All classes held upstairs in the Roots worship roomClass One – Monday, July 7th - 6:30 – 8:30 PMClass Two – Monday, July 21st - 6:30 – 8:30 PMClass Three – Monday, August 11th - 6:30 – 8:30 PM

‘How to Study the Bible’Class Schedule

The Berean Challenge

‘Read the Bible in a Year’• Begins July 1st

• Kick off meeting held right after services next week, June 28th Reading Guides Handed Out Scripture Partners Selected

Acts 15:36-41

Unpacking the ConflictThey didn’t disagree on the mission…just the method Vs. 36 – “Let us return…” This dispute did not take them off of their goal of preaching the

gospel to the Gentiles.Difference of opinion based on their gifting…not of truth Barnabas wanted John Mark (his cousin) Paul wanted Silas (fellow Roman citizen) EACH had valid reasons for their positionDidn’t divide the church nor permanently hurt Paul and Barnabas’s relationship Paul spoke of Barnabas and Mark in three of his letters

1 Corinthians 9:6 – Indicated He and Barnabas were working together

Colossians 4:10 – Passed on a greeting from Mark 2 Timothy 4:11 – Stated that Mark was ‘Useful in ministry’

“Sharp Disagreement”Acts 15:39 “And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.”

Paroxysmos - a causing of something by spurring on, or stirring up. An intense argument, sharp contention implying exasperation. i.e., an intense (unreconcilable) difference of opinion

Destructive Conflict

“Glorifying God through Christian Conflict”

(Acts 15:36-41, 16:1-5)

Romans 7:18-20 NIV

18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Disruptive Conflict oftentimes means the relationship may never be ‘the way it was’.

Does NOT mean we cannot bring glory to the name of Jesus Christ through the

process of being reconciled to each other.

The Unfortunate Realities of Disruptive Conflict

5 Ways to Glorify God Through Conflict

1) Identify– Identify what the real issue was within the conflict and

was it a ‘right or wrong’ issue– Separate emotion, pride, prejudice, etc. from the real

issue– Usually requires a time of ‘cooling down’ in order to see

clearly– Requires focusing on the PROBLEM not the PERSONJames 1:19 - 19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires..

5 Ways to Glorify God Through Conflict

2) Get Perspective– The conflict must be put into perspective by viewing it

from a Kingdom view.– Was holding your ground and getting upset really that

important that you would cause a division between you and another disciple of Jesus and shame the name of Jesus?

1 Corinthians 6:1-6 NIV

If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints 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, appoint as judges even men of little account 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 goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers!

5 Ways to Glorify God Through Conflict

3) Repent– Repent for your part in the conflict; first to God and then

to the other individual(s) involved– EVERYONE has a part in a conflict• Proverbs 28:18 - He who conceals his sins does not

prosper; but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

• Sorry is not enough. Feeling sorry about something is not the same as asking forgiveness

• “I was wrong to _____________; Please forgive me.”

5 Ways to Glorify God Through Conflict

4) Forgive– We must forgive the other party for their part

REGARDLESS of whether or not they ask for forgiveness

Ephesians 4:29-32 NIV

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

5 Ways to Glorify God Through Conflict

4) Forgive– We must forgive the other party for their part

REGARDLESS whether or not they ask for forgiveness.“Forgiveness is a decision of the mind which, when sincerely

made, will eventually cause the heart to follow.”Hebrews 12:14-15 14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

“Forgiveness is God’s way of achieving peace. In fact, it is ultimately the only way of achieving peace between alienated parties. Justice alone is incapable of producing peace. The peace the Bible is interested in involves not only the cessation of hostilities but also the reconciliation of enemies. This is why the followers of Christ, who are both the recipients and practitioners of radical forgiveness, should be the leading authorities on peace” Brian Zahnd“Unconditional: The Call of Jesus to Radical Forgiveness” (pg. 205)

Forgiveness Leads to Peace

5 Ways to Glorify God Through Conflict

5) Learn– We should be growing and learning from conflict…that is

how we learn to maturely handle conflict and avoid the destructive conflict that brings shame to the name of Jesus.

– Romans 14:19 “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”

How God was Glorified in the Acts 15 Conflict?

– Two missionary journeys instead of one– Another worker was brought into the

missionary field– Acts 16:1-5 – Paul found Timothy and

made him a disciple– Paul was able to teach about constructive

conflict from this ‘negative’ experience

What’s the final part of the story to our conflict?Will we take the steps of:- Cooling off and identifying the real issue?- Setting the conflict in its property perspective?- Repenting for our part?- Forgiving the other individual(s) in the conflict?- Learning from our mistakes of how we mishandled the

situation?

The end of our story is up to us.Lets choose to bring honor to the name of Jesus Christ.