Unit 2:
Peace and Satisfaction in This World?
Begin Session
Opening Remarks
Announcements
Opening Prayer
Review Day 1: Peace and Places
Overview:
On page 27 we have our memory verse for the week. John 16:33 gives us 2 promises: The first promise is "you will have tribulation in the world", and the second promise is "I have overcome the world." We also see in this verse one command: "Be of good cheer." This verse also tells us, "In Me you may have peace." In Day 1 we see that one of the ways miss out on experiencing peace is because we choose to try to find our peace in a particular place in the world rather than in Christ.
Points to Emphasize:
- Why are Christians not in the least bit embarrassed over the absence of peace and rest in their lives?
- Peace inside an individual is not determined by being in a place.
Share:
Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.
Unit 2 - Day 2: Peace and Activities
Overview:
Many people look for peace in their activities thinking that if they just do enough, they will find serenity in the final accomplishment. On this day, we met a lawyer who had gone all the way up the ladder and found himself sadly disappointed that there was no peace in the successes he had experienced along the way. He found his true peace in the resources that only God can give.
Points to Emphasize:
- Many activities can give satisfaction to the participants without their giving God a thought.
- Activities and events eventually come to an end and leave you empty.
- A personal relationship with the Author of peace never ends.
Share:
Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.
Review Day 3: Peace and Things
Overview:
We live in a very materialistic society. We are surrounded by advertisements in many mediums that offer happiness in a car, diamond, a beverage, or an article of clothing. Day 3 introduced us to a man who had everything that money could buy, but his family was falling apart. What he couldn’t buy was what God offered for free: The spirit of love, joy, and peace.
Points to Emphasize:
- There are some things money cannot buy: love, joy, peace, and kindness.
- Things can be bought with money and bring counterfeit peace. Lasting peace can only come from a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Share:
Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.
Bonus Material: Story
A man and wife brought a prayer request to their church. “God help us sell our house.” The wife had pushed the husband into buying beyond their financial means and the husband felt so much pressure from the financial burden that it had caused a strain on their relationship. Realizing that she had been wrong, the wife surrendered the “dream house” she had wanted to God. She realized her marriage was more important, and the house she had thought would bring her happiness had caused a lot of problems. After the prayer requests were taken, an older couple approached the young couple asking if they were selling their house because of financial reasons. They confessed that they were and the older couple then asked if they would be willing to meet with them to look over the younger couple’s budget. The older couple did financial planning for a living and would be happy to offer their services. The two couples met and found enough money being spent on eating out to allow the younger couple to stay in their house comfortably and stay out of debt. By releasing control of her dream house the young wife found that God allowed her to keep it, and her husband was no longer burdened and stressed. By giving up what she thought would give her peace she found a real peace.
Bonus Material: Question
If money can make a person happy, why are there so many unhappy people in Hollywood where money is in abundance?
Review Day 4: Peace and People
Overview:
We all have people in our lives that we go to for comfort and support. The list of support groups on page 36 all provide opportunities for people to regularly get support and help to keep them going when they become weary. Anyone can join a group like this and find some relief without ever giving God a thought.
Point to Emphasize:
- Friendship is unstable and unpredictable. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Share:
Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.
Bonus Material: Reflection
Think of the people in your life who have moved away, passed away, failed to be there for you, betrayed you, or disappointed you. If we put our peace in a human being, it can easily be taken away from us.
Review Day 5: Peace and Jesus
Overview:
The humanist believes, “This world contains ample resources that coupled with the best efforts of caring people, should result in a world full of satisfied, happy people.” In today’s text we find the flaw that is in that kind of thinking. On page 39, John 16:33 presents a problem with that perspective. Jesus says we will have tribulation in the world. The true source of our peace is in that same verse. “In Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Points to Emphasize:
- Relief from tension is not the same as peace.
- Human effort is not enough to quiet the human heart in times of trouble and stress.
- Jesus tells us to turn to Him for peace if we want a peace that is deeply satisfying and lasting.
Share:
Have 1 or 2 people share a most meaningful thought and how they applied it.
Bonus Material: Activity – “Peace Mini-Retreat“
At the end of this Session you’ll find a Bible Study on peace. It’s called a “Min-Retreat” because it requires individual study and reflection. Make enough copies for your group and either give it out to those who want to dig deeper on this subject or incorporate the reflection time into your Session.
Conclude Session
Wrap-Up
Closing Prayer / Prayer Partners
