Praying for Peace (Shalom)

A. Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV) “4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at
Hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to
God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

B. How well is God’s peace guarding my heart and mind in Christ Jesus? (v.7)

Peace = eirene (Gk): inner tranquility and wholeness based upon peace (Heb.Shalom) with God
Guard = phroureo (Gk): military sentry standing watch
Heart = kardia (Gk): desire Mind = noema (Gk): design
Video Resource on Shalom
(https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/shalom-peace/)

4. How am I growing in honest, trusting, thankful prayer? (v.6b)

Prayer = proseuche (Gk): Holy Spirit-enabled conversation with God
Supplication = deesis (Gk): prayer with a sense of need
Thanksgiving = eucharistia (Gk): conversation marked by a grateful heart

3. How are Christ’s presence and promises nullifying my worries? (v.5b,6a)

At hand = engys (Gk): nearness in care, as well as near in His return (Rev 20:7,12,20)
Anxious = merimnao (Gk): self-centered, counterproductive worry

2. How reasonable (or gentle) am I toward others? (v.5a)

Reasonableness = epieikes (Gk): Christlike, gentle consideration for others

1. How am I rejoicing in the Lord? (v.4)

Rejoice = chairo (Gk): deep trust and contentment …in the Lord.

C. Phil. 4:4-7 (The Message paraphrase)
“Celebrate God all day, every day. Imean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

TAG Questions

1. What worries you these days? Why?
2. How has God nullified your past worries through prayer?
3. Pray with thanksgiving and trust over your current worries.

Small Group Discussion Questions

1. Icebreaker: If you had to describe your prayer life as a vehicle of
   some sort, what would you choose and why?

2. How is honest, trusting, thankful prayer in the Spirit an antidote for
   fretful worry?

3. Why is it easy to sin by disobeying the command to not be selfishly
   anxious or worry-filled about anything? How do you need to repent
   of this sin?

4. How are rejoicing in the Lord, being gentle in the Lord, and being at
   peace in the Lord connected in your life?

5. Spirit-led prayer is peace-filled prayer. This kind of prayer requires
   persistent practice and humble submission to God. Take 10-15
   minutes to privately write out a prayer which is led by your meditation
   upon Phil 4:4-7. Share your prayer (if it is appropriate) with the group.

6. Commit to entering into thankful, Spirit-led prayer this week about the
   varying worries which may be threatening your peace in Christ. List
   these situations out during the week ahead, as well as how God
   answered each one as you entrusted it to Him.