Religion & Spirituality
PEACE - various scripture utilized for today's sermon 1. Barbara said that peace is not merely the absence of conflict. In the book "Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin", Cornelius Plantinga, defines shalom (the Hebrew word for peace) this way: “In the Bible, shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight--a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, a state of affairs that inspires joyful wonder as its Creator and Savior opens doors and welcomes the creatures in whom he delights. Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be.” Was there anything about this definition that surprised you? How does this definition expand your understanding of Jesus as the Prince of Peace? 2. Barbara shared how when mechanical things in her home break, it disturbs her sense of shalom. What disturbs your shalom (peace)? And what fixes it? 3. Read 2 Cor 5:17-21. What does it mean to follow Christ into death, resurrection, and peace-making? 4. Barbara shared four ways in which we can practice shalom during this Christmas season: 1. We can receive the peace that God offers to us “messed up human beings” that restores shalom between us and God. 2. We can embrace the call to follow him in becoming the complete human we were meant to be. (Dying to our selfish desires in order to follow in Christ’s footsteps.) 3. We can recognize the core idea of peace/shalom/eirene is that life is complex, full of lots of moving parts - relationships and situations - and when any of these are out of alignment or missing, our shalom breaks down. Life is no longer whole and needs to be restored. (Open our eyes to compassion for the needs in our greater world or in our own lives.) (Romans 8:22-24) 4. We can receive the call of Jesus to give away and create peace. Which of these four ways speaks to you the most? Why? 5. We need shalom (or wholeness) in our lives and in our church. What is one small way that you can bring a taste of restoration or wholeness to your life or to the church this Christmas?