"Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called Children of God." (Matthew 5:9 NIV)

Shalom: wholeness, completeness, fulfillment, inner rest. Living without deficiency or lack.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:17-18 NIV)

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21 NIV)

1. Peacemakers tell the truth in love.

"We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ." (Ephesians 4:15 NLT)

2. Peacemakers apologize when they're wrong.

"Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you might be healed."(James 5:16 NIV)

3. Peacemakers forgive and let go.

"To bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Colossians 3:13 NIV) 

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8 NIV)

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26 NIV)

so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky (Philippians 2:15 NIV)

21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. (2 Timothy 2:21-26 NLT)

1. Be quick to believe.

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. (Romans 10:17 NLT)

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! (Luke 24:25 NIV)  

2. Be quick to forgive.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23 NIV)

And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, (Ephesians 4:26 NLT)

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. (Ephesians 4:31 NIV)

3. Be quick to repent

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. (1 John 2:1 NIV)

Welcome to Five Stones Church Online! Sunday Service will be streaming live so if you can't join us in the building, you can join us either on Facebook or YouTube. Our services will begin at 9:30 and 11AM and we want YOU to be there! We look forward to seeing your family at Five Stones Church.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6 NIV) 

1. You were made for more.

For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. (Ecclesiastes 1:18 NIV)

Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. (Ecclesiastes 12:12 NIV)

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. (Ecclesiastes 2:10 NIV) 

2. It won’t come through achievements.

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.(Ecclesiastes 2:11 NIV) 

So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. (Ecclesiastes 2:17 NIV)

Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 5:10 NIV)

There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. (Ecclesiastes 4:8 NIV) 

9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. (Romans 5:9-10 NLT) 

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35 NIV) 

3. It won’t come through purchases. 

"Come on, taste, see that the LORD is good. (Psalm 34:8 NIV) 

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19 NIV)

People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. (Romans 3:25 NIV) 

Welcome to Five Stones Church Online! Sunday Service will be streaming live so if you can't join us in the building, you can join us either on Facebook or YouTube. Our services will begin at 9:30 and 11AM and we want YOU to be there! We look forward to seeing your family at Five Stones Church.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (Matthew 5:4 NIV)

1. God appears uniquely to us in pain.

Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawed in two,f they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated. 38 The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.

39 These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. 40 God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:35-40 NIV)

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV)

2. Pain does not always mean blame.

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:1-4 NIV)

3. God’s answer may not look like yours.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.(Isaiah 55:9 NIV)

Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. (Isaiah 57:1 NLT)

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18 NIV)

My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. (Job 42:5 NIV)

8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. (2 Corinthians 1:8-9 NLT)

6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! (2 Corinthians 1:6 NLT)

Matthew 5:1-12 NIV

5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

He said:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

    for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

   for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

    for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

    for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

    for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

    for they will be called children of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:3 NIV

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

Matthew 5:3 NLV

3 “Those who know there is nothing good in themselves are happy, because the holy nation of heaven is theirs.

Matthew 5:3 GNT

“Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!

Matthew 5:3 NLT

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Revelation 3:15-17 NIV

15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

Romans 3:23 NIV 

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 NIV

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in  Christ Jesus our Lord 

Ephesians 2:1-5 NIV

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,(not getting what you really deserve) 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace (getting something you didn’t deserve) you have been saved.

3. Without Jesus there is no hope for change.

Jeremiah 6:14 NLT

They offer superficial treatments for my people’s mortal wound. They give assurances of peace when there is no peace.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!

2. Without Jesus you pay for your own way.

Jesus I Need You 

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Phillipians 4:6-9 NIV)

1. Anxiety is not a sin.

2. If it's worth worrying about, it's worth praying about.

3. Consider the source.

4. Put feet to your faith.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21 NIV)

1. Eliminate the scarcity mindset.

A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. (Proverbs 13:22 NIV)

23 Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. (Proverbs 4:23 GNT)

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 NIV)

2. Sidestep an avoidance mindset

The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. (Proverbs 22:3 NIV)

3. Reject an entitlement mindset.

5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (1 Peter 5:5-6 NIV)

4. Embrace a freedom mindset.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, (Psalms 24:1 NIV)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12 NIV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV)

15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. (Romans 7:15 NLT)

1. Demons are real.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.(1 Peter 5:8 NIV) 

2. We can be under their influence. 

26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:26)

15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. (Hebrews 12:15)

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:14 NIV)

3. Demons flee at the name of Jesus.

However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7 NIV)

3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:3 NIV) 

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV)