The Power of a Peacemaking Church: Displaying the Glory

of the Gospel

Apollo 13

“This could be the worst disaster we’ve ever experienced.”

“With all due respect, I believe this is going to be our finest hour.”

Which attitude would surface in your church in the face of a major conflict?

Peacemaking is the supreme display of God’s glory

“Then Moses said, ‘Now show me your glory.’And the LORD said, ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you….’ Then Lord came down … and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation’” (Ex. 33:18-19; 34:5-7).

“For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great” (Ps. 25:11).

A peacemaking church reflects the glory of God

“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace” (Col. 3:12-15).

The supreme way to reflect God’s glory is to make peace with those who offend you!

The gospel empowers the church to display astonishing peacemaking

“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing way of hostility…. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross” (Eph. 2:14-16).

Through the gospel, conflict can become a church’s “finest hour”

(see Christ our Hope testimony)

The gospel has the power to radically transform the way we respond to

conflict

Build a Culture of Peace

Four Key Characteristics:•Passion for the gospel• Pastoral leadership

• Peacemaking theology• Practical assistance

“Make peacemaking not only a tool but a habit,

not only a habit but a nature,not only a nature but a life.”

Storms of Life… A beacon of light… Built on the Rock.

The Peacemaking Church Resource SetPastor’s Box• Pastor’s Essential Briefing• The Peacemaking Pastor• Model Sermons• Promotional Materials

Small Group Box• Small Group Study DVD Set• The Peacemaker book• Leader’s Guide• Ten Participant Guides & Peacemaking Principles pamphlets

Peacemaking Team Box• The Peacemaking Team Manual

• Audio/Video Instruction• Teaching Materials• The Peacemaker book and 50 Peacemaking Principles pamphlets

PeacemakingChurchResourceSet

Normally $199Today $149

The glory of a peacemaking church is to proclaim and reflect the

reconciling power of the gospel

“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:22-23).