PEACE

Cultivate the Fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV) 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

DEFINITION OF PEACE1
Strong’s Concordance
eiréné: one, peace, quietness, rest.
Original Word: εἰρήνη, ης, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine || Transliteration: eiréné || Phonetic Spelling: (i-ray’-nay)
Usage: peace, peace of mind; invocation of peace a common Jewish farewell, in the Hebraistic sense of the health (welfare) of an individual.
HELPS word-studies
1515 eirḗnē (from eirō, “to join, tie together into a whole”) – properly, wholeness, i.e. when all essential parts are joined together; peace (God’s gift of wholeness).

Jesus secured our peace!

Colossians 1:15–20 (ESV) 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

AS A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST,
Choose to be committed to following Jesus.

John 14:23–27 (ESV) 23Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. 25These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Choose to be committed to being changed by Jesus.

Colossians 3:12–15 (ESV) 12Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

2 Peter 1:1–2 (MESSAGE) I, Simon Peter, am a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. I write this to you whose experience with God is as life-changing as ours, all due to our God’s straight dealing and the intervention of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master.

Choose to be committed to the mission of Jesus. (See also Romans 15:13 and James 3:17-18)

John 20:21 (ESV) Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

CULTIVATE!

Romans 8:5–6 (NIV) 5Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Philippians 4:4–9 (NIV) 4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Luke 24:45–47 (NIV) 45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

• Repentance is not asking God for forgiveness.
• Repentance is changing my mind, intentions, thoughts, and behaviors to align with God in dependence on Him.
• Repentance brings peace.

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND DISCUSS:
Passages to consider: Galatians 5:16-26; Philippians 4:6-8

Icebreaker: What is your favorite way to relax in the summer?
1. What challenged you from this week’s sermon?
2. Read John 14:23-27 and John 16:32-33. In these passages, what is Jesus telling us about peace? (Before or after group, you might read John 16. John 13-17 are powerful passages from Jesus.)
3. What has been your picture of “peace”? a) When you are peaceful, what is absent? What is present? B) How does your version of peace fit with or differ from what Jesus is saying?
4. What can be peace-stealers for you? (What brings anxiety or frustration?)
5. Look at Colossians 3:15, Matthew 5:9, 1 Peter 3:10-12, Philippians 4:6-7. What is our part in peace? What is God’s part in peace?
6. In what area or relationship will you seek peace as you walk with the Spirit this week? What might that look like for you?