Part 4 – New Peace
Leader Guide
Do you feel the pressure of the Christmas Season? To create memories and make everything perfect for everyone around you? Although Christmas is a crazy time of year, we can find perfect peace now and forever in Jesus Christ. Let’s look at how we do that!
What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
Leader: This section is designed to get discussions started, examine God’s truth, and apply it to our week. Life Group leaders should not assume everyone in their group is a Christ follower. Because they are taking part in a Life Group, they must have some openness to knowing more, exploring. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work and let Him lead you as well.
1. What part of the Christmas season is the most stressful for you? What part is the most fun?
Leader Note: This could be (on either side of the question!) finding the perfect present, the family gatherings, the services and carols, etc.
2. Read Luke 2:8-19. What things might have been overwhelming to Mary? Amid utter chaos, how did Mary gain and maintain peace?
Leader Note: The trip to Bethlehem, the birth in a manger, and the visit of strange shepherds with live animals doesn’t seem like the perfect “birth experience.” Yet, God sent the shepherds with their story of seeing the angels and hearing that the Christ was born. Not only did God confirm to Mary that she really was caring for the Messiah, but she was WITH the Prince of Peace Himself. Jesus is our peace (Ephesians 2:14).
3. Read John 14:26-27. What kinds of things does the world promise will give us peace? Does “following Jesus” guarantee peace? How does “hanging out with Jesus” change you?
Leader Note: Financial security, a plan/having control, a relationship, nicer car, popularity, successful career, or acclaim. Maybe knowledge or education seems like the answer. “Believing in Jesus” is not a guarantee that you will experience peace. You can’t just say a prayer and then have all the fruit of the Spirit. It takes time with Jesus to gain His peace, to buff off our roughness, and to calm our souls. If you want to grow in an area, it takes being around people that exhibit that quality. Jesus IS peace! He promises to give peace to us.
4. Seize our thoughts. Read Isaiah 26:3, Hebrews 13:5, Psalm 139:14, and 1 Peter 5:7. What thought patterns can destroy our peace? How do you overcome them? What can you “cast” on Jesus?
Leader Note: The battle for peace in chaos must begin in our minds. The Holy Spirit will help us control our thoughts and bring to remembrance Jesus’s teachings and precepts. Don’t compare; don’t create unreal expectations. Don’t put yourself down. Worry and “what ifs” can destroy our peace. Inability to let go of control, bitterness, or negativity. Seize your thought patterns and replace with God’s Word. Memorize a verse, get with Jesus, ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. You can cast EVERY care and worry on Jesus, and He will carry it, taking the angst from you when you leave it with Him.
5. Pursue Jesus. Read John 16:33. How do you live “in Me” as Jesus says? Where does your time really go? Examine your life priorities and determine if you are really pursing Jesus...or something else?
Leader Note: There is nothing wrong with pursuing a great family life, provision for our family, or success at work. But if pursuing Jesus is not your number one priority, you will not have peace or the strength to accomplish the other good priorities in our lives.
6. Action Steps: Choose at least one!
a. Memorize one verse this week! Combat the thought pattern that you usually fall into. (Maybe Google verses that deal with your issue: for example, fear, peace, worry.)
b. Commit to praying every fifteen minutes.
c. Reading the Word of God for fifteen minutes a day.
d. Worship with some praise music.
e. Serve on a Cove Team.
f .Have a devotion time with your children every day, talking to them about Jesus.
Deeper
Leader: This section is designed for further use in your Life Group or for personal study. These can also be used as discussion points and ways to stay connected with your group throughout the week. Encourage your group to take time daily to walk through these questions.
7. Read Luke 12:22-31. In these verses, Luke’s account of the “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus warns us about setting our hearts on issues/needs that cause us to worry. When we worry, how is this a problem of the heart? What does He teach us is the cure for this? How do you seek His kingdom in a time of worry?
Leader’s Note: Worry is the result of focusing on earthly things and “what I need” instead of focusing on God. He teaches us to set our hearts on seeking Him and His Kingdom. We seek His kingdom by having deep fellowship with God, having a quiet time, and being in prayer with Him, obeying what He tells us in that time, studying the Bible, serving Him and others. We need to just abide in that place of His presence.
8. Immediately following the Luke account, read Luke 12:32-34. How do the words in verse 32 give you comfort? Are the directions in verse 33 impossible for us today? What incredible promises are found in verses 33 and 34 how you live?
Leader’s Note: “Fear not, little flock” is so personal. It is the Father’s (not only God All-mighty, but my Father's) pleasure (not responsibility or job) to take care of me! If I do as He directs, and I spend my life and resources on what God cares about (the needy, the lost, the hurting), He promises to provide me with treasure that will never run out or fail.
9. Is there a time when Jesus could have worried? Do you think He was tempted in this area? Read Matthew 26:36-46. Instead of worrying, what did Jesus do?
Leader’s Note: Jesus knew the plan of God. He may have dreaded and certainly could have worried about what was to happen in the coming days. We know He knew He would be betrayed, arrested and crucified. But we know He was sinless, so we can be sure He didn’t cross over into worry. Rather than being anxious, He repeatedly goes to the Father in prayer. He prays for God’s will to be done and trusts God, completely surrendering instead of worrying about what is to come.