SERMON NOTES

Equipped

With Peace

Text: Ephesians 6:11-15 (979)

 The heart of the  is bringing peace. Rm. 5:1,10

That which characterizes the sons and daughters of God is that we seek to . Mt. 5:9

The  we disagree matters as much as  we disagree on. 

Jesus says the way we love - the way we walk in  - is the key means we show the world the reality of who Jesus is. Jn 17:23

We need  disagreement in the church because disagreement is necessary for . Pr. 27:17

What might it do to our disagreements if both parties were at the same time seeking to love, seeking to  each other in showing honor? Rm. 12:10 

In all interactions, I must hold two truths at the same time.

• I must hold to the truths of Jesus and His . 
• I must hold to the truth that the person in front of me is of utmost . 

The way I interact with any person needs to hold to both truths without  of either even if the way they treat me is disrespectful and dishonoring. Rm. 12:17; Lk. 6:27-28 

When Jesus said that He came not to "bring peace but a sword, "He doesn't mean we as His children get to be disrespectful, , unloving jerks. Mt. 10:34 

But Jesus is telling us that no matter how loving and respectful we are, holding to Him and His ways will cause division no matter how  we are. Rm. 12:18

One of the greatest witnesses we can have to the love of Jesus in our present day is the way we lovingly handle , both in person and online. 

Read "A Call to Christian Unity in Abilene": beltway.org/unity.