Curwensville Alliance
Making Peace
Study #1 of 8 - Discussion of chapter 1 of "Resolving Everyday Conflicts" by Sande & Johnson
Locations & Times
Thursday Men's Group
Thursday 7:00 PM
CONFLICT IS EVERYWHERE
- For example, in our home, one person likes to be spontaneous, the other prefers things to be well-planned. This is good soil for seeds of conflict to grow.
1. What fertile soil exists within your relationships in which conflict can sprout?
2. What methods have you used in managing or working through conflicts?
3. How effective are your methods?
- For example, in our home, one person likes to be spontaneous, the other prefers things to be well-planned. This is good soil for seeds of conflict to grow.
1. What fertile soil exists within your relationships in which conflict can sprout?
2. What methods have you used in managing or working through conflicts?
3. How effective are your methods?
I. PEACEMAKING IS PART OF GOD'S WORK - EVEN PART OF HIS IDENTITY
Why does it even matter if God is a peacemaker? I mean, if he were a bricklayer, we probably wouldn't talk about that. Is it important for God to be a peacemaker?
II. THE GREATEST WORK OF PEACEMAKING
Where have you seen someone make peace? (Plumville)
What are some of history's greatest moments of peacemaking?
Where have you seen someone make peace? (Plumville)
What are some of history's greatest moments of peacemaking?
When we say the phrase, "God is a peacemaker," what different images / ideas do you think come into people's minds?
Are there some ideas that are faulty?
Are there some that are more or less important?
Are there some ideas that are faulty?
Are there some that are more or less important?
How does Chirst's "reconciling both of them to God through the cross" (2:16) benefit us in the area of being a peacemaker?
III. WHY DO PEOPLE HAVE CONFLICTS?
- What's at the bottom of conflict?
- What's at the bottom of conflict?
Do You Agree?
Conflict happens when you are at odds with another person of what you think, want, and do. – Sande & Johnson
Conflict begins when you don’t get what you want. – Sande & Johnson
Conflict happens when you are at odds with another person of what you think, want, and do. – Sande & Johnson
Conflict begins when you don’t get what you want. – Sande & Johnson
Conflict Can Be...
Good
- Can you think of an example?
Bad
- Have you seen this?
Bad - with good results
- Does this happen?
How might the following passag fit into one of this three categories?
Good
- Can you think of an example?
Bad
- Have you seen this?
Bad - with good results
- Does this happen?
How might the following passag fit into one of this three categories?
AN IMAGE OF CONFLICT
(From Resolving Everyday Conflict)
SPARK:
When people want different things – that’s the SPARK of conflict
GASOLINE:
When people let pride steer their thinking and their actions – that’s the GASOLINE of conflict.
FIRE:
When the spark and gasoline are there - the conflict is a fire.
(From Resolving Everyday Conflict)
SPARK:
When people want different things – that’s the SPARK of conflict
GASOLINE:
When people let pride steer their thinking and their actions – that’s the GASOLINE of conflict.
FIRE:
When the spark and gasoline are there - the conflict is a fire.
...desire becomes a demand, something we sin to obtain or sin if we can’t obtain. Our hearts become controlled by our craving, ruled by something we want or love, something we serve or trust, something we depend on for comfort. What has actually happened is this: We have made the thing we desire into an object o worship. We have elevated our desire into a false god, what the Bible calls an idol. Not an idol of wood, stone, or metal, but a desire or craving that controls our lives. The sinful root of conflict is really idolatry. – Sande & Johnson
As you think over these passages and the idea of conflict resolution, what would you ask God to do to help you become a peacemaker?