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This is the audio from the July 19, 2026 sermon, “Summer With the Son: Being Honest!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Matthew 5:38-42, Romans 12:17-21

• Possible:  Matthew 5:38, Romans 12:18

  • Being peaceful begins when we know what is possible beyond our human efforts.  When we do all that is possible in our ability to be at peace with everyone, we begin to understand  all that God has done to bring us to peace with Him.  It is possible for us to have peace with God, not because we are so good, but because God is so good.  That is the possibility God wants us to consider in the way that we are peaceful with others.

• Evil:  Matthew 5:39, Romans 12:17,21

  • Being peaceful will require us to know the truth about evil.  The very nature of evil longs for revenge rather than peace.  It is important to know evil is often the driving force behind conflict so that we are kept from peace.  Knowing evil should always lead us to identifying it in our own life so that we can find God’s help in removing it in order to be at peace with Him and with our self.

• Acceptable:  Matthew 5:40, Romans 12:19

  • Being peaceful will grow in our life as we learn to know what is acceptable to God.  Turning the other cheek is not a declaration by God that it is okay to mistreat anyone, rather it is instruction regarding our response to mistreatment.  What is acceptable to God is a heart of purity which in humility considers the needs of others to be more important than our own.

• Compassionate:  Matthew 5:41, Romans 12:20

  • Being peaceful will flow from knowing, and practicing, a compassionate life.  We choose to do what is good and right in all circumstances so that others would see the goodness of God in us.  In our godly response to the mistreatment by others, we heap burning coals on their head not to destroy them, but to help them find purification from God.  While we reject the evil actions of other, and of our self, we have compassion that exemplifies God’s compassion toward us.

• Enough:  Matthew 5:42, Romans 12:21

  • Being peaceful will lead us to know what is enough.  Doing all that is possible by us to be at peace with everyone is a very difficult task and doesn’t always bring about the peace we desire.  The good news is that God doesn’t measure the results of what others choose to do, but rather considers our faithfulness to His instructions to be enough.  We will fail.  Our efforts will fall short at times.  The great news in being peaceful and in knowing peace is knowing that God is always enough.

Today, how will you live with a knowledge of what is PEACE?