Biblical PeacemakingApplying the Gospel to Conflicts of Daily Life

An Introduction to Biblical PeacemakingPutting It Into PracticeThe Slippery Slope

The Four Gs: A God-Centered Response to Conflict

Glorify God-- How can I please and honor God in this situation?Get the log out of your eye--How can

I show Jesus’ work in me by taking responsibility for my contribution to this conflict?Gently restore-- How can I lovingly serve others by helping them take responsibility for their contribution to this conflict?Go and be reconciled--How can I demonstrate the forgiveness of God and encourage a reasonable solution to this conflict?

A Different Harvest

The Blessing of Building a Culture of Peace

‘”Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of

righteousness.” James 3:18

The First G Glorify God

How can I please and honor God in this situation?

“Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” --1 Corinthians 10:31

You can glorify God in the midst of conflict by

• trusting Him

• obeying Him

• imitating Him

Bring Glory to God by Being a PeacemakerHow do people typically respond to conflict?

•Escape Responses

•Attack Responses

•Peacemaking Responses

One Great Way to Glorify GodAsk Yourself, “Is This Worth Fighting Over?”

“A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” Proverbs 19:11Pause for Thought

Which response on the Slippery Slope was used most by your parents when growing up? Where do you tend to slide off? How do you flip between Escape and Attack?

Out of Your Eye

Get the Log

The Second G

How can I show Jesus’ work in me by taking responsibility for my contribution to the conflict?

Getting to the Heart of ConflictIdol Progression: Something you want too much, you will sin to obtain (or sin if it’s denied)

Some idol-revealing (“X-Ray”) questions:• How would you respond to disappointment or barriers related to this area?• Have you ever ‘stretched’ the truth in arguing for or against your desire?• How are your opponents being treated in this area?

The cure for an idolatrous heart:• Confess your sin and trust in God alone for everything you need (Acts 3:19).

• Replace idol worship with worship of the true God (Ps. 37:4).Pause for Thought--How to

Spot a Heart Idol:

• Self-examination • Prayer

• Scripture • Godly counsel

Make A Good Confession Make A Good Confession (Seven A Words)(Seven A Words)

• Address everyone involved• Avoid “if,” “but,” and

“maybe”• Admit specifically• Acknowledge the hurt• Accept the consequences• Alter your behavior• Ask for forgiveness (allow

time)

The

Third GGently Restore How can I lovingly serve others by

helping them take responsibility for their contribution to this conflict?

Restore Gently—Speak the Truth in Love“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are

spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” Galatians 6:1-3The Governing Dynamic is Love:

• Step One: Talk privately to resolve personal issues

• Step Two: Take two or three others along

• Step Three: Tell it to the church

• Step Four: Treat the other person as a non-believer

• Step Five: Forgive and restore the repentant

A helpful approach to difficult conversations“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in

humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus::” Phil. 2:3-5The PAUSE Principle:

• Prepare: Pray, seek godly counsel, study scripture, develop options, plan your remarks

• Affirm Relationships: The people and the problem

• Understand Interests: The underlying motivations for positions

• Search for Creative Solutions: Don’t get stuck

• Evaluate Options Objectively and Reasonably

The Fourth G

Go and Be ReconciledHow can I demonstrate the

forgiveness of God and encourage a reasonable solution to this

conflict?

Forgiveness“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Eph. 4:32

What forgiveness is not:

Forgiveness is neither a feeling nor forgetting, nor is it excusing.

What forgiveness is:

Forgiveness is a decision modeled after God’s forgiveness of us.

Four Promises of Four Promises of ForgivenessForgiveness

• I will not dwell on this incident• I will not bring this incident up

and use it against you• I will not talk to others about

this incident• I will not allow this incident to

stand between us or hinder our personal relationship