Grenades, Bombs & Wiretaps
Week 4: Healthy Conflict

Galatians 6:1-2 (NIV) Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION OUR WAY
RETALIATION “The action of harming someone because they have harmed oneself; revenge.”

CONFLICT RESOLUTION GOD’S WAY
CONVERT – “To bring over from one belief, view, or party to another.”

James 5:19-20 (NIV) 19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION OUR WAY

CONDEMN “To declare to be reprehensible, wrong, or evil usually after weighing evidence and without reservation.”

CONFLICT RESOLUTION GOD’S WAY

RESTORATION “A bringing back to a former position or condition.”

Matthew 18:15-17 (MSG) 15 If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won’t listen, tell the church. If he won’t listen to the church, you’ll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love.

CONFLICT RETRIBUTION OUR WAY

RETRIBUTION “The dispensing or receiving of reward or punishment especially in the future.”

Ephesians 4:3-6 (NIV) 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Proverbs 10:12 (NIV) 12 Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

CONFLICT RESOLUTION PROCESS

1. REPENTANCE

Psalm 32:2 (NLT) 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

Psalm 32:3 (NLT) 3 When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. 4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.

Psalm 32:5 (NLT) 5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

2. FORGIVENESS

Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV) 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Mark 11:25 (NIV)25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

3. RECONCILIATION

Romans 12:17-19 (NIV) 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

Luke 17:3 (NIV) 3 So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.