The Gospel of Peace

This morning, Patty and I had the honor of standing up with Jeff and Trish as they dedicated their son Paul Fields at church this morning. It was a joy and an honor to stand up with them during this dedication.

But the sermon after the ceremony was just awesome. It was about something we all need to learn about...and that is conflict resolution. Especially in the church, because sad to say, there is conflict that goes on at church all too often.

Here are some notes I took from this morning...

Blessed are the peacemakers.

Peace is not just the absence of conflict but the presence of harmony.

Unresolved conflict is toxic.

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

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 (New International Version)
10If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

Ephesians 2:13-17 (New International Version)
13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

There is no more God like work to be done in this world than peacemaking
-John Broadus

What do you do if you have wronged someone or they have wronged you? Make Peace! If you reach out to try and reconcile with someone and are rejected or pushed away. Know that you tried to make peace and leave it at that. You can't make someone else accept your peace offering, but you can at least know that you did the right thing.

I was blessed by todays message and it is one we should all hear. It doesn't matter if you believe in God and Christianity or not. These could apply to any situation.

So go...make Peace...for blessed are the peacemakers.

Peace!