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.

 

  1. 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:
    1. 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!).
    2. 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?
    3. 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?

 

  1. 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.
    1. 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?
    2. What sacrifices, trials, and blessings might you encounter if you relentlessly pursue peace with others? What might happen if you don’t pursue it?

 

  1. 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.
    1. 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?
    2. 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?

 

  1. In what ways, do you need to die to self today, and commit to serving others (Gal. 2:20; Phil. 2:3-8)?
    1. “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