Truth and Division in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Sword of Christ: Peace That Divides

Jesus’ peace is not always the absence of conflict; rather, it is a peace forged in love that sometimes brings division before it brings healing and wholeness. When Christ is at the center, His presence may stir up discomfort or even opposition, especially among those closest to us, but this disruption is often the beginning of true transformation. The call is not to avoid hard truths or uncomfortable conversations, but to allow Christ’s truth to cut through false peace and lead us into deeper alignment with Him. In surrendering to this process, we find a peace that is deeper than mere agreement or comfort—a peace that is rooted in truth and leads to genuine healing. [01:19]

Matthew 10:34-39 (ESV)
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Reflection: Is there a relationship or area in your life where you have been avoiding truth for the sake of comfort? What would it look like to let Christ’s truth bring healing, even if it means facing temporary discomfort or division?

Day 2: Sent as Sheep Among Wolves: Courage and Gentleness

Jesus sends His followers into a world that can be hostile, instructing them to be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves. This means facing difficult situations and people not with fear or aggression, but with gentleness, vulnerability, and the grace of God. Fear can build walls and keep us from hearing what we need to hear, but Christ calls us to go forward with courage, trusting that His presence and wisdom will guide us through every challenge. In this way, we become bearers of His peace and truth, even in the midst of adversity. [07:38]

Matthew 10:16-17 (ESV)
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues.”

Reflection: Where do you sense God calling you to step into a difficult or uncomfortable situation with courage and gentleness? How can you rely on His grace to respond with both wisdom and innocence?

Day 3: True Peace Follows Truth

True peace is not found in avoiding conflict or glossing over difficult issues, but in facing the truth—even when it hurts. Only truth can bring real healing, and sometimes the refining process is painful. Yet, as we walk through the storms and confront the things that need to change in our lives, Christ is with us, strengthening us and shaping us into the people He has called us to be. The peace He offers is a peace that passes understanding, one that is born from truth and sustained by His love and presence. [26:09]

John 8:31-32 (ESV)
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”

Reflection: What truth have you been avoiding in your life, and how might facing it—however difficult—lead to deeper peace and freedom in Christ?

Day 4: Allegiance to Christ Above All

Jesus calls us to love Him above all else, even above our closest relationships, our tribes, or our personal comfort. When Christ is first in our lives, we are able to love others more fully and rightly, because our love is rooted in Him. This allegiance may bring division or misunderstanding, but it is the only way to experience the fullness of life and love that God intends. Examining our allegiances helps us see where we may be clinging to false peace or misplaced priorities, and invites us to surrender everything to Christ. [32:09]

Luke 14:26-27 (ESV)
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where your allegiance to Christ is being challenged by competing loyalties? What step can you take today to put Him first?

Day 5: Peacemakers Marked by Truth and Love

We are called to be peacemakers, but not at the expense of truth. The world does not need more people who simply get along; it needs disciples who are willing to be shaped by Christ’s truth, even when it cuts deep, so that they can carry His healing into every broken place. As we allow Christ to do His refining work in us, we become people who speak the truth in love, who open doors for real conversation, and who bring the peace of Christ wherever we go. Our mission is to go into the world with gentleness, courage, and truth, always led by Christ and sustained by His grace. [34:03]

Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”

Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience both the truth and love of Christ through you today? How can you intentionally speak truth in love to them, trusting God to use it for healing?

Sermon Summary

The peace that Jesus offers is not always the kind of peace we expect or desire. While we long for comfort, avoidance of conflict, and simple agreement, the peace of Christ is forged in love and often comes through division before it brings healing. Jesus’ words in Matthew 10 challenge us to place Him above all other allegiances—even above family, tribe, or the groups we most identify with. This is a hard teaching, especially in a world that values getting along and avoiding difficult conversations. Yet, true peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of Christ in the midst of it.

There are times when following Jesus means walking into situations that are uncomfortable, even painful, because He is leading us through them, not around them. The “sword” He brings is not a call to violence or aggression, but a spiritual division that separates us from anything that keeps us from full surrender to Him. Sometimes, the healing we need begins with holy disruptions—moments when the truth cuts through our comfort and exposes what needs to change. Only by allowing Christ to be first in our lives can we truly love others as we are called to, and only by embracing the truth, even when it hurts, can we experience real peace.

