God With Us: Peace

Mark Batterson
Dec 10, 2022
3 min read

The Hebrew word for peace is SHALOM. Shalom is RELATIONAL HARMONY and it’s four-dimensional. It’s right relationship with God, Self, Others, and Creation. How do we experience the peace that passes understanding? First and foremost, peace is a PERSON. His name is Jesus, the Prince of Peace. If you want to experience shalom, there are three keys: 1) Confess Your Sin 2) Love Your Enemies 3) Prophesy Your Praise

God With Us: The Peace That Passes Understanding

November 27-28, 2021

Speaker: Dr. Mark Batterson

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7

Series Overview:

Advent is a season of preparation. A season of anticipation!

A season of Peace, Hope, Love, and Joy!

Series Discussion Questions:

How is God working around me in this season to show me His Peace, Hope, Love and Joy?

Message Overview:

The Hebrew word for peace is SHALOM. Shalom is RELATIONAL HARMONY and it’s four-dimensional. It’s right relationship

with God, Self, Others, and Creation. How do we experience the peace that passes understanding? First and foremost, peace

is a PERSON. His name is Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

If you want to experience shalom, there are three keys: (1) Confess Your Sin (2) Love Your Enemies (3) Prophesy Your Praise

Message-Specific Discussion Questions:

Where do you need an increase of peace this season?

Peace is best defined as “Shalom”:

● Jesus is called the “Prince of Peace” in our text for the week. Shalom is more than an emotion. It is easier to

understand what that means by seeing Jesus’ example in Scripture

o Shalom is the good will of God. (Psalm 23:6; 84:11)

o Shalom is healing and restoration (Mark 5:34)

o Shalom is forgiveness (Luke 7:47-50)

o Shalom is exercising authority with humility (Mark 4:39)

o Shalom is being Spirit- filled! (John 20:22)

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It starts with how we see God:

● Our relationship with God keeps us in balance with how we see ourselves.

● As a result this impacts how we interact with others and the world in general.

● It involves right relationships with God, self, others, and creation.

● If we leave God out, we have a social gospel.

How do we restore Shalom?

1. Confess your sin

● Reflect on 1 John 1:8-9

● Sin is the disturbance of peace; the opposite of shalom

● Are there areas where God has forgiven us, that we can fully release ourselves?

2. Love your enemy

● Reflect on Matthew 5:44-45

● Do not give the enemy a seat at your table.

● Is there a seed of bitterness, a grudge, something that is keeping me from experiencing Shalom?

3. Prophesy your praise

● Read Revelation 5:11-14

● Reflect on Luke 17:20-21

● The Kingdom of Heaven is not just for the future, it is something we live in now!

● We are not alone! Read Psalm 32:7

● Read Zephaniah 3:17. Praise puts us where we see beyond our own limits!

Prayer: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Walk before me this holiday season, so that others can experience your

peace, your shalom. May the Lord God be with us, as He always has been. May He go ever before us not leaving us or

forsaking us, but holding true to all His promises. May we be rooted in the house of the Lord and be made whole in His perfect

peace. Amen"

Practical Application

o Develop a daily rhythm of renewal and resilience in the middle of the hustle and bustle. Connecting with what God is

doing around us, through a short daily devotional. Download the NCC app or go to ncc.re/daily.

o Review the verses in this week’s sermon discussion guide. Write down in your journal one thing that God is showing

you as a way to experience His peace in this season of life.

o Start the day with positive encouragement, in a prayerful virtual gathering by joining the Upper Zoom each Tuesday,

Wednesday, and Thursday at 7:14am. Register at ncc.re/UpperZoom

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