Exemplar Coaching

Live by Design, Not by Default.

CoffeeChat 49 – Stand for Peace

Edition  49

Stand for Peace

Last Edition Recap
How have you applied the last edition to your life?
Opening Prayer
God of Peace, teach us the importance of keeping true to Your Gospel of Peace and help us to become great advocates of it. Amen.
Introduction
Two people locked in a room. Total opposites in every way. Between them, a table with two objects. They can only leave when both agree which to choose. Option one: a gun labelled “I choose war against this other person.” Option two: a banquet meal with more than enough for both, labelled “I choose peace with this other person.” Which would you hope they choose? Which would you choose? Mother Teresa said: “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” Einstein added: “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” Now imagine Jesus is the other person in that room with you. Which object do you hope He chooses? Which does He want YOU to choose? The answer reveals everything about the Gospel of Peace. We live in a world choosing guns over banquets daily. Nations stockpile weapons whilst children starve. Neighbours build higher fences whilst loneliness epidemics rage. Churches split over worship styles whilst the world burns. We’ve forgotten we belong to each other. We choose war because we’ve forgotten whose we are. The Gospel is called the Gospel of Peace not because it’s passive but because it’s powerful. It transforms enemies into family, strangers into siblings, opposites into one body. But it requires a choice. Every day, in every interaction, the table is set: gun or banquet? War or peace? Division or communion?
Chat Point 1
  1. How would you define peace, and what does it mean to truly have it?
  2. How far will you go to have peace—what would you sacrifice for it?
  3. What does Mother Teresa’s quote about belonging to each other reveal about peace’s source?
  4. In the room scenario, which object would you honestly choose and why?
  5. If Jesus were the other person, which would He choose for you and why?
Read
Galatians 5:22-26, Ephesians 6:15, Philippians 4:4-9, Romans 12:9-21
Key Focus
Romans 8:5-6 – “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
Chat Point 2
  1. Does peace or war please God according to these passages?
  2. Why is it so easy to want peace yet disregard God’s instructions on sustaining it?
  3. Do Christians have responsibility to promote peace, and why?
  4. What excuses do we make to avoid this responsibility?
  5. How can we Stand for Peace as a group practically?
Final Thought
The mind governed by flesh is death. The mind governed by Spirit is life and peace. Not life OR peace—life AND peace. They’re inseparable in God’s economy. You can’t have spiritual life whilst choosing spiritual war. You can’t claim Christ’s peace whilst wielding division’s weapons. Romans 12 commands: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Not just with those who agree with you. Everyone. Not if they deserve it. Everyone. Not after they change. Everyone. As far as it depends on you—meaning you’re responsible for your side of peace regardless of their response. Galatians lists peace as fruit of the Spirit. Not fruit of circumstances. Not fruit of others’ behaviour. Fruit of the Spirit. If you have the Spirit, you should produce peace. No peace? Check your spirit. Ephesians says to have feet fitted with the readiness of the Gospel of Peace. Not the Gospel of Being Right. Not the Gospel of Winning Arguments. The Gospel of Peace. Ready to bring peace, share peace, stand for peace. Why do you think Jesus’s message—everything He stood for and did—is called the Gospel of Peace? Because He chose the banquet when we chose the gun. He offered bread to those who offered nails. He served wine to those who served vinegar. He said “Father, forgive them” to those saying “Crucify Him.” The Gospel of Peace isn’t passive—it’s the most aggressive force against evil ever deployed. It attacks hatred with love, violence with service, war with worship.
My Action
What key insight or learning from this session resonates most with me, and what do I sense God is inviting me to do in response?
Shared Prayer
What are your prayer requests?​
Closing Prayer
Dear God, Your plan is for all humanity to be at peace; forgive us for pushing agendas against the Gospel of Peace. Guide us to choose whatever increases Your peace. Amen.
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In-Between Chats: Personal Reflection
  1. How do you weigh up to God’s expectation of peacemaking, and what must you do about it?
  2. What is God telling you about specific relationships where you’re choosing the gun over the banquet?
Edition Writer: Rev Kevin Zondagh

Methodist Minister, Personal Development Specialist, Life Coach, Relationship Coach and Executive Coach. Founder and Owner of Exemplar Coaching Pty Ltd and CoffeeChatConnect. "We should have the desire to custom design the only life we have. After-all, we buy designer everything. How much more should we Live by Design, not by default?"