LEARN BY TOPIC

The peace of God

Connect prayer and peace with mercy, boundaries and reconciliation between groups.

1. 1. Read and discover - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Philippians 4:6-7

   ⁶ In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

   ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Paul invites requests with thanksgiving; peace is described as guarding the heart, not guaranteeing easy circumstances.

   Reflect

   • How does peace differ from having no problems?

   Put it into practice

   Write a request and a thanksgiving; seek support when needed.

   Next lesson →

2. 2. The promised Helper - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   John 14:15-27

   ¹⁵ If you love me, keep my commandments.

   ¹⁶ I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever:

   ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive, for it doesn’t see him and doesn’t know him. You know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

   ¹⁸ I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.

   ¹⁹ Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also.

   ²⁰ In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

   ²¹ One who has my commandments and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.”

   ²² Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, what has happened that you are about to reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?”

   ²³ Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

   ²⁴ He who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word which you hear isn’t mine, but the Father’s who sent me.

   ²⁵ “I have said these things to you while still living with you.

   ²⁶ But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.

   ²⁷ Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Before departing Jesus promises the Spirit’s presence and teaching; comfort is joined to love and remembering his words.

   Reflect

   • Which roles does Jesus attribute to the Spirit?

   Put it into practice

   Reread a teaching of Jesus before a difficult decision.

   Next lesson →

3. 3. Mercy and peacemaking - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Matthew 5:7-9

   ⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

   ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

   ⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Jesus connects mercy, integrity and peacemaking; these qualities shape relationships rather than remaining private feelings.

   Reflect

   • What does making peace require beyond avoiding arguments?

   Put it into practice

   Take a safe mediating step that respects everyone involved.

   Next lesson →

4. 4. Overcoming evil with good - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Romans 12:17-21

   ¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men.

   ¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.

   ¹⁹ Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.”

   ²⁰ Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

   ²¹ Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Paul distinguishes seeking peace from revenge; caring for an enemy does not erase protection or justice.

   Reflect

   • What responsibility remains yours even if the other person does not change?

   Put it into practice

   Choose a nonvengeful response with safe boundaries.

   Next lesson →

5. 5. Christ and reconciliation - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Ephesians 2:13-18

   ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ.

   ¹⁴ For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of separation,

   ¹⁵ having abolished in his flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace,

   ¹⁶ and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility through it.

   ¹⁷ He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near.

   ¹⁸ For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Ephesians presents Christ overcoming hostility between groups; peace includes shared access and reconciled humanity.

   Reflect

   • How does Paul portray Christ as bringing together people who were separated?

   Put it into practice

   Open a collaborative space to someone from another group.