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Today, we focus on peacemaking. First, we need to understand what Jesus means by a peacemaker, but even before that, we must ensure we have peace in our hearts; this is important because you can't share what you don't possess. Therefore, if you are to be a peacemaker, and Jesus calls blessed those who are, it’s essential to understand what that peace is and to have it so you can share it with others.

The peace Jesus refers to isn’t just a surface-level calm. Specifically, He’s talking about the peace that comes from being no longer estranged from God. Do you remember how, before meeting Jesus, there was a persistent tension in your life? You might not have realized it was tension with God; instead, you may have shown it through how you interacted with others who tried to follow Him. Maybe you disliked church and wanted to be left alone when the topic came up.

Key points

1. What brings peace into our lives? Do you recall how the Apostle Paul typically began most of his letters in the New Testament by mentioning the dual blessings of grace and peace? He usually started by introducing himself, saying, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ,” and so on. Have you ever noticed that he always placed grace before peace? He never reversed them; it was always grace and peace. Why is that? Because peace is a result of grace. When we understand God’s grace, we experience a deep sense of peace.

2. What exactly is grace? Grace is God’s love, acceptance, and blessing in my life that aren’t based on my efforts to earn them. When I realize that God’s love for me isn’t dependent on my achievements but is simply a gift from Him, it brings me peace. 

3. We are essentially Christ’s ambassadors: If someone responds by saying they don’t want to hear anything about God, you are interacting with someone struggling to find peace with Him. You might say, “Wow, it seems you have an unfavorable view of God. Did you know there is a way to achieve peace with Him?” They might be surprised when you explain that through Jesus Christ, who died for their sins, they can find that peace. You could say, “I’m one of His representatives—think of me as an ambassador.”

Main Text 

Matthew 5:1-12 (ESV)

There has been a collective failure of the twenty-first-century church: our tendency to pursue success and power in the church’s life, rather than where God has placed it. The power of God is never found in a program. As stated in Romans, the gospel concerning Christ, “is the power of God.”

You cannot have the gospel if you disregard the Lordship of Jesus. It becomes a diminished gospel that overlooks this truth. Jesus is the Son of David and the Lord of David; that aspect of the gospel is the good news of a Mediator Who came as the God-Man, embodying the incarnation of God.

Main Text: Romans 1:16 (ESV)

You may know that the Greek word for “gospel,” “euangelion,” translates into English as “good news,” “good message,” or “good announcement.” The prefix “eu,” comes directly into English, as seen in words like eulogy and euphemisms. A eulogy is a kind word spoken in memory of someone who has just passed away. A euphemism is a term that makes something sound better than it is. So “euangelion” is “gospel,” meaning “good news.” 

Main Text: Romans 1:16 (ESV)

In the New Testament, we see the term “gospel” employed in various ways. There are three primary interpretations of the term “gospel.” The Greek word for “gospel” translates into English as “good news,” “good message,” or “good announcement.” The gospel is good news when we realize that we do not (and cannot) earn our salvation; the work of redemption and justification is accomplished, having been completed on the cross. Jesus serves as the propitiation for our sins. The gospel is the good news that we, once adversaries of God, have been reconciled through the blood of Christ and welcomed into God’s family.

Main Text: Romans 1:16 (ESV)

Paul introduces the concept of the gospel, and the first aspect we need to grasp about the gospel is Who it belongs to. Paul refers to the “gospel of God.” He is using the possessive genitive structure. By saying “the gospel of God,” he is not merely discussing a message about God; instead, he is portraying an announcement that is owned, authored, and belongs to God.

Main Text: Romans 1:16 (ESV)

Blessed are the pure in heart. Many Christians hear this specific verse, “blessed are the pure in heart,” and assume that being pure in heart means being without sin. So, when we hear Jesus say, “Blessed are the pure in heart,” we might think, “Well, that’s certainly not me,” since we are aware of our own shortcomings. We’ve been reflecting on our journey through the flow of the Beatitudes. Whether you see this flow as a ladder, stairs, stepping-stones, or rocks across a river, we started with the first: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. We discussed how being poor in spirit means recognizing our sinfulness and accepting who we truly are—the depravity of our sinful state, the hopelessness and bankruptcy, the destruction that sin has brought into our lives and our relationship with God. It has shattered our connection to the point that, without divine intervention, we have no hope.

We progress by experiencing sorrow over our sins: blessed are those who mourn. Then we move to the next step, which shifts our perspective of ourselves and others and instills in us a sense of meekness toward those around us. After that, we develop a new and deep hunger for God’s righteousness. We then discover His mercy and realize that God challenges us to show the same mercy to others that we have received ourselves. 

So, depending on which example helps you understand the beatitudes, we’ve climbed, crossed, or worked through the flow of these steps together in Christ. Now, we arrive at Jesus’ next statement: “blessed are the pure in heart.” We might wonder how Jesus can even talk about “purity” since we have to confront our sins and realize that our best works of righteousness are as filthy rags in God’s sight. Let’s remember that we assume that purity of heart means being free from sin. It doesn’t necessarily mean that; if it did, then several passages in the Bible, like 1 John, would contradict each other. For example, 1 John 1:8 states that if we claim to be without sin, we are deceiving ourselves. We are not people who have eliminated all sin, nor have we achieved complete purity. If we even start to think this way, John says we are fooling ourselves. So, it could be that the purity of heart Jesus mentions in this blessed state refers to something other than sinless perfection.

Key points

1. Not Outward, and Not Sinless:  The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were focused on strictly adhering to the law’s letter. They were primarily concerned with their outward appearance of purity and righteousness. The Pharisees made sure to follow every ritual for cleansing to appear outwardly pure, which included ritual baths known as mikvahs and specific methods for washing their hands and bodies.

2. Everyone who Seeks Can be Pure In Heart: The Bible states that God prioritizes the condition of the heart. God is not focused on external matters; He is concerned with what is inside.  

3. God is concerned about our hearts: A pure heart signifies worshipping God without any competing idols or distractions and being sincere, honest, and transparent with our fellow human beings, refraining from deceit and being entirely upfront and transparent without impurities.

Main Text 

Matthew 5:1-12 (ESV)

God has great plans for each of us, but to accept these blessings, we must be willing to let go of certain attachments. 

Main Text: Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV)

Let’s explore how God uses the changing seasons as a metaphor for our personal growth and preparation. It becomes clear that we can bear fruit, regardless of the season. Each season in life presents unique opportunities for growth, learning, and transformation that can lead to a thriving life, even during the most challenging times. 

Main Text: Galatians 6:9 (ESV)

Today, God desires to plant His Word deeply into the “soil” of our hearts. Why? It’s a great question, because He wants us to grow spiritually. As we build our relationship with Him, we will develop and produce fruit, just like healthy plants. Our roots will go down into Christ (Colossians 2:7; Ephesians 3:17). We should bear much fruit for His kingdom, and as mature believers, we should then desire to help harvest His fields.

Main Text: Matthew 9:37-38 (ESV)