Connections That Give us Peace

Philippians 4:6–7 KJV 1900

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Do you find yourself sad, anxious, angry, or generally dissatisfied with life? Today's lesson has a lot to teach you about these areas! Paul's instructions are direct, and they teach us how to deal with the things in life that rob us of peace.

The world longs for peace, and we are tuned into that desire. Unfortunately, our world looks for peace everywhere but the place it can be found. Only through trust and obedience to the Lord can we find true peace. Use this lesson to encourage us to seek God's peace through obeying these commands recorded by Paul.

Heavily Guarded

Gather

• Half sheets of paper and pencils.

• Bucket.

• Objects to serve as large shields (e.g., piece of cardboard, a laundry basket, sheet of poster board).

Steps

1 . Distribute several pieces of paper to each student. On each piece of paper, students write one thing that worries them or makes them anxious. Students wad up the papers and put them in the bucket.

2. Ask for four volunteers. Give three of the volunteers makeshift shields and instruct them to protect the fourth volunteer. The rest of the students use the wads of paper to attack the protected volunteer until all the paper wads have been thrown.

3. Pick up some of the paper wads and read the contents aloud. Use the following questions for discussion.

ASK: How might you describe a person who is shielded and safe from these types of worries in life? Peaceful, at rest, unconcerned

ASK: What are some ways we try to deal with our worries and anxieties? Ignoring them; drowning them out with activities, music, food; trying to take control of every situation; obsessing over them.

4. Transition to the Bible lesson.

We live in a world full of insecurities, and it's easy to be crippled by worry. We may not always feel protected from the anxieties of life; on the contrary, we often feel attacked by them. But just as one of our volunteers found protection from classmates, we, too, can find protection from our worries. Today's lesson will reveal the solution that Paul gave, which results in inner peace.

Continuing to emphasize his themes of unity and humility, Paul offered the Philippians some brief but important instructions that would yield peace among the believers as well as inner peace for individuals.

Philippians 4:2–9 KJV 1900

I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Finding Peace with Others

Humble your heart

Philippians 4:2 KJV 1900

I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

Paul addressed a specific problem within the Philippian church. He pleaded with Euodia and Syntyche to resolve their differences. These two women, along with other believers, had labored with Paul for the sake of the gospel. Apparently, though, a disagreement had broken out between them, causing a rift in their relationship, marring their effectiveness for Christ.

ASK: How does disharmony within the church hinder the church's testimony? Disagreement is distasteful to onlookers. Why would anyone want to be part of a group that is always fighting?

A literal translation of Paul's appeal shows he held the women equally responsible: " Euodia I exhort, please, and Syntyche, I exhort, please" (4:2). Both parties in the dispute, then, were apparently at fault. Paul did not take the side of one against the other. He urged the women to adopt the Lord's mindset of humility spelled out in the letter.

ASK: Why will mutual humility defuse disharmony? (See Phil. 2:3, 4). Both parties will not act out of strife or from pride. They will consider the other person better than themselves and will look out for the other person's interests.

ASK: When has pride or a desire to get your own way ballooned an otherwise simple disagreement with someone in your life?

When there is a disagreement over doctrine, the Bible needs to be the guide. God doesn't call us to compromise doctrine for the sake of getting along. That's not what Paul addressed in the case of Euodia and Syntyche. They both took sides on a personal preference, dug in, and refused to budge.

Believers who have the mind of Christ won't demand their preferences be adopted by everyone else. Instead, they should lay aside our personal preferences in favor of other people's preferences. That doesn't mean one side becomes a doormat for the other side. In order to keep one side from walking all over the other, Paul implored a mediator to help resolve disagreements between believers.

Address the hurting

Philippians 4:3 KJV 1900

And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

Paul appointed a mediator to help Euodia and Syntyche achieve reconciliation. We don't know whom Paul addressed directly. Some have suggested that the Greek word meaning "true yokefellow, or loyal companion, was a man's name and that the apostle was asking one particular person, Syzygus, to help promote unity. Others think it was a more general term. The identity of the mediator, however, is not as important as the mediator's mission. Note that Paul didn't instruct the mediator to determine guilt and dispense blame. He wanted the situation resolved so the church could move forward, unhindered in its work for Christ.

