Resource Details

Scriptures Used:         Matthew 5:9 (NIV); James 3:17-18 (NLT); James 4:1-2 (NLT);

Key Points:

Peace for humanity begins with peace-making humans

To Become a Peacemaker I Will:

1. Develop a love for peace

Three types of people:

• Peace: fakers (Jeremiah 6:13-14)
• Peace: takers (Proverbs 22:10)
• Peace: makers (2 Corinthians 5:16-18)

2. Deal with my contribution to the world's problems

• It's hard to be a part of the solution without owning my contribution to the problem

3. Discern the source over the symptom

• Every problem has a symptom a source and a solution

ACTION PLAN:  List out the desires you have that contribute to your negative emotions and actions towards others. What are you lacking?  Who are you depending on to be the fulfillment of those needs? Write out on one side of a line who you depend on to fulfill certain desires, and on the other, what it would look like if you depended on God for those things.

Solutions That Backfire:

• External solutions for internal problems.
• Shallow solutions for deep problems.
• Temporal solutions for eternal problems.

4. Do the hard work of reconciliation

The Work of Reconciliation:

• Soften the soil by listening.
• Sow seeds with acts of kindness.
• Pull weeds by addressing problems.
• Experience a harvest through endurance.

ACTION PLAN:  Who in your family can you continue this work of reconciliation with?  Who in your Church family?  Who at work?  Use your self-awareness to re-visit older wounds and begin working toward the next best step for those relationships.   

Action Steps
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