Peace

What is Peace?

Peace is not the absence of conflict, but rather the awareness of the sufficiency of God in every circumstance. Peace is found as we rest and rely on Him. Worry and anxiety often come as we take our eyes off our all-sufficient God. We can have peace even in times of trouble.

1. Jesus cared about the disciple’s lack of peace when he told them he was leaving. Read John 14:1-7 and talk about what Jesus said.
2. Read Philippians 4:6-7. Peace is often associated with anxiety and worry. In what areas of your life do you need to grow in having peace?
3. Peace is a battle of the heart and mind, according to John 14:27. Spend time with a close friend this week praying for God’s peace for them and for you.

Best Use

A good conversation about helping peace grow in your own life and in your relationship

Advance Prep

A Bible

Step One

Read Romans 15:13 together.

Step Two

Discuss the following questions:

• What would our home be like if there were more peace?
• What might we be doing that is hindering God from filling our lives with peace?
• Are we willing to work to remove those obstacles that may be hindering from God filling us with peace?
• What is one thing we can agree upon that is an immediate step for us to allow God to fill us with His peace?

Step Three

Talk through the acronym below. How could you use this acronym to rely on God for more peace?
P – Pause. Slow things down.
E – Eliminate. What needs to be cut out?
A – Allow. Make room to be filled with God’s peace. Romans 15:13
C – Challenge. Challenge the things that disrupt peace in your life.
E – Enter. Enter into the peace that Jesus offers. John 14:27

Step Four

Share with each other if there is a certain letter of the acronym that stands out the most; an area that you want to ask God to help you with. Take a photo of this with your phone or write it onto an index card to look at every day this week to assist as you cooperate with God to develop the fruit of peace.

Best Use

A family time activity to talk about peace

Advance Prep

A Bible, balloon, and a hairdryer

Step One

Read John 16:33. Jesus is telling His followers that there will be trouble but that we can trust Him for peace because He is in control.

Step Two

Blow up a balloon and tie it off. Have someone hold the balloon stem below the knot and tell them the objective is for them to hold the balloon very tightly and keep it still while the hair dryer or family member blows air on it. They will not be very successful. Tell them to hold on tight to try to control the balloon so it stays “peaceful in the storm.”

Step Three

Now, have someone hold the balloon by gripping the top of it. Try blowing the balloon now. (Blowing on it should not be able to affect the balloon.) This illustration represents the peace that God can bring when we allow Him to be in control. The circumstances may not change, but who we are trusting for peace does.

Step Four

Peace greatly involves letting go of control and allowing God to be our ultimate peace. As a family, we can create an aroma of peace in our home as we team up with God and seek peace in Him.

Step Five

Allow each person to share one thing that they feel worried or “not-at-peace” about. Pray together specifically for those items shared. Thank God that He is in control and ask that He would give peace in each situation.

Best Use

An activity with older children/teens used to discover and understand peace from a Biblical perspective

Advance Prep

A Bible or device that has a Bible, paper, and something to write with

Step One

What comes to mind when you hear the word peace? Does peace always have to do with the absence of war or conflict?

Step Two

Read Philippians 4:6-7. God does not desire that we are worried or anxious about anything. The spiritual fruit of peace is the opposite of worry. Peace comes from God. We can tap into the peace that passes all understanding through prayer.

Step Three

Have each person make a list of things that cause him or her anxiety or worry. Discuss each one and the reasons behind them. It is important to not dismiss anything from a person’s list, which could be easy to do if one does not have the same worry or anxiety.

Step Four

Take turns praying for one another’s worries, asking God to bring peace to that area of each other’s lives.

Step Five

During the next week check in with one another either at dinner or through a text message asking if they are worried or anxious about anything. Pray for one another on the spot or through text based on their response.