Church of the Nazarene – East Rock
Learning & Unlearning: Peacemakers
Learning and Unlearning Part 3Luke 9:52-55And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them.
In this scene, we see Jesus acting as Peacemaker.
Jesus didn’t run from that tension, he stood firm on the kingdom truth that his followers were to love their enemies.
That’s Jesus. The reconciler, the mediator, the peacemaker for you and for me.
A Peacemaker is not only who Jesus is, it is who he invites us to be within our tumultuous world.
Welcome back to our teaching series “Learning and Un-learning”
Within this series we are trying to see the importance and the necessity of believers and the church adapting to the changes and disruptions in our world.
I know you might be thinking that we are trying to change the message… that’s not it at all. In fact, the best news we can share is that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. That alone is news worth sharing!
The point of this series is that we want to see how we are to live out the timeless truths of scripture in our ever-changing world.
Paul’s ministry wasn’t quite the same as Peter’s and the evangelists of 19th century America didn’t have the same issues to face that we have today. The question is, are we, the church, ready for such a time as this?
Matthew 5:3-10
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Any genuine reader of scripture will quickly realize within our teaching text, that this is no ordinary way of living. In fact, it’s pretty much exactly opposite of the way the world operates. And friends, that’s the point of the sermon on the mount, it reveals the “upside-down” nature of the kingdom of God.
So, the teachings we find here are not optional accessories for the fashionable Jesus believer.
They are not given as extra credit options for those who need a better grade on their eternal report card. These are the key features, the elements, the ingredients, the essentials of what it means to be a Christian.
It’s within these first few verses that we find Jesus pronouncing blessing, joy, fulfillment, on those who are peacemakers.2 Corinthians 5:18-20All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
As peacemakers in 2022, we share in the same ministry of the Apostle Paul.
The call of Jesus to be Peacemakers in our world should cause us to ask a few questions in reflection:
1. Do I have this peace in my own heart?
2. Am I living as a peacemaker or only a peacekeeper?
3. Finally, where do I begin?
Verses for further study/reflection:
Proverbs 12:20
Romans 14:19
Romans 12:18
Genesis 13:8-9