Waging Peace in a Divided World

In a time marked by division, outrage, and the temptation to retreat into echo chambers, the call is to be a people who wage peace in a world at war. The events of recent weeks, including the tragic assassination of a political figure, have only highlighted how polarized and reactive our culture has become. The church is meant to be a countercultural community, one that refuses to be discipled by headlines, algorithms, or the outrage industry, but instead is shaped by the way of Jesus. Our faith is not a lens we put on after we’ve chosen our politics; it is the lens through which we see everything—including our politics, our relationships, and our response to conflict.

Drawing from Ephesians 4, there are five practical ways to wage peace. First, don’t sacrifice your presence. It’s easy to withdraw from those we disagree with, but we are called to stay engaged, to bear with one another in love, and to carry each other’s burdens. Second, stand your ground for unity. Unity is not uniformity, nor is it tribalism. The unity of the Spirit is a gift from God, rooted in the gospel, and it is something to be stewarded and protected, even when it’s uncomfortable. Third, don’t concede your hope. The temptation to cynicism is strong, especially when politics seem to offer no solutions. But our hope is not in any party or policy; it is in the unchanging reality of Jesus, who is still at work in the world.

Fourth, don’t surrender your voice. Silence in the face of lies or injustice is not an option, but neither is shouting in outrage or parroting party lines. We are called to speak the truth in love, to be people of both conviction and compassion, and to remember that our words have the power to build up or tear down. Finally, don’t arm yourself with anger. Outrage is not a spiritual weapon. When we let anger fester, it gives the enemy a foothold and poisons our relationships. Instead, we are to urgently seek peace, pursue reconciliation, and fight with the weapons of forgiveness, patience, and love.

The real war is not the one in the headlines, but the one in our hearts, homes, and habits. Even if we win the visible battles, we risk losing the invisible one that matters most. The invitation is to be a church that lives differently, that refuses to be discipled by the world’s outrage, and that holds fast to the bond of peace given by Christ.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Stay Present in Disagreement Withdrawing from those who think differently may feel safe, but it only deepens division and dehumanization. True Christian love means bearing with one another, carrying burdens, and engaging in real, face-to-face conversations—not just online performances. Presence is a spiritual discipline that resists the urge to retreat and instead chooses to love in proximity, even when it’s uncomfortable. [32:05]
• 2. Steward the Gift of Unity Unity in the church is not something we manufacture; it is a supernatural gift from God, rooted in the gospel and crystallized over centuries. This unity is not about uniformity or tribal allegiance, but about holding fast to the essentials of our faith while allowing for differences in perspective. We are urged to steward this unity with vigilance, resisting the cultural pressure to divide over secondary issues. [35:47]
• 3. Hold Fast to Hope, Not Cynicism It is easy to become cynical when politics and culture seem irreparably broken, but hope is not naïve optimism—it is trust in God’s ongoing work. Our hope is anchored in the reality that God is still sovereign, still writing the story, and still calling us to pray for and love even those we find most difficult. Refusing to concede hope is a radical act of faith in a world addicted to despair. [39:19]
• 4. Speak the Truth in Love, Not Outrage The temptation to either remain silent or to shout in anger is strong, but neither reflects the way of Jesus. Speaking the truth in love requires courage, humility, and a willingness to see others as more than categories or enemies. Our words should be shaped by both conviction and compassion, building up the body and refusing to surrender our voice to algorithms or party scripts. [40:57]
• 5. Wage Peace, Not War, with Your Emotions Anger is not inherently sinful, but when it is left unchecked, it becomes a tool for division and destruction. We are called to urgently seek peace, to pursue reconciliation, and to refuse to let anger fester into bitterness. The weapons of Christ are forgiveness, patience, and love—these are how we fight the real war, the one that matters most. [47:43]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:45] - Introduction of Elder Candidates
• [03:10] - Special Weekend: ACM, Elders, and Bylaws
• [05:30] - Addressing Polarization and Tragedy
• [07:55] - The Screwtape Letters Satire
• [10:22] - Prayer for Discernment and Peace
• [12:00] - Losing Our Third Place and the Rise of Outrage
• [14:40] - The Church’s Countercultural Role
• [16:00] - Five Ways to Wage Peace
• [17:15] - Don’t Sacrifice Your Presence
• [20:05] - Stand Your Ground for Unity
• [22:00] - Don’t Concede Your Hope
• [24:00] - Don’t Surrender Your Voice
• [27:00] - Don’t Arm Yourself with Anger
• [30:00] - The Real War: Waging Peace
• [32:00] - Closing Prayer and Worship

Bible Reading

Ephesians 4:1-6, 15-16, 25-27 (ESV) —
> 1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

> 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

> 25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.

Observation Questions

1. According to Ephesians 4:2-3, what attitudes does Paul say are necessary for maintaining unity in the church?
2. In the sermon, what does the pastor say is the difference between unity and uniformity? [[33:55]]
3. What does Paul mean when he says, “speak the truth in love” (v. 15), and how does the sermon describe the dangers of speaking only in outrage or silence? [[40:57]]
4. What warning does Paul give about anger in Ephesians 4:26-27, and how does the sermon connect this to the way we handle conflict today? [[47:43]]

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says, “Presence is a spiritual discipline that resists the urge to retreat and instead chooses to love in proximity, even when it’s uncomfortable.” Why might it be so tempting to withdraw from those we disagree with, and what does it cost us and others when we do? [[32:05]]
2. The pastor describes unity as a “supernatural gift from God, rooted in the gospel.” How does this understanding of unity challenge the way we often approach disagreements in the church? [[35:47]]
3. The sermon warns against conceding hope and giving in to cynicism, especially in a broken political climate. What does it look like to hold fast to hope in practical terms, and why is this so important for Christians? [[39:19]]
4. The message says, “Outrage is not a spiritual weapon.” How can unchecked anger give the enemy a foothold in our lives and relationships, according to both Paul and the sermon? [[47:43]]

Application Questions

1. Think of a recent disagreement you’ve had—either in person or online. Did you stay present and engaged, or did you withdraw? What would it look like to “bear with one another in love” in that situation? [[32:05]]
2. Are there secondary issues (political, cultural, or personal preferences) that you have allowed to threaten your unity with other believers? What is one step you can take this week to steward the gift of unity in your relationships? [[35:47]]
3. When you feel cynical about the world or the church, what helps you remember that your hope is in Jesus and not in any political solution? Is there a specific practice (like prayer for those you disagree with) you can try this week? [[39:19]]
4. Have you ever been tempted to stay silent when you should have spoken up, or to speak in outrage rather than love? What would it look like for you to “speak the truth in love” in a current relationship or situation? [[40:57]]
5. Is there someone you need to apologize to or seek reconciliation with because of something you said or posted in anger? What is stopping you from taking that step, and how can you move forward? [[45:09]]
6. The sermon says, “When anger lingers over time and overnight, it doesn’t shrink. It festers.” Is there any anger or bitterness you are holding onto right now? What would it look like to urgently seek peace and forgiveness this week? [[47:43]]
7. The pastor challenges us to “refuse to be discipled by headlines and algorithms and outrage, and instead choose to be discipled by Jesus.” What is one practical way you can limit the influence of outrage culture in your life and focus more on the way of Jesus? [[49:45]]