We are called to be peacemakers, but not at the expense of truth. Our allegiance to Christ must come before all else, and sometimes that means risking division for the sake of the gospel. Yet, even in the midst of division, we are to carry ourselves with gentleness, courage, and love, trusting that God is at work in us and through us. The world does not need more people who simply get along; it needs disciples who have been shaped by the truth of Christ, who can carry His healing into every broken place. As we go out, we are to let the sword of Christ do its work in us, rooting out false peace and shallow allegiances, so that we can be true peacemakers—marked by truth, love, and the presence of Jesus.

Key Takeaways

1. Christ’s Peace Is Forged in Love, Not Comfort The peace Jesus brings is not about avoiding conflict or seeking comfort, but about being transformed by His love—even when it means facing division. True peace often comes through the hard work of confronting what is broken, both in ourselves and in our relationships, and allowing Christ to lead us through the discomfort to healing. [08:17]
2. The Sword of Christ Divides for Healing, Not Harm When Jesus speaks of bringing a sword, He is not advocating violence or aggression, but a spiritual division that separates us from anything that hinders our relationship with Him. Sometimes, the very things we cling to for security—family, tribe, ideology—must be surrendered so that Christ can be first. This division, though painful, is the beginning of true healing and wholeness. [10:41]
3. True Allegiance to Christ Requires Costly Choices Loving Jesus above all else means examining our allegiances and being willing to let go of anything that competes with Him for our devotion. This may bring misunderstanding or even conflict with those closest to us, but it is only in putting Christ first that we learn what real love and peace are. [14:25]
4. Real Peace Follows Truth, Not Avoidance Avoiding hard conversations or glossing over the truth may keep things superficially calm, but it does not bring lasting peace. Only by facing the truth—about ourselves, our relationships, and our world—can we experience the kind of peace that Christ offers, a peace that passes understanding and brings genuine healing. [26:09]
5. Peacemaking Flows from a Life Shaped by Christ’s Truth We are called to be peacemakers, but not at the expense of truth or our allegiance to Jesus. True peacemaking means allowing Christ to do His refining work in us, so that we can carry His healing into the world with gentleness, courage, and love. The world needs disciples who are willing to be shaped by the sword of Christ, so they can bring His peace to every broken place. [33:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:34] - Shadows in the Sanctuary: Introduction
[01:19] - Reading Matthew 10:34-39
[02:45] - Facing Anxious Meetings and Seeking Peace
[04:14] - Praying Through Anxiety
[06:26] - Jesus Sends Out the Disciples
[07:38] - Sheep Among Wolves: Gentleness and Grace
[08:17] - The Deeper Peace of Christ
[09:44] - The Sword: Not Violence, But Spiritual Division
[11:35] - The Peace We Want vs. The Peace Christ Brings
[13:15] - Tribalism, Family, and Allegiance
[16:29] - Modern Tribalism and Listening to Others
[19:36] - Peace in the Storm: Christ With Us
[22:39] - Christ First: The Foundation of True Love
[26:09] - Truth and Healing Go Hand in Hand
[29:54] - God’s Spirit Prepares the Way
[31:18] - Take Up Your Cross: Finding Life in Christ
[32:09] - Examining Our Allegiances
[33:20] - Letting Christ’s Sword Shape Us as Peacemakers
[34:38] - Closing Prayer and Benediction
[37:12] - Announcements and Fellowship

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 10:34-39 (ESV) — > “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Observation Questions

According to Jesus in Matthew 10:34-39, what kind of “sword” does He say He brings, and what does this mean for relationships within families?
In the sermon, what does the pastor say is the difference between the peace we want and the peace Jesus actually brings? [[08:17]]
What examples does the pastor give of things people might cling to for security that Jesus may ask us to surrender? [[13:15]]
How does the pastor describe the process of finding peace in the midst of anxiety or conflict? [[19:36]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus say that loving family members more than Him makes someone “not worthy” of Him? What is He really asking of His followers?
The pastor says, “True peace always follows truth.” What does this mean in the context of relationships and conflict? [[26:09]]
How does the idea of “the sword of Christ” challenge our usual understanding of what it means to be a peacemaker? [[10:25]]
The sermon mentions that sometimes healing begins with “holy disruptions.” What might this look like in a person’s life? [[25:23]]

