8 Pursue Peace
Live the Jesus Life! • Sermon • Submitted
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· 17 viewsBig Idea: Wage peace like the sun shines and the rain falls.
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38 “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
39 But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40 As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well.
41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
42 Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same?
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Introduction
Introduction
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!
18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf: “Be reconciled to God.”
21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Series
Core Values series. The beliefs and principles we hold as high values in our church and life of following Jesus.
19 If any man inflicts a permanent injury on his neighbor, whatever he has done is to be done to him:
20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Whatever injury he inflicted on the person, the same is to be inflicted on him.
Core Value 8 - Pursue Peace. We value all human life and promote forgiveness, understanding, reconciliation, and non-violent resolution of conflict.
Key verse. Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
6 The one who says he remains in him should walk just as he walked.
1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children,
2 and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
Difficult topics to understand academically, like end-times and Revelation. Very difficult to understand but fairly easy to apply.
Difficult topics to understand academically, like end-times and Revelation. Very difficult to understand but fairly easy to apply.
Difficult topics to understand academically, like end-times and Revelation. Very difficult to understand but fairly easy to apply.
Key Verse –
Key Verse –
This is a difficult topic practically. Easy to understand the basic concept, nearly infinite in difficulty of full application in our lives on a daily basis.
This is a difficult topic practically. Easy to understand the basic concept, nearly infinite in difficulty of full application in our lives on a daily basis.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good.
10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Outdo one another in showing honor.
11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord.
12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.
13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.
18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.
20 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.
21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
(17-21)
But there is hope.
But there is hope.
(17-21)
21 For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth;
23 when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.
,
Core Value 8 - Pursue Peace. We value all human life and promote forgiveness, understanding, reconciliation, and non-violent resolution of conflict.
10 For the one who wants to love life and to see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit,
11 and let him turn away from evil and do what is good. Let him seek peace and pursue it,
Reconciliation
Kathy read ,
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Reconciliation
38 “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
39 But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40 As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well.
41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
42 Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same?
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Donovan read
14 For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh,
15 he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace.
16 He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death.
17 He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.
18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.
20 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.
21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
Roger read
18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.
Roger read
19 For it brings favor if, because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly.
20 For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer, if you endure it, this brings favor with God.
21 For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
Pray
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Prophet Isaiah and Micah – do not trust in your own strength. The battle is the Lord’s.
blessed are the peacemakers
blessed are the peacemakers
27 “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
29 If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either.
30 Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don’t ask for them back.
31 Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them.
32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
33 If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.
34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full.
35 But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil.
36 Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
38 Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
sermon on mount
Not “peace keepers” or “peaceable people”
sermon on mount
Active makers of peace, intentional mission of peace
20 For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer, if you endure it, this brings favor with God.
1 Paul, called as an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Sosthenes our brother:
2 To the church of God at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord—both their Lord and ours.
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus,
5 that you were enriched in him in every way, in all speech and all knowledge.
6 In this way, the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you,
7 so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God is faithful; you were called by him into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
10 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction.
11 For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters, by members of Chloe’s people, that there is rivalry among you.
12 What I am saying is this: One of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name?
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15 so that no one can say you were baptized in my name.
16 I did, in fact, baptize the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t recall if I baptized anyone else.
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect.
18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent.
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish?
21 For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached.
22 For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom,
23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.
24 Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God,
25 because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
26 Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth.
27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.
28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something,
29 so that no one may boast in his presence.
30 It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,
31 in order that, as it is written: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.
cross looks weak
Resistance, Retaliation, Revenge
Resistance, Retaliation, Revenge
cross looks weak
cross looks weak
1 Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.
2 So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval.
4 For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.
5 Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience.
6 And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks.
7 Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.
8 Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
9 The commandments, Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not covet; and any other commandment, are summed up by this commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself.
10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law.
11 Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
12 The night is nearly over, and the day is near; so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk with decency, as in the daytime: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and don’t make plans to gratify the desires of the flesh.
God established governments to wield sword
Resistance, Retaliation, Revenge
38 “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
od established governments to wield sword
the law eye for eye
the law eye for eye
39 But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
Based on eye for eye, that wasn’t retaliation either,
purpose is court judgment so punishment not harsher than the crime and to prevent personal retaliation.
do not take revenge, love your neighbor
Retaliation escalates to violence
Culture of vengeance – Papua or Hatfields and McCoys.
