“Kingdom Come” Sermon on the Mount Series: Seventh Lesson

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“Kingdom Come”

Sermon on the Mount Series: Seventh Lesson

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matt 5:9

  • QUESTION: What impact is the series having on your faith so far?

Peacemakers:

  • Not appeasers
  • Not peacekeepers
  • QUESTION: “What is the difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking?”

1. Peacemaking in the Bible

  • God
  • Sending his prophets, the‘covenant-enforcers’
  • Bringing his people back, Zech 8.8, 10.10 (search “bring them back” and similar phrases)
  • Jesus
  • From enemies to friends: Eph 2.11-22, Col 1:20. 
  • Peter’s restoration: Matt 26.74, Luke 22.32, John 21.
  • Paul
  • Corinth: Starts church (Acts 18); Sends a letter (lost, 1 Cor 5.9); Chloe writes to say all is not well (1 Cor 1.11; 7:1); Paul sends Timothy with a letter (1 Corinthians 4:17; 16:10); Paul visits (2 Corinthians 2:1; 12:14); Paul sends Titus with a letter (lost, 2 Corinthians 2:4, 12ff; 7:5-8); Paul sends another letter (2 Corinthians); On his way to Jerusalem Paul visits Corinth (Achaia) to collect money for poor Christians in Judaea (Rom 15.25-27).
  • Philemon: Case study for personal study.

2. Peacemaking in life

[See the more extended notes in the additional handout for this verse]

  • It’s costly
    1. Time: listening to people
    2. Energy: physical, emotional
    3. Spiritually: prayer
  • It’s worth it
    1. God at work creating something beautiful
    2. Rewards of becoming more like Jesus

QUESTION: “What situations has God provided in which you could act as a peacemaker?” “Both for people to find peace with God, and for people to find peace with one another?”

How can you develop a peacemaking spirit? Reflect on the peace you have with God, Matthew 18.21-35. Pray the beatitudes.

QUESTION: How will this verse affect the way you live this week?

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.

If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.

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“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)

God bless, Malcolm

PS: You might also be interested in my book: “An elephant’s swimming pool”, a devotional look at the Gospel of John