How to Grow as a Humble Peacemaker

2026 Bible Study Challenge

Each year, Desperately Dependent Community invites believers around the world to read through the entire Bible together. This isn’t just a reading plan—it’s a journey of spiritual growth. For 2026, our focus is on learning how to grow as a humble peacemaker as we read through the CSB Experiencing God Bible.

The CSB Experiencing God Bible invites you to know and experience God personally. In this revised and updated edition, based on the best-selling Experiencing God book and Bible study, you will be encouraged to focus on the major purpose of Bible reading—listening to God speak. CSB Experiencing God Bible features and study helps placed throughout the Bible provide an immersive reading experience that will guide and challenge you to respond to the invitations God offers to know him, his purposes, and his ways.

We will be following the Blended Reading plan set by the Blue Letter Bible. “This plan is designed to add variety to your reading of the Bible. The Blended Plan divides the Bible so that the reader will read books in a non-traditional sequence. For example, while one is reading the book of Isaiah, he is also reading the book of Mark.”

The reading plan will also be available through the YouVersion Bible app. An invitation to join our YouVersion group will be sent to you after you accept the challenge.

Our weekly Zoom discussion groups bring ladies from every stage of life and spiritual maturity together. Some are new to Bible study; others return year after year, ready to encourage and mentor newcomers. Like a one-room schoolhouse, our community thrives on shared learning, mutual support, and the joy of growing together in Christ. You may choose to join our Thursday MORNING group, which meets from 10:00 AM to noon, or our EVENING group, which meets from 7:00 to 9:00 PM (Eastern Time).

Blessed Are the Humble and the Peacemakers

Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:5 CSB

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Matthew 5:9 CSB

Humility and peacemaking are not qualities we can simply claim; they are cultivated. They require surrendering our own desires, dying to self, and allowing God to shape our hearts. Jesus reminds us:

If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

Matthew 16:24 CSB

Growing as a humble peacemaker is a lifelong pursuit—but the journey begins in our daily walk with God.

What Would It Take to Grow as a Humble Peacemaker?

Humility is elusive. As soon as we say, “I’m humble,” we betray the fact that we are not!

And even when we seek to make peace in one area, unrest often surfaces in another. Could it be that humility is still lacking?

Although humility is admired by many, it is achieved by few—because self gets in the way. Yet humility requires death to self. Following Christ means surrendering our desires, dying to selfish ambition, and finding peace through obedience to Him.

Promoting Peace: Following the Prince of Peace

Humble peacemaking is not passive. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and we promote peace when we allow Him to have His way and rule—when we humbly submit to His authority. God creates and provides peace; therefore, it is our responsibility to actively promote His peace.

Too often, we think of a peacemaker as someone quiet who avoids conflict. Sometimes, promoting peace may require ruffled feathers or even confrontation. A true peacemaker is assertive but not controlling:

• Assertive: Following God’s commands faithfully and encouraging others to do the same.
• Controlling: Doing what we want and pressuring others to do likewise.

James reminds us of the wisdom behind true peacemaking:

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.

James 3:17–18 CSB

Peacemakers may face opposition. Persecution often comes to those who pursue righteousness. But Jesus encourages us:

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me.

Matthew 5:10–11 CSB

Above all, we need God to make peace. In Christ, those who were far away have been brought near:

For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility.

Ephesians 2:13–14 CSB

And Paul reminds us further:

Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:1–3 CSB

Did you read that? “Walk with all humility … keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Therefore, each of us has a personal responsibility to join with God in accomplishing His peace.

Grow as a Humble Peacemaker with DDCommunity

Humble peacemaking can’t be mastered in one conversation or sermon—it’s a lifelong pursuit that begins in the heart and grows as we walk daily with God. This year’s Bible study is designed to guide you along that journey, helping you take concrete steps toward spiritual growth while learning to live humbly and pursue peace in every area of life.

Our Zoom discussion groups provide a space to ask questions, share insights, and encourage one another. Alumni from previous studies often serve as guides and mentors, helping newer participants navigate the journey. Together, we learn, support, and grow — as a community committed to Christ.

The Pathway to Humble Peacemaking

Growing a humble peacemaker is part of a broader journey of the 10 Steps to Spiritual Maturity. This study will also remind you of the preceding pathway:

1. Connect to God’s Word — Understand who God is and what He values.
2. Fear the Lord — Trust in His holiness and submit to His authority.
3. Experience Forgiveness of Sins — Walk in freedom rather than guilt.
4. Choose Righteousness — Make daily choices that reflect God’s character.
5. Depend on God — Rely on Him for strength, wisdom, and guidance.
6. Accept Discipline — Allow God’s loving correction to shape your heart.
7. Be Humble — Let go of pride, selfish ambition, and self-reliance.
8. Be a Peacemaker — Actively pursue God’s peace and love in your relationships.

