Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Matthew 5:9), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• The Bible speaks of the relational disintegration that is the default state of sinful human beings since the fall of our race (Gen. 3). We automatically tend toward division, and the root of the problem is our broken relationship with the God of peace. How have you seen this reality played out in your relationships? Do you find it easy to let difficult relationships end? Do you lament the ending of any particular relationships?

• Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). He is the God of peace in the flesh, the Son who perfectly reflects the Father in his peacemaking. He brings people who are naturally at odds with one another, and reconciles them to God and to each other through our relationship with him (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:13-16; Col. 1:20). Do you believe that Jesus has made peace between you and God? If this is true for you as one who belongs to Jesus, what does it mean for your relationship with others who also belong to Jesus? Have you seen people resolve their conflicts through their mutual relationship with Jesus? What does that look like?

• Those who belong to Jesus enjoy his own relationship with the Father, his own Sonship. They are also renewed in his image, as he is in God’s image, which means they become peacemakers like him. Considering what you know of Jesus’ peacemaking ministry, what might it look like for you to be a peacemaker like him? Is it easy? Will it always “succeed”? Can you think of times when you have participated in making peace in Christ’s name, either in one of your relationships or by helping others as a mediator? Have you seen these moments as privileges of participating in the life of Christ?

• FOR THE CHILDREN: Paul writes, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18). Does this sound good to you? Are there some people you know with whom it’s hard to live peaceably? Is it hard because of them, or because of you? If it was because of you, is there something you can change to try to live peaceably with them?