6 | Matthew 5:9 | Blessed are the Peacemakers

Opening  

Spend some time talking about the word blessed. Remember, we said the word can mean something like flourishing. How has living according to Jesus’ teaching caused you to flourish? Think about your relationships, your emotional life, your nearness to God, your outlook on life? Discuss some specific ways these teachings have come alive to you in fresh ways.   

Reflection Questions

1. Read Matthew 5:9. Look at the word peace. The Jewish concept of peace (Hebrew: shalom) involves complete wholeness and fulfillment. We might say, "life as it’s supposed to be." What might it look like to bring this peace into every area of our lives: family, friendships, workplace, neighborhood, campus, etc.?  

2. Notice Jesus said peacemaker and not peacekeeper. What might be the difference? List some ways peacemaking is different from peacekeeping. How have you experienced genuine peacemaking in your life?   

3. The opposite of peace is chaos. Where do you personally see chaos, and what would it look like for you to work for peace in that environment?   

4. Matthew 5:43-45 offers us a clue behind the meaning of “they shall be called sons of God.” Read the passage and discuss how peacemaking might relate to being sons of God. How is God the Ultimate Peacemaker?