Application Questions

The pastor shared about feeling anxious before a difficult meeting and how God prepared him through prayer and Scripture. Think of a situation you are dreading or avoiding—how might you invite Jesus into that situation instead of just praying for it to go away? [[04:14]]
Are there any relationships or groups (family, friends, political, or social circles) that compete with your allegiance to Jesus? What would it look like to put Christ first in those areas? [[13:15]]
The sermon talks about “false peace”—avoiding hard conversations just to keep things calm. Can you think of a time when you avoided telling the truth to keep the peace? What was the result? [[12:27]]
The pastor says, “Let the sword of Christ do its work in us, rooting out false peace and shallow allegiances.” What is one area of your life where you sense God might be calling you to let go of comfort for the sake of truth? [[32:09]]
When have you experienced “holy disruption”—a moment when God’s truth cut through your comfort and exposed something that needed to change? How did you respond? [[25:23]]
The sermon encourages us to be peacemakers “marked by truth, love, and the presence of Jesus.” What is one practical way you can bring Christ’s peace into a difficult or broken situation this week? [[33:20]]
The pastor urges us to examine our allegiances. Take a moment to reflect: What do you love more than Jesus? What steps could you take this week to realign your priorities? [[32:09]]

Sermon Clips

And the thing I love about Christ when it comes to peace, He doesn't just give us peace that helps us avoid everything. But He gives us the ability to have the kind of peace that we can walk right through the middle of the storm knowing He's with us. Amen? Because sometimes it's walking through the middle of that storm. It's walking through the onslaught of the things that are coming against us. Amen? That are actually healing us. That are actually giving us the strength that we need to be the kind of person God has called us to be once we get on the other side. [00:19:31] (39 seconds) #PeaceInTheStorm

It's not a peace just to give you comfort so we can sit back with our feet up. No, it's the kind of peace that says it's the peace that passes understanding. It's a peace that walks with us through the storm. It's the peace that loves us enough to help us to divide and separate those things in our own lives that are keeping us from living the way God has called us to live and being the men and women that God wants us to be. [00:21:55] (33 seconds) #PeaceThatDivides

And I believe what Christ is talking about in this passage is the most important thing. It's about himself and his kingdom. It's about who he is. It's, you know, and when it comes to trivial matters, I get it. We should be peacemakers. When it comes to the things in this world, yes, we should be peacemakers. Peacemakers at the highest degree. But when it comes to Jesus and his kingdom, division is inevitable. It's going to be there. And what it says is it's basically asking us this. Do you love Jesus above all else? Do you love me and what my kingdom represents above all else? [00:22:29] (52 seconds) #KingdomFirstLove

And the mystery of God's work is that sometimes healing begins with holy disruptions. And oftentimes what feels like division might actually be the healing touch of God that's entering into our lives, healing our minds, redirecting our thoughts, helping us see the world around us the way that Jesus did. [00:25:12] (26 seconds) #TruthLeadsToPeace

One thing to understand is true peace. True peace always follows truth. Always follows truth. And I know sometimes, especially in our culture today, you know, well, I just didn't tell them the truth because I didn't want to hurt their feelings. I understand that thinking. But only truth can bring healing. And sometimes there's things we need to hear. [00:26:07] (31 seconds) #PeaceWithChristFirst

And so when we think about Jesus bringing a sword, what do we do? What do we do about a Jesus with a sword? Follow Him. Follow Him. Go where He tells you to go. We follow Him, not around the hard truths, but through them. Addressing them with truth. And we follow Him, not with a false peace, but with a kind of peace that is born from truth, forged in love, and sustained by His grace. Something that we cannot do on our own. Something that has to have Him. [00:30:31] (46 seconds) #FindYourselfInTruth

You want to truly know who you are? Dig into truth. I've heard that many times over the years of being a pastor. Well, you know, Pastor, I'm just trying to find myself. Well, the only place you're going to find yourself is in truth. So don't avoid the truth. [00:31:28] (18 seconds) #SwordOfChrist

When you go out into the world, choose Christ above all else. Be a peacemaker who has first rightly been divided. And you're aligned with Christ the way you're supposed to be. So that you can truly, truly divide the word of faith the way it needs to be. Because the world doesn't need more people who just get along. It needs disciples who are willing to be cut by the sword of Christ so that they can carry the healing of Christ into every broken place. Amen? [00:33:38] (37 seconds) #DisciplesCutByTruth

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