GIVE PEACE A CHANCE
A STUDY OVER THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: PART III
INTRODUCTION: The world around us is in search for this peace, calling it inner peace. Sometime ago there was a beauty queen from Virginia, Tracy Lyperd. Shortly after crowning her successor she drove to her ex-boyfriends house to seek revenge for jilting her and marrying another. Upon arrival she met his new father-in-law, she faked car trouble and asked to use the phone. Upon entering the home she struck the father in law with a hammer, stunning him. She then pulled out a pistol and tried to shoot the father in law, what she did not know was that the father in law was ex CIA. The mother in law joined in the fray and they wrestled her to the floor holding her until police arrived. When she was questioned she confessed that she was moved to revenge to find inner peace.
BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.
TRANSITION:
1. BIBLE VERSE: Philippians 4:2-3 PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER
I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
A. Argument Among Believers: Here we are almost, 2000 years later, and we hear of an argument between two believers that for some reason God allowed to last forever. Funny, we don’t have the foggiest idea what they are arguing about: worship? Roles of their husbands? Potato salad? We haven’t got a clue. But we do get an idea how to handle it.
B. What Paul Doesn’t Do:
He Doesn’t Take Sides. “Syntyche you’re right, Euodia you’re wrong. Euodoia get out of here.”
He Doesn’t Pull Rank. “I’m the Pastor, so here is how it’s going to be. Not like it.”
C. What He Does: The solution is simple. He asks them to agree, find common ground. And then he appoints a 3rd party (a loyal yokefellow) to work with them to bring them back to good standing). You see, solving problems sometimes has very little to do about right or wrong, but instead has to do with “wanting to come together.”
D. Marriage Problems: Former Pastor Steve testimony about how he assisted a young couple who were close to divorce (for other leaders, use a more personal story of seeing a broken relationship mended back together, if one cannot be recalled, then do the opposite by using a story of how a relationship broke up because there was no intent to reconcile).
2. BIBLE VERSE: Philippians 4:4 PEACE WITHIN
Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.
A. Brian Slawson Story: My nephew has a major problem, a major problem. He has an unusual sleep disorder, which as I understand it, is sort of like insomnia. But, he has had it for years. Literally, he has only slept like 3 hours a night for like 2 years. It has gotten so bad that it has completely shut down his thinking at times—he cannot remember events that just happened, sometimes he cannot do his college work, he’ll just stare at a computer screen for 3 hours and not be able to comprehend a thought. Wow, huh? So in talking with him, I wanted to cheer him up a bit, so I told him two stories, and here are the two stories for you.
B. The Hurricane & The Bridge: There was an East Coast town across a river that was completely dependant on their bridge. Well, a hurricane was coming through. More than likely, the hurricane would knock out the bridge, which would end their town. So one of the townspeople offered a suggestion, why not put the train on the bridge? Maybe the shear force of the train would weigh down the bridge enough to make it stronger, and quite honestly, without the bridge the train was worthless anyway. The plan worked, the bridge held. And that is why God has to put a ton of weight on Christians at certain times, so we will be able to handle the toughest storms.
C. Thank You God For the Fleas: There was a holocaust camp where the people starving were also infested with fleas. The people in this particular cabin began to thank God for the fleas, even though every ounce of emotion they had was more like “it’s bad enough that we are starving and we are so weak death is always close, but we cannot even sleep ever because bugs crawl on us all day and night.” But as it turns out, when the whole conflict was over, they were the only cabin that wasn’t wiped out completely. When they asked the guards why, it was because the guards wouldn’t go near it—they didn’t want to catch fleas.
3. BIBLE VERSE: Philippians 4:6 PEACE WITHOUT
Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God.
A. Fast Facts: I don’t want to be negative here, not the plan, but there is a certain amount of realism hitting our nation right now. Overall, it’s not bad when compared to history, our nation is still strong, homes are still plentiful, and buying power remains high. But, there is great stress in USA right now:
The stock market is down 8 Trillion dollars right now.
The housing market is essentially crashed.
Unemployment is now 7.2%, the highest its been in 20 years.
The big 3 auto dealers have begged government for a bailout.
And the list goes on and on and on.
B. Brings Up a Sin That We Don’t Usually Mention: WORRY. And we commit this sin right in the view of public with everyone looking at us and without disguising it.
C. Meteorizo: One of the words for Worry in the Hebrew text is Meteorizo. It can mean a lot of things actually, such as “to raise up fortifications, to be puffed up with pride,” and others. But specifically can be used as a metaphor for “taking ships out to the deep to be tossed by the winds and sea.” And that is what happens to someone when they are overcome by “toxic worry.”
D. Scientific Worry: One theory of anxiety by Liebert and Morris in 1967 suggests that anxiety consists of two components; worry and emotionality. Emotionality refers to physiological symptoms such as sweating, increased heart beat and raised blood pressure.[citation needed] Worry refers to negative self-talk that often distracts the mind from focusing on solutions to the problem at hand.
