WELCOME ICEBREAKER

Where do you think peace is needed in our city?

WORSHIP

If possible find some songs to sing that talk about the peace of God. If you are not singing ask for testimonies about a time in someone’s life when God ministered peace.

WORD

The very nature of God is peace. When you are in His presence there is always peace no matter what the circumstances look like. In order to understand how God moves we must understand His character - His character is always peace. An opposite of peace is unstable. God has never been unstable and never will be unstable. Nothing can shake Him. Peace as the Bible talks about is not the same as the peace the world tries to negotiate for. While it may be possible to find some type of temporary peace with man it will never last unless that man has found peace inside with God. This is only possible with Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). The God kind of peace is a supernatural fruit of the Spirit.

Peace that God gives comes from within. The world's peace is when there is no strife, where God's peace is peace in the midst of the strife and storms of life. This kind of peace the world knows nothing about. Read how Jesus had peace in the midst of the storm (Mark 4: 35-41). Note when the disciples lost their peace their faith was gone. Read how Peter had faith in jail knowing that his head may be cut off next after having his fellow disciple and friend have his cut off by Herod. (Acts 12:1-7).

QUESTIONS

• What are counterfeits to real peace?
• What steals our peace?
• What does Philippians 4:7 teach us about peace?
• What principle can we learn from the following verses about keeping our peace? (Psalm 119:165, Isaiah 26:3)
• Who gives us peace? (Acts 10:36)

WORK

Ask your group in what are in their lives they want great peace and then pray for these areas. Please remind them of the special meeting with Dr. Ray Bakke this Saturday at 3:00 PM if they are interested in further studies.