WEEKLY SERMON REFLECTIONS

Each week, take 5 days to dive deeper into the heart of our Sunday sermons! Through key insights and scripture, this format will allow for further personal reflection and spiritual growth. Keeping this at the dinner table, discuss it with family and/or friends.

PRAYER OF THE WEEK:

"Lord God, I invite your peace to rule and reign in my heart. Not as the world gives, but your peace that passes all understanding. Help me to share your peace with others, so that they may taste and see your goodness and give praise to you. Guide me in all that I do and say and let my life be a vessel for your peace in this world. In Jesus’ name, Amen."

DAY
01

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

-John 14:27

REFLECTION:

Jesus wants us to have real peace. This is not just some empty phrase. It is a no-strings-attached, nothing fake about it, nothing forced–kind of peace.

RESPONSE:

How does the world try to promote peace? What is different about the peace that Christ offers us?

DAY
02

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

-Colossians 3:12-15

REFLECTION:

Some people think peace just means to check out of the drama and keep to themselves. Others think it’s to control and force people into a submissive state. Neither one of these are ways that we are supposed to conduct ourselves as Christ's representatives, because this is not the kind of peace that He gives us.

RESPONSE:

How can you bring Christ’s peace to others instead of any false or forced peace? How would this look around the holidays, in your home or at your job?

DAY
03

So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.

-Romans 14:19

REFLECTION:

Our words are not our own–we are responsible for the words that we speak. In Ephesians 4 it talks about being careful with our words and using them to build others up and give grace to them.

RESPONSE:

How can you pursue peace with your spouse, your parent, your child, your coworker, etc…? Ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom on how to walk in peace with others and what practical steps you can take towards bringing His peace.

DAY
04

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation, but take courage! I have overcome the world.

-John 16:33

REFLECTION:

Peace is a person: JESUS. It is only through our surrender to the Holy Spirit that we receive the peace of Christ and are able to offer that same peace to others.

RESPONSE:

When you run up against someone that provokes you and you are tempted to lose your peace, how can you reel it back in and invite the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom in having a better interaction with them?

DAY
05

But when He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth…

-John 16:13

REFLECTION:

Surrendering to the Holy Spirit will enable you to ask forgiveness and to yield to His conviction to run from or to something that God has for you.

RESPONSE:

How have you experienced the Holy Spirit guiding you into truth in the past? How can you be more intentional about seeking His direction in the future?