Application Guide: “Blessed are the
Peacemakers…”
Oct. 31st, 2004: Kimber Kauffman, Sr. Pastor of College Park Church, presented his 19th
sermon on The Gospel of Matthew. Based on the seventh Beatitude (Matt. 5:9),
Kimber spoke on what it means to be a peacemaker, while also providing another
overview of the Beatitudes. The essence of his sermon was to give a charge to
the College Park that we be a unified body of believers who are not quarreling
over petty issues.
- First, let us consider
what Pastor Eric has been taking us through over the past three weeks, the
Fruit of the Spirit (Gal.
5:22-23). Read through Gal. 5:16-26 to refresh your memory about the
context surrounding these two verses:
- Love: The
Bible tells us that we cannot be lovers of God if we do not actively love
the people around us (1 Jn. 2:9; 3:16-18). How does this effect how we
define “Christian” and how a Christian ought to behave in his daily life? Give some specific
examples of situations you are struggling with loving people (names don’t
have to be shared!).
- Joy: Jim
Eliot once said, “I think the devil has made it his business to
monopolize on three elements: noise, hurry, crowds…Satan is quite aware
of the power of silence." What are some things in your life that are
currently robbing you of the joy that we have in Christ?
- Peace: Read
Phil. 4:4-7. What leads to having the “peace that transcends all
understanding”? What does this peace look like, and how do you know that
the “peace” that you currently feel
is from God?
- Kimber pleaded with us
that we be unified and at peace with one another. Read Romans 12:3, 16-18;
1 Cor. 1:10 & Eph. 4:3.
- Consider your
relationships with other people at College Park, your friends, family
members, co-workers, etc. Is God revealing to you places in your life
where you have built up walls and barriers between other individuals?
Does God really want us to be
at peace with everyone? What
should this look like?
- What sacrifices, trials,
and blessings might you encounter if you relentlessly pursue peace with others?
What might happen if you don’t pursue it?
- Kimber noted the parallels
between Prov. 6:16-18 and Matthew 5:1-9. The man who chooses not to be a
peacemaker, in contrast, chooses to be one who spreads strife.
- Read Eph. 4:29, Phil.
4:8, & 1 Cor. 3:1-4. What are ways that we spread strife (live in the
flesh) rather than lift others up (live in the Spirit)? How are you currently spreading strife in
your attitude about various issues (e.g. politics, music, personal
preferences, etc), jokes, putdowns about others, gossip, etc?
- If we choose to walk in
the Spirit (Gal 5:16ff; Rom. 8), how will we talk about people? How will
we think about ourselves? What motives will we have? What goals in life
will we have?
- In what ways, do you need
to die to self today, and commit to serving others (Gal. 2:20; Phil.
2:3-8)?
- “But when we choose to be
a servant we give up the right to be in charge. There is a great freedom
in this. If we voluntarily choose to be taken advantage of, then we
cannot be manipulated. When we choose to be a servant we surrender the
right to decide who and when we will serve.” – Richard Foster