ASK: What should a mediator ensure happens in the process of resolving the conflict? That both sides admit and confess any sinful pride; that both sides show humility and a willingness to esteem each other better than themselves; that both sides love and value each other.

Mediators should proactively address those in disagreements in order to restore Christlike thinking and preserve the church's effectiveness.

Rejoice in your Helper

Philippians 4:4 KJV 1900

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

The command to rejoice naturally follows Paul's command to address the ongoing conflict in the Philippian church. The Lord provides the wisdom, strength, and humility necessary for successful conflict resolution. When the mediator brought Euodia and Syntyche together, the church would rejoice in the Lord.

ASK: How might consistently rejoicing in the Lord help prevent conflict? When we rejoice in the Lord we become enthralled with His greatness rather than our own. When we rejoice in ourselves, we expect others to do the same and let us have our way.

Paul's command is not to rejoice or be happy about circumstances but to rejoice in the unchangeable truths of the Lord and in one's relationship with Him. Despite his circumstances, Paul had reasons to rejoice in the Lord.

ASK: What would you list as your top two reasons to rejoice in the Lord?

Be gracious to the hurtful

Following Paul's command in verse 5 would help the Philippians avoid escalating conflicts.

Philippians 4:5 KJV 1900

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Paul challenged the Philippians to be known for their gentle and gracious character. To be gentle or gracious means to be charitable toward others' faults and merciful in judgment of their failings. Showing gentleness and graciousness also involves not retaliating when others lob shots at us. When someone disagrees with us and begins firing insults

at us, we shouldn't shoot back. We should graciously work to diffuse the situation instead.

ASK: What does the world tell people to do when they feel their rights have been violated? To use violence and insults to get attention, to fight until they get what they think they deserve, to cancel the violation

ASK: How did Christ show graciousness? He was willing to die a humiliating death for the sake of our salvation and our reconciliation to the Father.

To emphasize his point, Paul coupled his admonition with a reminder that the Lord is at hand. Remembering that the Rapture could occur at any time should encourage prompt reconciliation within the church. A good test when believers face conflict might be to ask how important the issue is in the light of Jesus' return. If we think in terms of the Lord's presence in every discussion and of His imminent return, we will find it easier to be gracious and reasonable.

Finding Inner Peace

Paul continued with his emphasis on peace, giving the individual believer instructions for creating inner peace.

Pray about your troubles

ASK: Why is there so much anxiety, or worry, in the world today? Many things beyond human control threaten our safety and security.

Philippians 4:6–7 KJV 1900

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Paul counseled the Philippians not to be worried about anything but to pray instead. In prayer, believers can turn their worries over to the One Who is in control.

We generally think of prayer as making our requests known to God, but the words " prayer, " supplication, " and "thanksgiving" tell us that a little more is involved in the type of prayer that cures worry. " Prayer" refers specifically to addressing God as an act of worship. Pausing to remember the holiness and majesty of the Lord helps calm anxieties and gives us confidence as we bring our requests to Him.

ASK: What other attributes of God can give us peace in worrisome situations? Love, sovereignty, omnipotence, omniscience, faithfulness, goodness.

"Supplication" means bringing burdens and needs to the Lord. We may pray about our own concerns and problems, but we should also be faithful to pray for the problems and needs of others. Paul set the example in his prayers for the Philippians (1 :4, 9-1 1).

"Thanksgiving" is too often the missing element of prayer. Giving thanks helps us to remember God's faithfulness in the past and His promise to be faithful in the future. We can thank God for answering our prayers as we make our requests because God is faithful.

When believers bring their concerns to God, demonstrating complete trust in His control, an unexplainable peace replaces worry. Paul described this peace as one that guards a believer's heart and mind. God's peace will post a guard to keep worry out of our hearts, where worrisome feelings start, and out of our minds, where worrisome thoughts begin. Through prayer we can take our eyes off the situation and turn them to God, Who has the situation under control and is working all things together for our good (Rom. 8:28),

Plan your thinking

Philippians 4:8 KJV 1900

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

ASK: What is the connection between our thoughts and our actions? Our actions are often determined by what we have been thinking about.