For example, when students become anxious during a test, they may repeatedly tell themselves they are going to fail, or they cannot remember the material, or that their teacher will become angry with them if they perform poorly. This thinking interferes with focusing on the test as the speech areas of the brain that are needed to complete test questions are being used for worrying.[citation needed]
Dr. Edward Hallowell , psychiatrist and author of Worry, argues that while "Worry serves a productive function", "anticipatory and dangerous" worrying--which he calls "toxic worry"--can be harmful for your mental and physical health. He claims that "Toxic worry is when the worry paralyzes you," whereas "Good worry leads to constructive action" such as taking steps to resolve the issue that is concerning you. To combat worry, Hallowell suggests that people should not worry alone, because people are much more likely to come up with solutions when talking about their concerns with a friend. As well, he urges worriers to find out more information about the issue that is troubling them, or make sure that their information is correct. Another step to reduce worry is to make a plan and take action and take "care of your brain" by sleeping enough, getting exercise, and eating a healthy diet (without a "lot of carbs, junk food, alcohol, drugs, etc). Hallowell encourages worriers to get "regular doses of positive human contact" such as "a hug or a warm pat on the back". Finally, he suggests that worriers let the problem go rather than gathering them around you. [1]
4. BIBLE VERSE: Philippians 4:8-9 PEACE WITH GOD
Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. And what you have learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.
A. Cool Nicknames: In my opinion, the best sportscaster today is an ESPN football guy named Chris Berman. When he does his TV show called Prime Time, he shows highlights and announces guys by nicknames that he created, here are some:
David “Green” Akers
Steve “Chariots of” Fireovid
Jay Fieldler “on the Roof”
AJ “Touchy” Feely
Greg Gagne “with a Spoon”
“Ah Ah” Ax Hakim
Neal Heaton “And Air Conditioning”
Stan Javier “Self a Merry Little Christmas”
Steve Lyons “And Tigers and Bears Oh My”
Amani “It’s Not a” Toomer
B. The Promise: Will Be Called Children of God: In the Bible, God gave David a nickname, which is pretty awesome and famous. Let me ask you a question, do you want a nickname given by God? Wouldn’t that be unbelievable? Well, let me tell you out of all the messages God gave us through the sermon on the mount, this one comes with a promise. Take a look back at Matthew 5:9.
C. The 8 Filters: Ultimately, if we want to grow spiritually, we want to be drinking clean, purified water. We want that which will strengthen us. None of us would voluntarily drink water from a waste station if we could see the garbage in it. But when it comes to what we take into our lives, we seem to be okay if it is garbage.
Filter Tests:
#1. Is it true?
#2. Is it worthy of respect?
#3. Is it just?
#4. Is it pure?
#5. Is it lovely?
#6. Is it commendable?
#7. Is it excellent?
#8. Is it praiseworthy?
D. Garbage Example: This is purely a scenario, but it makes a great point. Take a garbage can that you had pre-planned to use, and dump it on the ground. Have the audience take a look at it. Then ask “if what we take in looks like this, how can we possibly have peace with God? Furthermore, how can we ask anyone else to have peace with God?” Do we really want the nickname “child of God?” Then lets look to filter so God can speak directly to us. Amen.
Sources:
http://www.funny2.com/berman.htm
Newland, Melvin. The Peace Which Transcends. Central Christian Church of Christ, Brownsville, Texas: March, 1998.
White, Richard. Peace That Surpasses. Paw Paw Church of Christ, West Virginia: December 2008.
NAME: _______________________
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE
A STUDY OVER THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: PART III
BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the _____________________________, for they will be called the children of God.
1. BIBLE VERSE: Philippians 4:2-3 PEACE _____________________________________
Why the argument? _____________________________________________
What Paul does NOT do? 1.___________________________________________
2.___________________________________________
What Paul DOES do? 1. __________________________________________
2. __________________________________________
2. BIBLE VERSE: Philippians 4:4 PEACE _____________________________________
Rejoice in the Lord ____________________ and _______________________________ I say rejoice.
Nephew Testimony:
Story #1: The Hurricane & The Bridge
Story #2: Thank you God for Fleas
3. BIBLE VERSE: Philippians 4:6 PEACE _____________________________________
Do not be __________________________________ about anything. Instead, in every situation through prayer and petition with _____________________________________,, tell your requests to God.
A sin we don’t typically mention: ____________
Meteorizo: __________________________________________________________________________
Scientific Worry: _______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. BIBLE VERSE: Philippians 4:8-9 PEACE _____________________________________
Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. And what you have learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.
Cool Nicknames:_______________________________________________________________________
Nicknames Given by God: _______________________________________________________________
8 Filters:
1. _____________________________ 5. ______________________________
2. _____________________________ 6. ______________________________
3. _____________________________ 7. ______________________________
4. _____________________________ 8. ______________________________