Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Galatians 5:22-23), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• In the Fruit of the Spirit, Paul is likely talking about personal peace more than relational peace. Isaiah prayed, “You [Lord] keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (Isa. 26:3). Even though he faced all kinds of distresses in this world, Jesus enjoyed a secure relationship with God the Father, so he enjoyed perfect peace. And he gives us his own peace as a gift (John 14:27) by giving us the Holy Spirit and welcoming us into his own secure relationship with the Father. What did Jesus do in order to give you peace with God, in order to share his own personal peace with you? Do you have a sense of your need for Christ’s peace? How can you abide in Christ (John 15) in such a way that the Spirit grows the Fruit of his peace in you?

• Read Philippians 4:4-7. The “peace of God” is a peace that “surpasses all understanding,” and therefore “will guard your hearts and minds” even when you’re in the midst of distresses you don’t understand or can’t manage. It is a peace that comes from knowing that God is in control, and that you are secure in his love. What are some distressing circumstances you might be facing right now? How are you most tempted to feel when you face such circumstances? How are you tempted to live in order to cope? Do you look for relief from distresses, or relief in the midst of distresses? Do you look for relief that comes through your own understanding, or through your relationship with God, through faith in Jesus?

• Have you experienced God’s peace? What is that like? What difference does it make in your life when you bear the Fruit of peace? What difference does it make in the lives of others when you have peace? How can having God’s peace affect your relationships and be good for others? How can having God’s peace bear witness to who God/Jesus is?