This pathway is not a checklist—it’s a rhythm of transformation. Each step builds on the one before it, preparing your heart to embrace the fullness of humble peacemaking.

Daily Reflection to Help You Grow as a Humble Peacemaker

To help anchor your growth, we encourage you to reflect on two simple statements each day:

• I need God to…
• I promote peace when…

These reflections will help you take the teachings of Scripture from concept to action.

Testimonials

Being part of this Bible study with these incredible ladies over the past few years has truly changed my life. Staying in God’s Word daily—and then coming together on Thursdays to unpack how relevant it is to our everyday lives—has anchored me in ways I didn’t even know I needed. We laugh together, we cry together, and we dig deep into Scripture together.

It is a commitment, but it’s exactly the kind of commitment our Savior invites us into. He designed us to lean on one another and to grow together. This Bible study is a great way to do that. We are linking our hearts to His in a loving, caring group of women who pursue Jesus shoulder-to-shoulder.

I’m so grateful for them, and for the way God has used this study to shape me week after week…year after year. 

Mindy 

I have had a difficult few years with a lot of loss, change and grief. I was discouraged and pretty disconnected from God, honestly I was mostly going through the motions of life and very down. At the end of 2024 a childhood friend reached out and invited me to a join a zoom Bible study with her. We both love to travel and she pointed out how convenient the study is, even if traveling a lot. I said sure, thinking what did I have to lose?

Every Thursday, from my kitchen table in Ohio, I met my new friends in Tennessee and grew to know them better. We often cried together as life unfolded, and week by week, we grew closer to each other and the Lord, as He continued to reveal himself to us. Melanie had sent a welcome email with the theme of the year, but I must have skimmed it, because a couple months in she was talking about our theme: learning to depend on God and to appreciate his discipline. That day, God showed me that what I was missing was JOY- and the key to that joy was discipline. My theme became The joy is in the discipline!

2025 has been a year of true transformation for me, I have found HIS JOY again, and I am so grateful! Melanie leads our group with patience and wisdom and she is the real deal- a Bible scholar, compassionate Jesus follower and inspiring teacher! I can’t wait to see how God continues to transform me in 2026. If you are discouraged and need to refresh your faith and ready to really dig in and study the Bible, this is the group. The daily readings, the accountability and the practice of writing daily statements to share with the group are so valuable, it is a life-changing discipline. I pray you find HIS JOY like I did this year!

Nicole

I would have said before 2021 that, yes, I knew the Bible. I could recite all the well-known Bible stories, but in full transparency, I did not know the heart of God or anything about His love for me. This Bible study has taught me how to read the Bible in an intentional way, where I am always in search of God’s heart and His intentional love for me that draws me into deeper intimacy with Him. I did not realize how chaotic my life was until I realized the peace found in connecting my heart with His truth every single day of my life! It’s a super extra bonus to then sit and share together with my sisters in Christ. You will be welcomed here and dearly loved. Please come join us!!

Theresa

The absolute best use of my time is spent in God’s word.  Daily, He faithfully reassures me that I am dearly loved and never alone. Meeting together with a group of women who are on the same journey is an extra special delight! The encouragement, understanding, pooled insight, and Holy Spirit driven wisdom has impacted my life in exponential ways. I would encourage everyone to join and grow along with us as we anticipate the goodness of God’s word together again in 2026.

Rashelle

Will You Accept the Challenge?

We invite you to join us for this transformative journey through the Bible. Let’s grow together in humility, wisdom, and peacemaking as we follow the pathway God has laid out for us.

Contact us if you have further questions. If you click the Sign Me Up! Button, you will receive an email with more information and details. Clicking the button and filling out the contact information will also enable us to contact you with other resources, such as our YouVersion group, Zoom links, Slack invitation (our members’ communication method), and my personal contact information.

A Blessing to Carry You

May the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 CSB

Want to Go Deeper?

Before you begin, you may want to explore a few of our previous reflections on humility:

• How Can I Be Humble?
• What Does Humility Look Like?

For additional resources on studying Scripture thematically throughout the year, check out:

• Thematically Study Through the Bible in One Year

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