1. Peacemaking is
Peacemaking is not peacekeeping.
Peacemaking is active.
Peacemakers Don’t:
James 1:26-27 - If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling
yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the
Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
Romans 16:17-18 - And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out
for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you
have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are
serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent
people.
James 4:17 - Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
Peacemakers Do
Stand for the
Matthew 25:40-45 - “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least
of these my brothers and sisters,[fn] you were doing it to me!’ 41 “Then the King will turn to those on
the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and
his demons.[fn] 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a
drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t
give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ 44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord,
when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not
help you?’ 45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these
my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
Fight for
Ephesians 4:13-16 - This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge
of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard
of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about
by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so
clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way
more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit
together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that
the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Defend the
John 17:17-21 - Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you
sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for
them so they can be made holy by your truth. “I am praying not only for these disciples but also
for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as
you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the
world will believe you sent me.
Love
1 Corinthians 13:1-2 - If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t
love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of
prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge,
and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be
nothing.
2. Peacemaking Produces
James 3:16-18 - For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
Hebrews 12:14-15 - Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.
BUILD BRIDGES
NOT WALLS