Friday, February 25, 2011

The Beatitudes, Part 40 of 50

TEXT: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9).

IDEA: The evidence that we have a dynamic relationship with God is that we are peacemakers.

PURPOSE: To help listeners recognize what is involved in being a peacemaker.

In the eighth beatitude Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons or daughters of God.”

Does that beatitude surprise you? Why?

Some cynic has said that peace is what nations embrace until they have time to reload.

I. Has it ever struck you as strange that nations claim to love peace, but in all of recorded history the world has had less than fifty years of peace?

Americans like to think of the United States as “peace-loving,” but we have had a history of wars.

Revolutionary war (1776)
War of 1812
War with Mexico (1845)
The Civil War (1860-64)
Spanish-American War (1898)
First World War (1914-18)
Second World War (1941-45)
Korean War (1950)
Vietnam War. (1960-70)
Iraq War
Afghanistan

How do you explain the history of fighting and death when national leaders claim that they love peace?

II. The eighth beatitude speaks about “peacemakers.”

Is that the same as peace lovers?

Peacemakers are actively engaged in bringing people together who are estranged.

Do you think that is the reputation Christians have in our society?

Is a peacemaker  the same as a pacifist?