Theme 2014: Experiencing God, Embracing People!

Theme 2014: Experiencing God, Embracing People!

Are

needed in the world today?

2 Misconceptions about conflicts:

Why is unresolved conflicts damaging?

“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For

anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen,

cannot love God, whom he has not seen.”[NIV]

1 John 4:20….

“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your

wives, and treat them with respect . . . so that

nothing will hinder your prayers.”[NIV]

1 Peter 3:7….

“You are only hurting yourselfwith your anger…” [NIV]

Job 18:4….

“And those who are

peacemakers will

plant seeds of peace

and reap

a harvest of

goodness.” [NLT]

James 3:18….

to being a

Matthew 5:23-24….

“23 So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a

sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has

something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person.

Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” [NLT]

should take priority even over worship.

“He (Adam) answered, ‘I heard you

in the garden, and I was afraidbecause I was naked; so I hid.’ ”

[NIV]

Genesis 3:10….

The biggest barrier to deal with is…

Fear of being EXPOSED orbeing VULNERABLE —

causes us to do 3 things . . .

afraid to reveal ourreal self.

withdraw & hide ourtrue feeling.

try to control things,have last words.

Where do we findthe courage

to “reconcile”?

God’s Spirit!

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power,

love, and self-discipline.” [NLT]

2 Timothy 1:7….

James 1:5….

“If you need wisdom – if you

want to know what God wants

you to do – ask him, and he will

gladly tell you. He will not resent

your asking.” [NLT]

What are the causes of

“CONFLICTS”?

“What causes fights and quarrels

among you? They are caused by

selfish desires that are

continually

at war inside you.” [Paraphrase]

James 4:1….

When I’m at peace inside, what’s outside doesn’t upset

me. I can disagree without

getting distressed.

“Pride only

leads

to

arguments.”

[NCV]

Proverbs 13:10….

“3 Why do you notice the little piece of dust in your friend’s eye, but you don’t notice the big piece of wood in your own eye? . . . 5 First, take the wood out of your

own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the dust

out of your friend’s eye.” [NCV]

Matthew 7:3, 5….

We all have

Hurt people…

HURT

OTHERS!

“. . . be quick to listen, slow to

speak, and slow to get angry.” [NLT]

James 1:19….

“Each of you should look not only

to your own interests, but also

to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same

as that of Christ Jesus.”

[NIV]

Philippians 2:4-5….

Old Chinese proverbs….

“. . . we must bear the ‘burden’

of being considerate of the

doubts and fears of others…” [LB]

Romans 15:2….

“Speak the truth in love.”

Ephesians 4:15….

— but never use the truth as a bat tohit or stab people.

“Reckless words pierce like a sword,

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” [NIV]

Proverbs 12:18….

“Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that

build upand provide what is needed ...”

[TEV]

Ephesians 4:29….

In conflict settlements,learn to attack the issue

without attacking each other.

“You must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage,

malice, slander, and filthy languagefrom your lips.” [NIV]

Colossians 3:8….

Don’t try to intimidate with anger (threats).

Saying things to wound, hurt, destroy.

Insults, belittling, labeling, character assassination.

is re-establishing the relationship.

is resolving every disagreement.

The truth is that there are some things you will never agree on.

You can have UNITY without uniformity.You can have UNITY without uniformity.

You can walk hand in hand without seeing eye to eye.You can walk hand in hand without seeing eye to eye.

You can have reconciliation without resolution of every issue.You can have reconciliation without resolution of every issue.

If youfocus on the relationship

— often issues become insignificant.

As Christians, we should

commit to becoming an

agent of “reconciliation.”

What do you think is

God’s GOAL for us?

“God has restored our

relationship with him through

Christ, and has given us this

ministry of restoring

relationships. God was in Christ

restoring his relationship with

humanity. …

2 Corinthians 5:18-20….

He didn’t hold people’s faults

against them, and he has given us

this message of restored

relationships

to tell others. We are Christ’s

representatives . . . We beg you on

behalf of Christ to become

reunited with God.” [GW]