Delighting in Peace

Sermon Notes November 17, 2019 Proverbs 6:16-19 Short Review Ask one or more to review the main points of the morning message. Focus on: Do I hate strife as much as God does? Am I growing in wisdom to be a peace maker? Questions for Discussion: • Perhaps with this: Often characters in stories are quarrelsome – and we laugh at them, or they are the butt of jokes. Think of characters from movies, books or TV shows who are quarrelsome. What was life like for those living with them? • Read Proverbs 6:16-19. o Is “strife” (NASB) considered a great abomination among Christians? Why or why not? o What are the “abominations to God” that we tend to focus on? Why? o How do the attitudes/actions in verses 16 -19a contribute to strife? • Read James 3:13-18 and list the characteristics of wisdom from “below” and wisdom from “above.” And Discuss. • Read Proverbs 26:17-21. • • o Do you know people who do the things described here? Examples. o Why would anyone do these things – why are people quarrelsome? What motivates them? Ephesians 4:29 – discuss the “EFG” questions. o How might you give children practice in applying this wisdom to their words/conversation in the following: fight with sibling, disagreement with a friend, feeling left out, angry at having to obey parents? o Which of these (“EFG”) is hardest to put in practice for you and why? Think of God as the great peace maker: o Read Romans 5:1, 2 – what was the cost to God? o Why is there a cost to making peace? Isn’t it just a matter of shaking hands? [Who lays down rights? Who willingly suffers loss for the sake of peace?] o Why should Christians be willing to pay the cost to make peace? What motivates us? o How does this peace-making attitude apply in marriage, family life and in decisions in church life? Give examples.