River of Life Church
  • Home
  • How Can I Serve
  • Map
  • Pastor Mark Radeke
  • Giving
  • Upcoming Events
  • Contact
  • ReMarkablog
  • Beliefs
  • Event Photos
  • Daily Bible Reading
  • Online Messages
  • Service Volunteer Sign-up

Conflict is Opportunity

4/28/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
My cousin Brian and I got into a fist fight on the bus. We were in third grade and Brian would not stop tickling me and punching him seemed like the most effective way to get him to stop. The bus driver pulled over, made us sit in the front seat and told us we would be reported. Our third grade minds concluded that we would end up spending time in the slammer. We were not sent to prison and we forgave each other the same afternoon. If only our adult conflicts could be resolved as quickly.

 Conflict shows up in your work, church, neighborhood and in your families. Conflict provides an opportunity for followers of Jesus Christ to respond in a way that is markedly different – living out the gospel in those critical moments when conflict and conviction collide. Peacemakers Ministries http://www.peacemaker.net offers the following principles for handling conflict:

Conflict is not necessarily bad or destructive. Even when conflict is caused by sin and causes a great deal of stress, God can use it for good (see Rom. 8:28-29). Conflict actually provides four significant opportunities. By God's grace, you can use conflict to:
1.       Glorify God – Ask: How can I please and honor God in this situation, and how can I give witness to what he has done for me through Christ?
2.       Get the log out of your eye – Ask: How have I contributed to this conflict and what do I need to do to resolve it?
3.       Gently restore – Ask: How can I help others to understand how they have contributed to this conflict?
4.       Go and be reconciled – Ask: How can I demonstrate forgiveness and encourage a reasonable solution to this conflict?

Whether you are a conflict aversive person who avoids conflict at all costs or conflict assertive and run towards conflict, applying these principles will change the way you address conflict.


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Mark Radeke

    Husband of one, father of five, pastor and friend of many.

    Archives

    December 2022
    March 2021
    April 2020
    January 2019
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Categories

    All
    10 Commandments.
    Bible
    Business
    Christian Living
    Church
    Dreams
    Easter
    Evil
    Famous People
    Finishing Well
    Forgiveness
    Freedom
    Global Poverty
    God
    Grace
    Heaven
    Holidays
    Holy Spirit
    Hope
    Kingdom Of God
    Love
    Marriage
    Money
    New Ventures
    Outreach
    Parables
    Parenting
    Peace
    Poverty
    Prayer
    Prophecy
    Retreat Highlights
    Salvation
    Senior Citizens
    Spiritual Gifts
    Trinity
    Trust
    Valentine's Day Stats
    Water Baptism
    Wisdom
    Worship

    RSS Feed