COMMUNITY GROUP/FAMILY AND DAILY STUDIES BASED UPON OUR PREACHING SERIES AT COMMUNITY CHURCH PUTNEY)
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COMMUNITY GROUP/FAMILY STUDY NOTES
We
seem to be in an epidemic of worry and stress. Modern life has given us many
wonderful innovations, but it has also brought with it a complexity and pace of
life that cause many to lack inner peace. Is inner peace something that
Christians are to experience? What do Paul’s prayers teach us about this?
Discuss/think/pray
about
Read Romans 15:13
·
In
this verse, what does God do, and what part do we play, in order to have a
sense of peace?
·
Although
we are to exert faith, how are we empowered to have ‘joy’, ‘peace’ and ‘hope’?
·
‘As you trust’ is a vital part of joy and
peace. This means that one must saturate ones mind in God’s word which, of
course, has been inspired by the Spirit.
As
J. I. Packer wrote,
‘The secret of joy for believers lies in the fine
art of Christian thinking. It is by this means that the Holy Spirit, over
and above his special occasional visitations in moments of joy, regularly
sustains in us the joy that marks us out as Christ’s. Our Lord Jesus wants our
joy to be full. Certainly, he has made abundant provision for our joy. And if
we focus our minds on the facts from which joy flows, springs of joy will well
up in our hearts every day of our lives; and this will turn our ongoing
pilgrimage through this world into an experience of contentment and exaltation
of which the world knows nothing.’
So, as we pray for peace, let’s ensure that we use,
and trust, the rich, nourishing truths of scripture, which are the gift of the
Spirit.
Read Philippians 4:6-7
·
What
are we to avoid and what are we to do in order to experience ‘the peace of God’?
·
Have
you ever had experiences of God’s peace in your life?
·
We
are to exert faith in God but Christian peace is more that positive thinking;
Christian peace is God Himself working in our mind and spirit.
Using Romans 15:13 as a model, Pray for each
other in your Community Group, that you would be filled with God’s ‘joy and peace as you trust Him… by the
power of the Holy Spirit’.
GOING DEEPER PERSONAL DAILY STUDIES
Monday: Peace with God
Begin by meditating (reading slowly, repeatedly,
with feeling) on this text:
Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through
faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ.
As we begin this
week’s study it’s vital that we emphasize that feelings or circumstances never
determine our peace with God, which is by faith alone.
We will derail the
‘peace train’ if we put feelings (or circumstances) at the front. To keep the
peace train on the tracks, peace, not based on emotion but which we have with
God through the cross, is at the front. Faith is joined to this. Feelings
follow at the back. Feelings will follow only as we put faith in the peace we
have with God through Christ.
Use Romans 5:1 as
inspiration to spend time exulting in your unshakeable peace with God.
Tuesday: Inner peace
Begin by meditating (reading slowly, repeatedly,
with feeling) on this text:
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and
peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power
of the Holy Spirit.
Christians
not only have objective peace as we saw yesterday, we can also enjoy the experience
of God’s peace.
What
does Romans 15:13 tell us that God’s and our role in the pursuit of peace?
Although
we are to exert faith, how are we empowered to have ‘joy’, ‘peace’ and ‘hope’?
Using
Romans 15:13 as a guide, spend some time in God’s presence expressing your
trust and seeking Him for a greater experience of joy, peace and hope.
Wednesday: Relational peace
Begin by meditating (reading slowly, repeatedly,
with feeling) on this text:
1 Timothy 2:8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray,
lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.
Even in
churches men and women can allow relationships to sour. We can view relational
challenge in two very different ways: we can see it as God’s way of maturing us
(which it is!) or we can allow it to be the devil’s way of dividing us.
Making
prayer central in a church will keep us centred on why we are together in the
first place. A church is united not because they are compatible, but because
they are God’s beloved family - Those who pray together stay together!
Do you
have any lingering resentment towards a brother or sister? Make it a practice
to thank God for His love over them, celebrate how the cross has redeemed them,
thank God for the gifts and contribution that they do make. Let’s do that now.
Thursday: National peace
Begin by meditating (reading slowly, repeatedly,
with feeling) on this text:
1 Timothy 2:1-3 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions,
prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings
and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in
all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour.
What
does Paul ‘urge, first of all’?
Do we
have a wide spectrum of people on our prayer list? Could we even name key
members of local and national politics?
No one
is saying that we should not voice thoughtful criticism of those in authority;
but you will not find Jesus or any of the New Testament writers slagging off
those who rule (Jesus does confront religious hypocritical leaders). Rather, we
as individuals and as a church must pray for ‘this is good and pleases God our Saviour’.
Do some
research and add political leaders to your prayer list.
Friday: We have peace when we know the Lord is near
Begin by meditating (reading slowly, repeatedly,
with feeling) on this text:
Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice
in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be
evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in
every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends
all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ.
Paul encourages that ‘The Lord is near’. He is right there
with you right now! How should this knowledge inform our peace and expectation
in prayer?
We get anxious about
things that threaten us. Let me encourage you today, when your mind fixates on
a worry, pray for it and thank God that He is near. Let’s make this a habit. It
will be good for you and brings honour to God.
Saturday: And finally
Begin by meditating (reading slowly, repeatedly,
with feeling) on this text:
Philippians 4:8-9 Finally,
brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is
excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or
received or heard from me,
or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with
you.
What does Paul
encourage us to think about? What does he ask us to ‘put into practice and what
will be the promised result of such a lifestyle?
I say lifestyle. Peace
is not like taking an aspirin – we do the right things and the pain goes away.
Peace is Jesus with us. It’s living a lifestyle of trusting His word, trusting
the cross, working out peace in relationships and this will cause your life,
and your emotions increasingly, to be filled with peace.
We have spent the last
number of weeks learning from Paul about prayer. We have only touched the
surface. I do pray, brothers and sisters, that you will continue to make prayer
a habit in your life so we all see Jesus receiving greater glory. Let’s PRAY
FOR A CHANGE!
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