Especially in governments. Peace through power is not peace but acquiescence to a bigger threat.
39 But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
Do not retaliate/resist/oppose or respond to evil with evil.
Do not retaliate/resist/oppose or respond to evil with evil.
Example of Jesus
you are called to follow Jesus’ example, walk in His steps
v.22 He had no sin. v.23 suffered and insulted, did not retaliate or return insult.
never pay back evil with evil
19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.
never take revenge, vengeance belongs to the Lord.
never take revenge, vengeance belongs to the Lord.
Life, Reconciliation, Non-violence
Life, Reconciliation, Non-violence
We value life. Created in the image of God.
All human life is valuable. What people choose to do with their lives is not our responsibility to change but to bring them the good news of the Kingdom and by our lives lead them to the King.
Live with others in the understanding that they are all suffering from the same sin influence, although differently responding. Terrorists, adulterers, homosexuals, abortionists, child molesters/traffickers, thieves, presidents, pastors, etc. Our perspective should not be as savior or judge, but as fellow prisoner who was freed from bondage and pointing to our rescuer.
Jesus’ mission of reconciliation - Jesus broke down the wall of hostility between enemies. Brought together Jews and Gentiles. All have equal access now to God the Father through the cross.
14 For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh,
15 he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace.
16 He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death.
17 He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
So now there is no room for hostility, for retaliation, for violence.
So now there is no room for hostility, for retaliation, for violence.
Ideally, the world would follow Jesus' example and live in peace with each other.
Realistically, that doesn't happen. but that doesn't excuse Jesus' followers from making peace.
18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.
18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
ministry of reconciliation, the Gospel. God reconciled us through Christ and gave us the message and ministry of reconciliation as well.
ministry of reconciliation, the Gospel
ministry of reconciliation, the Gospel. God reconciled us through Christ and gave us the message and ministry of reconciliation as well.
As the image bearers and followers of the King, we are ambassadors of God's Kingdom among the kingdoms of the world. Our first responsibility is to carry the message of the King (Gospel). When there is a difference between the kingdom of the world and the Kingdom of God, we are always to faithfully represent the Kingdom of God.
We are to respond to evil and violence, but as the Kingdom of God responds.
In the sermon on the mount and the beatitudes Jesus is calling for a response, not a non-response. Not retaliation, not revenge, but also not passive abuse. a right response. a positive response to a negative treatment. a good response to evil.
Show love, mercy, forgiveness, compassion. do good. bless. pray.
Show love, mercy, forgiveness, compassion. do good. bless. pray.
they don't deserve it. neither do we.
(understand there is a difference between persecution of Christ follower and abuse. leave the abusive situation)
= forgiveness, restore the wanderer, reconcile with wrongdoers
actively and intentionally return good for evil,
don’t take revenge, Instead, feed hungry enemies
20 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.
don’t take revenge, Instead, feed hungry enemies
Pursue Peace
Pursue Peace
Pursue Peace
Not just nonresistance or non-violent response, but active and intentional response of good for evil
love your enemy, pray for persecutors
v.45 with so that you are children of the Father
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
(combine 5:9 and 45a. )
v.45 sun and rain on evil and good, righteous and unrighteous
overcome evil with good
12 Who is someone who desires life,
loving a long life to enjoy what is good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from deceitful speech.
14 Turn away from evil and do what is good;
seek peace and pursue it.
and pursue peace.
and pursue peace.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Pursuing peace goes against our nature. An easy concept to understand but nearly impossible to get right.
If you do something for 21 straight days it becomes a habit.
If you practice something for 10,000 hours you become a master at it.
We become better at what we practice. If we don’t practice we cannot hope to master something.
Practice peace. that means work. Active, intentional pursuit of peace at every opportunity.
If we don’t practice an intentional response of peace and love and good, we revert to the natural which is to retaliate, get revenge.
41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Matthew 5:
Matthew 5:
45b
Big Idea:
Big Idea:
Wage peace like the sun shines and the rain pours.
Pour out peace and compassion and love on good and evil alike.
What About You?
What About You?
Who are you finding it difficult to forgive and love?
Who do you need to pour out peace to?
External peace only comes from the internal peace that passes understanding. Do you know Jesus and follow Him? Turn to Him today.
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