The attitudes and spirit that reflect Christ are contrary to the norms of our culture.

Review:

1. Our righteousness must be superior to mere religiosity.
2. A God-affirmed life begins with a humble acknowledgement and regret of sin in your life.
3. A heart yielded to God will lead to right relatedness with God and others where a merciful and sincere spirit thrive.

As the Prince of Peace rules our hearts, we seek peace with one another, but that either becomes a muss or remains an elephant in the room. 

Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God [family].” 

True peacemakers are often the difference between a healthy family and a dysfunctional one. 

Peacemaking

• Gets mussy.
• Often more difficult up front and easier in the end.
• Is driven by reconciliation and won’t retreat from hardship.
• Motivated primarily for benefit of others but can be mutual.
• The Gospel compels the process of it and shapes how it is done.
• Hope based.

Peacekeeping

• Often silent or changes the subject.
• Primarily concerned for the moment.
• Avoids conflict to a fault in perpetuating the continuation of something not healthy.
• Protective of self from disappointment, rejection, or backlash.
• Commonly fear based.

God affirms you for navigating the musses of peacemaking.  Matthew 5:10-12

• Peacemaking can create persecution because it is an affront to the world’s resistance of truth.

“The world cherishes its hate and prejudices so much so that the peacemaker is not always welcome.” EBC

• This beatitude is not a charge to pursue persecution but a caution in trying to avoid it.
• This beatitude is not an affirmation of suffering due to your own foolish actions.

Expect and prepare your heart for persecution as a peacemaker. (11)

• Expect insults, snickers, and mockery.
• Expect missed promotions, being uninvited/left out, or attacked by unjust anger.
• Expect being misunderstood, mischaracterized, and misrepresented.

Find joy and be glad to join Christ in his afflictions.  (12)

• Consider Paul and Silas.
• Be encouraged. You are in a long line of company, good company. Hebrew 11:32-40
• God is present and at work in the trials we face to bring about his plan in changing lives.

Benediction:  Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” NIV

  Group Discussion Guide

1. How would you rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 of being a peacekeeper vs. peacemaker with peacekeeper being the 1 and peacemaker being the 10? Why did you rate yourself there? 
2. What keeps people from truly pursuing peacemaking instead of the more common practice of peacekeeping? Why does the world typically reject true peacemaking?
3. How does the gospel of Jesus Christ affect the peacemaking process? Why is the gospel essential in our motivation and application of a peacemaking process?
4. How can peacemaking be a part of building bridges with seekers in your oikos?