We are constantly thinking either about our own ideas or someone else's ideas. When we understand and memorize Scripture, we are thinking God's thoughts, and we will act in godly ways. But when we are consumed with the world's thoughts, worldly actions and attitudes are produced. It is wrong to believe that our private thoughts are inconsequential as long as we don't act on them. God wants believers to fill their minds with the right kinds of thoughts, which will produce godly actions and attitudes as well as peace.

ACTIVITY: Draw eight thought bubbles on the whiteboard. As you discuss each thought characteristic, add the description to a bubble.

Paul listed eight characteristics of right thinking and challenged the Philippians to make time to contemplate, or meditate, on things that meet these criteria.

First, Paul instructed them to think true thoughts. More than simply being truthful, this requirement includes things that have a genuine character. Believers should dwell on things that line up with the truth of God.

Second, Paul listed honest, respectable thoughts. These are thoughts that are worthy of reverence or respect.

Third, we are to think on things that are just or right in relation to those around us. We are fill our minds with unselfishness concern for others.

Fourth, we are to think on pure things. "Pure" means free from 📷 contaminants. We should not entertain sinful thoughts. Nor should we view impure content.

Fifth, we must think on things that are lovely. Lovely thoughts are pleasing, winsome ideas.

Sixth, we should have commendable thoughts of good report. Such thoughts are attractive and admired for wholesome reasons. The thoughts are constructive rather than destructive.

Seventh, our thoughts should focus on what is virtuous or excellent. And last, Paul promoted thoughts that are worthy of praise, meaning ideas worth passing on because they will encourage and help others.

Praiseworthy ideas deserve to be commended because they focus on things that God would praise.

This world is terribly deficient in providing appropriate "mind food" for the believer. Few conversations, writings, songs, or actions meet the eight criteria of right thinking. Christians must maintain a steady diet of God's Word to remain "mind healthy. " A healthy mind is vital to a believer because thinking leads to action. The attributes Paul instructed us to look for in our thoughts are the same attributes found in Jesus Christ. Aligning our thoughts with the character of Jesus will lead to Christlikeness in our actions and will bring peace to our hearts and eliminate the anxious thoughts.

ASK: When have you disciplined yourself to think about things deserving of praise? How did such thinking affect your actions?

Trying to drown our anxious thoughts with sinful thoughts will only make our anxieties worse. We must discipline our minds to think on things pleasing to God to find relief from doubt and fears.

Practice your training

Paul had done his best to give the Philippians good teaching and a Christlike example. The Philippians had learned and received right doctrine from Paul as their teacher They had also seen him live out that doctrine in everyday experiences. Paul urged the believers to make right living a habit. As believers follow Paul's example and obey God's instructions, they can share in Paul's peace, regardless of their circumstances.

ASK: How might a believer who lives in a state of peace affect the world for Christ? The world longs for peace, so a person who can be peaceful even in difficult situations is a bright testimony to the work Christ can do in a person's heart.

Paul provided the Philippians with God's answer to living in a world full of worry and anxiety. When believers worship God and bring their concerns to Him along with their expressions of thankfulness, they can experience a peace beyond what the world can provide. This peace stands guard around the believer's heart and mind, regardless of circumstances.

Paul instructed believers on finding both interpersonal peace and inner peace. Interpersonal peace comes as we humble our hearts and adopt the mind of Christ. To help in the process, intermediaries should address the hurting to help them work out their differences in a godly manner. Rejoicing in the Lord helps resolve issues too.

Being gracious to those who want to hurt us defuses conflict. Personal peace is found through prayer, planning our thinking, and putting into practice God's Word. God's peace protects us from worry in an indescribable way.

ASK: What threatens to rob you of peace?

ASK: Which of Paul's instructions do you need to take to heart?

ASK: What habits do you need to change to foster peace in your life?