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Dear Saddleback Family, 

Use the Message Action Plan below to help put the things you learned this weekend into practice. If you missed last weekend's message, click here to watch it online.

Peace through Reconciling with Others
Peace on Earth - Part 1
Derwin Gray
December 5-6, 2015

Will you let Jesus transform you into a PEACEMAKER this Christmas?

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
"Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called 'the uncircumcision' by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands - remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down tin his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in cone Spirit to the Father." Ephesians 2:8-18 (ESV)

How Does Jesus Transform You into a Peacemaker?

1. By receiving Jesus' GIFT of grace.
   
   "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)

1. By PARTNERING with God in fulfilling his DREAM for humanity: PEACE ON EARTH!
   
   "Don't forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called 'uncircumcised heathens' by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ." Ephesians 2:11-13 (NLT)
   
   "What's more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this GOOD NEWS to Abraham long ago when he said, 'All nations will be blessed through you.' So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith."  Galatians 3:8-9 (NLT)
   
   Action Plan:  In your quiet time this week, spend time praying for peace on earth. Think about things going on in the world at large and in your personal life and pray about specific situations.
2. By BELIEVING that Jesus, through the cross, UNITEDdifferent ethnicities.
   
   "For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations." Ephesians 2:14-15a (NLT)
3. By believing that Jesus, through the CROSS, broughtPEACE (reconciliation) between different ethnicities.
   
   "He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups."  Ephesians 2:15b (NLT)
   
4. By believing that Jesus, through the cross, created a newMULTIETHNIC ETHNICITY called the CHURCH.
   
   "He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups." Ephesians 2:15b (NLT)     
   
   Action Plan:  If you aren't currently, find a way to get involved in your church family. Join a small group, serve in a ministry, go on a missions trip - do something that will bring you closer with your church family.  
5. By believing that Jesus, through the cross, KILLEDhostility between ethnicities, making one, new multiethnic body.
   
   "Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death."  Ephesians 2:16 (NLT)

Soul-tattoo: Bring someone that is a different ethnicity to Saddleback for a Christmas Service!