Opening:

● Divide students into groups of two or three. Have each group decideon and act out a scene in which someone does something wrong to another person, but the person they wronged approaches them tomake peace again.
● Ask students, have you ever gotten into a fight with one of your friends? How do you make up and get to be friends with that person again? Do you go tell them you’re sorry? What if the fight was the other person’s fault? Could you still be the one to go talk to them first, before they told you they were sorry, and try to be friends with them again?

Bible Story

What is peace? It can be defined as “tranquillity, harmony, or security.” It is a concept of societal friendship and harmony in the absence of hostility
and violence. In a social sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (such as war) and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups. In today’s story, we shall learn about someone that decided to forgive and pursue peace. Who do you think this person is? Jacob, with the help of his mother Rebekah, tricked his father Isaac into blessing him, instead of his older brother. Discovering this duplicity, Esau then swore that he will kill his brother after their father dies. So Jacob fled, again with help from his mother, to live with his Uncle Laban in Haran. There Jacob married Laban’s daughters Leah and Rachel, and had 11 sons and one daughter. He prospered, but finally, God asked him to leave, He fled from (Gen. 31:20-22) Haran, to return to the land of his birth, where he had to confront his brother. As he approached Esau, he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and his two servant wives. He put the servant wives and their children at the front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. Then Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times before him. Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept. Then Esau looked at the women and children and asked, “Who are these people with you?” “These are the children God has graciously given to me, your servant,” Jacob replied. Then the servant wives came forward with their children and bowed before him. Next came Leah with her children, and they bowed before him. Finally, Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed before him. “And what were all the flocks and herds I met as I came?” Esau asked.
Jacob replied, “They are a gift, my lord, to ensure your friendship.” “My brother, I have plenty,” Esau answered. “Keep what you have for yourself.” But Jacob insisted, “No, if I have found favour with you, please accept this gift from me. And what a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the face of God! Please take this gift I have brought you, for God has been very gracious to me. I have more than enough.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau finally accepted the gift. “Well,” Esau said, “let’s be going. I will lead the way.” But Jacob replied, “You can see, my lord, some of the children are very young, and the flocks and herds have their young, too. If they are driven too hard, even for one day, all the animals could die. Please, my lord, go ahead of your servant. We will follow slowly, at a pace that is comfortable for the livestock and the children. I will meet you at Seir.” “All right,” Esau said, “but at least let me assign some of my men to guide and protect you.” Jacob responded, “That’s not necessary. It’s enough that you’ve received me warmly, my lord!” God commands us to seek peace, like both Esau and Jacob did (Psalm 34:14; Matthew 5:9). We should “make every effort to do what leads to peace” (Romans 14:19). Of course, there will be some people who do not desire peace, but we are still to do our utmost to be at peace with them (Romans 12:18). God doesn’t want us to be quiet all the time. He’s not talking about that kind of peace. He wants us to be at peace with others — not fighting, arguing, or hurting peoples’ feelings. Jesus is the ultimate peacemaker, and we should be too. Children of God are peacemakers. They help bring people to God and they do their best to get along with everyone. 

Application: 

Write down names of those who you have wronged or those who have wronged you, pray for them and go and make peace with them, by telling them sorry, and reinstating your relationship.