http://bible.com/events/48956533
Church of the Nazarene – Harrisonburg
Learning & Unlearning:
The Polarized World
In every single one of your relationships, bring the peace of Christ with you.
Series Purpose:
We must gain a perspective on how living as a Christian may be different now that we are, for the most part, on the “other side” of the pandemic. We will grasp that there are things to “unlearn” – setting aside old ideas – and “learn” gaining new understanding for real outreach and discipleship post COVID.
Today’s focus:
This world is more divided, more polarized than ever before. And in the midst of the turmoil, our Savior declares: “Blessed are the peacemakers.”
A recent international study declared emphatically: “No established democracy in recent history has been as deeply polarized as the U.S.”
In the midst of this polarized world, we must ask the Lord, “what is my mission?”
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.
Here’s the word of the Lord Himself to those living in a divided world:”
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
What is a peacemaker?
To be a peacemaker is to love and obey the Prince of Peace, know His gift of peace and diligently share it with others.
1. Peacemakers take action.-Peacemakers are involved in the action of healing and restoring.-Peacemakers don’t avoid conflict. While they certainly don’t try to create conflict, they are so committed to this idea of seeing God’s peace enter into the lives of others that they are willing to endure conflict.
2 Corinthians 5:16-20
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All 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.
2. Peacemakers reconcile (people with God & themselves with others)-Peacemakers carry a burden for a broken world and desperately want every person to be reconciled to God, the Prince of Peace.-Peacemakers extend the call of reconciliation a step further: reconciliation with each other.-If we are passionate about seeing all people reconciled with God, then we also are passionate to see people reconciled with one another.
3. Peacemakers build bridges (and not barriers)-Peacemakers never have permission to ‘write off’ someone else in their life. They see the disruption and polarization around us as a divine opportunity.
Bottom Line:
In every single one of your relationships, bring the peace of Christ with you.Verses for further study/reflection:
Proverbs 12:20
Romans 14:19
Romans 12:18
Genesis 13:8-9
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
James 3:18