Good morning, dear Church family!

This week’s verses are John 14:27, “I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” And Romans 5:1,“Since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” [New Living Translation] 

Ice Breaker: What is your greatest fear? How do you deal with it?

As Jesus’ ministry on earth was about to end, Jesus surprised His disciples by disclosing He was about to leave them, and they would be on their own to carry out His work on earth. But He explained that God would send His Holy Spirit to be within them and that Jesus would provide them peace of mind and heart: a peace the world cannot give. It would be authentic peace with God, peace in the midst of all their circumstances, and outward peace with others, and even peace in the face of death. Now it was their job to become peacemakers throughout the world. Wow! Wait a second, isn’t that our job too? (YES! You, too!)

Dive In:

1. In Romans 5:1 above, what do you think “peace with God” means? What is it like when you don’t have peace? How do you make peace with God?
2. In the same verse, what does “made right in God’s sight by faith” mean? Why shouldn’t we try to be right in God’s sight by just being a good person and living a good life?
3. Philippians 4:4-7 [NLT] “Always be joyful in the Lord … Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Think about a time when you faced adversity in which God’s peace guarded your heart and mind as you lived in Jesus. How could you use that experience to bring hope to someone facing a similar situation?
4. Philippians 4:12-13 [NLT] “I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty of little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Think about people currently experiencing deep brokenness in their lives. How does these verses describe the way they can obtain authentic peace in their particular situation?
5. Romans 12:18 [ESV] “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” What do you think “so far as it depends on you” means? Have you ever had an experience of being unable to live peaceably with others and deciding whether you should just stand by or take the initiative to restore peace? What is normally your default?
6. In this desperate world, there are some people or authority figures we just can’t get along with. Based on Romans 12:18, how can we coexist with them harmoniously?

As always, may the Lord use this mid-week devotional to prepare your heart to receive this coming Sunday’s message.

Please be sure to join us this Sunday for our Christmas Advent series. God bless you.