Where the Rubber Meets the Road - in Conflict

Lord, help me to care enough to confront. 

In Conflict

Matthew 18: 15-17 (NIV)

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.

Discussion Questions:

1. When have you seen indirect communication (I.e. texting, email etc.) make a conflict worse rather than better? How? What would be examples of direct communication?
2. What communication advice might you give to someone who was in a conflict with a family member? A co-worker? An ex-spouse? What factors affect how you engage?

Group Exercise:

Role play how you engage each the following situations. What factors would you consider in how you might engage?

1. You see a married Christian friend “flirting” with someone other than their spouse.
2. You are out with a group of your buddies (same gender as you). During the course of the evening one of your friends speaks very disparagingly about their spouse, including many private details.
3. Someone you know pretty well from church posts a very harsh accusation about a friend of yours on their Facebook wall. You believe the accusations to be untrue.

Deeper Group Question:

Without giving names or identifying details - what is a conflict you are current experiencing? What are you learning about yourself through it? How can we pray for you in it?