Citywide Baptist Church
The wrong kind of Peace
Jesus makes it clear that there is a kind of peace that is ultimately a form of evil.
Locations & Times
Citywide Baptist Church (Mornington)
400 Cambridge Rd, Mornington TAS 7018, Australia
Sunday 10:00 AM
You matter
Now he wants us to know that we have a responsibility to let others know they matter too.
The greek word for "acknowledge" homologeō. would be better understood to be a confession or declaration of a lived reality... this is more than an intellectual assent.
Jesus's invites us to live in such a way that the only way to explain ourselves is to acknowledge him.
It is a big deal to not represent Jesus on earth.
Jesus is making it clear that he is our representative with God, and if we haven't been his representative on earth, we shouldn't expect him to be our representative when we stand before God's throne.
there is, of course, a most important sense in which he came to bring peace. But the peace he came to bring is not simply the absence of strife; it is a peace that means the overcoming of sin and the bringing in of the salvation of God. And that means war with evil and accordingly hostility against those who support the ways of wrong.
- Leon Morris - Pillar New Testament Commentary
- Leon Morris - Pillar New Testament Commentary
An absence of conflict in the face of evil, is itself a form of evil.
We need to pray that Jesus would cause us to love like he loves and see like he sees so that we wont avoid the right kinds of conflict.
Small Group Questions:
1) Jesus makes it clear that you are valuable when he talks about sparrows. This can be something that is hard to believe. Talk about a time when you actually felt valuable.
2)What has your experience been of acknowledging Jesus to people who ask you about your faith? Is there anyone you would like to have the chance to share your faith with? spend some time together praying that God would give you the opportunity.
3) Jesus places a high priority on us acknowledging him to others. Talk about what priority you put on it in your day to day life.
4)There can be a wrong kind of peace that avoids necessary conflict. Are there any areas of healthy conflict that you know you are avoiding? Talk about why you avoid conflict if you do.
1) Jesus makes it clear that you are valuable when he talks about sparrows. This can be something that is hard to believe. Talk about a time when you actually felt valuable.
2)What has your experience been of acknowledging Jesus to people who ask you about your faith? Is there anyone you would like to have the chance to share your faith with? spend some time together praying that God would give you the opportunity.
3) Jesus places a high priority on us acknowledging him to others. Talk about what priority you put on it in your day to day life.
4)There can be a wrong kind of peace that avoids necessary conflict. Are there any areas of healthy conflict that you know you are avoiding? Talk about why you avoid conflict if you do.