Bible Study: Blessed are the peace-makers

1. For starters: We live in a world that often longs for peace and seems to value it. Why do you think it is so elusive – both on a global scale and in our personal relationships?

2. Now we think about the biblical concept of peace. Look up the following Old Testament passages in groups – each of which includes the
Hebrew word shalom (=peace) and each of which looks at ‘peace’ from a different angle.
• Exodus 4:18; Genesis 43:27
• Joshua 9:15; 1 Kings 5:12
• Psalm 122:6; Jeremiah 29:7
• Psalm 4:8
• Psalm 85:10; Isaiah 48:18 & 22
What do we learn about the biblical concept of peace from these passages?

3. What stands out for you from these passages about the nature of shalom / peace in
Scripture?

4. Jesus is the prince of peace. Look up the following passages from the gospels in groups:
• Luke 1:79
• Luke 2:14
• Mark 5:34
• Luke 7:50
• John 20:19,21,26
What do these passages tell us about the nature of the peace that Jesus brings?

5. Look up the following passages from the New Testament:
• Romans 5:1ff.
• Colossians 1:20
• Ephesians 2:13-18
How did the early Christians understand the nature of the peace that Jesus has won for us?

6. What stands out for you about the peace that Jesus brings from these passages?

7. Now we will think about our role as peacemakers. Look up the following passages:
• Ephesians 4:3
• Hebrews 12:14
• Romans 14:19
• 1 Corinthians 14:33
Why do you think there is such an emphasis on ‘peace’ as a characteristic of the Christian life in the New Testament?

8. Looking over all you’ve learnt about ‘peace’ from different parts of Scripture tonight:
• Can you think of situations / relationships in your life at the moment where God might
be calling you to be a ‘peacemaker’?
• How can we encourage one another as a homegroup to be committed to a biblical
concept of ‘peace’ – both in our life as a group – in our life as a wider church family –
and in the other relationships in our lives (e.g. in the workplace, in our families, in our
marriages, in our friendships...)

9. Pray for one another in those areas – maybe using Hebrews 13:20-21 as a starting-point.