Willingness to Forgive

Accepting People

Love with No Conditions

Treating People RedemptivelySp

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THE QUESTION Why should I be a peacemaker?

Peacemakers

The Firearm: Colt single action army handgun is a single action revolver with a revolving cylinder that holds six rounds. It was designed for the US government by Colt’s Manufacturing Company and adopted as the standard military service revolver.1

The Aircraft: The Convair B-36 was a strategic bomber used by the USAF. The B-36 had the largest wingspan in a combat aircraft ever built (230 ft.). The B-36 carried over 80,000 pounds of nuclear and conventional bombs.2

You are called to be a

peacemakerSo then, we must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. Romans 14:19

How canyou promote

peace?

“History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.” –Martin Luther King, Jr.3

Peacemakershelp maintain

unity.Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love, diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us. Ephesians 4:1-3

Peacemakersreflect the heart

of God.The peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9

Peacemaker of the PastMother Teresa (1910–1997): She was an Albanian Roman Catholic nun who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India in 1950. For over 40 years she ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying in India and as well as other countries.4

UNITY: the state of being in full agreement; a way of combining the parts in a work of art or literature so that they seem to belong together.5

Peacemakersset the stagefor right living.

Who is wise and has understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom’s gentleness. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace. James 3:13-18

“As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself... Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, but humility.” –Nelson Mandela6

ARE YOU A PEACEMAKER?▶ The Rumor Mill: A couple in your youth group, Ross and Amanda, just broke up. Lots of rumors are going around about whose fault it was. Students are taking sides and it is causing division in your group. What do you do?▶ The Blame Game: Your team loses a close game. In the locker room, two of your teammates, both professing Christians, mouth off at each other about whose fault it was you lost. The team is affected and your teammates altercation puts a black mark on their witness. What do you do?▶ The House Divided: You overhear your parents talking about a troubling situation at church. It seems people are becoming divided over the pastor’s leadership. What do you do?

THE POINT Peace is vital to healthy relationships and unity.

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THE QUESTION How can I be a peacemaker? MIDWEEK

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Read Romans 12:18.We must not look for reasons to argue or stir up trouble, but to do all the good we can for others.

Where do you need to pursue peace?

Treat people andsituations redemptively.

Memorize: If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18)

Love people.

Pursue peace inall your relationships.

Read 1 Peter 4:8.To whom do you need to show love this coming week?

Read Galatians 6:1.

Throughout the New Testament, God calls believers to help, love, and serve one another.How did Christ see us when we were broken and dead in our sin?

Encourage

unity.Read Philippians 4:2-3.

Peacemakers work together for the unification of others. It’s a joint effort with other believers.

Why is unity such a vital part of peacemaking?

THE POINT Love people and treat them redemptively.

Christians are to love one another sincerely and enthusiastically.

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“ God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.”—C.S. Lewis

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SOURCES Session 1 1. Will Durant, Goodreads online [online], [cited12 May 2015].

Available from the Internet: www.goodreads.com.2. C.S. Lewis, BrainyQuote.com, Xplore Inc., 2015, [cited 12 May

2015]. Available from the Internet: www.brainyquote.com.

Session 2 1 “The Gold Rush of 1849,” The History Channel website, [cited

23 September 2015]. Available from the Internet: http://www.history.com.

2. “Hopeless,” Merriam-Webster [online], [cited 12 May 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.merriam-webster.com.

3. “Feelings of Hopelessness,” Make the Connection [online], [cited 12 May 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.maketheconnection.net.

4. Rick Warren, Daily Hope with Rick Warren [online], [cited 12 May 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.rickwarren.org.

Session 3 1. ”Worry,” Merriam-Webster [online], [cited 12 May 2015].

Available from the Internet: www.merriam-webster.com.2. “Teenage Issue: What Teens Worry About,” Raising Children.

net.au [online], [cited 12 May 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.raisingchildren.net.au

3. Will Rogers. AZquotes.com [online], [cited 23 September 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.azquotes.com.

4. “Guard,” Merriam-Webster [online], [cited 12 May 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.merriam-webster.com.

Session 4 1 “Colt Single Action Army (Colt 45 / Peacemaker),” Military

Factory [online], [cited 12 May 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.militaryfactory.com.

2. “Convair B-36J Peacemaker,” National Museum of the US Air Force [online], [cited 12 May 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.

3. Martin Luther King, Jr., BrainyQuote.com, Xplore Inc., 2015, [cited 12 May 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.brainyquote.com.

4. “Mother Teresa Biography,” bio.[online], [cited: 12 May 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.biography.com.

5. “Unity,” Merriam-Webster [online], [cited 12 May 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.merriam-webster.com.

6. Nelson Mandela, Goodreads online [online], [cited 12 May 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.goodreads.com.

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