Blessed Are the Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9

Summary
Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Biblical peace is more than the absence of conflict; it is shalom, the wholeness and flourishing of life as God intended it to be. As followers of Jesus, we are called to actively pursue peace in our homes, relationships, church, and world, not by avoiding hard truths or insisting on our own way, but by seeking what honors Christ. We can live as peacemakers because Jesus first made peace for us through the blood of his cross.
 
Discussion Questions

1. When you hear the word peace, what do you normally think of? How is the biblical idea of shalom bigger than simply the absence of conflict?
2. Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” What is the difference between a peacemaker and someone who simply avoids conflict?
3. In what areas of life are you most tempted to be a troublemaker rather than a peacemaker?
4. Why do you think peacemaking is such an important way for Christians to identify with Jesus?
5. Read Matthew 5:9 again. What do you think Jesus means when he says peacemakers “shall be called sons of God”?
6. The sermon described four ways Christians can relate to the world: war, appeasement, withdrawal, and peacemaking. Which of the first three are you most naturally drawn toward? Why?
7. How can we pursue peace without compromising truth or simply saying, “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace?
8. Read Romans 12:18: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” What does this verse teach us about both our responsibility and our limitations in making peace?
9. Why does genuine peacemaking often require some degree of personal sacrifice or suffering?
10. Which of these descriptions of a peacemaker is most challenging for you: being active rather than passive, being willing to suffer, refusing to live in the past, not needing the last word, or allowing Christ’s peace to rule your heart?
11. Is there a relationship or situation in your life right now where God may be calling you to take an active step toward peace? What might that step look like?
12. Read Colossians 1:19–20. How does the fact that Jesus made peace with us through the blood of his cross give us both the motivation and the ability to become peacemakers?