"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. [...]
"Reckless words pierce like a thrusting sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing" (Proverbs 12:18). Big Idea: Talking to others about how they have wronged us can bring reconciliation and restoration when our words are seasoned with wisdom and grace. How Do I Communicate Wisely to My Offender? Plan Your Words Careful planning [...]
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (James 5:16) Review: Preparation for Go and Show (Matthew 18:15) requires honest self-examination and repentance of all sin that God reveals to you. Before confronting the offender, we must be willing to admit our wrongs through confession. Confession: ‘Homologeo’ [...]
“Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye and then you will be able to see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5). Review: God has specified in His Word the method for resolving conflict and reconciling with an offender. When we choose to gossip/slander or verbally attack the offender, [...]
Review (Part 1): Big Idea: Scripture specifies the procedure for resolving conflict between two parties. A failure to follow this procedure is sin and results in damaged relationships and the defamation of God's character. Three Ungodly Approaches to resolving conflict: Slander and gossip. Unfortunately, most consider these acceptable/respectable sins. Romans 1:28 ff listed among such [...]
Big Idea: Scripture specifies the procedure for resolving conflict between two parties. A failure to follow this procedure is sin and results in damaged relationships and the defamation of God’s character. Three Ungodly Approaches: Slander/Gossip (purveyor or recipient) about the offender Slander is speaking false and malicious words about another person so that their reputation [...]
Big Idea: To prevent relational damage, conflict must be resolved in a timely and biblical manner. Unity must be preserved and restored so that God is glorified. Description Flight Fight Face It Motto “Peace at any price” “It’s my way or the highway” “We can work it out” Focus Me (self-protection) You (Blame or [...]
Relationships 101 When interpersonal problems are mishandled →CONFLICT When conflict is unresolved → DAMAGED RELATIONSHIPS (Latin ‘conflictus” meaning collision; past participle ‘confligere’ meaning strike together) When damaged relationships are not repaired → SEVERED TIES Ungodly Statistic Non-denominational evangelical Christians’ divorce rate: 38% Baptists’ divorce rate: 29% Atheists’/Agnostics’ divorce rate: 21% South has greatest percentage of [...]
When we enter into a relationship, we bring not only our love and warmth but also the attitudes, behaviors and habits from all previous relationships. Each of these relationships molded and formed us into the people we are today. Perhaps our most significant relationship was the one we had with our parent(s). The way in [...]
Letting hurt and anger go unattended can cause serious, long-term damage to a marriage. Emotional wounds must be addressed in a biblically constructive manner or the offended party's spirit will eventually close. Definitions: spirit (‘pneuma’ means by which man relates to God) is a person’s innermost being; the “real you” soul (‘psyche’ means by which [...]
