To be in right relationship with God we need to ___________ and sometimes even _____________ our pursuit of right relationships with others.

________________ and __________________ are not entirely the same thing when it comes to relationships.

Reconciliation is an ongoing spiritual process involving forgiveness, repentance and justice that transforms broken relationships and systems to reflect God's original intention for all creation to flourish. ~ Brenda Salter McNeil

The Three "D's" That Keep Us Apart:

______________ - physical separation, avoiding that person.
______________ - stripping away their humanity, reducing them to ideas or opinions.
______________ - lumping them into a category instead of seeing them as an individual.

The Three "I's" of Reconciliation:

________________ - turning or bending your life in the direction of the other person.
________________ - entering into the mess, confessing your contribution to the problem.
________________ - recognizing everyone as a person with a name, made in the image of God.

Some questions to keep the conversation going.

Check In:
1. Spend some time sharing about your past week.
2. Share about a relationship in your life that feels complicated or strained right now. What created the "wedge" between you and that person?
3. The message used the image of "staring across stormy seas" at someone. Does that resonate with you? What does that distance feel like in a broken relationship?
4. Darryl said, "God brings people into our lives to practice being a little more like Jesus in our relationships." Is that true? How does that change the way you think about difficult people in your life?
5. Matthew 5:23-26 says to leave your sacrifice and go be reconciled before worshiping God. Why do you think God places such a high priority on reconciliation? How does this challenge you?
6. Which of the three "D's" (Distance, Dehumanization, De-individualization) do you find yourself falling into most easily when relationships get difficult?
7. The message talked about "generous inclination" - turning toward the other person. Where is it hardest for you to lean into conflict rather than away from it?
8. "Incarnation" means confessing your contribution to the problem, even if you didn't start it. Why is this so difficult? When have you seen this kind of humility change a relationship?
9. The message distinguished between forgiveness, reconciliation and restored relationship, especially in harmful relationships. How do you balance grace, forgiveness, and healthy boundaries?
10. Who is that person you need to reach out to this week? What's one practical step you could take toward reconciliation - a phone call, a text, a conversation? What's holding you back?

Prayer
Spend some time praying together as you wrap up. Pray specifically for:

Courage to reach out across the "stormy seas" in broken relationships
Wisdom to know when to rebuild and when to establish boundaries
Humility to own your part in conflicts
Grace to see others as God sees them
Healing and restoration in strained relationships