Begin your discussion with a moment of quiet reflection, individual or group prayer, or whatever would be conducive to further discussion. Share with the group, as appropriate, your experiences during the week in being disciplined, in doing the journal exercises, in finding a peace within yourself, or whatever.

1. More so than any other, the fruit of peace (especially peace with God) is directly and easily tied to the assurance of salvation. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom.5:1). (An extended discussion of this topic occurs in my materials for Romans: Peace With God.)
2. Peace with ourselves (personal peace) is more complicated.
1. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Note the two-sided nature of this assurance.
 
1. Read Phil.4:6-7. Why are we anxious about things? Is it that ultimately we lack faith? Is it that, no matter what Scriptures say, we really don't think God will come through when we need him? Why? [See the discussion on Faith.]
2. If we are not assured freedom from trouble (indeed, quite the contrary we are assured we will have trouble), then exactly what kind of "peace" (personal peace, here on earth) should we have? Phrased another way, exactly what is "personal peace"?
2. "Cast your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Pet.5:7-9) What about the attitude, "If God really cared for me (or, If God were really in control], this trouble would not have happened." How do you respond to that?
3. Peace with others also raises questions. (Again, an extended discussion of this topic, in the context of an analysis of the Gulf War, occurs elsewhere. See Just War and the War in Iraq.
 
1. Does peace with others mean harmony-at-any-cost capitulation? If not, that means there will be circumstances in which it is your Christian duty to engage in or suffer conflict and discord. See Rom. 12:18. What might be the nature of or ground rules for such "peaceful conflict"? On the other hand, there may actually be a duty simply to capitulate, to turn the other cheek and walk away. Under what circumstances would that be the Christian thing to do?
2. Often times, we do not have the luxury of choosing peace versus conflict, only one conflict in lieu of another. For example, for Operation Desert Storm, it might be said that our only choices were Iraqi-Kuwaiti conflict or Iraqi-American conflict; the option of "no conflict" was not available. Does Christianity have anything to say about what to do in such circumstances?

4/17/98