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As iron sharpens iron, one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
In this session, you will explorewhat the Bible has to say about the importance of resolving conflicts and pursuing unity in the local groups and churches.
Read Matthew 9:10-13.
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but those who are ill.13 But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’
Connecting with people, showing love and acceptance to them, involves entering their world and sharing their food. Jesus revealed his heart of loving mercy and grace toward people regardless of their reputation or brokenness. His actions revealed his heart of unconditional love. The common thinking of others in his day was that a good person would somehow be contaminated by engaging with sinners. Jesus modeled
and taught the opposite. The power of God’s love revealed in Jesus can heal and transform the most broken and desperate lives. Jesus wants to continue that same ministry today through his disciples. Even though we might feel uncomfortable as we reach out to people, we can enjoy them as an expression of Jesus loving mercy.
Read your assigned verses and then tell the group:
36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.’37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them,38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.
2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.
1 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people?2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church?5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?6 But instead, one brother takes another to court – and this in front of unbelievers!
7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters.
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.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.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Conflict between people will naturally happen. Even Paul had conflict with his ministry partner over who should be on his ministry team. But in Christ, we are to strive for unity with other believers. Unity is so important that Paul encouraged the Corinthians to be willing to suffer wrong for the sake of keeping unity in the church.
Read your assigned verses and then tell the group:
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’
22 Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 ‘Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him.25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26 ‘At this the servant fell on his knees before him. “Be patient with me,” he begged, “and I will pay back everything.”27 The servant’s master took pity on him, cancelled the debt and let him go.
28 ‘But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. “Pay back what you owe me!” he demanded.
29 ‘His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, “Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.”
30 ‘But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32 ‘Then the master called the servant in. “You wicked servant,” he said, “I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?”34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 ‘This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.’
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves.11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord.12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practise hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
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.20 On the contrary:
‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
23 ‘Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you,24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
25 ‘Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.
15 ‘If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that “every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
26 ‘In your anger do not sin’: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
Forgiveness is expected in the Kingdom. In fact, Jesus warned that believers will experience punishment if they don’t forgive their brothers from the heart. Each believer should take the initiative and do all they can do to seek peace in their relationships. Do not allow anger to build up in your heart, it gives Satan a foothold and it makes us part of his plan to destroy. As leaders, we must model living a life of grace and forgiveness and we need to help those we shepherd apply this to their lives as well.
Version 2.10
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