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Three Essential Questions
After watching the message take some time reflect on the following three questions.

1. What did you hear?What point in this message was most impactful for you?
2. What do you think?How did this message challenge, change, or affirm your thinking?
3. What will you do?How will you put into practice what you've learned today?

Those of us who have accepted God's forgiveness and salvation by faith in his grace are many things: Christians; followers of Jesus; his disciples; saved; believers; born again into God's family; children of God.  But Jesus said that we are also to be known as peacemakers – a synonym for Christian.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they are the ones that God will call his children."  (Matthew 5:9).  During this pandemic, this world desperately needs us to be peacemakers.  James teaches us six seeds of peace to be a peacemaker in the world.

If you are truly a wise and understanding person, it will be seen in your life by the good deeds you do out of the humility that always comes from wisdom  BUT if in your heart, you are selfish,  jealous, or bitter toward others, don't think you're wise, because it's a lie!  That's never wisdom from God; instead it's from the world, and your unspiritual nature, and from the Devil himself!  James 3:13-15
For whenever there is envy or selfish ambition, you'll always find confusion, unrest, disharmony, rebellion, and every kind of evil. James 3:16 (AMP)
 
Real wisdom is pure, then peaceful, then considerate.  It is submissive, full of mercy and helpful, impartial and sincere. James 3:17
 
When peacemakers plant seeds of peace, they will harvest justice. James 3:18 (CEV)

What Kind of Seeds Am I Planting?  How Can I Plant Seeds of Peace?

ACTION PLAN:Gardening takes planning and preparation.  To plant seeds of peace for a harvest of peaceful relationships, the ground of our hearts needs to be prepared.  Ask the Lord to free you of any biases or prejudices that are present, so that the soil of your heart can be open to the transformation that he wants to bring about to make you more like Jesus.

Seed #1: If I'm wise, I won't compromise the truth
Real wisdom is first of all pure. James 3:17
The Lord delights in pure words. Proverbs 15:26 (NLT)
God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and to tell it in love. Ephesians 4:15 (MSG)

Seed #2: If I'm wise, I won't antagonize your anger
Real wisdom is … peaceful.  James 3:17
Any fool can start arguments:  the wise thing is to stay out of them.  Proverbs 20:3 (TEV)
A wise man controls his temper.  He knows that anger causes mistakes.  Proverbs 14:29 (LB)

Three Causes of Arguments to Avoid

1. Comparing
2. Condemning
3. Contradicting

Seed #3: If I'm wise, I won't minimize your feelings
Real wisdom is …  considerate; ["courteous" (LB); or "gentle with people" (TEV)]. James 3:17
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it's written, "The insults of those who insulted you fell on me." Romans 15:1-3 (NIV)
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

ACTION PLAN:Read "Yes, but what about…?"(at the end of the document)and ask yourself how often you may be minimizing the pain of others by not listening to their story.  The next time you are in that situation, practice listening before responding.

Seed #4: If I'm wise, I won't criticize your suggestions
Real wisdom is … not defensive (LB); ["open to reason" (RSV); or "easily entreated" (KJV)].  James 3:17
A fool thinks he needs no advice but a wise man listens to others. Proverbs 12:15 (LB)

Seed #5: If I'm wise, I won't emphasize your mistakes
Real wisdom is … full of mercy and helpful.  James 3:17
Love forgets mistakes; nagging about them parts the best of friends. Proverbs 17:9 (LB)
Kind words bring life, but cruel words crush your spirit. Proverbs 15:4

Seed #6: If I'm wise, I won't despise our differences
Real wisdom is ... free from prejudice and hypocrisy. James 3:17 (TEV)
The secret is Christ himself; in him lie hidden all God's treasures of wisdom..."  Colossians 2:3

ACTION PLAN:Talk to someone this week who is different from you. Listen, learn, and love them the way Jesus loves them.  Plant a seed of peace.

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